Page 102 of Saving 6

“Fuck you, Molloy.”

“Fuck you back.”

Feeling vengeful, I held my hand up and waited for the teacher to notice me.

“Yes, Aoife?”

“Joey called me fat.” Sniffling, I batted another tear away. “I’m really upset about it. Can I please be excused?”

His mouth fell open. “Youbitch.”

Fuck you,I mouthed back at him.

“Joey!” Ms. Falvey snapped, looking horrified. “Yes, Aoife, go on outside and get some air.”

“I didn’t call her fat,” I heard him defend, as I stalked out of the classroom door. “It’s not her weight she has a problem with. It’s that deranged vindictive streak in her.”

* * *

I was dawdling outsideof the girls bathroom, wasting the last few minutes of class until the final bell rang, when a sour looking Joey came stalking down the corridor towards me.

“Thanks a bunch, Molloy,” he called out, green eyes narrowed, as he closed the space between us. “Falvey put me back on a red book for the foreseeable.”

“Oh please.” I rolled my eyes. “When aren’t you on a report book?”

“Do you know how big of a hassle that fucking book is? Having to get it signed before and after every damn class, and then having to meet up with Nyhan at the end of every day to be bitched at?”

“No,” I drawled, tone laced with sarcasm. “Because, unlike you, I know how to behave myself.”

“No,” he corrected, stopping short when he reached me. “You’re just sneaky enough to not get caught.”

“That, too.”

“Here.” He dropped my school bag at my feet. “You left your bag.”

“Thanks.”

“I cleared the stash of chocolate in your pencil case.”

I sucked in a horrified breath. “You asshole.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sorry,” Joey shot back with a shrug. “You deserved it for pulling that stunt on me.” Releasing a frustrated growl, he added, “But Iamsorry for not telling you about prick-face sooner.”

Anger dissipated, and feeling sheepish, I leaned in close and nudged his shoulder with mine. “And I’m sorry for telling Ms. Falvey that you called me fat.”

“And?” Joey pushed.

“And for you getting the red book back.”

“And?

I blew out an aggravated breath and muttered, “And for threatening to drown you.”

“Hm,” Joey grumbled, nudging my shoulder back. “If it was anyone else, Molloy. If it was anyone else.”

“But it’s me.”

“It’s you,” he confirmed. “Pain in my hole.”

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