Free Keep the Faith by Candy Harper Page A

opposite sex. Angharad was practically swooning after
she and Elliot enjoyed several highly-charged elbow bumps.
    While we were still in a silly mood, we played Sardines. Whoever was ‘it’ had to hide and if you found them you had to get into their hiding spot with them so that eventually
everybody was squished into the same place like sardines. When it was Ethan’s turn to hide, I was the first one to find him in the little playhouse in the playground. I had to crouch to get
in the door. He was sitting on the tiny bench.
    ‘Welcome to my place,’ he said gesturing round.
    ‘Nice, I like what you’ve done with it. That empty crisp packet gives it a real shabby chic feel.’
    He looked down at the small amount of bench left beside him and then raised his eyebrows at me. It was like he was daring me to sit down.
    So I sat down. The whole of my left side was very nearly touching the whole of his right side.
    ‘Of course, eventually I’ll have a mansion,’ he said. ‘But this will do until I’ve found an elderly millionaire to befriend before he dies in suspicious
circumstances.’
    ‘You’ve clearly thought about this. I don’t know why teachers are always saying that young people don’t plan for the future.’
    ‘They love telling you you’ve got to plan, and organise and work hard; they’re obsessed with hard work.’
    ‘That’s because none of them are smart enough to get what they want by fast talking.’
    ‘True. Personally, I’ve always been glad I’ve got a big mouth to make up for my lazy spirit.’
    I couldn’t help it. I looked at his mouth. He has got a big mouth. A rather nice big mouth. ‘Lazy or not, you seem like the kind of person who gets what he wants,’ I said.
    His smile dropped and he stared right at me. ‘Not always.’
    My heart was thumping at this point. Which was stupid because he can’t have meant anything by it. I ran a hand through my hair.
    ‘You’ve got a scratch,’ he said.
    I looked down at my wrist. ‘Yeah, Megs ought to cover her nails with boxing gloves when she’s playing Colour Run.’
    He reached out and very gently ran his finger along the raised red line on the back of my hand.
    I swallowed.
    He looked at me.
    I looked at him.
    The door crashed open and Westy came barrelling in.
    Ethan had pulled his hand away and folded his arms. ‘Alright, Westy?’ he asked in a completely calm voice.
    Westy beamed. ‘Got you! Man, it’s cramped in here, isn’t it? Faith, you’d better sit on my knee.’
    Soon after that Megs and Cam found us and there wasn’t enough room for us all in the house so the game didn’t last much longer. Which was probably a good thing because I felt a bit
funny about Ethan.
    On the way home, Megs said, ‘How long was it before Westy found you and Ethan?’
    I tensed. ‘Not long.’
    ‘What did you talk about?’
    ‘You know what Ethan’s like; he was being sarky.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘And he may have touched my hand where your talons scratched me.’
    ‘He held your hand!’
    ‘He didn’t hold it. He was just pointing out where you’d grievously injured me.’
    ‘So he was tenderly comforting you in your hour of pain?’
    ‘Megan, shut up or I will find some specialist lawyers who sue people for causing injuries with their razor sharp nails and I will give them your name.’
    She didn’t say anything else, but I know what she’s thinking. And she’s wrong. We all know what a joker Ethan is. He was just mucking about. And it wasn’t a big deal.
SUNDAY 29TH JANUARY
    We went to Granny’s house. On the way there I got a text that said, Bring biscuits. Make sure you close the garden gate when you come in .
    She’s abusing technology. There should be a website where I can report her.
MONDAY 30TH JANUARY
    I popped along to see the head of English today. I used all my persuasive powers to illustrate what an educational and empowering experience the debating club will be for
all those involved.
    I said, ‘It’ll be,