I nod, even though my stomach clenches.Just being friendly. Those three words terrify me the most.
“Why can’t people tell the difference?” Henry continues before his eyes catch on my shoulder. “You’ve got something on your shirt.”
“Huh?” I turn so I can look at it, but Henry leans over and brushes the back of my shoulder with his hand. The contact makes me shiver. I should be used to it, but maybe it’s different when we’re at school, where people mill around us.
“I think it’s dirt or something,” Henry says, continuing to brush it. “Maybe from lunch?”
“I fell onto the ground a bit,” I admit. “We need to stop mucking around in our uniforms.” If we’re going to play sport, it would be smart to change into our P. E uniforms. Since that’s such a fuss though, we stay in our usual uniforms and attempt to play gently.
“There, I think it’s gone,” Henry says, dropping his hand.
I wish I could kiss him right here. I don’t care if we’re at school. I don’t know whether that means I care a heck of a lot about Henry, or if I’m not that scared about other people knowing that I like guys. Maybe both.
“Thanks.”
He turns to look at the road in front of the school where all the buses line up. “I want to tell you something.”
“Is it bad news?”
He shakes his head and gives me a small smile. “No. Remember when you came to mine, a couple of weeks ago?”
“Yeah.”
“And we discussed girlfriends?”
Shit. Alison. But he can’t be dating her, not when he just complained. It’s another girl then. Sana? Someone else in our year level? Someone from another school?
“Yeah,” I say, holding my breath.
“I thought about it. And I don’t want a girlfriend. I think … I think we should … stay single.”
Before I can unpack that statement, my phone buzzes.
Eve: YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME SOCIALISING LESSONS.
As soon as I read it, I switch the display off, but Henry has already read it.
“Socialising lessons?” he asks.
“It’s a joke,” I explain. “It’s got to do with Craig’s party.”
“So she’s definitely going?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s lucky to have you,” Henry says.
I don’t know how to respond. I want to touch his hand. I fight the instinct.
Around us, students stand up and walk towards the road. Without looking forward, I know the bus that goes to Victoria Park has arrived.
Henry gets up too. “Alright, see you tomorrow.”
I raise a hand in farewell. “Bye.”
I watch his back as he disappears.
“Why don’t you want to dance?” I ask, leaning back in Eve’s desk chair. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”
