Page 107 of The Forever Gift


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Dad’s eyes narrow. ‘Kayla,’ he warns. ‘Don’t speak to your mother like that.’

‘It’s not cold,’ I snap. ‘What was the point in driving all the way down here if I can’t even hang out with my friends? I might as well have stayed in bed in the hospital.’

‘Kayla that’s not fair to say,’ Dad says. ‘You know we’re worried about you.’

‘Why did you even let me come today if you were going to be like this?’

‘Like what?’ Dad asks.

‘All overprotective and stuff. It’s embarrassing.’

‘Kay…’ Dad says, crouching next to me. ‘I’m sorry. You’re right. Today is supposed to be fun for you and we don’t want to ruin that.’

I sigh. ‘It’s only teachers and parents in the hall.’

‘It is,’ Aiden backs me up. ‘My mam’s in there. She’s looking for you actually, Heather. She said something about muffins melting next to a radiator.’

‘Look,’ Jack says, ‘I’ll stay with Kayla if you’re worried. You go on in and sort the muffin crisis.’

Mam shakes her head. ‘No. Thank you, Jack. But?—’

‘Right,’ Dad says, standing up and placing his hand on Mam’s shoulder. ‘Maybe we should give Kay a little space. I’m sure she’d like to spend some time with Aiden without us crowding her. And if Jack’s with them it will be fine.’

Mam shakes her head again, but she doesn’t bother with words this time.

‘And after all your work last night you don’t want your muffins destroyed now,’ Dad says. ‘Molly loves the three-legged race, so we’ll be just over there.’ Dad points nearby where some of the junior classes are partnered up and tying their ankles together with mouldy, coloured neck ties like the ones the vice principal always wears.

‘Okay. Yeah. Okay,’ Mam says, sounding super unsure, like she’ll change her mind any second. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

‘Right, C’mon, Molly,’ Dad says, taking Molly’s hand. ‘Let play a game of guess who will fall over first.’

Molly giggles with excitement as Dad, Molly and Charlotte walk away.

Mam walks away too, ridiculously slowly, twisting her head over her shoulder to say, ‘Have fun. And put your coat on before you get sick.’

‘Bit late for that,’ someone says and there’s a lot of laughing and joking.

‘You got something to say there, Roisin?’ Aiden snaps, marching over to where Roisin Kelly and some of her horrible friends stand in the doorway of the science building trying not to get caught smoking by the teachers. I really wished I’d noticed them there sooner. I hate that they were in earshot of our conversation. No doubt having a good laugh at my expense.

‘Oh, piss off back to the cripple,’ Roisin says and all her friends laugh as if she’s hilarious.

Aiden sees red and charges towards her.

‘Leave it, Aiden. She’s not worth it,’ I shout, worried he’ll get in trouble if any of the teachers see him.

There’s more laughing and pointing and I hope my face isn’t going bright red because I feel as if my cheeks are on fire. Maybe I should have gone into the hall with Mam after all.

‘Disease is a funny thing,’ Jack says, suddenly standing where Aiden was two seconds ago. I didn’t notice them switch places. ‘You never know when or if you’ll be affected.’

‘I wasn’t trying to slag her,’ Roisin says, and her face goes as red as mine feels.

‘Yes you were,’ Jack says. ‘But that’s okay. You can’t help being an asshole any more than Kayla can help being unwell. Goodbye.’

‘Oh burn,’ one of Roisin’s friends says before they erupt in laughter.

‘Is she always like that?’ Jack asks coming back.

‘Yup,’ Aiden and I say together.

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