Free Verity by Claire Farrell

minute he was overly familiar with me, the next he was running off. Al the damn time. His mood swings were making me dizzy. He was so unpredictable that I was permanently on edge, waiting for something to happen already.
    After school, he trailed behind us as we stroled to the car park, but he didn’t speak to me until the folowing morning after we had al gotten off the bus. He puled me aside and told the others to go on ahead then, when nobody was looking, handed me a brand new packet of hair things. I stared up at him, but he kept messing at his own hair and avoiding my eyes.
    “I noticed you seemed a little tormented by the hair thing yesterday so I figured it would be the same today. I thought I’d sneak you some contraband,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. To my horror, real tears formed in my eyes. I started to hug him then realised what I was doing and backed away hastily.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I mean, thanks. For this. That’s realy... thoughtful.”
    “Maybe people wil leave you alone today. Come on, we’re going to be late for class.”

    I ripped the packet open as we walked and puled my hair back into a loose ponytail while he carried my bag. We stepped into the halway, but I noticed his group of friends in the corridor ahead so pre-empted his usual escape. I took my bag and pushed him ahead.
    “Go on,” I said with a grin. “And thanks. Seriously.”
    He smiled back at me before stopping, his forehead creasing into a frown. “Could you do me a favour and not tel anyone about this? I have a hardcore reputation to maintain here, ya know?” I almost believed him until I saw the laughter in his eyes.
    I couldn’t help smirking. “I’l keep your secret, macho man.”
    “Cheers.”
    I knew I had a big dopey grin on my face as he walked away, but I couldn’t help it.
    Tammie tutted in annoyance when I sat down next to her in class. “Where did you get that from?” she said, pointing at my hair.
    “Turns out I have better friends than you,” I said, not able to resist the urge to stick my tongue out at her.
    That afternoon, Amelia asked me to keep her company after school while Nathan had a trial footbal training session with the boys in our year. It wasn’t a school team, but they were alowed to use the grounds for training because one of the teachers was their trainer. We wandered up and down the length of the pitch pretending to be interested while the boys showed off in front of Nathan. According to Amelia, they were desperate for him to join the team.
    As soon as he started playing, I could see why. He was surprisingly fast and agile—al good things. He seemed a lot more skilful than the others too, running rings around Aaron Hannigan who was wel known as the team’s best player. I wasn’t usualy interested in footbal, but it was kind of cool to watch him effortlessly own the bal.
    “Wow, he’s pretty good,” I said.
    Amelia nodded. “Yup. Back where we used to live, before he was expeled, he was captain of the school team.” I stared at her, but she didn’t elaborate. I wondered what he had done to get expeled. Maybe schools in England were realy strict.
    By the end of the match, Aaron’s face was red with a temper. He was the only one who didn’t praise Nathan.
    Nathan ran over to us before he got changed. “Sorry that took so long,” he said, panting, his face flushed from the exercise.
    “Looks like Aaron has some competition.” I gestured toward Aaron.
    Nathan looked around and saw how unhappy Aaron was for the first time. “He’l get over it. It’s a team game, we al count.”
    “So you’re definitely joining them then?” I asked.
    He nodded, taking a long drink from a bottle of water his sister handed him. My mobile rang just as he opened his mouth to speak again. It was my Dad. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach; I had forgotten he wasn’t in work and hadn’t told him I’d be home late.
    “Perdy, where the hel are you?” I could almost see his frown