Free Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy Page A

table.
    ‘No, they haven’t announced the results yet,’ said Nick.
    ‘Testing! Testing!’ said Joe.
    ‘Here we go,’ said Colin. ‘Fingers crossed.’
    We finished an admirable third, beaten by Mum and her team of teachers in second place and Father McCauley’s team in first. Nick, Colin and I were each given a box of biscuits from Mary’s shop as a prize. Nick was noticeably unimpressed. Mum’s team won the hamper and the priest’s team got vouchers for Sunday dinner in the hotel.
    ‘That’s it, folks! Everyone is welcome to join us in Clancy’s!’ said Joe.
    I looked around to try to spot Mum. She was probably going to the pub with her teammates.
    I reluctantly got up from my seat. I really didn’t want to leave Nick. I liked being near to him even if I knew that I couldn’t do anything … But it was nice being that close. Close enough to touch. Even though you can’t , I said to myself.
    ‘That was great craic,’ said Colin. ‘Sure isn’t a nice box of biscuits better than nothing, Nick!’
    Nick pushed him and Colin ran ahead.
    ‘Jacki, are you coming to the pub?’ asked Nick.
    I was now.

Chapter 8
    ‘Looks like they’ve got a bit of a sing-song going,’ said Colin. Mary, Joe and some others had formed a circle round the tables in the centre of Clancy’s and had just launched into a rendition of ‘Danny Boy’.
    ‘I love this song!’ said Mary, singing at the top of her lungs. Soon nearly everyone in the pub had joined in. I hummed along during the breaks in our conversation. Tonight had been so much fun up until now, but it had just taken a turn for the worse. Sarah had arrived, and she and Nick were whispering away to each other beside us. She was wearing a denim mini-skirt and a pale pink tank top and looked annoyingly pretty. I kept glancing at them, even though watching Sarah groping Nick was torture. I hated being jealous. It was one of the worst feelings in the world. My stomach was all twisted and I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t want to feel like this, but I couldn’t help it. I tried to hear what they were saying.
    ‘Will I show you my dress tomorrow?’ said Sarah.
    ‘Yeah, OK.’
    ‘You don’t seem that interested.’
    ‘No, I am. I am,’ said Nick, taking a sip from his drink andlooking around the crowded pub. Colin lowered my glass of Coke under the table and poured some vodka from his naggin into it. Joe had made an exception and allowed us to sit in the pub because of the night that it was, but there was no way he was going to allow us to order alcohol.
    ‘There’s a lot of competition this year,’ said Sarah.
    ‘I’m sure you’ll win,’ said Nick, disinterest evident in his voice.
    ‘Win what?’ asked Colin.
    ‘The Miss Avarna pageant,’ said Sarah, clearly expecting us to say something.
    ‘You know, the beauty contest they have at the fête,’ said Nick.
    ‘It’s so much more than a beauty contest!’ Sarah protested, shooting him an irritated glare. ‘They ask questions and –’
    ‘Is it time for the fête already?’ Colin interjected, trying to keep a straight face. Sarah still seemed to be waiting for someone to say how she was going to win.
    I took a sip from my vodka and Coke, avoiding eye contact with Colin, who would have made me laugh.
    ‘Yes, it’s on next Sunday,’ said Nick.
    ‘Oh, right,’ said Colin. ‘Jacki, you should enter.’
    I almost choked on my drink.
    ‘Closing date for entries was last week,’ said Sarah abruptly, flicking her black hair over her shoulder.
    ‘I don’t think it would really be my kind of thing anyway,’ I said. ‘I’d probably end up saying something really weird and embarrassing myself.’ I didn’t like the idea of people judging my personality – I did enough judging of it myself.
    ‘What will we sing next, Joe?’ shouted Mary. She was reallyinto the sing-song. I bet Mum would have enjoyed it too, but in the end she’d gone home because she had to get up early to meet the