M:Always do
I pocket my phone as I hear the first footsteps in the corridor. Soon after that, the bell rings for the end of the lesson. The classroom doors open, we all flood out, and it’s ridiculous how happy I am. Emma and Tori emerge from a room at the end of the hall; Tori’s chattering on, Emma nods a couple of times. Her eyes scan the hall and find me right away.
“How did it go?” she asks as the two of them come to join me.
“Not bad.”
“Which means very good,” remarks Tori.
I just shrug and can’t help watching Emma’s lips. Would she mind me kissing her now? Here in front of everyone else? I don’t know if I’m the one who ought to decide, but perhaps she’d find it hot too if I just...
Her gaze slips from my eyes to my mouth, and yeah, why am I even still thinking about this? She only looks surprised for the first moment as I take a step toward her and kiss her. She seems OK with it. I’m OK with it too. Very much OK. This is no lame hi-how-are-you-fine-how-are-you kiss. Somehow, it’s impossible to kiss Emma like that. I always have to kiss herproperly.
“Er, guys, what did I miss?”
Emma just rolls her eyes as Tori starts squealing beside us.
“Oi, stop that right now, or I’ll have to inform my mother thatthere is improper physical contact going on here,” says Sinclair, but he’s grinning.
Emma laughs, and it’s the most beautiful sound on this whole bloody planet. Help, I need a bucket of cold water. A slap in the face would work too, I think.
Which I get as I look over Emma’s shoulder. Right into Grace’s eyes. It feels like all my blood has drained down into my legs.
It’s only for a very brief moment as her gaze rests on us, but it’s enough, and I feel terrible. Her fingers tighten around the strap on her bag, she forces a smile to her lips, and turns away. She disappears between small groups of pupils, who are nodding discreetly in our direction and whispering. It doesn’t surprise me. We’ll be the main topic of conversation at this school for a few days more, then Valentine Ward will start dating someone else and nobody will still be talking about Emma and me. All the same, part of me wants to go after Grace and apologize to her. But we’re not a couple now.
“Henry?” I jump as Emma takes my hand. She seems not to have spotted Grace.
“Hm?” I look at her. “Sorry, I... What were you saying?”
“I was asking if you want to go for a run later. You don’t have training today, do you?”
“Not till tomorrow.”
“I see.” Emma’s smiling but her eyes are skeptical. “Or aren’t you in the mood?”
“Sure,” I say at once, forcing myself to banish all thoughts of Grace.
“Sinclair!” Gideon yells down the corridor. “Is your mum coming to the parents’ evening next week?”
“Piss off, Attwell.” He sticks his middle finger up at him, at least until Ms.Barnett walks out of the classroom with her pile of test papers.
“Is your mum coming?” I ask Emma. Maybe she’ll take the chance to make up for the missed visit.
And Emma’s nodding. “Yeah, and she’s staying for the weekend.”
“Oh, nice.”
“Your parents won’t be coming though, right?”
“No, definitely not. It’s way too far. But they’ll have a video appointment—there are loads of parents who can’t come in person.”
“Don’t tell my mum that, or she might change her mind again.”
Although that was clearly meant to sound ironic, I can hear the pain and hint of fear in her voice. I don’t like it. I’m angry with the people who’ve let her down. She doesn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve to be made to feel like a burden. Which Emma believes she is. She really does. Why wouldn’t she, after her shithead father just walked out, then made such a dick of himself when they met up again?
At the same time, I know it wouldn’t do any good for me to try to convince her otherwise. She has to realize for herself before she can believe it. But maybe I can at least help with that part a bit.
Emma
