13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison Page A

one present knew her well enough to know whether she would normally add sugar to her strawberries anyway.
    Warwick was the first person to take a mouthful. His expression quickly turned to one of disgust. He spat into a napkin.
    “It’s
salt
!” he said, reaching for the water jug.
    “Are you sure?” said Florence.
    “Of course I’m sure!”
    Fabian’s hand was frozen in midair, his mouth slightly open. His eyes were fixed on the spoon in disappointment.
    “Who was the last person to refill the sugar bowl?” said Florence.
    “I was,” said Tanya, guiltily. “I filled it this morning.”
    Florence snatched the ruined desserts away and began scraping them into the garbage. “For goodness’ sake, try to be more observant!”
    Tanya bit her lip in anger. She was only glad that Warwick had been the first to taste it. She was furious with him for telling her grandmother about the incident in the forest when he had given his word that it would go no further. She was furious with them both for the callous conversation she had overheard earlier.
    Now in a foul mood, Warwick excused himself. Florence left soon after.
    Fabian leaned over and prodded Tanya in the side.
    “That was definitely sugar in the pot this morning. I had some on my cornflakes.”
    Tanya stared at him. A lazy grin spread across Fabian’s face.
    “So when did you switch it?” he asked.
    “What?”
    “To salt. When did you switch it?”
    “
What?
You think… you think
I
did that?”
    “Didn’t you?”
    “No,” Tanya said coldly. “Why would I?”
    Fabian smirked. “For fun?”
    Tanya got up from the table, in no mood for dessert now.
    “Yeah, that’s right, Fabian. My idea of fun is being made to look like an idiot in front of everyone.”
    “Well, the look on Warwick’s face when he took that mouthful was hilarious,” he said gleefully. “And you didn’t add sugar to your own bowl.”
    “I didn’t do it.” Tanya made for the hallway, but Fabian beat her to it and stood blocking the door.
    “Get out of my way.”
    “You know,” said Fabian, “It’s funny how this sort of thing always happens when you’re around.”
    Tanya narrowed her eyes, but inside her heart skipped a beat.
    “What sort of thing?”
    “Like the time when you were staying here because your parents were in France,” Fabian continued. “On the first night we were all watching a film, and when it finished you got up and fell over because your shoelaces had been tied together. You blamed me, but you knew as well as I did that I couldn’t have done it—I was sitting on the other side of the room all night. I never came near you.
    “Then last summer you bought those flowers for Florence fresh from the market. And by breakfast the next day they were dead. Every one of them, withered up in water that was as stagnant as if it had been three weeks old.
    “And then there was the time when—”
    “Is there a point to any of this, Fabian?” said Tanya, trying hard to conceal the tremor in her voice.
    “Yeah, there is. It’s
you
. Weird stuff happens when you’re around. You think nobody notices… but I do.”
    Tanya forced a hollow laugh. “You have a very vivid imagination. Now, if that’s all then can you get out of my way, please?”
    Fabian moved aside, smirking. “There’s something about you that doesn’t add up. You’re hiding something. And I’m going to find out what it is.”
    Tanya stiffened. “Just leave me alone. I mean it, Fabian. Stay out of my way.”
    “Fine,” said Fabian, airily. “Warwick’s never liked me talking to you anyway. He says you’re a troublemaker.”
    “I don’t care what your father says.” Tanya pushed past him angrily. “His words mean nothing—I heard him going back on his promise earlier. I heard him telling my grandmother about finding us in the woods today. He snitched on us. So why don’t you have a good think about who the
real
troublemaker in this house is?”
    It took Tanya a long time to