Page 35 of Silver Tears

“Everything okay?”

“Just Day giving me shit for dating you and warning me not to let you deflower me!” Shit. I realise I said that out loud. I want the ground to swallow me whole and spit me out somewhere hundreds of miles from here.

“You’re still a virgin?” he asks. I can hear the surprise in his voice.

“Yes, so?” I say defensively. “You try getting close to any boys with my two brothers breathing down your neck all the time and scaring all of them off.”

“Wow.” He shakes his head, staring at me like I’m some kind of enigma. “Sorry. It’s just that it’s rare around here for a girl to get to sixteen and still be a virgin.”

“Yeah, well. Get over it,” I bark, crossing my arms across my chest and staring out of the passenger window. This day could seriously go to hell. I want to go back to bed and start again.

“Mills. I think it’s cool that your still you know, pure. It’s a rare thing, but not a bad thing.”

“Pure?” I snicker, glaring at him. “I’m not pure. I’ve done stuff, just not that.”

I glance down at my phone and see its mum ringing me. Great! What now?

“Hi Mum.”

“It’s me, Chops,” a little innocent voice says down the phone. I instantly feel bad for the grumpy way I answered the call.

“Hey, you. Everything okay?”

“The television’s not working. Or the light in the bathroom.”

My heart sinks. So, she blew my last ten pounds on alcohol. “Where’s mum, Charlie?”

“She’s in bed, asleep. I’ve got my uniform on. Should I walk to school? She’s sleeping.”

I sit up straighter in my seat. “No, Chops. You’re too small to walk to school on your own.” I check my watch. It’s eight fifteen. There’s no way I can get over to Droyton, get him to school, and get back without missing my first lesson.

I look up in surprise when Seb slows down and does a U-turn in the middle of the road. “What are you doing?” I ask him, covering the phone so Charlie can’t hear me.

“Driving you to Droyton.”

I blink. “You are. Why?”

He looks at me like I’ve blown it. “Because you need to help your brother and I have a car and can get you there.”

“What about college? You’ll miss the first lesson.”

Seb snorts. “My parents contribute thousands of pounds each year to the school. You think they’ll do anything if I miss a lesson?” He must pick up on my anxiety, as he places his hand on my knee and pats it. “Leave it with me. I’ll sort it so your dad doesn’t get a call.”

“Charlie. I’m on my way. Stay in the house and don’t answer the door to anyone unless it’s Peggy. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Okay, I won’t. Love you.”

My heart melts, tears threatening. “I love you too, Chops. More than anything.”

Seb doesn’t pester me with questions, he just leaves me be.

“I can’t believe she spent my last ten pounds on beer instead of electric.” I sigh. I hate that he’s seeing me in this vulnerable state. “I have a test in my second lesson as well. I have to be back in time.”

“Relax, Mills. I got you. I’ll get you there and back in time, and we’ll get Charlie safely to school.” He’s so calm and easy going. I wish sometimes I could be more like that.

Nodding my head, I chance a glance his way, only for our eyes to meet. “I can give you the money for the electric meter.”

“No.”

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