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Great.
Just great.
“Looks like Paul the prick is about to have a coronary over there.”
“Apologies for being late,” Ms. Falvey announced, hurrying into class with a stack of books in her arms. “I was on a call to a parent.”
Sure, she was.
More like she couldn’t be bothered to turn up.
“Can everybody take out their textbooks and turn to page 112. Today, we’re going to be revising the 1916 Easter Rising. Itwillcome up in the junior cert paper in June and youwilllearn The Proclamation of the Irish Republic off by heart.”
Pulling my book out, I set it down on the table between us, knowing full well that Joey wouldn’t have his copy with him as per usual.
He rarely arrived at school with the required booklist, and spent most of his time bumming hand-me-down copies off teachers, or sharing with whoever was sitting next to him.
I never minded sharing with him, though, because as reckless as he was with his body, he had clear, neat handwriting, and took down notes far more useful and to the point than anything I had ever stolen out of my brother’s schoolbag.
The fact that he could remain so efficient in class while his brain was clearly in an altered state made me even more envious.
“Joe,” I whispered, after spending twenty minutes revising and taking down notes in companionable silence.
“Hm?”
“If I asked you a question, would you tell me the truth?”
“Depends.”
“Something important to me.”
“Like I said, Molloy, it depends,” he whispered, not looking up from his copybook, as he scribbled something down, and then flipped the page over.
“On what?”
“On whether or not you needed to know the truth.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Forget it.”
Joey sighed heavily and turned to look at me. “Ask your question.”
“Will you give me the truth?”
“Just ask your question, Molloy.”
“Have you heard any rumors?”
“Rumors.”
“About Paul.” Releasing a shaky breath, I added, “Messing around with some girl from Tommen.”
Joey tensed for a moment before flicking his gaze to where Paul was sitting. A beat passed before he turned his attention back to me. “No.”
My heart sank in my chest.
He was withholding.
Iknewhe was.
