‘I’m always nice to you!’
‘No you’re not, you snitch on me!’ Gracie made out to jab her in the ribs.
‘When did I snitch on you?’ She had entirely forgotten if she had.
‘When I took the gin from the sideboard that Mum’d bought for Christmas, you told them it was me.’
So she had!This memory wrapped now in deep regret.
‘Well who else was it going to be?’ she laughed, and Gracie laughed too. The loveliest sound. ‘What are you doing tonight, any plans?’ It was the closest she could get to discussing her sister’s movements, aware of Chen’s warning that any mention of what was to happen would be disastrous and their time wouldend. She was not about to let this incredible opportunity slip through her fingers.
‘I’m going to a party, actually!’ Her sister lay on her front and beat her feet on the blanket, excitement and energy making her limbs jump. ‘But don’t tell Mum and Dad; it’s a secret.’
‘Can I come with you?’ If there was the slightest chance that she might be able to tag along, stick to her sister’s side, stop her meeting the most terrible fate, but, of course, that was impossible. Everything had already happened. This was no more than VR, a snapshot, at least that was how she tried to explain it to herself.
‘No, you dork, you can’t. It’s not your kind of party. Maybe in a few years.’
‘Who’re you going with?’
‘Well aren’t you full of questions!’ Gracie leaned forward, held her hair to one side, and whispered conspiratorially, ‘If you must know, I’m going with my boyfriend.’
‘You haven’t got a boyfriend!’ This was news.
‘I have, actually, but he’s a secret too. And don’t tell a soul, but I’m only going to the party to show my face and then I’m meeting him and we’re going to hang out in his car, put some music on. Have a wee drinkie! God, I’m so into him!’
‘He’s got a car?’
‘Even better than that, he’s got a truck.’ Gracie widened her eyes as if this was currency.
‘Do you love him, Gracie?’ she asked softly.
Her sister nodded, her tone sincere, ‘And he loves me.’
‘Are you shagging?’
Gracie let out a raucous howl, ‘God, that is the funniest thing in the world, hearing you say the word shagging!’
‘I’m fourteen, not a baby!’
‘You’re our baby, V, always will be.’
‘So,areyou?’ Verity wanted the detail.
‘Aye. It’s like a drug! I’m totally addicted, can’t get enough of him.’ She threw her head back and took a deep breath.
‘So who is it?’
‘Can’t say.’ Gracie shook her head.
‘You can tell me. I want to know!’ She felt the bloom of tears at the back of her throat. ‘Is it, is it Dale McCurdy?’ She hated the feel of his name in her mouth.
Gracie sprayed her laughter, ‘Dale McCurdy! Urgh! Jesus Christ!’ she made out to retch. ‘You’ve giein me the boak! Why would you think that?Dale McCurdy? He’s a complete waste of space! Dale McCurdy, of all people?’– she laughed again – ‘Are you kidding? Do I not have standards?’
‘So who is it then?’ Verity sat up and stared at her darling sister. ‘I promise not to tell anyone.’
Gracie sat up too and toyed with a chain around her neck. She bit her lip as if keen to share the information, in the way you did when you were excited, in love and seventeen. Her beautiful, beautiful sister,only seventeen…
‘If you say a word to anybody, I’ll never speak to you again.’ Her eyes glinted with seriousness.
