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22
The following Thursday afternoon, Sonny and I are sitting in an English lesson with Mr Collins, a middle-aged, grey-haired man with a dyed black beard. He’s trying way too hard to look distinguished, but instead looks like a Lego character with a stuck-on beard. I’m not sure I understand why he’s let his hair go grey but has kept his beard dyed, but Sonny says it’s probably something to do with the fact his beard is slightly ginger, and no one wants a ginger beard.
“That makes no sense whatsoever,” I whisper behind my copy of Oliver Twist. We’re supposed to be discussing the social injustice committed to orphans during the Victorian period, but instead we’re discussing ginger beards.
Sonny grins at me, his baby-blues twinkling with mirth. “Most men get a bit of ginger in their beard no matter their hair colour. You should see Bryce. He’s got black hair and still has a bit of ginger going on. It’s weird as fuck.”
“Bryce, as in your guardian? That fit guy who was at the court with you?”
“The one and only.”
“He seemed alright, even if he’s got a ginger beard.”
“Maybe, but he’s not my dad,” Sonny shrugs.
“What happened to him?” I blurt out.
“He died.”
“How?” I murmur. It’s unfair of me to ask him such a personal question knowing I would never reciprocate, but I ask it anyway.
“Wrong place, wrong time. He tried to break up a brawl in a bar, he got stabbed in the heart instead of the man the arsehole was aiming for. My dad, always the fucking hero.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me fucking too, Asia. Me too.”
For the rest of the lesson we listen to Mr Collins drone on about how circumstances forced Oliver into a life of crime, but that his strength of character helped him to make the right choices. It’s obvious what he’s trying to do. The thing is we’re not characters in a damn novel. Oliver got his happy ending. He escaped a life of crime. Not one of us can say the same.
Except maybe Sonny. Those guys he lives with seem alright and they’re rich, after all. When all is said and done, he’ll leave here and go live in some mansion and the rest of us will return to our council flats if we’re lucky. He’ll forget about us, aboutme. One kiss isn’t going to change that. People have a habit of leaving me, so this time I make a decision to be the one to leave. It’s better that way.
When Mr Collins informs us the class is over, I stuff my books into my bag and rush out of the room ignoring Sonny’s shouts for me to wait up. I rush down the hallway, past the rec room and into the girls’ toilets. Thankfully it’s empty and I step into one of the cubicles, locking the door behind me.
“Asia, what the fuck?” I hear Sonny say as he walks into the room a few seconds later. “You ran off. What’s up? You got the shits or something? I’ve been feeling a bit gassy myself since lunch.”
“Oh my god,gross!” I yell at him.
“Too much information?” he asks, chuckling.
“Yes, waytoo much information. Let’s keep a bit of mystery please.”
Beneath the door I can see his feet, one crossing over the other as he leans against the door, making himself comfortable. “Did you know the average person passes about half a litre of farts a day?”
I can’t help but laugh. “You’re really are full of useless information, do you know that?”
“Yep, so I’ve been told…” He pauses, then coughs. “Seriously though, Asia. You sure you’re alright?”
Nope. No, I’m not.Eastern’s in custody. I miss my little brothers. Tracy is freaking out and my mum’s fucking dead. I don’t have some rich guardian and a safe future just like Oliver fucking Twist. Monk is gunning for me and I’m sitting in a toilet like some little twat because I don’t want to share any of this, with anyone.
“I just need to pee.”
“If this is about the kiss…” His voice trails off, uncertain how to proceed given I’ve gone deadly quiet. I want to tell him the kiss was nice. That it was fucking great actually. But I’m not one for expressing how I feel, obviously, given I’m hiding in a goddamn toilet.
“I want you to know that I’m not the lothario you think I am. I mean I like women, a lot, but I also like you, so… I meant what I said on the beach that night.”
“Jesus, Sonny. Will you just sod off, please? I’m about to piss myself, pretty sure you won’t want to kiss me then.”
He barks out a laugh, pushing off from the door, it shakes a little as he moves. “Okay, okay, I can take a hint. Maybe we can pick this conversation up another time. For now, I’m going to head to the canteen. Want me to save you a spot?”
