by Jacky Gray
Jude was thrilled. “Make sure you get there by twenty past ten. I’ll get Ray in on a spectator’s pass before the rush starts. Bernie might let the rest of you on the ice for the last ten minutes if I ask him nicely.”
The afternoon flew by; the food tech lesson was relieved by the excitement of a fire drill. Mrs Halton, the cookery teacher, had no idea about the arrangements for Ray.
Luke sussed the procedure first. “Mrs Halton, we need to get Ray out fast before the corridors clog up with people.”
“Oh, er, yes. I suppose you’re right. Off you go, then.”
“I’ll need someone to run ahead and open doors.” Luke was a good man to have around in a crisis. “Can Jude come, please?”
“Yes. Hurry up, then.” She frowned as Jude grabbed her fleece. “No, Jude. You’re supposed to leave everything here.”
16 If you Can’t Stand the Heat …
With the fire alarm ringing in her ears, Jude ignored the cookery teacher, shrugging on her fleece as she ran to open the door so Ray could wheel his chair out with Luke riding shotgun. They had no problem down the first corridor, but when they turned the corner they met a mass of barely moving year sevens. This was their first drill and most of them hadn’t a clue.
“This is useless, we’d have been better off turning left out of the door, it would have been much quicker.” Jude scowled in frustration.
“Except there are stairs. I know, I tried it yesterday. You have to go halfway round the block to get to the ramp. Hopelessly inadequate.”
“Yeah, but it’s only a small flight, I could have carried you down, no problem.” Luke was all for turning back, but that option was cut off by the class coming up behind them. He made a decision. “Jude, see if you can find the teacher in charge, while I clear a channel through this lot.”
Jude began the hopeless task of trying to make her way through the teeming mass of excitable slow-reacting children. A group of year eights merged into the chaos from the nearby computer room. Several of the stroppier ones questioned her authority. Even with Luke bellowing at them to “Clear the way,” the three of them made slow progress.
Eventually, Mr Brotherton emerged behind the year eights, declaring the fire drill should be carried out in silence. Getting straight on the case, he led them to a fire door in the next corridor and beckoned them through. He made the other kids line up, refusing to continue while one person still spoke. This gave Ray’s team a head-start to get to the assembly point on the tennis courts.
Liv spotted them first. “Oh, wow. Fearsome is on the warpath. Apparently it wasn’t a drill. Someone set off the alarm but there was no fire.”
Kat ran up, abandoning her place in the line. “Fearsome’s looking for you, Ray. We told him about Luke’s hero bit.”
“You don’t know the half of it. The big lummox was only gonna carry me down the stairs.”
“What, wheelchair and all?” Liv couldn’t help her natural scepticism.
“Jude could have carried that. It’s pretty lightweight.”
Fearsome rocked up. “There you are, Donelly. My office; right now. And you, Harper, and whoever else was involved. Chop, chop.”
“But Miss Leon hasn’t taken the register, yet.” Luke dared to contradict.
“Go and get yourselves ticked off, and then come. The rest of you should be standing quietly in register order.”
As they walked home, Liv asked what Fearsome wanted, and Jude noticed the offhand tone and wobbly face which suggested she felt excluded.
Ray shrugged. “Nothing much. Probably worried about what my folks would say and wanted to cover his butt. Mrs Halton was totally clueless, but she missed the meeting where they asked all staff to familiarise themselves with the current wheelchair-friendly routes.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Liv accompanied the favourite catch phrase with an appropriate sassy gesture.
“Of course I could have him wrong. It could have been his idea of an apology for not having everything in place before the alarm went off.”
“As if!!” Liv and Jude reacted simultaneously.
Ray’s grin turned to a frown. “He’s really got it in for Luke. As good as told him off for wanting to carry me down the stairs; started quoting all kinds of health and safety regulations at him.”
Jude couldn’t resist adding her take on things. “Luke was dead cool, suggesting they should get some portable ramps to fit over the stairs.”
“But Fearsome shot him down in flames, asking how he thought the school could afford ramps for every set of stairs and where they could be stored so they weren’t in the way.” Ray’s tone suggested this mind-set wasn’t atypical.
“Poor Luke.” Liv’s sympathy came as a surprise. She didn’t normally have much time for the jock, but the deputy head’s attitude stank so badly, it was understandable.
Jude stepped up to defend Luke. “He was great, though. Came straight back with a plan which would involve only a few of the ramps which could be stored under the stairs. And he even had the nerve to ask if he didn’t think Ray’s life was worth it.”
“Yeah, I didn’t know the big guy cared.” Ray grinned. “It sure shut Fearsome up, though.”
A picture shot into Jude’s mind; at the beginning of year ten, an image of “the big guy” being more than just caring. The details were fuzzy – something about a gifted and talented initiative run by the PE department. They’d been bused to a local university and put through a bunch of weird and wonderful activities the bods had thought up. She and Luke had partnered up for a “trust” exercise when they had to topple backwards, trusting their partner to catch them.
She’d struggled when the distance between them got really far, because he was a whole lotta guy to catch. When it came to her turn, however, she’d closed her eyes and had complete faith he’d catch her no matter what. The teacher had used them as an example of how to do it well, and they renewed their initial connection.
For several weeks afterward, the bond between them deepened as he sought her out in the follow-up sessions. His interest ramped up as he chatted to her while they waited for Kat by the lockers. Just at the point where she was sure he would ask her out, his mum went into hospital and he became a different guy.
“Still with us, Jude?” Liv’s question broke in on her thoughts.
“Sorry, what? Nope. Miles away.”
“Looked like a different continent.” Ray’s eyes narrowed.
“Oh it’ll be about skating, it always is.” Liv waved her hand in front of Jude’s face.
She grinned. “Right, as usual.” But she couldn’t wait to be on her own to figure out what was going on in her head and why her thoughts kept snagging on Luke. A montage of incidents scooted past, stuff she’d tried to suppress because she wasn’t proud of the way she’d acted toward Luke over the whole “turning to the dark side” scenario.
Like when the English teacher had decided he was a troublemaker and made him swap seats to sit at the front. The strict seating plan meant alphabetical order, boy-girl, so he’d replaced the lad who normally sat next to Jude. But she’d been so angry at the way he’d treated Kat, she’d frozen him out. He’d resorted to asking Diana which page they were on, which got him into more trouble.
She sighed. So many occasions when she’d been mean to him. So many opportunities for him to hate her.
17 Fatherly Love
As they walked home, Luke filled Kat in on the meeting with the deputy head. “So, that’s it. I’ve done myself no favours there. He glared at me like I’d crawled out from under a stone.”
Kat giggled. “Jude says ‘like something he stepped in.’ I’m sure he won’t be angry at you for trying to help.”
“We’ll see. Anyway, I don’t care what he thinks of me; it’s not important anymore.”
“Luke Harper, you look all creamy-cat.” His smile deepened even further and her heart vacated its cavity for a couple of beats as it tried out a quickstep with his. “What on earth happened to you l
ast night? I was so worried when you ran away from your dad.”
“So worried you told him I didn’t know how to treat girls?” The grin in his voice said he didn’t mind.
“I’m sorry. I tried to convince him it was innocent, but he wasn’t having any of it.” Kat cringed at the memory of the whole event.
“Don’t sweat, I’m only teasing. I’m really quite glad.”
“Glad? But ...”
“Yeah. He actually managed to talk to me like a human being for the first time since Mum died. After I left you in my bedroom – sorry about that, by the way.” His expression appealed for forgiveness.
“Nothing to apologise for. I’d have done the same.”
“Anyway, I was really mad at him and went round to Sheila’s all prepared never to go home again. But she sat me down with a cuppa and gave me an idea of how awful their lives were when they were young. How much he relied on Mum to deal with me an’ Pete because he never felt close to their parents.” He paused, and she sensed him picking his words carefully.
“Sheila says their dad was a bully and their mum wimped out, letting him get on with it. My dad was so afraid he’d turn out like his dad, he stayed away from us as much as he could.”
“Oh, wow. It must have been really hard for him.”
“Yeah. And of course with Mum … and then Pete’s meningitis …” He broke off, shaking his head, and she kept silent until he resumed.
“Of course, it didn’t help when Paddy went storming round, but at least dad stuck up for me.”
“How do you know? When you left ours, you ran off the other way. I didn’t think you went back home.”
“I headed back to Sheila’s, but I remembered what she said about giving him another chance. As I came in the back, I heard the commotion at the front door. I was afraid dad would go for Paddy, but Rory turned up, so I stayed in the kitchen. Dad came in, hugged me and burst into tears.”
He shook his head, obviously stunned by the memory. “I never saw a man cry before. I know some of it was the drink, but even so.”
Kat didn’t know what to say so she merely squeezed his arm.
He tightened his lips in a grim half-smile. “Anyway, I made him a coffee and we sat in the kitchen and talked for hours. It was like I never really knew him, never saw what a good man he is or how hard he tries for us. An’ I think he still thought of me as about twelve. It was only when he saw me with you he realised I’m fifteen.”
“Don’t tell me you got the ‘facts of life’ speech?”
“He asked if I know about taking precautions an’ about all the AIDS stuff. I told him we were just good friends and he tapped the side of his nose and winked.”
“Gross. Exactly what my dad does. Are you happy with that?”
“Are you kidding? Like I said, he’s not the same person anymore.”
“I didn’t mean that, of course, it’s wonderful. But I was talking about ...”
“What?” He stopped walking and peered at her curiously.
“Oh, gosh. I’m not sure I want to say this here.” She gestured at the busy street with gangs of school kids walking home and young mothers on their way to the row of shops.
“Come on then.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled her down the alley. A gateway led to a big green, or small park, depending on how you looked at it. He led her to an empty bench where they sat, panting and giggling, and he took her hand again. “Now what is it you can’t say to me in public?”
“This is so-oo hard. It’s just that yesterday, you know, when you kissed me.” She couldn’t meet his gaze.
“I remember. Seconds before you flashed your knickers at my dad.”
“Oh, no. Did he say something?”
“Don’t be daft, of course not.” He frowned. “Didn’t you like my kiss?”
“Yes, but ...”
“But it was like kissing Paddy or Rory, right?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never kissed them in that way, but I guess if I did, it would be similar.” Possibly. Except sometimes, when he looked at her, like earlier … he was waiting for more. “Oh dear. I hope you won’t take this the wrong way. I like you a lot and I think you’ve got a great body, but ...”
“But you just don’t fancy me, right?”
She nodded her head sadly, and he lifted her chin until her eyes met his. “That’s perfectly fine, because I value your friendship too highly to ruin it by getting involved romantically with you.”
“Do what? You sound ...”
“It’s a line from a movie. I can’t remember which one.”
“Jude would know.” As he agreed enthusiastically, she spotted a weird expression flit across his face and wondered if he’d felt the little lurch earlier. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course I mind.” He struck the pose of a spurned lover from an old black and white movie. “You’ve no idea what a huge dent you’ve put in my ego, begging me to kiss you then telling me you don’t fancy me.” He winked. “I’ll probably be celibate for the rest of my life, burning a torch for you.”
“That’s burning a candle or holding a torch, you idiot.”
“Why does everyone gotta call me stupid today? I feel like a dumb blonde.”
“I know where you can get one. Cecily’s always had a soft spot for you.”
“Do me a favour.” He cringed, pretending to have swallowed something nasty. Standing abruptly, he pulled her to her feet. “Come on, Miss Flynn. I should take you home before your reputation gets tarnished.”
She shook her head, giggling. It was as though a new person had escaped the chrysalis of the old Luke: a wittier, enchanting person, who didn’t take himself seriously, and talked like someone from an old movie.
18 Skating on Thin Ice
Liv knocked on Ray’s front door and listened with a smile to the commotion inside as something fell with a crash and someone shrieked.
A tall, thinner version of Ray answered the door. “You must be Liv. I’m Steve, and I’m late. Nice meeting you.” He shook her hand and hurried out.
“Come in Liv, you’re early.” Mrs Donelly appeared with a small wriggling bundle covered in something red and gloopy.
Following Liv’s horrified gaze, the woman smiled. “Jar of raspberry jam. She’s just discovered how to open the cupboard. I guess I’ll have to shift the stuff up where she can’t reach it until the novelty wears off. Trouble is, this kitchen hasn’t got half enough cupboards. Oh, well.” She crossed the hall and opened a door.
“Would you like to wait in here? I’m sure he won’t be long.”
This room was obviously not lived in on a daily basis. The solid leather suite could have been delivered from the shop that day. Someone had started unpacking books and a marble chess set from boxes next to a row of shelves. A large display cabinet stacked with cups, trophies and medals filled a corner next to the brick fireplace. Some of them were for golf and football, but most had pictures or models of swimmers in gold, with a few in bronze and silver. She moved closer to see if she could spot a name.
“I see you’ve found the hall of fame. Steve and my dad seem to get a new one every month.”
Liv jumped at the sound of his voice. Why did he make her feel guilty? Was it her imagination or was he in a hurry to get her away before she saw something he didn’t want her to?
His next action sent the thought packing as he reached for her hand and pulled her down to sit on the sofa. “I wanted to have a quick word; we never seem to be alone together.”
Hardly, his Mother and sister were upstairs.
“It’s about the awful note in French class.”
“Oh. I’d forgotten about that. It was nasty of her to call you names, but I figured it wasn’t exactly the first time; even I …”
“Not that; it was what she said about you.”
“What? She called me a name. I can’t even remember what it was; blubber or something.”
“Is that it? You don’t care about the rest of it?”
&
nbsp; Liv thought for a second. “She cast aspersions on my acting ability. Even I know I’m no Julia Roberts. Then she called you – that word – and me a – a blob, that was it.” She smiled, pleased her memory had finally begun to kick in, but he still had a peculiar look on his face.
“Sorry, am I missing something, here?” She frowned. “A lot of things have happened since then, and I’m so used to being called names by people, I don’t notice which words they use. I simply try to ignore it and get on with my life.”
She glanced at her watch. “Talking of which, we better get going or we’ll be late; Jude will be mad after she’d made such an effort to get us in early.”
He looked as though he wanted to say more, but shrugged his shoulders and dropped the subject.
As his mum drove them to the rink, she resolved to ask Jude for another peek at the note to try and figure out what he was getting at. Always assuming she’d still got it. Something seemed to be important to him.
They arrived with minutes to spare and Liv held the wheelchair, which had collapsed to fit in the back of the Volvo Estate, while Ray manoeuvred himself out of the specially adapted front seat. His mum accompanied them to the top of the ramp, where one of the staff greeted them and handed over the pass for Ray and a normal ticket. She took Liv’s money and showed them down to the ringside, bidding them, “Enjoy your visit.”
Ray looked impressed. “Good old Jude. I feel like royalty.”
Liv grinned. “Sure beats waiting in line; we’d have been hours in that queue. Do you want anything to eat or drink before I get my skates?”
“No I’m fine, I’ll wait ’til you lot do.”
“If you have gloves, put them on. It gets real cold waiting at the side.”
“Yes, Mum.”
She stuck her tongue out and he grinned. As she laced up the boots, Kat and Luke turned up. They went down to the ice together and Liv reflected on the difference in the two lads – they’d greeted each other like old friends.