Dad just gave me a look in the rear-view mirror and shook his head.
I tried to explain that we just went to a concert and we’d planned to stay with a friend. But she hadn’t turned up, I said. I was making it up as I went along, of course.
‘Why did you call me anyway?’ I asked Mum. ‘Has something happened?’
Mum shuffled round in her seat to glare at me. ‘What happened is that I had a frantic phone call from Zoe’s mother asking if she was at our house. It seems some girl turned up at the door and told her mother she’d gone off to a concert and Zoe’s mother wasn’t too happy about it. Then I couldn’t raise you on the mobile. What was going on in your head, Anna? And where is Zoe anyway? Please tell me she’s gone home already.’
I found I was crying again and I shook my head. ‘I sort of lost her at the concert, Mum. I don’t know where she went.’
Mum and Dad looked at each other. The car indicator gave its gentle ticking sound and Dad pulled the car into a side street where he could turn around. ‘I guess we’re going back to look for Zoe, then.’
Just then my mobile pinged. I squinted at it in the dark. It was a number I didn’t recognise sending me a text. Z here. Mob flat. This is Toms. Wr r u now?
I replied. Wr r u???
Outside bar. Cm & get me?
I decided not to tell her I was bringing my parents with me, in case she panicked. I got them to go to the back of the building where the little car park was and I jumped out and ran to the front. Zoe was on her own, waiting for me and when she saw me she gave me a squashy hug. ‘Sorry,’ she said. She smelled of Tom’s cigarette smoke.
‘Where’s Dracula?’ I asked.
She shrugged. ‘Tom had to get off. I’ve got his number though. Hey, what’s up?’
I shook my head. ‘Bad news.’ I told her what had happened. For some reason, though, I decided not to mention that someone – Kerry, almost certainly – had deliberately dropped her in trouble. Instead I just told her that her mum was looking for her and that my parents were parked around the corner.
Zoe groaned. ‘I don’t suppose we can make a run for it?’
I grasped her arm and steered her towards the car park. ‘Don’t be stupid.’
When we got into the car, I tried my best to persuade my mum to let Zoe stay the night, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Dad dropped Zoe off outside her house and watched as she put her key in the door, in spite of Zoe’s claims that she wouldn’t get away from her mum alive.
Later, over a cup of tea, I told Mum I was sorry, about a hundred times. She lectured me for a few minutes, but once Dad went, she got over it pretty fast. I think she was just relieved that she’d found me.
‘What was Zoe’s mum like?’ I asked.
My mum paused. ‘Angry.’
‘Yeah, I know. But what did you make of her?’
Mum stuck out her lower lip and I could see her choosing her words. ‘If you first speak to someone when they’re beside themselves with worry, it’s too hard to tell what they’re like. I could understand why she was so furious. I don’t care if they don’t get on. Zoe shouldn’t have gone behind her mother’s back like that. And I don’t want you being part of it again, understand? For god’s sake, anything could’ve happened to you.’
I hung my head. ‘I know.’
I sipped my tea, which was going cold. ‘Do you know who it was who dropped – I mean, who told Zoe’s mum where we were?’
‘I don’t,’ Mum said. ‘But I’m sure she didn’t mean to get Zoe into trouble. Maybe she was just worried about you both. Like I was.’
I stood up to go to bed. ‘Mum,’ I said. ‘Dad didn’t say much. Was he really mad with me?’
‘A bit. But his girlfriend is even madder. They were having a romantic supper and we ruined it, from what I can gather.’ Mum’s mouth twitched. ‘Shame.’
‘Mum!’ I shook my head at her and made for the stairs.
I can’t remember when I was last so tired, but when I got into bed I couldn’t relax enough to get to sleep. The whole evening kept racing round in my head: the awful scene in the restaurant with Kerry. The way Luke looked at me. Zoe, dancing. That vampiric singer trying to eat her up. Kerry’s spiteful revenge. And Zoe’s face as she got out of our car, squeezing my hand and then drawing her finger across her throat. She was expecting more than a telling off.
6
Trouble
After an almost sleepless night, I got up the next morning with my head feeling like it was full of mud. The first thing I did was text Zoe – U k? Call me – but I didn’t get an answer. I made some tea and took a mug up to Mum. She was just coming out of her room, looking groggy. ‘I didn’t sleep. Did you?’
I shook my head.
She took the mug and blew on it. ‘This doesn’t make everything OK, Anna. I ought to ground you or something.’
‘I know.’
Mum sighed. ‘Lucky for you I don’t have the energy. You’re all I’ve got now. I’m not up for a big row.’
That made me feel worse than if she’d grounded me for the rest of the year, of course.
When I was dressed, I marched round to Kerry’s house. As I knocked on her door, I realised I didn’t really know what I was going to say to her, but I had to say something.
It was Kerry’s mum who answered and she looked at me like I smelled bad, but she gave Kerry a shout. Kerry galloped to the door like a big clumsy Labrador and said ‘Hi’ as if last night had never happened. My mouth opened and I just stared at her for a second or two. Then I said: ‘What the hell were you thinking?’
It didn’t seem to matter that she was a good head and shoulders taller than me, about a stone heavier and as smart as a professor when it came to things like formulae and equations. Whenever I was hard on her, it felt like I was being mean to some little toddler.
‘What are you talking about?’ She went so pink in the face that even if I hadn’t guessed it was Kerry who dropped Zoe in trouble, that would’ve given it away.
‘You grassed on Zoe. You went to her house and told Zoe’s mum where she was. She’s in a whole load of trouble, thanks to you.’
Kerry looked down at her shoes. ‘You don’t know it was me.’
I gave a short laugh. ‘Except it was, wasn’t it? No one else knew, for one thing. It had to be you. Have you any idea what you’ve done?’
To be honest, even I didn’t know exactly how things were with Zoe, but I could bet that her mum wouldn’t be anything like as forgiving as mine.
Kerry’s eyes went all watery and she shook her head. ‘I was worried, that’s all. I thought something might happen to you and no one else would know where you were.’
‘We were fine. The problems only started when you went around stirring things up. Everyone went mad with us. My mum panicked and my dad had to go driving round looking for me in the middle of the night. I know Zoe was a complete cow. But there was no need for that.’ I felt like shaking her.
Kerry let out a loud, snotty sob. ‘I was just scared. What if -’
I clenched my fists and swallowed down my urge to shout. ‘You want to hang round with us, don’t you? You’re going the wrong way about it.’
I swung around to leave, then turned back again. ‘Zoe is going to kill you. You know that, don’t you?’
Kerry slumped down on her front step and put her face in her hands. My phone buzzed and I read Zoe’s text. It said: Still alive. Just. C u Monday.
I waved my mobile at Kerry. ‘That’s Zoe. She’s having a really bad time. Hope you’re happy.’
‘Some people ask for trouble,’ said a voice. Luke had just appeared at the door, behind Kerry. He looked as if he’d just showered, because his hair was damp and there was a soapy scent around him. He leaned down to give Kerry a gentle punch across the top of the head. Kerry looked up at him, scrunching back her tears with her
eyelids. I silently groaned. How come he saw me when I was acting my worst?
‘Look,’ I said. ‘Zoe was an idiot last night, especially in the restaurant. I was ashamed too, if you must know. But there was no need to do what you did.’
Kerry heaved herself up and wiped her face with the back of her hand. ‘You’ve made your point,’ she said and went indoors.
Luke stared down at the ground.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said to him. ‘About last night, I mean. But –’
He gave a long outward sigh. ‘She doesn’t mean it,’ he said. ‘She just doesn’t think things through. It comes from not having any real friends. You’re the first ones who’ve let her anywhere near. She’s a bit of a big kid, really. You and that Zoe are light years ahead of her. Just – you know – be a bit patient with her, all right?’
Guilt washed through me, a hot, sickly wave. ‘I know,’ I said. ‘But maybe she ought to find someone else to –’
‘Yeah, like who?’ said Luke.
I thought for a minute. ‘She goes to church, doesn’t she? Isn’t there anyone there?’
Luke made a face. ‘I think she needs to get away from that.’
‘Don’t you go, then?’
Luke shook his head. ‘It’s my stepmum who got involved with that outfit. I’ve never had anything to do with it. It’s not your usual church, you know. They have some funny ideas.’
I nodded, but I didn’t have much of a clue what he meant, except I had heard Kerry say she’d been told not to read books about the supernatural because her church said it was wrong. She hadn’t even read Harry Potter. I thought it sounded a bit weird. ‘Hey, I loved the food last night,’ I said. ‘I think Zoe would, usually. She was all uptight about the concert and her birthday and stuff, that’s all.’
Luke gave me a smile. I loved his smile. It made you have to give one back. ‘Thanks. You’re a good person, Anna. So you’ll plead Kerry’s case for her?’
I hadn’t exactly said that, but – ‘Yeah, I’ll try. No promises though. Zoe doesn’t get on with her mum at the best of times and this really won’t have helped.’
‘Thanks, you’re a star.’ Luke turned to go back inside. ‘Next time you’re in town, drop in again. I work Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.’
‘It’s a bit out of my price range, to be honest,’ I said. Then I wished I hadn’t said that. Talk about making yourself look uncool. And I’d sounded like I wasn’t keen on seeing him, which I was, of course.
‘Oh, well. Just an idea.’ Luke shrugged and closed the door behind him. I stopped myself from actually smacking my head with my hands, but I certainly felt like it.
7
Sulphur
The Monday after her birthday, Zoe wasn’t at school after all. All the rest of my texts had gone unanswered. I had a bad feeling, low in my gut. After assembly, Kerry followed me to the classroom. ‘It looks as if Zoe is having a day off again,’ she said.
I nodded. Talking to Kerry felt a little like a betrayal of Zoe, though if you asked me to explain that sensibly, I probably couldn’t. ‘You sound quite pleased that she’s not here,’ I said.
Kerry picked at a straggly bit of skin on her thumbnail. ‘Maybe. You’re nicer when she’s not around.’
‘That’s not true,’ I said. ‘You just don’t like Zoe, that’s the problem.’
Kerry bit the skin away. ‘She doesn’t like me, you mean. That’s more like the problem. I’ve tried hard with her, but she goes on as if she despises me.’
I didn’t know what to say.
‘Zoe was always quite happy on her own, you know,’ Kerry said. ‘People just left her alone, because she acted like that was what she wanted. Ever since she first came to school.’
‘So?’ I wasn’t sure where Kerry was going with this.
‘You’re the only person she’s ever taken up with.’ Kerry kept picking at the skin on her fingers and chewing it.
I looked away, because it was driving me mad. ‘And?’
‘You’re a lovely person, Anna,’ Kerry said.
I made a snorting noise.
Kerry ignored it. ‘You’re the only one who’s ever been nice to me, too. I’m saying that Zoe doesn’t need you, she’s fine without anyone to hang around with. But she’s turning you into someone like her. Kind of, you know, weird. And a bit mean.’
‘You’ve got that all wrong,’ I said. I felt sure she had. What I didn’t want to say out loud to Kerry was that I wanted, more than anything, to have someone like Zoe as a friend and if anyone thought I was like her I would take it as a massive compliment. And I’d hate to be stuck with Kerry all the time. But I would stay with her for today, because the one thing you didn’t want to be in that school was on your own, facing past the groups of girls who would stand and wait for you.
How do they know who to go for? What weird vibe do people like me and Kerry give off? Being with Zoe was like having a bodyguard. And when I was with her, I was a different person, sure – but cooler, I reckoned. Smarter. Not meaner.
After school, I wandered round to Zoe’s street. I couldn’t help myself. I paced up and down for a few minutes before taking a breath, marching through her gate and knocking at her door. It took an age before I heard some sort of movement coming from inside the house. The door opened a few inches and I saw a sliver of Zoe’s mum’s face and body. In a throaty voice, she said, ‘What?’
‘I... I wondered if Zoe is any better?’ I asked, swallowing.
‘She’ll be back at school tomorrow,’ rasped her mum, not opening the door even a fraction further.
‘I have some homework to pass on to her,’ I lied.
Zoe’s mum said nothing but stuck a hand out of the door.
‘I think I need to explain it to her,’ I went on. ‘It’s complicated.’
‘Calling me stupid?’ The door was flung wide open. Zoe’s mum was wearing a stained dressing gown that clung to her body. She had a strange tremor about her, as if she was shaking with anger.
I looked down at the ground. ‘No, I...’
‘You can give it to me. Or else Zoe will be back tomorrow. Tell that to the nosy beggars at school.’
I took a step backwards and the door slammed hard.
I walked away, a slight wobble in my legs. I hoped I hadn’t made things worse.
But the next morning when I was heading for school I got a text saying: On way. W8 4 me.
I lingered near the entrance to The Cut until she arrived. I wanted to give her a hug, but I didn’t – I couldn’t tell what mood she was in. ‘Still here,’ she said, with half a smile. ‘My mother nearly slaughtered me, though. Next time she catches me, I want you to know I bequeath you all my worldly goods. Because she will definitely finish me off.’
I laughed. ‘What happened then?’
Zoe’s eyes glowered. ‘I’ll tell you what happened. That moron Kerry went to my house and told my mother I was off to a concert. Can you believe it?’
‘I can believe it, yes. She owned up. She said she was worried about us.’
Zoe made a choking noise. ‘Yeah, right.’
I took a breath. ‘She’s really sorry. She just didn’t think it through.’
Zoe stopped walking. I turned and looked at her. ‘What?’
‘You know what. We’ve put up with Kerry long enough. We have to get it into her thick head that she’s no longer welcome.’
I didn’t respond to this. Instead I took Zoe’s arm. ‘Come on, we’ll be late.’ We hurried through The Cut, which was even gloomier than usual in the morning fog.
By the time we got to school I just had time to rush into the girls’ toilets to try to smooth down the frizzy mess that was my hair, thanks to the damp weather. Zoe’s hair still looked angel-straight. When we walked into the classroom, though and Kerry gave us a wave, Zoe strode past as if she wasn’t there.
At break time, Kerry rushed over to us, as we shoved our books into our bags. Zoe turned her back. If Kerry spoke, Zoe talked over her, to me, as if Kerry wasn’t there. I had no idea what to do. I frowned at Zoe, trying to say something with my eyes. After a few minutes, Kerry tapped Zoe on the shoulder. Zoe whirled round so fast I half-expected her to punch Kerry in the jaw.
‘Don’t you touch me!’ she shouted at her.
Some girls stopped talking and glanced around. An unexpected fight – with words or fists – was always worth watching.
Kerry was shaking, but she stood her ground. ‘I just wanted to say I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.’
Zoe’s face went whiter than usual. ‘Trouble?’ She gave an icy little laugh. ‘You have absolutely no idea, you stupid, stupid... You went to my house at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night and woke up my mother, so that you could tell her that I was somewhere I shouldn’t be. And you never meant to cause trouble?’
Kerry started mumbling something I couldn’t make out.
Zoe stepped towards her, her sharp-nailed finger pointed in Kerry’s face. ‘You will never know how much trouble you caused. That’s what I get for putting up with you. Well, no more. Get lost, Kerry. Go and find someone else to drive insane. Anna and I have had enough.’
Kerry turned and ran out of the classroom, letting out a sort of a wail as she went.
Some of the girls laughed. Whether they were laughing at Kerry, which they often did anyway, or at Zoe’s temper, I didn’t know.
A teacher put his head around the classroom door and told everyone to get outside, even though the drizzly mist meant we could hardly see an arms-length in front of us.
I have to admit it, in some ways it was brilliant being with Zoe again, with no Kerry to keep bugging us. Zoe was the way I loved her best, all smart comments and sophisticated jokes. And when she talked about Saturday and the gig, it was as if it had all been the best night ever. For her, all the nasty stuff in the restaurant had been sort of wiped. But I couldn’t really enjoy it properly, because I was being nagged by guilt about Kerry. And I had questions.
The Misper Page 5