‘Yeah, what else are brothers for?’
Will laughs quietly.
I put my head back and stare up at the fancy wrought-iron ceiling. Everything within me balks at the idea of having to write the love story for which Eleanor and Sinclair will be cheered by the entire school in a few months’ time. But here’s the thing: they’ll be cheered either way. It’s my bloody job to make sure that at least the play isn’t sending out too many problematic messages. And if that means I get a wee bit of control back over this whole thing, it’s no more than a pleasant side effect.
Will looks at me in silence.
I shut my eyes.
‘I hate that you’re always right.’
RED FLAGS
Relationships Edition
The ones you ignore because you’re so, so in love:
• Out of nowhere, they’re bored by you.
• They focus on your mistakes and not their own.
• They expect you to be able to read their mind.
• They get pissed off when you can’t.
• They continually comment on your appearance.
• They blame you for the emotions that they stirred up in you.
• They judge you or laugh at you, your hobbies or your interests.
• They don’t apologize when they’ve made a mistake.
• You’re scared that every argument could mean the end.
9
SINCLAIR
‘I can’t believe it, Charlie,’ Dad says for the umpteenth time. ‘The lead role, that’s amazing.’ He looks up as Margaret comes through from the shop into the bakery. ‘Have you heard, Margaret? My son’s going to be an actor.’
‘The whole village has heard, Peter,’ she says, nodding her thanks as I hand her a tray of fresh scones. ‘You realize we’re all coming to see the play, of course?’
‘Please don’t!’ I laugh, but I’m deadly serious. If only I could ban even my parents from being in the audience in the summer, but I’d never have the heart. They were thrilled when I told them yesterday that I’d got the role of Romeo, since when Dad’s been telling everyone he meets.
‘I never expected to have a chance,’ I say, popping a tray of rolls into the oven.
‘Don’t talk like that,’ Dad immediately reproves me. ‘You have no reason to put yourself down.’
‘Well, no, but I’ve got no acting experience,’ I say, with a shrug.
‘That’s as may be, but it clearly didn’t bother anybody.’ Dad looks up from his dough. ‘You’re really enjoying yourself, aren’t you?’
‘We’ll see – we haven’t started rehearsing yet. Maybe then they’ll throw me back out.’
‘Charles,’ Dad ticks me off, ‘a little more self-belief, if you please. Did Tori get a part too, by the way?’
It’s an effort not to flinch. ‘No, she didn’t audition.’
