Free The Day Before Tomorrow by Nicola Rhodes

begun, so she intended to continue.  She would bring them all down a peg or two.  She managed to indicate that Lindi with an i, whom she really rather liked, was far too good for the likes of Miles, while her own dazzling presence was enough to show that, she would not quite be good enough for Denny.  She made them all feel dull and stupid by her own sparkling repartee.  Denny, she was pleased to note, was the only one who seemed able to follow her conversation.  Denny seemed more like himself as the evening progressed.  He was coming out of his shell in a fashion that had his parents and his brother staggered.  Tamar had always known that beneath his shy exterior Denny was witty and intelligent, but it was apparent that, among his domineering family, this side of him had been ruthlessly suppressed.
    Later there had been dancing.  Tamar had been appropriated by Miles, who had flirted and been put back in his box in no uncertain terms.  Then by Denny’s father, who had been treated to a display of quiet outrage, at his want of fatherly feelings when he had tried to indicate that surely, she was not serious about Denny, and surely, a girl like her could have any man she wanted.  She hoped that her remarks would get back to Denny’s mother, who she was sure had put him up to it. 
    Then she had danced with Denny, and destiny had happened.  It had started innocently enough really.  Miles and Lindi were ostentatiously sucking out each other’s fillings, and Denny’s parents were watching them (Tamar and Denny) like a pair of starved rats after a flake of cheese.  Tamar knew what they were waiting for.  She snuggled closer and brought her mouth close to Denny’s ear.  He jumped and reddened, and the moment was lost for now.  ‘Thanks for doing this,’ he said.
     She smiled ‘It was fun,’ she said.
     ‘Well, that’s not something I ever expected anyone to say about an evening with my parents,’ he grinned.  She brought her face closer to his. 
    ‘You don’t have to …’ he began.
    ‘Oh I think so,’ she said.  ‘They’re watching us.’ 
    ‘You’ve done enough.’
    ‘Not quite,’ she reached her hand up behind his neck and kissed him on the mouth.  ‘How was that?’ she murmured. 
    ‘Amazing.’
    Tamar grinned to herself.  ‘What?’
    ‘Oh, er, yeah, very convincing, yeah.’ 
    She did it again, just for luck.  ‘I think I want to go home now,’ she said. 
    ‘Whatever you want,’ said Denny.  ‘I’ll get your coat,’ he hesitated. 
    ‘It’s my blue one,’ she told him, palming him the cloakroom ticket. 
     
    He had walked her back up to her room, and she marched in leaving the door open for him to follow. He hesitated then followed her in leaving the door open.  Tamar opened the window, knowing that sooner or later it would cause the door to slam without her having to make the effort to go and close it.  She had thrown her coat on the bed, and now she was shivering in the draught from the open window, which she was stood right in front of.  Denny came and stood behind her and draped his coat over her shoulders. 
    ‘Do you believe in magic?’ she asked him suddenly. 
    ‘What, like witches or goblins, that kind of thing?’ he said, surprised.
    ‘Well do you?’
    ‘I dunno, I suppose everyone would like to believe in that kind of thing.’ 
    ‘Well, destiny then, fate?’
     ‘Yes, I believe in that,’ said Denny. 
    The door slammed shut.
    Tamar turned and enfolded herself in his arms.  ‘Stay,’ she said
    ‘What about Mr. Perfect?’ said Denny. 
    ‘Oh I think he’s already here,’ said Tamar, without cringing at all.  Love can do that to a person. 
    ‘Seriously,’ said Denny.  ‘What about Christopher or whatever his name is?’ 
    ‘Oh, I think that’s over,’     
    ‘Then I guess I’m staying.’ 
    And that had been the beginning. 
     
    ‘Tamar.’
    Tamar came out of her reverie to the sight of Cindy’s concerned