Free Girl Heart Boy: No Such Thing as Forever (Book 1) by Ali Cronin

‘Looks like it’s just me and ma bitches then.’
    ‘And Jack and Ollie,’ I reminded him.
    ‘Yes, they are my bitches too,’ he agreed, and then ducked as various missiles came at him from Ollie and Jack’s direction.
    I had such lovely friends. Why couldn’t they be enough for me? I sighed and turned to the front as Paul finally arrived to count us in and read out the day’s notices.
Tonight will be good
, I told myself.
Just focus on that.
    And, actually, it was good. To start with anyway.
    From the moment the teams ran on to the pitch, we knew it was Jack’s night. He was on fire. Even Icould tell he was all over the other team, ducking and diving and basically being a total hero. Me, Donna, Ollie and Rich leapt about on the sidelines, cheering like loons.
    ‘Drink, anyone?’ Rich held out a hip flask.
    ‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Donna, unscrewing the lid and reeling back before she’d even taken a mouthful. ‘Ugh, what the hell is that?’
    Rich shrugged. ‘Calvados. It was either that or wine. And only winos put wine in a hip flask.’
    ‘You know you don’t always have to siphon off your parents’ alcohol. You could just buy stuff like a normal person,’ said Donna, taking a swig and wincing, then contemplating the flask appreciatively. ‘Huh. Nice burn.’
    ‘I know, right?’ Rich nodded enthusiastically, as if he’d fermented the stuff himself.
    Donna passed the flask to Ollie, who took a couple of sips then passed it to me. I didn’t even think. I just drank. ‘Oh God, that’s disgusting.’ It tasted like medicine-flavoured fire, and not in a good way. I stuck my tongue out and flapped at it to take away the burn.
    ‘Whoa, Sarah, drinking on a school night?’ Donna grinned and gave me an atta-girl arm punch. ‘Nice one, babes. Do you good.’
    I hoped so. I was about to pass the flask back toRich when something stopped me. Sod it. I took another swig. And another.
    By the end of half-time, I was hammered. But it was fine. Great, even. I was having the best time. Everything was Jack, and the boys, and Donna, and resolutely, definitely, positively not Joe.
    The whistle blew for the start of the second half and we turned our attention back to the match. I jogged about on the spot as Jack weaved through the other players towards the goal. ‘C’MON, JACK!’ I bellowed. I turned and started conducting an imaginary choir. ‘Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?’ I chanted, then paused and grinned expectantly at the others.
    Rich laughed and shook his head.
No cheerleading
, he mouthed.
Not cool.
    ‘What?’ I was flabbergasted. ‘Cheerleading rocks!’ I started high-kicking and waving imaginary pompoms. ‘C’mon, people, get with the cheerleading programme!’ I tugged at Donna’s coat. ‘Donna. Donna. DONNA. Cheerlead with me. DONNA!’
    She gently prised my fingers from her sleeve. ‘All right, Sar, maybe calm down, yeah? It’s getting a bit annoying, babes.’
    I shrugged and turned back to the match. They were always on at me to lighten up, and here I was, light as a freakin’ feather. I danced about on thesidelines, shouting encouragement to Jack, then turned to Rich but he shook his head and held the flask out of reach. ‘Sweet-pea, you’re hammered.’
    I gave him a
duh
face. ‘No! Really?’ I jumped up to grab the flask, but Rich pushed me away with a gentle shove to the forehead.
    ‘Look, much as I’m loving new crazy drunkard Sarah, I think you’ve had enough,’ he said. ‘This is a bad idea, believe me.’ I slumped and nodded, then lunged as soon as Rich started to put the flask back in his pocket.
    ‘HA! Gotcha,’ I crowed, holding the flask up for a second before throwing my head back and downing the lot. ‘Aw. All gone,’ I said, holding the flask upside down.
    ‘Thank God for that,’ said Donna. ‘Sit down, will you, before you fall over.’
    But I was one step ahead of her. My legs suddenly buckled and I fell heavily to the