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

floor.
    ‘Ow, that hurts,’ I said, tears of pain stinging my eyes. And you know how one tear can spark a flood? A second later, it was as if all the grief in the world was on my shoulders.
    ‘Oh, babes,’ sighed Donna, squatting down and putting her arms round me. I rested my head on her shoulder and howled.

7
     
    ‘All done?’
    I nodded and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. We were in the bathroom at Donna’s house, and I had spent the last forty-five minutes puking up a potent cocktail of Calvados and the chicken burger and chips I’d had earlier. I turned and sat on the bath mat, my back against the bath. Donna joined me, wisely taking the side furthest from the toilet.
    ‘I’m really sorry,’ I said, putting my head in my hands.
    ‘I know, babes, you’ve told me, like, a million times.’
    I peered at her through my fingers. She was staring straight ahead, her expression neutral. She didn’t look angry, but you could never tell with Donna and you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of her. Ours is not a friendship based on similar personalities. She’s a laid-back, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. I’m pretty much the opposite. But despite or, I dunno, maybe because of this, we get on. She’s fun, and nice, and I like her honesty. And tonight she’d somehow got me to her house, persuaded her dad to let me stay, and held myhair back while I’d surrendered my stomach contents to the porcelain god.
    I was having a severe attack of the guilts. ‘I don’t deserve you,’ I said, shaking my head.
    ‘Piss off,’ said Donna, good-naturedly. She examined her nails. ‘And stop worrying about it. Happens to the best of us.’
    I sighed. ‘Not to me it doesn’t.’
    She laughed. ‘Yeah, well, about time it did.’
    We sat in silence for a minute. I looked around for my phone. ‘What time is it?’
    ‘Probably close to midnight. And your bag’s downstairs.’
    I tried to stand up, but the room started spinning crazily so I sat down again. ‘Are you sure it’s OK to stay tonight?’ I rested my cheek against the cool side of the bath. I was feeling sick again.
    ‘Yeah, Dad’s fine with it,’ Donna replied, eyeing me warily. ‘You OK?’
    I nodded, although I wasn’t convinced.
    ‘I need to call my parents.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I already texted your mum from your phone. You told her Jack’s team won so we’d come here to celebrate and as it was late you were going to stay the night.’
    ‘Oh, thanks, Don,’ I said, relieved I had one less thing to worry about. ‘Did she reply?’
    Donna smiled at me. ‘Dunno. You started vomming.’ I smiled what I believe books call ruefully and had another go at standing up. Donna took my hand. ‘Careful. Take it slowly.’ She kept hold of me as I gingerly followed her into the bedroom she used to share with her sister until last year, when Jess left home. Donna pushed all the books, DVD cases, clothes and magazines that were piled on Jess’s bed on to the floor. ‘Hop in.’ I gratefully crawled on to the delicious, cool sheet, and Donna covered me with the duvet. I’d worry in the morning about what clothes to wear to school.
    I smiled dopily, my eyes already closing. ‘Fanks, Don.’ I felt the mattress dip as Donna sat next to me on the bed. She stroked my hair away from my eyes.
    ‘No probs, babes. Any time.’
    But I was already asleep.
    I woke the next day to broad daylight. Donna’s curtains were open and her duvet hastily flung over her sheets, which is what passes for making the bed in Donna-land. I listened. The house was empty. I sat up and clutched my head. Ow. My first proper hangover. My mouth felt like sandpaper that someone had used to wipe their bum. I gingerly lay back down, and something crackled under my head. I felt behind me, grunting with the effort, and grabbed a piece of paper between my fingers.
     
S. Left you to sleep it off. Dad’s at work. Help
yourself to shower,