Henry’s expression speaks volumes. ‘Are you sure of that?’
I don’t reply because at that moment, my phone buzzes. My heart skips a beat but it’s Eleanor’s name on the screen, not Tori’s.
E:Are you still up?
‘Is that her?’ Henry asks, but I ignore him.
What’s going on, and why do I feel nervous butterflies in my stomach when I see that Eleanor’s staying online?
S:Yeah, why?
E:We’re in the Dungeon and Val just walked out with Tori. I think they’re fighting.
My blood runs cold.
E:Can you come?
S:I’m on my way
‘Sinclair?’ Henry grabs my shoulder. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I have to go,’ I say.
‘Is everything OK?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
I start to run.
16
TORI
I’ve never understood why the upper sixth make such a big deal of their party cellar in the tunnels beneath the school. The old greenhouse isn’t just bigger, it’s more comfortable than the Dungeon. Because that really lives up to its name. Dark and kind of grim. It smells of beer and stale cigarette smoke, despite them being banned anywhere on school property. There are threadbare sofas and armchairs, which are saggy and covered with stains – God knows what, and I’d rather not think about it.
I’m sitting next to Val, trying to touch the seats as little as possible. When I arrived earlier, he was almost OTT in his enthusiasm and introduced me – quite unnecessarily – to the whole room in a slurring voice. I’m uneasy with how drunk he is already. And I could really have done without feeling the whole upper sixth staring at me, either amused or dismissive, as I gave an awkward wave before he pulled me away so he could get himself a top-up. There are times when I find it hard enough to watch how much the others drink at our midnight parties in the old greenhouse, but here it’s worse. Not even Eleanor and her friends are sober. Nobody tried to force me, but I can tell that Val’s irritated by me sticking to cola and water. My friends are so open-minded about it that I’d forgotten not everyone feels the same way. Sinclair’s the only one who knows why I don’t drink. Ican’t. How can I enjoy something that’s slowly but surely taking my mum away from me? It’s not really about the fear of losing control myself. I just don’t see any sense in voluntarily dosing myself with the drug that almost destroyed my family. And still might. I’ve barely been in touch with Mum and Dad lately, so I don’t have a clue how things are going. And seeing that Sinclair and I aren’t talking, there’s nobody but my brother that I could discuss it with. Val absolutely mustn’t hear about it. Veronica Ward might stop doing business with my mum if she knew about her alcohol problem. I wouldn’t put anything past her, even though I don’t believe Mum’s anywhere near the only one who has a problem with particular substances. It’s no secret that some of her friends will take any opportunity to do a line of coke with as big a banknote as possible.
At least Val’s not doing that tonight. Or not that I’ve seen, anyway. Maybe he did before I got here. I’m not sure. His pupils are probably wide because it’s dark down here. I can’t think about it if I want to stay calm. Is he even sober enough to have the conversation? There’s no point if he’s not in a fit state to remember it tomorrow. But I have to do it. There’s no way around it, I just have to wait for the right moment.
I can’t join in much of the conversation because there are too many in-jokes, but Val at least tries to explain as many of them as he can to me. At first, anyway. By this point, his hand’s on my thigh, and wandering ever higher. I cross my legs, but he doesn’t take it away. Instead, I feel his other hand on the back of my neck.
My pulse quickens as he looks at me. He’s attractive, no question. And when he kisses me like he’s doing now, my body responds. Because Val knows what he’s doing. His hand on the back of my head, his mouth only just grazing my lips.
‘You’re looking hot tonight,’ he whispers by my side.
I get goosebumps because this is all wrong. His hand strokes my hip. I pull away and clear my throat.
‘Want to head out for a bit?’
Astonishment crosses Val’s eyes. He doesn’t answer, just kisses me again and takes my hand.
The music grows quieter as we step out into the dark corridor and the door shuts behind us. I open my mouth, but before I can say a word, Val’s lips are on mine.
Looks like he got the wrong idea.
For a few seconds, I’m too out of my depth to do anything about him drawing my head up to his and pressing me against the wall with his body. I feel the cold stone through my jumper, Val’s hard crotch and a slight hint of panic because I’m suddenly all too aware of his strength.
‘Val,’ I say, between kisses. He doesn’t respond. I push him away a little and at the same moment, the door to the Dungeon opens. I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s Eleanor of all people, stepping out with her friends. Her eyes immediately scan the corridor and stick fast to us. My pulse calms a little once I realize we’re on her radar.
