Page 110 of Thick as Thieves
He says it like he thinks that will solve any issues. I can see his thinking, girls helping girls.
But I roll my eyes at that. “You know she won’t, don’t you?” Honestly, at times he is so thick.
He frowns at me. “Of course she will. She’s my friend as well. I’ve known her as long as I’ve known you, and you’re happy for me.” He lives in a world of his own making at times. I think his mother’s delusion rubs off on him.
“Whatever. But I don’t think she, or anyone else, will be happy, so be ready.”
He screws his face up in disbelief. He thinks everyone will be happy with his choice, but I know Issy. And his mother will absolutely not be in his corner for this. Evie is too opinionated, too confident in herself, too ‘fuck you’ for them. They can’t control her, and his mother likes control.
Marcus age 16
Eastwood Estate Yorkshire
I waitat the corner of Greystone farm to see if Evie’s there. Jonno passes by on a tractor, heading into a field near the house. “She’s down by Sandy Lane with Jude. They’re supposed to be working it,” he shouts over the engine, rolling his eyes. “They’ve fallen out twice today already. I don’t know what’s up with Evie, she's a nightmare at the minute.” He honks his horn and drives into the field.
Oh god, I need her in a good mood. Otherwise she’ll say no, and not care if I’m upset or not. Especially if Jude’s been winding her up.
Sandy Lane is a good fifteen minute walk, so I set off at a jog. I need to get to her before Jude can really piss her off.
My heart stops beating when I see her coming towards me, looking like the hounds of hell have been unleashed. She’s red in the face and even from this distance I can see she’s fuming.
I wave at her, but she doesn’t wave back. She doesn’t give a shit at times about anything. I love that about her.
“What’s up?”
She doesn’t answer. Carries on stomping straight past me, towards the farm.
“Are you still coming to my birthday dinner?” I call after her.
She stops dead, turning back towards me, her face changing from fuming to a smile. “Oh, Kellen. Happy birthday.” Kissing my cheek and hugging me, she says, “I’m sorry I ignored you. Jude he?—”
She stops and just shakes her head a little, as if she’s shaking away the last of her anger. She’s never angry for long. It's like a storm rolling in, blasting everything in its path, then dissipating quickly.
“Err, I don’t have anything to wear. I was supposed to go clothes shopping with Pat, but she had to go with Jackson into London. Something to do with the army.”
She looks down at her boots, an old pair of Blundstones I gave her. They’re worn down to the floor, and they need mending. But she loves them, and never takes them off.
“I don’t have any shoes either. They’re at my house, and I’m not going there with Pat away. If the nosey neighbour sees me, she’ll ring the police or something.” She pulls a face, and I can see the disgust aimed at the neighbour.
“I don’t care what you come in, as long as you come. I want you there.” I grab hold of her hand and thread my fingers through hers. “I want you to come, Xan wants you to come.” I know she likes to do things for Xander, and I'll use anything to get her there.
“I want you to come as my girlfriend,” I say in a rush, my eyes searching her face for a response. I don’t think she’s heard me, as she doesn’t say anything, and her face doesn’t change. It remains blank. But then she bites her lip and I can’t take my eyes off them.
“Your girlfriend?” she echoes eventually. “What about the other girls? Or Issy? They told me you went with her.” She looks away as she says it.
But I start to laugh. “No fucking chance.” I pull her towards me. “I want you to come as my girlfriend. I want us to spend time together when I’m home from school. I don’t want you to see anyone else when I’m away, and I won’t either.”
“So you're not talking to anyone else?” she asks. “Because Issy said you had about five girls you were talking to.” She’s totally sceptical. She’s seen all the girls here over the summers. She’s seen how they flutter around me. How much I like it.
“I was, but not now. If you say yes, no one else.”
“Privileged,” she says sarcastically, and looks towards the farm.
Fuck. She has someone else. What ifshehas five others she’s talking to.
“You know what I mean. I don’t want you talking to anyone at your school.” I need to be clear on this. “Even when I’m not here. And when I come home, I want it to be just us,” I tell her, reaching out to touch her face and hair. God she smells like heaven, rose, and summer rain.
“I don’t care what you wear, but please come.” I’m virtually begging as I look at her face. Those beautiful, big, expressive, grey eyes not hiding anything today. Clear and smiling at me, god so smiling at fucking me.
