for me. I really need
to get a grip. That or stop drinking so much diet cola because something seems
to be fuddling my mind.
“I could ask you
the same question. You told me you were working on your project tonight.” He
doesn’t miss a trick.
“Well I was,
then Mom asked me to meet her, but she hasn’t turned up. I bet the car’s broken
down again. We’re always having trouble.” I roll my eyes upward in pretend
frustration at our car. Which really is in perfect working order, even if it is
several years older than the new car Guy’s parents bought for him.
“Shall we go
into Starbucks and wait, before this drizzle turns into a shower?”
Drizzle? I
didn’t even notice it start raining. It might be nice to go inside now I know
Ryan isn’t there, and actually enjoy my drink rather than rush it like last
night.
“Sure. I’ll text
Mom and tell her not to come. I’ll catch the bus. It’s too late for shopping
now anyway.” Just listen to the lies drip out of my mouth.
“I’ll give you a
ride.” A smile plays around the corners of his mouth and I feel all gooey
inside. He’s such a sweetie. And of course I wasn’t angling for a ride home
when I said I’d catch the bus. As if I’d be that manipulative.
“Thanks. And my
treat in Starbucks.”
We walk in and
Guy goes to find a table while I head for the counter and stand in line behind
a woman with her two children, and in front of them a couple of girls about my
age. I turn to watch Guy from behind as he strides across the floor. Not that
I’d say this to anyone, other than Maddie and probably Janey because she’s not
in the club so won’t find it inappropriate, but he has an awesome body. I knew
there had to be a purpose to the football team training sessions he attends
twice a week.
“Suzy. Back
again?”
No. No. No. This
isn’t happening to me. I swallow hard. Tell me that voice and smiling face
don’t belong to Ryan. That it’s just a hallucination. It’s got to be.
“Suzy?” he
repeats.
“One grande
caramel frappuccino, no cream, lots of caramel and a mug of coffee with milk
please.” I desperately try to resist the urge to bring my hands up to my cheeks
and hide the extent to which they are burning up, because that will only draw
attention to them.
“Coming up,” he
says smiling at me and appearing totally oblivious to my dilemma. He takes the
money from my hand. “I’ll bring them over to you, if you like,” he says after
giving me my change. “You’re over there with that guy, aren’t you?”
“You know Guy?”
I ask, my voice sounding more like a strangulated cat than remotely belonging
to me.
“No. Why?”
“You said his
name. You said I’m here with guy and—”
“That guy, I
said.” He laughs. “I don’t know him. So don’t worry.”
What did he mean
by that? Does he know I’m worried about what he might say? Or is it a veiled
threat? Don’t worry now but just watch out because sometime when you’re least
expecting it I’m going to drop you in it from a great height.
“We need to
talk,” I whisper. “Can you meet me?”
“Sure,” he
replies in his normal voice. Hasn’t he heard of discretion? “Give me five
minutes.”
“Not here,” I
say through clenched teeth. “What about after school tomorrow at Victoria
Park.”
He puts down the
mug in his hand and stares at me, a puzzled look crossing his face.
“Is your
boyfriend coming?” He nods in the direction of Guy.
“Don’t be
silly,” I hiss. “Of course he isn’t. Will you meet me or not?” I glare at him.
Stop it Suzy. You’re not exactly in a position of power here. “Sorry I didn’t
mean to snap. Is it okay?”
“Yeah.” He
shrugs. This boy certainly has perfected the art of acting cool. “Four o’clock
by the children’s play area. Okay?”
“Thanks.” Phew.
I could kiss him. Maybe that’s not such a good thought to be having.
“I’ll wait for
the drinks, no need for you to bring them over.” I move to
to get a grip. That or stop drinking so much diet cola because something seems
to be fuddling my mind.
“I could ask you
the same question. You told me you were working on your project tonight.” He
doesn’t miss a trick.
“Well I was,
then Mom asked me to meet her, but she hasn’t turned up. I bet the car’s broken
down again. We’re always having trouble.” I roll my eyes upward in pretend
frustration at our car. Which really is in perfect working order, even if it is
several years older than the new car Guy’s parents bought for him.
“Shall we go
into Starbucks and wait, before this drizzle turns into a shower?”
Drizzle? I
didn’t even notice it start raining. It might be nice to go inside now I know
Ryan isn’t there, and actually enjoy my drink rather than rush it like last
night.
“Sure. I’ll text
Mom and tell her not to come. I’ll catch the bus. It’s too late for shopping
now anyway.” Just listen to the lies drip out of my mouth.
“I’ll give you a
ride.” A smile plays around the corners of his mouth and I feel all gooey
inside. He’s such a sweetie. And of course I wasn’t angling for a ride home
when I said I’d catch the bus. As if I’d be that manipulative.
“Thanks. And my
treat in Starbucks.”
We walk in and
Guy goes to find a table while I head for the counter and stand in line behind
a woman with her two children, and in front of them a couple of girls about my
age. I turn to watch Guy from behind as he strides across the floor. Not that
I’d say this to anyone, other than Maddie and probably Janey because she’s not
in the club so won’t find it inappropriate, but he has an awesome body. I knew
there had to be a purpose to the football team training sessions he attends
twice a week.
“Suzy. Back
again?”
No. No. No. This
isn’t happening to me. I swallow hard. Tell me that voice and smiling face
don’t belong to Ryan. That it’s just a hallucination. It’s got to be.
“Suzy?” he
repeats.
“One grande
caramel frappuccino, no cream, lots of caramel and a mug of coffee with milk
please.” I desperately try to resist the urge to bring my hands up to my cheeks
and hide the extent to which they are burning up, because that will only draw
attention to them.
“Coming up,” he
says smiling at me and appearing totally oblivious to my dilemma. He takes the
money from my hand. “I’ll bring them over to you, if you like,” he says after
giving me my change. “You’re over there with that guy, aren’t you?”
“You know Guy?”
I ask, my voice sounding more like a strangulated cat than remotely belonging
to me.
“No. Why?”
“You said his
name. You said I’m here with guy and—”
“That guy, I
said.” He laughs. “I don’t know him. So don’t worry.”
What did he mean
by that? Does he know I’m worried about what he might say? Or is it a veiled
threat? Don’t worry now but just watch out because sometime when you’re least
expecting it I’m going to drop you in it from a great height.
“We need to
talk,” I whisper. “Can you meet me?”
“Sure,” he
replies in his normal voice. Hasn’t he heard of discretion? “Give me five
minutes.”
“Not here,” I
say through clenched teeth. “What about after school tomorrow at Victoria
Park.”
He puts down the
mug in his hand and stares at me, a puzzled look crossing his face.
“Is your
boyfriend coming?” He nods in the direction of Guy.
“Don’t be
silly,” I hiss. “Of course he isn’t. Will you meet me or not?” I glare at him.
Stop it Suzy. You’re not exactly in a position of power here. “Sorry I didn’t
mean to snap. Is it okay?”
“Yeah.” He
shrugs. This boy certainly has perfected the art of acting cool. “Four o’clock
by the children’s play area. Okay?”
“Thanks.” Phew.
I could kiss him. Maybe that’s not such a good thought to be having.
“I’ll wait for
the drinks, no need for you to bring them over.” I move to
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