Free The Thirteenth by G L Twynham

voice.
    “Firstly do not try to hug me; I don’t do touchy feely. Secondly, if you betray my friend there’ll be no stone left unturned until I hunt you down and make sure you wish you had never been born.” Shane tried to look serious, acting as if he was intimidated by Delta just so he didn’t hurt her feelings. It was nice to see that they cared so much about each other.
    “I promise,” Shane mimicked a cross on his heart while nodding profusely. Delta flicked her hair back over her shoulder and strutted off to the taxi. Shane turned towards the shop, feeling the inclination to go and call a good friend for some serious help. What had he gotten himself into?
    Delta parked her bottom next to Val in the taxi. As it pulled away from Shane’s shop, they moved in as close as was comfortable for them both.
    As Val looked at Delta who was gazing out of the window, she felt something she hadn’t realised before. It was love for her best friend. Their relationship had just moved to a new level, something that Val thought very few people would experience: a friend who would risk everything to keep you safe.
    The streets seemed to rush past and they quickly reached Delta’s house. As Delta got out of the taxi she turned to look at Val. To Val’s surprise there were tears in Delta’s eyes. In the seven years they had been friends Val had never seen Delta shed a tear, not even when she had fallen from the tree in Val’s garden and broken her leg.
    “I’m sorry, Delta, I don’t know what’s happening to me.” Val moved into Delta’s spot in the taxi almost leaning out. “If you want me to go tonight and never darken your doorstep again I will completely understand.” Val looked up at Delta waiting for what seemed like an endless time for an answer.
    “Val, don’t ever leave me again, do you understand?” Val nodded. This was a good sign. Delta bent down now, leaning back into the taxi so their faces almost touching. “Because if you do I’ll have to spend the rest of my life looking for you and I have much better things to do, OK?”
    “I didn’t mean to leave you, but, yes, I promise. That’s fine with me.” Delta stood back up, slamming the door shut and signalling the driver to pull away.
    Val watched as Delta turned and straightened her skirt before walking up her drive. “I promise,” Val said under her breath as Delta moved out of sight.
    When the taxi pulled up outside Val’s house, she found herself paying the driver almost as much as she had earned to date. She didn’t care; she was just glad to be home. She could already see her mum standing in the window of the living room, looking for her.
    Val knew she was in trouble. Wednesday was family night. Her mum went out of her way to keep up traditions. As a child, Val had never been allowed to attend any after school clubs or go to play at friends’ houses on sacred Wednesdays.
    Seeing her mum come out of the house, Val really wanted to tell her everything. Nonetheless, she knew what had to be done.
    “Where have you been? You know what night it is!” Susan was shaking in anger, then she noticed the bloody lump on Val’s head and her face melted. “Oh dear me, what happened to you?” Realising what her mum was looking at, Val lifted her hand to her forehead.
    “A book fell on my head at the shop. I was nearly knocked unconscious. I’m sorry I’m late,” Val said convincingly.
    “Why didn’t you come home on the bus? And why didn’t you call us?” Susan was now picking at Val’s head as if she was a mother gorilla checking for fleas.
    Val pushed her mum away. “I didn’t call because I knew you would worry, and I’m fine. I came home in the taxi because I didn’t want people on the bus staring at me, OK?” Val had now managed to break free from her mother’s vice-like grip and was speedily walking into the house with Susan in hot pursuit.
    “Your dad is really disappointed that you didn’t make it home in time for dinner. He