‘What’s AP?’
‘Like advanced classes, they get you more credits for college.’
‘And your mum teaches you?’
‘Oh no, I have an online school which I’m finishing up with. Not as good as a real school, but sometimes Mom comes and keeps me company if she thinks I’ve not seen a real person in a while. She’s working weird hours because she’s kept her job back home, so is free most mornings.’
‘Do you like it?’
‘Do I like not being in a real classroom, with my real friends, in a time zone eight hours ahead?’
I feel myself getting hot. ‘You’re really taking to that famous British sarcasm.’
‘It helps when people ask me stupid questions,’ he says serenely.
Harsh. One minute, we are having a nice chat, the next he goes and lashes out again.
‘Must be such a tough life getting to see the world,’ I say in a mocking voice that comes out of nowhere.
Ty’s face is suddenly enraged. ‘Yes, it must be so hard getting to stay where you live, not getting ripped away from your friends and family.’
‘In case you didn’t remember, I have been ripped away from my best friend. He used to live in the house you are now living in.’
‘Good for him. Sounds like he got out and away from a very annoying neighbour,’ he says, a smile playing on his face.
I’ve had enough of this guy now. ‘Isn’t it exhausting, being such a knob?’
‘Knob?’ he says. ‘How British of you.’
What.
A.
Dick.
I step forwards, getting closer to the fence.
‘How is Daze so nice?’ I say. ‘Are you sure you’re brothers?’
‘Coming from an only child,’ he says. He’s also come closer to the fence. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so up close in a while. His skin is this amazing tan colour, and way too clear for a teenage boy. Honestly, it infuriates me how attractive he is.
‘How do you know that?’ I say. ‘Been watching us?’ And byus, I meanme.
‘I’m not the only person trying to get toknow thy enemy.’
‘I didn’t realise we were enemies,’ I say softly. I look at his lips, and force myself away.We are enemies. He said so.
‘Well our run-ins haven’t been exactly . . . friendly. And you’ve also been watching my moves.’
He saw me watching him the other day? ‘I didn’t realise it was a military tactic to look out of a window.’
Somehow we’re now so close that I’m tilting my head to look up at him. The only thing between us is the garden wire fence.
‘Why, you’re so damn angry,’ he muses. For a second, I think Ty is about to touch me. Grab my face in his hands. And for a second, I want him to.
No,I think, shaking myself out of it.Absolutely not.
‘I’m angry? You’re the one being so . . . vitriolic,’ I spit out, clutching for words.
