Free Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma Page A

showering me with Coke. ‘Maya!’
    ‘I’m not kidding! Those were her exact words!’
    He is blushing hard now, peering intently into the Coke can. ‘Can I finish this or are you stil thirsty?’
    ‘Stop trying to change the subject,’ I laugh.
    He shoots me an evil look and swigs down the dregs.
    ‘She even said she caught sight of you through the open door of the boys’ changing rooms and you looked realy—’
    He kicks out at me. He is stil half joking but it hurt.
    I feel confused. Beneath the jokey exterior, he suddenly seems upset. I appear to have inadvertently crossed some invisible line.
    ‘OK.’ I raise my hands in surrender. ‘But you get the idea, right?’
    ‘Yeah, thanks a lot.’ He gives another wry smile to show he isn’t angry, and then turns his face away into the breeze. There is a long silence and I close my eyes, feeling the last of the summer sun on my face. The tranquility is unnerving. Muted playground shrieks reach us from what seems like a milion miles away. Somewhere amongst the trees, a dog lets out a couple of short, sharp yaps. I rol over onto my stomach and prop my chin on my hands. Lochan hasn’t realized I’m watching him, and al signs of laughter have been completely erased from his face. Elbows resting on drawn-up knees, he gazes out across the park and I can feel his mind working. Scrutinizing his face for lingering signs of annoyance, I find none. Only sadness.
    ‘You OK?’
    ‘Yeah.’ He doesn’t turn.
    ‘Realy?’
    He’s about to say something but then remains silent. Instead he starts rubbing at his sore with the side of his thumb.
    I sit up. Reaching out, I gently pul his hand down from his face. His eyes dart to meet mine.
    ‘Maya, I’m not going to go out with Francie.’
    ‘I know. That’s OK. It doesn’t matter,’ I say quickly. ‘She’l get over it.’
    ‘Why are you so keen to set us up?’
    I feel awkward suddenly. ‘I dunno. I guess – I guess I thought if you went out with a friend of mine at least I’d stil get to see you. You wouldn’t – you’d be less likely to go away.’
    He frowns, uncomprehending.
    ‘It’s just that if you meet somebody next year at university—’ A smal pain rises in the back of my throat. I cannot finish the sentence. ‘I mean, of course I want you to, but I don’t – I’m scared . . .’
    He gives me a long, steady look. ‘Maya, surely you know I’d never leave you – you or the others.
    ’
    I force a smile and look down, tugging at the blades of grass. But one day you will, I can’t help thinking. One day we’ll all leave each other to forge families of our own. Because that’s the way the world works.
    ‘To be honest, I doubt if I’m ever going to go out with anyone,’ Lochan says quietly. I look up in surprise. He glances at me and then away, an uncomfortable silence hanging between us.
    I can’t help smiling. ‘That’s sily, Loch. You’re the best-looking guy at Belmont. Every girl in my class has a crush on you.’
    Silence.
    ‘Are you saying you’re gay?’
    The corners of his mouth twitch in amusement. ‘If there’s one thing I do know, it’s that I’m not!’
    I sigh. ‘That’s a pity. I always thought it would be pretty cool to have a gay brother.’
    Lochan laughs. ‘Don’t lose hope yet. There’s stil Kit and Tiffin.’
    ‘Kit? Yeah, right! Rumour has it he’s already got a girlfriend. Francie swears she saw him snogging a girl from the year above in an empty classroom.’
    ‘Let’s just hope he doesn’t get her pregnant,’ Lochan says acerbicaly.
    I wince and try to banish the thought from my mind. I don’t even want to think of Kit with a girl. He’s only thirteen, for chrissakes.
    I sigh. ‘I’ve never even kissed anyone – unlike most of the girls in my class,’ I confess quietly, running my fingers through the long grass.
    He turns to me. ‘So?’ he says gently. ‘You’re only sixteen.’
    I pick at the stems and pout. ‘Sweet sixteen and never