Page 41 of Knowing You
I put away the boxes of medication. ‘I… I used to speak to animals a lot as a child.’
‘I used to speak to my Action Men. They gave me advice about fighting. In return I’d set them up with my sisters’ Barbie dolls.’
I grin and throw the dirty wipe into a bin. He catches my hand.
‘We didn’t finish our dance properly at The Olive Bar.’ He pulls me close and I can’t help smiling as a middle-aged couple walk past. The woman shoots me a wistful look as if recalling a scene from her past. Dancing in the park? How my life’s changed. Before I know it, his lips are almost pressed against mine. My heartbeat accelerates as our mouths part. I shut my eyes. I forget Lenny and Beatrix. I even forget Bella. Right now, this is about me and a man whose qualities continue to open up in front of me like a beautiful lotus flower. His humour and kindness. His gentle ways. His ambition. His loyalty. His smile.
Just as our lips brush against each other, his phone rings. After an almost imperceptible sigh Casey pulls away.
‘Great timing. Mum’s not well, so I’d better answer it.’
Have I really nearly been kissed by a man who looks like him? I glance down at my outfit. The legs that Farah called slender last week and my blonde hair. My new and improved body parts feel like a toolkit that makes me invincible now. The sense of power feels more addictive than the creamiest chocolate bar.
‘Sorry, Vi. I’d better head off. My sisters are both busy today and Mum sounds confused about her tablets. I won’t be able to rest knowing that she’s so worried.’
I meet his gaze and nod. ‘Of course you must go. I hope she’s okay.’
He takes my hand and kisses the palm gently before taking out his travel card. ‘Text me?’
‘I’ll wait to hear from you,’ I say with a fearlessness I’m beginning to feel.
‘Okay. And, Vi? Spending time with you today… it’s helped me come to a decision. Regardless of what he may think, I’ll be instructing my agent to submit to Thoth tomorrow. If you in any way represent their values, then I want to be a part of it.’
2001
Fireworks Night used to be a favourite date for me and Uncle Kevin. Whilst Mum made bangers and mash, we’d spell our names in the night air with sparklers out in the back garden. He’d buy me boxes of fun snaps and pretend to be really scared at the noise when I threw them on the ground. And he always found an amazing display to go to. Last year’s had a waterfall with water drops made of white sparkles. Mum said it was the prettiest thing, like a wedding dress’s train. A dress with a railway on it doesn’t sound very pretty to me.
This year I want to spend it with Flint. It’s next week. I asked Mum and she said he can come to tea. She wondered if he’d be doing anything with his family but they haven’t got the money to visit a display and won’t use sparklers in their back garden in case they frighten the rabbits and guinea pigs.
We’re sitting in the tree house. It’s a Saturday morning, which means hours and hours off school. Fireworks Night is next Friday – only six days to go.
‘Mum’s promised to make us bangers and mash, just like old times,’ I say.
Flint puts down his book and his face splits into a grin. Today he’s wearing one of his older brother’s old jackets. It’s a little bit big for him. ‘That’s awesome, especially as Sally has started trying to make us go vegetarian.’
Flint calls his mum by her name. It sounds very grown-up to me.
He pulls a face. ‘Last night she served up burgers made of something called Quorn.’
I don’t know what that is but it sounds disgusting.
‘I couldn’t eat more than a mouthful so just made myself a cheese sandwich instead.’
‘I wish my mum would let me skip her meals. We had fried eggs last night. I don’t like the white.’
‘Me neither. But the yolk is yummy, especially with sticks of toast dipped in.’
We smile at each other. Me and Flint have so much in common. Unlike everyone in my class, he also doesn’t much like The Spice Girls.
‘Alice threw an egg sandwich at my jumper yesterday. It smeared across it. All afternoon she said I smelt like farts. Everyone laughed and made raspberry noises when they came near me.’ I curl my fists. ‘I really hate her. It’s just getting worse. Everyone has forgotten about the spider.’
‘You need to think of something else. She needs to be taught a lesson that will really hurt.’
‘Like what?’
Flint pulls his ponytail tighter and thinks. ‘If only we could get a firework. You could throw it at her feet. Watch her scream when it goes off.’
I gasp. ‘Wouldn’t that be dangerous? She could get burnt really badly and I’d get into so much trouble.’
