Part 47 (1/2)
”Am I allowed back?” I ask Fleur as Nita leaves.
”You never said who you were.”
Her big blue eyes delve into my conscience and, for a split second, I consider telling the truth. The problem is my conscience hasn't played any part in my life recently.
”I'm Nate,” I say and hold out my hand.
Fleur looks at my hand but doesn't take hold. ”Your brother's an a.r.s.ehole.”
”Sometimes. But that doesn't mean I am, right?”
Her straight blonde hair falls into her face as she bends over to fasten her bag. ”Depends. You both have a reputation.”
”I promise I'll behave,” I say and attempt to sound sincere.
Fleur continues to pack her things and doesn't reply. Ah, well, it was worth a shot.
”If you think the group can help you, and if you leave the Campbell att.i.tude outside the door, then okay.”
Score. ”Easy done.”
Could she look anymore doubtful? ”We'll be here same time next week, 6 p.m., if you want to come back.”
”Thanks,” I say as she walks to the door.
Fleur pauses. ”You're welcome, but I suggest you do some study between now and then.”
”Let me buy you a coffee, say thanks properly?”
”I'm busy, but thanks for the offer.”
”Another time?”
”Let's leave it at this, Nate,” she says and before I can respond, she leaves.
The realisation hits as the door clicks closed and my brain re-engages. I told her I was Nate.
Nate's gonna lose his s.h.i.+t.
4.
WILL.
Me and the boys returned from tour to the same student house, strangely it felt like home. We've been here, with Jax, for a couple of years now. Semi-decent for a student place, thanks again to Jax's parents' money. The central heating is a huge bonus anyway. Tegan stays occasionally and I watch in amus.e.m.e.nt as Jax rushes around the house, tidying up before she arrives. No idea why, they rarely leave his bedroom when she is here. His parents don't expect him to return to uni so the lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d does what he wants. Currently, he's hanging out in recording studios and talking himself into session work.
Ruby Riot rehea.r.s.es without Ruby, and Jax isn't patient about her coming back. Nate attempted to explain we only have to wait until late October, to give her a break after having a baby; but to Jax, I think the baby is more of an issue than her no show. Yeah, I wouldn't want a kid at our age, but it's her choice.
I'm in the kitchen, unskilfully making my one meal I'm capable of: frozen pizzas. The front door bangs closed and Nate appears.
”You owe me, man,” he says rubbing his tired eyes. ”The chick who runs the Shakespeare seminar is a hundred years old and drones on. Dunno why she can't just show the movies like they did at school.”
”I'll buy you a pint later. Say thanks.”
Nate frowns. ”Are you cooking?”
”Yep.”
”What did you do?” He steps into the kitchen; and when I chew on my lip piercing, his eyes narrow. ”Will?”
”I went to that history study group.” I turn and pull open the oven door, face blasted by hot air and the smell of burning cheese.
”Any good?”
”Yeah. Smart kids. A couple of them seem cool.”
”So what's the problem?”
I drag the tray out and dump the pizza on the cardboard trays. Nate pa.s.ses me a knife and I hack them into slices. ”Remember the party the other week? The one I kinda made a d.i.c.k of myself at with that chick.”
”Which one? There've been a few incidents.”
I scowl. ”The history cla.s.s chick. Fleur. She organises the group.”
”Ah. Her. You won't be going back again.” Nate shoves a slice of pizza in his mouth.
I lean against the counter and tap my teeth. ”Yeah, but you're right. I have to find extra help. I need to go back to the group.”
”Whoa. So she accepted an apology? Fleur was ready to rip your head off that night. She told me if you ever go near her again, she'll take out a restraining order. I think she was half-serious too!”
”I didn't tell her who I was.”
”I'm sure Fleur knew d.a.m.n well who you were after your d.i.c.khead moves the other night. People know who we are; we're not exactly hard to spot.”
I stay silent and watch for the penny to drop.
”Hang on... Will, did you tell her you were me?”
”Might've done.”
Nate drops his pizza on the plate. ”f.u.c.k, Will! We don't do this anymore. Only for swapping cla.s.ses. We agreed.”
”There's no way she'll let me in the group if she knows who I am. She hates me, but she's not bothered about you.” Nate doesn't respond, but the look on his face says everything I need to know. ”C'mon, Nate. It's not like I'm going to do anything apart from suck up to her for help an hour a week. She's practically a teacher; it's no different to us going to cla.s.s as each other.”