I roll my eyes, because somebody really needs to teach him that he isn’t funny.“Yeah.So can I share your data or not?”
“Sorry, I’m running kind of low myself.”
“Is there a phone repair shop around here?”
“Near here?”he repeats.Is he dumb or what?
“Yeah,” I say, annoyed.
“Loads of places in Edinburgh.”
“But here?”I ask, because I’m not in the mood for trekking through the boondocks for hours by bus.
“In Ebrington, you mean?”Now he’s laughing.“Irvine’s might sell you a prepaid SIM, if data’s the issue.Ask Kit, he might know.Hey, what are you doing?”he adds as I stand up.
“Going to find out.”
“It’s study hour.”
“So what?”I mutter as I slip on my shoes.
He keeps staring at me like he’s shocked, but then gives a quiet laugh.“Aye, right, you want to get expelled.Well, have fun.”
“Thanks, I will.”I grab my key, my useless cell phone, and some money before leaving the room.Out on the corridor, I dip into the bowl of cookies in the kitchen and walk toward the stairs.Mr.Acevedo’s door is open, which must mean he’s playing watchdog, ready to spot anyone trying to creep out.
“Ah, Colin.”He turns up behind me at that very moment.“I was about to come and see you.Dr.Henderson called—you had an appointment with him?”
Shit, that’s right.I was supposed to go and introduce myself to the school doctor before study hour.I totally forgot.
“Yeah, could be,” I mumble as I turn around.
“Why are you even out here on the wing?Have you finished your prep?In that case, you can go and see him now, OK?”Mr.Acevedo says, walking past me to his room.
Fine, so I’ll pay a visit to this doc, then go into the town.Suits me.
Someone else is coming up the stairs toward me.There’s almost a hint of fear in Olive Garden’s eyes, but then her expression becomes unreadable.
“It’s study hour,” she pants as she hurries past me.
“Yeah, knock yourself out.”I shove a cookie into my mouth.
She stops.“Where are you going?”
“To see the goddamn school doctor.Can you tell me where he is?”
“I’m sorry?”She takes a step toward me.
“Yeah, or d’you want to come along?After that I thought I’d go see Mrs.Sinclair and then you can explain to her whatyou didin person.”
She gives a slightly manic laugh, which secretly makes me grin.“Do whatever you like.”
I walk over and rest my hand on the wall, level with her face.I notice again how tiny she is as I look down at her.There’s a warning glimmer in her green eyes.“Don’t you worry, Olive Garden, I will.”
She juts out her chin provocatively, which sadly I find only too pleasing.“You really think you can just come here and do whatever the hell you like, don’t you?”
I shrug.“I don’t know.Can I?”
“You’re not a good person, Colin Fantino,” she says with disgust.
