Page 25 of When We Were Friends
‘Fancy accompanying me to dinner next Saturday, Marlon? I’ll be back by then.’ she called.
‘Sorry, Tiffany. No can do. I’m meeting someone else.’
‘No problem,’ she replied in a carefree tone.
If they could see her now, they would, those school bullieswouldchoke. Tiff wasn’t a loser at all.
15
MORGAN
‘Pyjamas?’ asked Morgan. They sat on the sofa in the small lounge. She’d just switched off a Friday night chat show. They’d had takeout pizza as a treat.
Olly gave her a thumbs up. It was almost midnight. Vikram’s dad was picking him up at ten o’clock the next morning to take the two pupils to the airport for their flight to Geneva. Morgan would get the train there, for midday. She’d not told Olly about her trip. The truth would get his hopes up – and lies about some fictional holiday would be even more dishonest. Morgan told herself there was no way they’d bump into each other at Terminal 1, even if they were both flying with BA.
Morgan hadn’t foreseen life becoming so complicated as Olly got older. She’d kidded herself a childhood without his father would lead to acceptance. Her parents always said it was a mistake not telling him, that the truth would eventually come out, but they’d respected her decision. Yet all these years, Morgan hadn’t respected Olly’s needs, she could see that now.
‘Wallet, charger and phone?’
Olly rolled his eyes.
‘Deodorant?’
‘Mum. That’s enough. I’m eighteen and perfectly able to pack.’ He drained his mug of hot chocolate.
‘Then you’ll have packed yourself a little first aid box too? Plasters, Paracetamol, that anti-itch cream in case you get bitten?’
‘I guess it wouldn’t harm to take painkillers in case I have a hangover.’
‘There’s a packet in my toiletry cupboard,’ she said, not taking the bait. ‘Get them tonight then you’re all set for tomorrow morning.’
Olly sighed and went upstairs. Morgan smiled, imagining him sliding down the banisters on the way back, like he used to whenever he was younger and excited, when they enjoyed a far simpler life, happier times.
She took the pizza boxes into the kitchen, switched on the fluorescent light and went to dry crockery on the draining board, leaving herself as little to do as possible in the morning.
Crap. Olly was in her bedroom.
She dropped the tea towel and ran to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Wait a minute, love, I’ll—’
He appeared at the top of the stairs. She squinted through the dark hallway, lit only by the moon coming through a window behind Olly. Next to him was a pull case.
‘What’s going on? I found this behind your door.’
‘Nothing,’ she said brightly, ‘I’m visiting… Blackpool for a couple of days. To get some sea air.’
Slowly he walked down the stairs. ‘On your own? Why haven’t you mentioned this before? You hate Blackpool. Too run down. Too many arcades.’ He followed her into the kitchen.
She picked up the tea towel, went to the sink and turned her back as she ran the taps. ‘I’m not completely over the hill. I’m allowed to be spontaneous now and again, aren’t I, and change my mind?’
Morgan spun around at a smacking noise. He’d thrown her passport onto the kitchen table. ‘This was on top of it. Why are you lying? But then you’re the expert at keeping things from me, aren’t you? Even though I’m now eighteen?’
‘Love…’ She moved towards him but Olly backed off.
‘What else haven’t you told me? Have you got a guy on the go? I wouldn’t care, I’m not a child.’
‘It’s nothing like that…’
‘What is it then?’ His voice cracked and he slumped at the table. ‘Is it me? Are you going away for a while?’ He lifted up his head, looking at her through his fringe. ‘Is it my fault?’
