A gentle murmur rolls through the hall like a wave. Fifth-and sixth-formers are hanging on Eleanor’s every word while the fourth form huff in outrage. I automatically glance over to Tori. I know that she’s been thinking about joining the drama club for ages and I’m worried that the only reason she hasn’t done it is to avoid Eleanor. Tori’s lips are slightly parted and she looks suddenly excited. Until she spots Val, sitting a bit in front of her, as he laughs scornfully, shakes his head patronizingly and crosses his arms over his chest. His rugby pals laugh too. They’re so transparent – it’s blatantly obvious that several of them would actually like to try out for the play if Val wasn’t constantly so dismissive of the drama club. Maybe he genuinely hates the theatre but, to be honest, it looks more like he’d do anything to score off Eleanor, the queen of drama, because his stupid pride was hurt when she ditched him last summer.
‘And so, drumroll please, we’ll be performingRomeo and Juliet.’ Louis’s taken over. A few of the older year groups giggle. ‘Yeah, surprise, surprise, same as every year. But I promise that our version will be the best ever. So just speak to one of us or to Mr Acevedo if you want to audition, and he’ll give you your lines.’ He looks over to Eleanor who steps back to the mic.
‘Previous acting experience would be useful but it’s not essential,’ she says. ‘The important thing is that you want to be involved and are prepared to put a lot of work into the rehearsals between now and the summer. So, next Wednesday, in the theatre at three. Anyone who auditions will be let off from study hour this once. See you then!’
Mr Acevedo jumps up and gives them a double thumbs-up before starting a round of applause. I join in as I stand. The hall instantly fills with voices, laughter and scraping chair legs. The younger kids rush for the doors while a few fifth-formers waitfor a chance to speak to Eleanor, Louis or Mr Acevedo. The way I’m going to speak to Tori. Or that’s the theory. But in practice she’s already in the central aisle while I can’t get past everyone else blocking our row. Tori’s making her way towards Val. He’s raging, but he kisses her and puts his arm around her shoulders. A few fourth-formers have their heads together, whispering. It makes me want to boak.
‘Hey, mate, smile,’ Henry remarks, at my side. I glare at him. It’s easy for him to say with Emma at his side and their irritatingly picture-perfect relationship. OK, that’s not true. The two of them went through a lot before they finally got together. And things didn’t exactly get any easier when Henry’s sister died out of the blue like that. It really knocked him sideways and even now, almost four months later, there are still days when he looks all at sea. But it’s got better. Especially since he’s been going to see Ms Vail, the school psychologist, regularly. I’m glad of that, because it feels like I’ve got my friend back, but I’m not so naïve as to think things are any easier for Henry to deal with just because he seems to be coping these days.
I decide to seize the opportunity.
‘Did I say something stupid on Saturday night or something?’ I ask.
‘Why do you ask?’ Henry replies evasively, which can’t be a good sign.
‘I dunno, I think I had a blackout,’ I admit. ‘And Tori . . . she was there, wasn’t she?’
‘She spent the night with you,’ says Henry.
My blood runs cold, then hot. Bloody booze. I can’t remember a thing.
It’s not the first time that Tori and I have shared a bed, but it’s been rare lately. And I miss her. Shit, yeah. I don’t mind admitting that nobody gives such good hugs as Tori.
But clearly Valentine’s the guy getting that pleasure now. If they do hug. Probably they have other things on their minds when she . . . Stop, don’t think about it.
‘Oh, right.’ I gulp. ‘There was nobody there when I woke up.’
‘She probably left early so you wouldn’t get in any trouble.’
Or maybe she just didn’t want to have to speak to me. Or she headed up a floor at some point. To Valentine. I can’t bear the thought of it.
Tori’s eyes meet mine as she leaves the hall with Valentine, Neil and a few others in the upper sixth. She looks away before I can say anything.
TORI
Val hasn’t mentioned the other evening, not even once, and that’s making me edgy. He laughs and puts his arm around me as we leave the hall. I follow him outside rather than heading for my classroom. I don’t smoke but I want to spend more time with Val so I guess I’ll have to stand out here in the cold with him whether I like it or not. And live with my hair reeking of smoke. Maybe I’d even prefer it to heading upstairs to classes with Henry, Emma, Olive and Sinclair. It’s not like I didn’t feel the way my best friend was looking at me during assembly. We haven’t spoken since, and it’s not very nice. But I can deal with that later. Now I’m with Val. And I should enjoy the fact that he’s in a good mood. I’d been expecting us to start fighting the second we met up again.
‘How was the rest of your weekend?’ I ask, as we follow his pals.
Val slows his steps. ‘You guys go on,’ he calls, as we stop just before the gateway to the courtyard. His tone changes as he continues. ‘My weekend? Yeah, how was my weekend . . .’
I’m suddenly way too aware of the weight of his arm on my shoulders. Val removes it and faces me. The smile’s wiped off his face.
‘Yeah, it was great.’ His voice is dripping with sarcasm. ‘I waited for an answer from you and didn’t get one, but you know that part.’
‘Sorry, Val.’ My pulse quickens as I keep talking. ‘I shouldn’t have left without letting you know. But I was tired and . . .’
‘Where did you go?’
‘Emma messaged me, I wanted—’
‘You were with him.’ Val’s face is unreadable. ‘You were, weren’t you?’ I hesitate and he continues. ‘Don’t even try to lie to me.’
‘OK, yeah,’ I admit. Anything’s better than trying to weasel out now. It’ll just end up with Val hearing it on the grapevine and then he’ll be seriously pissed off. ‘I was with him. Sinclair was drunk. The others needed my help, I—’
‘Your help?’ Val laughs. ‘What with? Putting him to bed?’
When I don’t say anything, something in his face changes. ‘Holy shit, Tori. Are you taking the piss?’ He doesn’t raise his voice. Quite the reverse – he’s threateningly quiet.
