‘That’s right,’ says Daze, fist-bumping me on the way out. ‘I’ve made friends now.’
‘You love winding him up,’ I say, laughing, once the door shuts.
‘I was trying to get him to leave,’ says Ty, tugging off his crocs.
‘Didn’t take you for a Crocs man,’ I say.
‘They’re practical!’ he says.
I sigh and pull off my shoes. ‘Why am I here? I’m meant to be going to school.’
‘It’s your birthday,’ he says.
‘As we’ve established. Several times.’
‘So,’ he says, approaching me until we’re inches apart. He looks down at me, at my lips. ‘Let me give you your birthday present.’
My brain stops firing. I’m caught up in his eyes, this invisible string pulling us close together. All I can hear are the lyrics from ‘Magnets’ in my head.
And then he laughs and pushes me on the shoulder.
I flush. Why do we keep doing this game?
He moves around so he’s catching my eye again, but this time it’s friendlier rather than flirty, a sly sparkle in his eye. ‘But I am being serious about the present.’
‘What is the present?’ I say, crossing my arms.
‘The best present I could give to you,’ he says, moving his arm theatrically with each word. ‘The present of my presence.’
I roll my eyes. I thought we were done winding each other up by now. I wedge my shoes back on, pushing past him to the door.
He grabs me by the arm, and pulls me back. ‘I’m being serious. Skip school with me,’ he says.
‘You don’t even go to school,’ I say, but I don’t pull my arm back.
‘Okay, well then skip school for me. Please.’
I catch his eye, and against all better judgement I say, ‘Okay.’
Thirty-Four
Home’s not where the heart is
Home’s not where they are
Home’s not the place where you park your car
Home’s a feeling
As deep as the midnight sky
Home is where I’m kissing you
hello and goodbye
‘Home’ fromThe Brink of Teenage Freedom
So that’s how I end up on a train to London with Ty. I’m still wearing my sash and tiara, getting some interesting looks from strangers.
