Free Signs of Love - Love Match by Melody James

before catching the bus home. As it hisses and whines its way along the road, we plan our night at Sam’s gig.
    ‘Are you going to wear your new kilt?’ I ask, hoping for a yes. ‘I’m definitely wearing the top I bought.’
    ‘What are you going to wear it with?’ Treacle doesn’t answer the kilt question and I decide not to push it. She has to make the long journey to babedom at her own speed. Too fast and she may have a fashion breakdown. My memory wanders back to the time that Ryan from our form decided to go emo. One Monday he was denim and long crew cut, the next he was black duster coat and drooping fringe. Brave look for a boy who wears glasses and rides a mountain bike, but he couldn’t follow through. By Friday he was back in denim and cracking jokes at the back of the class.
    ‘Ground control calling Gemma.’ Treacle snaps her fingers in my face. ‘Come in, Gemma.’
    ‘What?’ I snap back to the present.
    ‘What are you going to wear with the new top?’
    ‘Oh. Jeans I s’pose.’
    ‘Not something more glam?’ Treacle tempts me. ‘There’ll probably be lots of boys there.’
    ‘Oh God – Jeff might be there!’ I look at Treacle excitedly. ‘Maybe Sam’s invited everyone who works on the webzine.’
    Treacle twitches then slumps. ‘I don’t think he’s into indie rock,’ she sighs.
    I shrug. ‘You never know.’
    We stare in hopeful silence as Treacle’s stop swings into view. She grabs her shopping bags and gets to her feet.
    ‘You’ll be round at mine at seven?’ she calls over her shoulder as she heads for the stairs.
    ‘Definitely!’ I call back. ‘We’ll need at least an hour to get ready!’
    As Treacle hops out of the bus on to the grass verge, I wave at her. Excitement’s fizzing through me. We’re going to a real live gig. I wonder what Sam’s band will be like? Will there be other kids from school apart from Cindy? Will my hair stay straight all night? Jeans or skirt?
    I’m so lost in thought, I almost miss my stop and have to hammer down the stairs in time to catch the driver’s eye. He screeches to a halt and I thank him breathlessly as I jump off.
    I walk home, swinging my Mizz-tique bag by its string handle. My new top is low cut. Dad’s going to hate it. It’ll be perfect for tonight. I hurry up the front path.
    ‘Hi!’ I call as I let myself in.
    ‘Hi, love,’ Mum calls from the living room. I go through and find her with her feet up in front of the TV. A black-and-white movie’s flickering on-screen. ‘Dad and Ben should be back soon,’ she says, taking a handful of crisps from a bowl on her lap. I can’t remember the last time I saw Mum looking so relaxed.
    I plump down next to her, swinging my Mizz-tique bag on to my knee. ‘Guess what—’ I’m about to tell her about the gig, but she mutes the TV and turns to face me. She’s suddenly looking worried. I frown. ‘Is everything OK?’
    ‘Oh, yes, everything’s fine,’ she says quickly. ‘I just wanted to ask a favour.’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘Will you babysit Ben tonight?’ Her eyes are round and hopeful.
    ‘Tonight?’ My heart steps up to the edge of a cliff and prepares to dive.
    ‘Ben’s so well at the moment. He hasn’t had a chest infection for ages. And he’s been putting on weight and sleeping well. Me and your dad thought – since we don’t have to worry so much about him right now – you could sit with him while we went out.’
    I let the Mizz-tique bag slide off my lap. ‘Oh.’
    ‘We’ll only be gone a couple of hours.’ Her eyes are searching mine anxiously.
    Guilt swamps me. ‘Of course.’ Mum and Dad never get to have a night out together. They’re usually too tired or too worried about money. I can’t let them down. And it’s not as if we can leave Ben with anyone. There’s his night time routine – the nebulizer and the physio. I force a smile. ‘I’d be happy to.’
    Mum’s face lights up like she’s won the lottery. ‘Really?’
    ‘Sure.’ My