Then: Aged 13
Eleanor
‘This is ridiculous.’ Eleanor sighed, rolling over on to her back.
‘Is it, Elles? How do I know that in twenty-two years’ time you’re not going to turn around and deny this entire conversation ever happened?’ Fin’s freckled face looked down at her from over the bed.
‘Well, you don’t but I won’t,’ she replied matter-of-factly.
‘You say that now.’ He poked her gently in the stomach. ‘But what happens if we lose touch? What if I disappear off to India and become a yoga teacher or a spiritual leader and I leave my cult in search ofyou, ring in hand, down on one knee on your thirty-fifth birthday, and you claim that you don’t even know me,’ he cried incredulously.
‘You’re being ridiculous.’ She turned back on to her stomach. Conversations with Fin often had a way of making her restless. ‘Honestly, what goes on in that brain of yours? It exhausts me just thinking about it.’
‘Sign the paper, Eleanor,’ Fin declared.
‘No. And it’s weird when you call me Eleanor.’
‘Eleanor Ruth Levy. Sign this pact immediately or risklosing our friendship for ever.’ He leapt off the bed and thrust the piece of paper under her nose.
Eleanor finally conceded and put down her book. She’d been desperately trying to focus on something other than Fin’s ramblings for the last twenty minutes, but she knew it was pointless. When Fin wanted something, there was no way in hell he would stop until he got it.
‘First of all’ – she propped herself up on her elbows – ‘you can’t touch your toes or sit still for more than ten seconds at a time, so the chance of you becoming some sort of yoga guru is highly unlikely.’ She sat up and continued quickly before he could interrupt with another stream of thoughts. ‘Secondly, you know that even if I tried every second of every day for twenty-two years, I could never forget you. Look …’ She jabbed her finger at the top of the piece of paper. ‘Isn’t this enough? We’ve already made our life plan together.’
Fin glanced down at the list of promises they had made. What had started off as silly rules to govern their friendship – don’t lie to each other, don’t go to sleep mad at each other, don’t steal each other’s stuff – had, over time, manifested into a combined to-do list for their lives. Finish high school together. Attend the same university (different courses allowed, but ideally the same number of years). Move to London after graduation and rent a flat together. And when, inevitably, marriage and babies occurred, they’d have to always live within at least twenty minutes of each other.
‘And finally, I’m praying with all I have that we won’t even need to use this pact, because quite frankly I don’t fancy being alone at thirty-five.Butbecause you’re my best friend, and because I want to go back to reading my book, I’ll sign it.’
Fin’s eyes lit up with delight. He handed her his pen and winked.
‘Ms Levy, if we could please have you sign once at the top and once at the bottom, I think we will be good to go.’
She grabbed the piece of paper and began to read.
I, Eleanor Ruth Levy, and I, Finley James Taylor, hereby declare that if such a time occurs at the ripe old age of thirty-five that both members of this agreement find themselves single then it shall be mandatory for the individual parties to wed each other. The marriage shall take place in accordance with this binding contract, willingly entered into by both.
Signed.
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‘Sorry, but when did you become some sort of legal expert? I didn’t think you even knew half these words existed,’ she exclaimed, half joking, half impressed.
‘Well, that teaches you not to underestimate me, doesn’t it?’ He flashed her a proud smirk. ‘Plus, my mum watches loads of crappy legal dramas on TV when my dad is away on business, so you pick up a few things.’
‘I knew it wasn’t just your natural intelligence,’ Eleanor replied, turning her gaze back to the piece of paper and signing her name at the bottom. ‘Done. Now, here’s hoping we’re not both single and lonely by the time we’re thirty-five.’ She sank herself back into the soft pink carpet and picked up her discarded book.
‘Ew, thirty-five, that’s old.’
‘So old.’
‘I don’t know if I even want to live until I’m that old. Being an adult looks hard.’
‘Fin!’
‘What?’ he exclaimed innocently.
‘You know I hate it when you say things like that.’ She kicked him gently and he came to lie by her side. ‘You can’t go anywhere. I need you too much.’
‘Fine. For you, Elles, I’ll stick around.’ He nudged her softly and grinned. ‘But only because you need me.’
