Solitaire, Part 2 of 3 by Alice Oseman Page A

somewhere.”
    I force myself to think very carefully about this. I could try. For once. I could try to be a legitimately nice human being. “Oh, er, I said I’d go to this thing in the evening. But I’m free in the day.”
    He lights up. “Great! What do you want to do?”
    “I don’t know. It was your idea.”
    “Oh, yeah … well, you could come round mine if you want? Just watch movies …”
    “Is Evelyn all right with that?”
    Yep. I went there.
    “Um …” He sort of laughs, like I’m joking. “What?”
    “Evelyn.” My voice starts to fail. “Are you not … you and Evelyn …?”
    “Er … we’re … no …”
    “Okay. Right. Cool. Just checking.”
    “What are you guys talking about?” Becky calls over to us. We both spin round in our chairs. “You look like you’re talking about something interesting. I want gossip.
Spill
.”
    I put my legs up on Lucas’s lap because I just can’t be arsed to be reserved right now. “Obviously, we’re flirting. God, Becky.”
    For a second, Becky thinks I’m serious. It is a truly triumphant moment.
    Later, I pass Michael in the corridor. He stops and points directly at me.
    “You,” he says.
    “Me,” I say.
    We speedily transfer our conversation to a stairwell.
    “Are you free on Saturday?” he asks. He’s got one of his stupid mugs of tea again. He’s actually spilt some on his white shirt.
    I’m about to say yes, but then I remember. “Er, no. I said me and Lucas would do something. Sorry.”
    “Ah. Don’t worry.” He sips his tea. “You’re not allowed to ditch the Solitaire meet-up though.”
    “Oh.”
    “Did you forget?”
    “No. Everyone’s been talking about it.”
    “I guess they have.”
    We look at each other.
    “Do I
have
to go?” I say. “You are aware that I literally don’t give a single fuck about Solitaire.”
    “I am aware,” he says, which means yes, I do have to go.
    The horde of lower-school girls thundering up the stairs behind us is slowly thinning. I need to get to English.
    “Anyway,” he says. “Yes. Get to mine Saturday evening. When you and Lucas are finished … canoodling.” He moves his eyebrows up and down.
    I slowly shake my head. “I don’t think I have ever heard anyone use that word in real life.”
    “Well then,” he says. “I’m glad I’ve made your day that bit more special.”

TWENTY-THREE
    IN MY YOUNGER YEARS , every day after school, I used to walk down the road and meet Charlie outside Truham. We’d then either ride the bus home or we would walk. Despite it only being a ten-minute bus journey, I would have to put my iPod on near full volume. I knew that I would be deaf by the time I was twenty, but, if I had to listen to these kids every single day, I didn’t think I’d make it to twenty. I didn’t think I’d make it to seventeen.
    Still, despite my two-year-long bus boycott, I started getting the bus again on Wednesday to keep Charlie company, and it hasn’t been too bad so far. We’ve had a good chance to talk about stuff. I don’t mind talking with Charlie.
    Anyway, it’s Friday today, and Michael has decided that he’s coming home with me.
    Which is sort of nice, to tell you the truth.
    Nick is waiting for me outside Truham. Nick always looks particularly dashing in his tie and blazer. The ‘RUGBY’ patch above his school crest reflects a little sunlight. He is wearing sunglasses. Ray-Bans. He sees Michael and me approach.
    “A’ight.” Nick nods, hands in pockets, Adidas bag strapped across his chest.
    “All right,” I say.
    Nick studies Michael. “Michael Holden,” he says.
    Michael has his hands held behind his back. “You’re Nick Nelson.”
    I see Nick’s initial uncertainty ease at Michael’s uncharacteristically normal reaction. “Yup. Yeah, I remember you. From Truham. You’re infamous, man.”
    “Yes, yeah. I’m awesome.”
    “Rad.”
    Michael smiles. “
Nicholas Nelson
. You have a really excellent name.”
    Nick laughs in that warm