‘Your skin’s on fire . . .’
He looked down into her eyes. They were magnificent. He thought of Bud’s eyes, how they’d pleaded with him in his dream. Charley’s were just as glorious, similar but at the same time very different. There was something enchanting about Charley’s eyes, whereas Bud’s had been innocent – full of hope, wonder . . . disappointment.
He wanted to stand there all day and gaze into them, but he knew if he didn’t sit down, he’d have more to worry about than just his temperature.
‘I’ve got a few things to do before school, Charley. Can we meet up for lunch or something?’
‘Sure, I’ll see you in registration.’ She turned to go, pausing on the bottom step. ‘I hope you feel better.’
‘Thanks,’ he said. He watched her go. His eyes followed her until she was finally out of sight, and then he closed the door.
‘Charles, you big scrubber. Two guys at one time? I would never have taken you for a man-eater.’
Charley glared at Abbie across the table as they both sat in the cafeteria, shoving chocolate biscuits into their mouths.
‘Shut up, it’s not like that. Aiden’s helping me with . . . you know. And Marcus is, well, Marcus. I know he was a prat, but I don’t think he meant to be.’
‘And is that all Aiden is? Someone to help you with your powers?’
‘Shush, keep it down,’ Charley said, spinning around to see if anyone had heard.
‘Charles, calm down. No one’s here. Now, stop changing the subject.’
Charley looked down at the table, but she could feel Abbie’s eyes on her. She was her best friend, after all. She’d always been able to read her like a book.
‘I like Aiden. I like him a lot. But I don’t want things to get complicated. I’m just gonna take things . . . slow.’
Abbie raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh yeah, sounds like you’ve been taking it real slow.’
Just as Charley was about to cram another Jaffa Cake into her mouth, Aiden appeared at the end of the table. His tie was hanging messily round his neck, and his hair looked as though it hadn’t been brushed. Somehow, though, he looked perfect.
‘Hey, lover boy,’ Abbie smiled, winking cheekily at Aiden. Charley kicked her under the table.
‘Abbie,’ Aiden said, nodding in her direction but keeping his eyes firmly on Charley. ‘Chambers.’
‘Aiden,’ Charley said sarcastically, pursing her lips at him.
Abbie looked like she might throw up. ‘Get a room, you two. Or at least give me a bucket.’
‘Someone’s cheery this morning,’ Aiden grunted.
‘Well I was until you came along and ruined our conversation,’ Abbie said in jest.
‘What were you talking about that was so important then?’ he asked.
‘As a matter of fact, you. Now go away so Charley can finish talking about you behind your back.’
Aiden gave Charley a look, smiling as she began to blush.
‘Okay, I’m going. I have to get to registration early anyway. Chambers, I’ll catch up with you at lunch.’
‘Actually, I . . .’
But it was too late. Before she could tell him who she was planning on meeting, he was gone.
‘I’m glad I’m not you right now,’ Abbie said, picking up another biscuit. Charley sighed. It was going to be a long day.
When the lunch bell finally rang, Charley packed her books away and headed to the canteen, searching the place for any sign of Aiden. She knew he wouldn’t be happy she was meeting Marcus – far from it – but at least if she got a chance to explain things first, he might see it from her point of view.
Probably not. But she could try.
She wandered over to the vending machines and bought herself a can of Sprite, opening it and slurping the foam which was spilling from the top.
‘Thirsty?’ said a voice behind her.
She turned to see Marcus, leaning casually over the railing between them.
‘Hey, how you feeling?’ she replied with a smile.
His eyes seemed brighter than usual, and for a moment she couldn’t remember why she’d been mad at him.
‘Much better, thanks. Told you it was nothing to worry about.’
Charley smiled again, then glanced over her shoulder to have a last look for Aiden.
‘Are you ready?’ Marcus asked. ‘Or were you wanting to wait for someone?’
She couldn’t see him anywhere, and she couldn’t wait all day. She spotted Abbie in one of the queues, filling her tray up with various cakes and pastries. They made eye contact and Charley mouthed, ‘Do you never get full?’ to her. Abbie shrugged her shoulders and helped herself to a plate of chips, grinning at Charley as she sprinkled a handful of cheese over them.
‘I’m a growing girl,’ she shouted, pointing to her non-existent hips.
‘I’ll be two seconds,’ Charley said to Marcus, ‘I just need to ask Abbie something before we go.’
She hurried over to her friend, who was already half way through her plate of chips.
‘Aiden’s not here yet,’ she said, her eyes still searching the cafeteria.
‘So? Just go, it’ll be fine.’
‘But I haven’t had a chance to speak to him.’
Abbie glanced over at Marcus, who was waiting patiently where Charley had left him. ‘Aiden will understand – eventually. Now go.’
Charley nodded, hugged her friend and walked back over to where Marcus was standing.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, let’s go.’
Abbie watched them leave, still cramming food into her mouth as if she hadn’t eaten for weeks. She was about to pay when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
‘Hey, you seen Chambers?’
‘Really, Aiden, you have impeccable timing,’ she sighed, handing a pile of change to the grumpy dinner lady.
‘What’s that meant to mean?’
‘She just left. I’ll tell her you were looking for her.’ She tried to step by him, but he moved in front of her, blocking the path.
‘Where’d she go?’
‘Out.’
‘Who with?’
‘Aiden, you know perfectly well who she’s with. Now if you don’t mind, I would really like to eat my lunch.’
Charley walked along beside Marcus, anxiously fidgeting with her fingers. She’d been so concerned about talking to Aiden that she hadn’t even thought about what it would be like with Marcus. She was nervous. Very nervous.
‘So, how’s your day going?’ Marcus asked, scratching the back of his head. Charley wasn’t the only one on edge.
‘It’s been fine. Long, dull, you know.’
‘Yeah, mine’s been pretty much the same. Although I think Lucy may have been flirting with me in gym class earlier.’
‘Wheeler?’ Charley asked, raising an eyebrow.
‘Yeah. She was in these tiny shorts and she kept . . .’ Marcus looked at Charley who was now pulling a rather strange face. ‘And you really don’t wanna hear about that.’
‘It’s fine,’ she laughed, ‘I don’t mind. Lucy’s . . . fun.’
‘Yeah, not really my type.’
Charley glanced up to see him gazing at her intently. She quickly turned away, unsure of what to say next.
She still couldn’t work him out. She got this vibe from him telling her she could trust him – that she should trust him – but something was holding her back. At the same time, he somehow screamed danger.
‘Charley, about the other day. I’m so sorry. I was completely out of line.’
‘It’s fine, really. Let’s put it behind us. Just try and make sure it doesn’t happen again.’
‘It won’t, I promise.’
They smiled, both glad the problem had been resolved.
‘So . . . fancy
another dip in the river?’ Marcus joked.
‘I think Aiden might freak,’ Charley said without thinking.
Marcus’s face immediately fell, but he kept quiet. She tried to work out what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Was he mad? Jealous? Intimidated, worried
. . . ? She couldn’t tell. She wanted to drop the matter, but she couldn’t help herself.
‘You don’t like him, do you?’ she asked, stopping just before the road. They hadn’t even left the school grounds.
‘Charley . . .’ – he stuttered, his cheeks reddening –
‘. . . you know I like you.’
She stared at him for a few seconds, her mouth ever so slightly open. ‘Oh,’ was all she could manage, even though he’d told her before.
‘I know you’re with Aiden. But that doesn’t stop me being insanely jealous. The guy doesn’t know how lucky he is.’
The pair of them stood in awkward silence for a few minutes. This time, it was Marcus who was trying to read Charley.
‘Where does this leave us?’ she asked. ‘Can we still be–?’
‘Friends? Yes, I’m sure I can manage that. You can’t blame me though, if I admire you from afar.’
Charley cocked her head to the side, a disapproving look on her face.
‘Kidding,’ Marcus smiled, holding his hands up. ‘I’ll behave.’
Just as they were about to carry on walking, Charley heard a voice that made her stomach tighten. The voice she’d been waiting for.
‘Chambers!’
She let out a sigh. ‘You’re gonna have to give me a minute.’
Marcus stood patiently, waiting for Charley and Aiden to finish up their lovers’ tiff, which didn’t look like it was coming to a close any time soon. He was leaning against a wall, arms crossed and head down, trying not to eavesdrop. Or rather, trying to look as though he wasn’t eavesdropping. Really, he wanted to hear every word.
Abbie appeared behind him clutching a giant bar of chocolate.
‘Want a bit?’ she offered, holding it out for him.
‘Cheers,’ he said, breaking a piece off and tossing it into the air, catching it in his mouth as it came back down.
‘Show off,’ Abbie grinned.
Meanwhile, Aiden and Charley were still arguing, Aiden failing to see things from Charley’s perspective.
‘I just wanted to put it all behind us,’ she said, fidgeting nervously with the cuffs of her jacket.
‘Why? He’s bad news, you said so yourself.’
‘It’s my decision, Aiden. Please just accept it and–’
‘Accept that you want to hang around with someone like him?’
‘What is that suppose to mean?’ Charley demanded.
‘Nothing. Never mind. You do what you want, Charley.’ That was the first time she’d ever heard him call her by her first name.
He must be mad.
‘No, go on. Tell me what you mean.’
She was so angry. She could feel the tension building up in her stomach, as though it were eating away at her insides. She couldn’t stop.
‘Don’t walk away from me, Aiden,’ she yelled. He ignored her and carried on. ‘I said, don’t walk away from me!’
She felt as though her eyes were going to explode from their sockets. Her pulse was racing and she wanted to scream. Suddenly, there was a smash from above, then a second, and a third. Charley looked up to see glass falling from the street lamp beside her, shattering into tiny pieces as it hit the ground. The same thing happened with the lamp only a few feet away, and the one after that. Another smash, making an almost popping sound. Another one gone. Every lamp in the street blew, sending shards of glass everywhere.
Aiden was already on his way back, pulling Charley into his chest to protect her from the sharp splinters as they landed on the ground around them.
‘It’s okay, baby,’ he whispered as he held her close.
Despite the chaos, Charley couldn’t help but smile.
Marcus watched in astonishment, his mouth wide as he took in the scene which was unfolding before him.
‘Jeez,’ Abbie gasped, ‘must be a bunch of dodgy fuses.’
Marcus smiled to himself. ‘That was more than just a faulty circuit.’
‘Lie back and pop your head on the pillow, pet. Now, I’ll be back in a sec, you make yourself comfortable.’
Gina Lawson, the school nurse, turned to leave, but was momentarily blocked by Aiden, Marcus and Abbie, who were standing together in the doorway.
‘Try to give her some space,’ she said to them, in turn receiving a couple of grunts and a nod of the head.
‘Thank you, Mrs Lawson,’ Charley called as Gina left. Aiden moved to Charley’s side, crouching down next to her, a concerned expression etched across his face.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.
‘I’m okay,’ Charley said, pushing herself up with her elbows. ‘Could you go get me a can of juice? I think I need some sugar.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Abbie joined in, ‘I need the toilet.’
‘No way. I’m not leaving you.’
‘What’s going to happen to me, Aiden? I just want something sweet . . . for the shock. Honestly, I’m fine.’
‘Not happening,’ he said again, this time glancing over his shoulder.
‘What do you think I’m going to do to her, Aiden?’ Marcus sneered.
Aiden got to his feet and within seconds, had Marcus by the collar of his shirt. ‘You ever touch her and I’ll–’
‘You’ll do what?’ Marcus said, pushing him off. ‘You think I’d hurt her? What have I ever done to give you that impression?’
Charley couldn’t stand it anymore. The arguing, the snide remarks. She got to her feet and pushed past them towards the door. ‘I’ll get my own bloody drink,’ she snapped, storming out and letting the door fall shut behind her.
‘Nice work, guys,’ Abbie said, giving them the thumbs up. ‘No, really, that was the perfect way to woo the girl you’re both head over heels for.’
Aiden frowned, turning towards Marcus who was trying his best to suppress a smile.
‘I’ll go,’ was all he said, walking out and leaving Abbie and Marcus alone.
Abbie stood for a moment before taking a seat on a nearby stool. ‘God, boys are dumb,’ she muttered, and Marcus laughed, nodding in agreement.
Charley reached the vending machine and slammed a coin into the slot. She thumped one of the buttons without looking and turned around to lean against it, sighing as she saw him coming out the corner of her eye.
‘Don’t start, Aiden, please.’
She heard a crash as her drink fell.
‘Listen, I’m sorry. I was just concerned.’
She bent down to pick up her drink. Dr Pepper. She hadn’t meant to press that. She hated Dr Pepper.
‘Concerned about what? I am capable of taking care of myself. I get that you were worried, but–’
Aiden stepped forward and, looking around first, put a finger to her lips. ‘It’s not only about that, Chambers. I don’t trust Marcus,’ – Charley sighed – ‘I know, old news. But what just happened, what he saw, yeah I’m worried.’
‘But it could have been anything,’ Charley said, ‘lights go out all the time. Things break, blow up, smash; it’s not that unusual.’
‘Not like that, and you know it.’
Charley looked to the floor, thinking about everything that had occurred.
‘I saw the look on his face. He knew it wasn’t as simple as an electrical fault. I don’t know how much he knows, but he’s on to us. We have to be incredibly careful now.’
She tried to process the information, turn it all over in her head. Had it really been that obvious? She hadn’t thought so. Maybe Aiden was right, maybe she was underestimating Marcus.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ C
harley said, already on her way towards the door.
‘What, where?’
‘Anywhere.’
Aiden ran to catch up with her. ‘Your drink,’ he said, pointing back towards the vending machine.
‘Leave it. I can’t stand Dr Pepper.’
Jess lay on her bed, flicking through the channels on her portable television. She’d always been bitter about the fact that Charley had been given a new flat screen T.V., while she was stuck with this piece of old junk.
‘I bought you new trainers last week,’ her mum had said, ‘and a CD player the week before. You’ve had your share for a while.’
It still didn’t seem fair though. The CD player was a tiny thing her mum had bought secondhand from a woman down the street. And the trainers . . . well, okay. Jess had to give her that one, the trainers hadn’t been cheap. Even so, she still felt hard done by.
She continued channel flicking, unimpressed by the poor selection of programmes daytime television had to offer. She checked her watch. Nearly half two, which meant her mum would be home soon. Great, she thought to herself, switching off the T.V. and grabbing her coat. If she didn’t want to be caught skipping school, she would have to make herself scarce.
She grabbed her bag and, not bothering to fasten it, hung her tie around her neck. She was about to head out when all of a sudden she stopped, letting her bag fall to the floor. All she could hear was a sharp, piercing sound, screeching in one ear and out the other. She dug the heels of her hands into her temples, screwing her face up at the high-pitched noise. Her vision began to blur as tears streamed down her face, creating a burning sensation on her cheeks. The noise got louder. The pain got sharper. And then she began to scream.
Charley sat beside Aiden, swinging her legs gently in time with his. He looked serious – still incredibly handsome – but he was definitely in a pensive mood. His breathing was laboured and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
‘Is he dangerous?’ she asked quietly.
‘I don’t know. I can’t be sure . . . It was just the look on his face – his eyes. They lit up in a way I’ve never seen before.’ Charley wasn’t sure what he meant. ‘And besides, that kind of thing doesn’t happen every day. You get angry, start yelling, and suddenly things begin to blow up.’
Charley Chambers Page 9