‘That’s great,’ Dad declares. ‘I can’t wait to see where you end up.’
‘Me either,’ I say. Or who with. Until a couple of weeks ago, I’d been sure I’d do creative writing at St Andrews. And that Henry, Emma and Tori would be there too. But who knows? Maybe Valentine Ward’s put her off since then, and talked her into applying to Cambridge, where he’s bound to get in to do economics. Not because he’s got what it takes, but because his folks have the money to grease the wheels.
I can’t believe Dad would really think I’d be ashamed of him and what he does. No way. I’d be ashamed if I only got anywhere in life thanks to influential parents. I’d be ashamed if I were Valentine Ward who puts other people down so that he can feel better about himself, and always gets whatever he wants. Rugby captain, coaching through his A levels despite being thick as, and Tori – especially Tori. My friend who isn’t talking to me, these days. It wasn’t until the assembly this morning that I even knew she and Will had been home at the weekend. In the old days, I would have done. I might even have gone with them, but I can’t remember the last time we went to her family home in Holloway together. Perhaps Val was there with her . . .
I slap a lump of dough onto the counter. Dad glances up but doesn’t say anything.
And neither do I.
Not saying things is what I do best.
TORI
Since the auditions, things have been even weirder between Sinclair and me. We see each other in class and in the dining room for meals. On the morning runs, I toy with the idea of going the official route with Emma and Henry instead of taking the shortcut with Sinclair, but then I remember who I am. And there’s no way I’m a person who’d run any further than they had to just because they’ve had a pointless row with their best friend.
‘What are we doing for Sinclair’s birthday?’ Henry asks me, in a low voice, a while later, once Ms Kelleher’s sent us off to break.
A good question, because he’s turning eighteen. Entering adulthood. So it’s time to swallow my hurt pride. I glance over to Sinclair who’s a few yards ahead of us, walking down the corridor with Emma and Gideon. Before I get a chance to answer, I spot Val standing with his friends a slight distanceaway. We’ve barely seen each other for the last few days. Outside class, he’s practically glued to either the rugby field or the gym equipment. Similarly, Olive is spending so much time in the school pool that I’m surprised she hasn’t grown webbed feet. I don’t know when I last saw her with dry hair. Even now, her dark head is still wet as she comes around the corner. She looks up as Henry beckons her over.
‘Have you got a second? It’s about Sinclair’s birthday,’ he says.
Olive seems reluctant to slow her steps. When her eyes meet mine, I don’t see the rejection I’ve got used to lately. She looks uncertain.
‘Yeah?’
‘If we throw him a party, are you in?’
Olive looks surprised. ‘You mean you want me there?’
Henry’s taken aback. ‘Of course we do.’ I don’t feel able to say the same, so I just nod when Olive glances at me. ‘He’s turning eighteen, we’re his friends . . .’
‘OK, I . . . Just text me, let me know what I can do to help,’ Olive says, looking past Henry. ‘I need to speak to Dad quickly, sorry.’ She hurries towards the sick bay to find Dr Henderson who’s working there this morning.
‘Are you two still not getting on?’ Henry muses.
I shrug my shoulders. ‘Looks that way.’ Although Olive was less stand-offish than normal just now . . . But maybe that was down to Henry being there.
‘She’ll come round,’ he says.
I sigh. ‘Got any top tips on conflict resolution?’
‘I might be school captain, but I’m not on the peer mediation team,’ he says.
‘Yeah, but they’re kind of similar . . .’
Henry smiles and shakes his head. ‘I think the whole business is as upsetting for Olive as it is for you.’
How does he always manage to hit the bullseye? I exhale quietly. ‘Maybe it’s me. It seems like I’m fighting with all my friends just now. Hey, perhaps you’ll be next.’
Henry ignores my pathetic attempt at humour. ‘Sinclair too?’
I don’t reply.
‘You mean because of Eleanor and the play?’
‘I know it makes me a rubbish friend that I can’t be happy for him.’
‘Hey, I wouldn’t be thrilled if Emma was up on stage with some other Romeo either.’
