Blue Moon (Book One in The Blue Crystal Trilogy) by Pat Spence

about you and your
sister that doesn’t add up. And I am determined to find out what it
is.”
    Theo attempted to placate her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I will never hurt Emily,
she’s too important to me.”
    Tash shot him a venomous look.
“Save it, Blondie, I don’t want to hear it. I’ll be watching you
and as soon as you put one foot out of place, you’ll have me to
answer to. D’you understand?” She spat the words into his face and
I sat speechless, too shocked by her words to know what to say.
    Again Theo smiled, but I sensed
a chilliness beneath his outward demeanour.
    “Like I said, I don’t know what
you’re talking about, but I warn you, Tash, don’t cross me or my
family.” He let go of my hand, folded his arms defensively and
stared at her.
    “Like I’m really scared,” she
mocked him. “Gotta go, some of us have work to do.”
    She looked at me dismissively
and grabbed her backpack, swinging it violently over her shoulder.
“See you around, Emmie.”
    With that parting shot, she
tossed her long red hair over her shoulder and walked out of the
café with her head held high.
    Theo looked after her, a
worried expression on his face.
    “Sorry about that,” I said
softly. “I don’t know what’s the matter with her. She’s not
normally like that. I think either she’s jealous, or more likely,
worried about me.”
    “Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” said
Theo, smiling, but there was no mistaking the coldness in his
eyes.
    We didn't fare much better with
Seth. He wasn’t as bad as Tash, but he certainly wasn’t
over-friendly. He eyed us holding hands with suspicion and before I
had chance to speak to him, muttered something about rugby practice
and having to go.
    He accosted me later on that
afternoon, as we walked to a tutorial together.
    “So, what’s going on Emmie?” he
asked. “This is all very sudden with Theo, isn’t it? You never
mentioned anything to me or Tash.”
    “Well, I suppose it is very
sudden, but it’s not like I’m getting married to him. We’re only
dating, and it’s only just begun. There’s been nothing to tell.” I
failed to understand why my friends were making me feel so
defensive. I had nothing to feel guilty about. This was their
problem, not mine. If they didn’t want to see me happy, they knew
what they could do.
    “Okay,” said Seth, “just don’t
forget us, will you?”
    “Of course not,” I answered,
feeling very perplexed with it all. “He’ll probably get bored with
me after a few dates.”
    Seth just looked at me and
walked into the tutorial, silently finding his seat and sprawling
in his chair. I sat down and once again failed to take in anything,
so disturbed were my feelings and thoughts.
     
    As I turned the key in my
locker and took out my coat, ready to get the bus home, Theo was
there once again.
    “Hi, Emily,” he planted a light
kiss on my forehead. “I thought you might like a lift home…”
    “Oh,” I said, startled, “You
mean, in your car…?
    “No, on the front of my
bicycle. Yes, of course in the car. What else would I mean?” he
grinned at me.
    “Okay,” I laughed, trying to
gather my thoughts. “Is Violet alright with this?”
    “I don't have to get permission
from Violet for everything I do,” he pointed out.
    “No, I know, I didn’t mean
that,” I said awkwardly. Yet again, he was making me feel naïve and
gauche. “I’m just not sure she approves of you seeing me.”
    “You leave Violet to me,” he
said sharply. “Now, do you have everything?”
    “Yes,” I answered, closing my
locker door. I saw Seth at the end of the corridor and called after
him. “Seth, can you tell Tash I’m not catching the bus? I’m getting
a lift with Theo…”
    I know he heard me, because he
turned and looked at me. But he didn’t respond, just turned on his
heel, his expression unreadable, and walked away. I stared after
him.
    “Guess your friends don’t think
much of me, do they?” said