It’s torture getting out of bed while the rest of the school’s asleep. The whole school apart from Emma and me. But maybe that’s also why I kind of like pulling on my running clothes, brushingmy teeth, bleary eyed, while the first rays of the sun shine onto the school walls.
I drink half a bottle of water and pull on my running shoes, then walk downstairs.
I’m late. Emma’s already waiting for me in the courtyard. When I step outside and walk toward her, she’s got her left foot resting on one of the flower tubs as she stretches.
“Hi,” she says. I love it when her voice still sounds a bit rough and sleepy. “I thought we could jog to the track, then do some interval training until it’s time for the morning run. Is that all right?”
I groan and follow Emma as she starts moving. “Intervals, in the morning?”
“Yeah, it’s supereffective, trust me.”
“I’m sure it is.”
She doesn’t reply and her eyes flick up over the school walls. As I follow her gaze, I recognize the person standing up there at one of the windows. It’s Mr.Ward, and he’s staring down so fiercely at us, it’s like we’re doing something wrong. Emma seems thrown by it until she looks away.
“How did you sleep?” she asks hastily as we run through the gateway side by side. The first birds are twittering, and as always in late summer, threads of mist are still hanging over the fields. I decide not to talk about Mr.Ward. The morning run ought to be the time of the day when she can forget everything else and not have to worry about grumpy English teachers.
“Fine,” I say truthfully. “I’m dead by the time I fall into bed these days.”
“Are you making sure you get at least seven hours’ sleep?” she persists, and I have to smile.
“Is there any chance we could start a bit later if I’m not?”
Emma grins. “Not really.”
“Bummer.”
“But I could come round in the evening and take your phone away at ten at the latest.”
“There’s no need. I’m asleep by then.”
She laughs. “OK, very good.”
“How about you?” I ask. “Have you settled in a bit?”
“Yes, I think so.” The gravel crunches under our feet, and I feel my pulse starting to quicken. Not long ago, I’d have been out of breath already, and now it feels like I’m just getting warmed up. “My mum’s coming to visit at the weekend.”
That makes me smile, because she says it so casually, yet I can hear in her voice how much she’s looking forward to it. And that makes me happy, especially when I remember that nobody came with her on her first day here. “That’s nice.”
“Yes. I hope the weather’s good. We want to go and see the Highlands.”
“It’s more authentic in the rain, you know,” I say. “But I think you’ll be in luck.”
“So how are things with your parents?” she asks. “Do you only see them during the holidays?”
“Basically, yes,” I say. “Sometimes they come over to Edinburgh in between, but mostly we fly out to them. They save up their leave so that we can spend as much time together as possible.”
“You and your brother and sister?”
“Yes.” I nod. “It used to be easier when Theo, Maeve, and I had the same school holidays. It’s got a bit more complicated since they’ve been at university. They usually have to do placements during the vacations.”
“In hospital?”
“Exactly,” I say.
“You’re a real medical family then,” remarks Emma.
“Yes, my grandparents worked in the NHS too.” I shrug. “I’m the first to break with tradition.”
