What the hell is going on?
I take a deep breath and head back up the stairs, squaring my shoulders as Will comes into my line of sight. He glances at me and nods awkwardly.
“Hi.” His voice is higher pitched than I remember, and he looks drawn, ill. Geoffrey begins to say something that rapidly turns to a cough and I shoot him a sympathetic glance.
“Hi,” I mutter back, before turning to Geoffrey. “You get yourself home, now. My daddy swears by a hot whiskey with honey and cloves for a cold, and my granddaddy swore on boiled Guinness, but that sounds disgusting, don’t you think?” I’m babbling, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“Yes, I think I’ll give that particular home remedy a miss.” He smiles. “This young man says he’s here for you?”
I slide a sharp glance at Will. He doesn’t look harmful, just knackered. “Er, yeah, he’s a . . . friend.” I don’t want Geoffrey telling Tommy that random lads have started dropping by for me. I spot a sleek black car slowing down outside. “In fact, I think our cab’s here. Get well soon, Geoffrey.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
I push the door open, humidity gathering on my skin immediately. Geoffrey locks the doors and Will gets into the car. Geoffrey begins to walk away, and I startle myself by calling out to him.
“I’ll call in next week,” I say. “I’m going to see my friend Jess, now. With Will. This guy here.” I point to the cab as Geoffrey’s brow starts to furrow, confused.
“Good, good,” he says. “Well, ta-ra, now.”
“And then I’m off back to my halls.” I rush on, relentless, raising my voice so Will can hear me. “Last few days at college this week, I won’t be missing that if I don’t have to. I mean, it would look really weird if I didn’t show up, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it would.” He looks totally bemused as he waves me off. But I feel calmer.
Better safe than sorry.
*
Will doesn’t utter a word on the drive back, Jess is conveniently ignoring my texts and by the time the cab pulls up outside our college building, I’m ready to explode.
“Why on earth would Jess come straight to the library?” I ask. “She should be in bed.” Will shrugs in response and I let out a howl of frustration as I climb out and slam the door. “Fine,” I mutter, stalking towards the entrance, “I’ll ask her myself, shall I?”
I’m aware of him trailing behind me but oddly, I don’t feel threatened any more. He’s been hunched in on himself the whole way over, like someone has deflated him.
“Jess?” I swing through the door, peering through its round porthole to see the room appears empty. “Jess!” I try again.
“Back here,” Jess calls from the little room where the microfilm is and I follow the sound, feeling the draught of the door as Will walks in behind me.
“Come on,” I mutter, marvelling as he follows me like a puppy dog. Today is weird.
“Jess!” I fly over to her chair and grab her in a bear hug without thinking.
“Ow, easy!” She laughs and I loosen up the hug. The comedy bandage is gone but her hair is scraped back in a knotty mess and her glasses seem to magnify her bruised, tired eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” she winces. “The doctor said I have some cracked ribs, but I’ll be fine, I just need to rest. Look, I’ve made tea.”
Jess fiddles with the little wheels as Will grabs himself a cup and starts to fill it.
“Tea?” I hiss. “With him? Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Jess pauses and glares at Will.
“You haven’t told her?”
He takes off his hat and rubs a pale hand over his face. His eyes are bloodshot, and his chin is showing the slightest shadow of stubble. He puts a biscuit in his mouth.
“Well?” Jess glares at him.
“I didn’t think she’d believe me,” he says, through a mouthful of crumbs. “Last time she saw me I was in her hallway, underneath a copper. Why should she listen to me?”
I lean back in my chair and fold my arms. “He’s got a fair point. So?”
