Page 114 of Sad Girl Hours
There’s a note of desperation in the ‘please’ that gets me. Plus I amfreezing. I’d be glad of the exercise and of a blanket to wrap around me.
“FINE. Casper, give me your keys.”
“I … don’t have them.” He turns to Jenna who just slowly closes her eyes.
“You don’t have your car keys. You drove here, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I … must have left them in the car. Silly me.”
“Your car is unlocked with the keys inside?” I say, trying to make sure I’m getting this straight.
“Must be. How terribly silly of me. You’d better hurry and make sure it’s not been stolen.”
I glare at each of them in turn, knowing that something sus is occurring. “Whatever.”
I start walking away towards the car park. I hear them have a hushed celebration behind me. God, what am I walking towards? It’s nowhere near my birthday or anything, so unless they’ve taken the concept of surprise parties a little too literally and have organised one ten months early, it must be something else.
I walk down the hill, grumpy and shivering from being damp and out in three degrees.
When I get to the car park, I see that Casper’s car is, thankfully, still there, and hasn’t been taken for a joyride by some lucky devil who came across a Mini with its fucking KEYS IN THE IGNITION.
I get closer, my eyes squinting in the dark. There’s someone leaning against the car. My heart thumps. What if they’ve seen the keys and are going to steal it? I reckon I could be quite badger-like if it came to a physical brawl, but I’d rather not have to poke someone’s eyes out in order to avenge the honour of Sally (the car) if at all avoidable.
I get closer. My heart starts thumping for an entirely different reason.
“What are you doing here…”
Chapter Fifty-three
Nell
“Hi,” Saffron says, leaning forward off the car, looking a little nervous but alsoperfect. As usual. And, bizarrely, she’s holding the lead of an amber-coloured curly mess of a dog that can only be Kenneth.
“Hi.What are you doing here?” I repeat.
“It’s a long story,” she says. “Why don’t you get in, and I’ll tell you it?”
“In the car?”
“Yes.”
Arguably I should have some questions. Again,what are you doing here,how come Casper is letting you drive his car,is it even legal for you to do so,where are we going,why is Kenneth here, etc., etc.
But, instead, I get in the damn car.
Kenneth is very excited to see me, sitting up alertly as we pull out of the car park and drive through town, all the way to the motorway on the other side, leading up towards the Lake District.
Saffron is quiet. I keep turning to watch her, her face periodically being lit up as we pass under the street lamps.
When we get to theWelcome to the Lake Districtsign, I can bear it no longer.
“Not to be indelicate, but are you kidnapping me? Am I being kidnapped right now?”
She laughs and it sounds like summer rain. “Not really. You’ll be back home in your own bed by the end of the night. Promise.”
“All right. Then, next question, one you may recall me asking before – why are you here?”
“The boring answer is that term starts tomorrow. And I have a meeting with my tutor first thing.”
