Seven Days by Eve Ainsworth

me?
    “Hello, dimples.”
    I look up, startled, wondering who the hell has come up behind me. I certainly don’t expect to see Lyn smiling down at me; his hands slung in his jeans pockets. He looks almost shy, awkward maybe. His eyes seem tired, less sparkling. I wonder whether he’s had much sleep.
    “Hello,” I say back. It’s like sparks of electricity are dancing across my arms and back. I want to shiver but I hold back. “What are you doing here?”
    “I was going to ask the same of you,” he says, sitting himself down beside me. “I never took you for someone who’d skive off school.”
    “I don’t. I just couldn’t face it today.” I don’t look at him. I keep my eyes set on the deserted playground. It looks so weird when there’s no one in it.
    “I can’t face it any day. Teachers are always giving me grief, reckon I’m going to fail my exams,” he shrugs. “So what.”
    “Don’t you care?” I ask.
    “Nah. There’s bigger things to worry about than some stupid qualifications. Where the hell will they get me anyway? I’d be lucky to scrape through.”
    “They could get you out of here,” I say and then instantly regret it. The Mac is like the centre of the universe to most of the people here.
    Lyn is really staring at me now, his eyes are so intense. “Is that what you want? To get out?”
    “Yeah,” I say. “Sorry, but I do.”
    “No need to apologize. Just hope you get what you want.” He starts digging at the grass with the heel of his trainer. “Maybe you’ve got a chance. You’re clever, aren’t you?”
    “I guess.”
    “Well, then. You shouldn’t be missing school.”
    “Says you.”
    “Says me!” he laughs. “I do have good reason though, had something important to do.”
    I want to ask him what it was, but I sense a change in his mood. His shoulders are now slumped forwards and he’s chewing hard on his lip. He carries on digging at the mud, harder now.
    “This whole town is a hell-hole,” he says finally.
    “You’re not wrong there,” I reply, sitting back a bit.
    He digs about in his pocket and pulls out some cigarettes. “Do you want one?”
    “No, thanks.”
    “Oh, course not, you’re a good girl.” But he’s smiling again at me while he lights up. “You don’t mind if I do though?”
    I shake my head.
    “You get a lot of stick at school, don’t you?” he says, still staring at me. He puffs hard on the cigarette; his face frowning like it tastes bad. I don’t bother answering him. What’s the point?
    “I know they say stuff about you. I’ve seen it all on the internet,” he says softly. “I don’t get why they do it.”
    “Everyone’s seen it. I’m getting used to it.”
    “You shouldn’t have to put up with that. You don’t deserve that.” He’s shaking his head. “I swear I don’t understand people sometimes.”
    I frown at him. “You know your girlfriend is behind most of it.”
    Lyn shifts in his seat. “Yeah, well, that’s part of the problem. I mean, we are going out. She’s a nice-enough girl, but stuff like this does my head in. I’m not even sure…” He pauses, staring out into space like something has distracted him. “I can have a word with her if you like?”
    I immediately picture Kez’s reaction if Lyn were to challenge her. It was bad enough when she caught us talking the other day. I feel myself tense all over.
    “No. Don’t talk to her. It’s fine. I can handle it.”
    “Well, as long as you’re sure? Anytime. I can talk to her anytime.”
    Sure? Of course I’m not sure, but I don’t even bother to answer that. My life now is just an endless game of avoiding trouble. Just as long as I can convince people stuff like this doesn’t bother me, it might actually go away.
    Yeah, just keep telling yourself that, Jess. Who is it you’re really trying to kid here?
    “I was with my dad today,” Lyn says suddenly, his head still turned away from me. “He’s not been well.”
    “Oh.” I’m not