Free Trouble by Non Pratt Page A

that supposed to mean?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Is this about Aaron?”
    Katie draws another circle – this time she gives it a pair of horns and a pointy tail. “First you’re all mopey about it and then you’re all pally with him. I heard he took you home after the party.”
    I look away guiltily. I hadn’t told her about that.
    “What are you doing, Han? The boy’s bad news.”
    “Oh, really?” I say, sharply. “And you know because…?”
    “He just is.”
    “You’re wrong. And it doesn’t matter anyway because there’s nothing going on there.”
    She snorts her disbelief.
    “Charming. Now you’re showing a little willpower around Rex you think you can judge me?” I’m pissed off that she won’t believe me. “Let’s see how long that lasts. I give it a week, tops, before you do the dirty and you never speak to him again.”
    Katie looks at me face-on so that I get the full effect of her lip curl. “You think that’s all I’m good for? One shag and he’ll fuck off?”
    I frown. That isn’t actually what I think at all – I think it’s the other way round – but everything I’m saying is coming out wrong and I decide to shut up before I do some lasting damage. We sit there in silence, Katie drawing increasingly disturbing faces in her circles and me watching as Rex and Aaron stand in the corner of the hall together, laughing about something.
    Katie and Rex and me and Aaron. Worst. Double-date. Ever.

AARON
    “How was your first day back?”
    “Fine,” I say, twisting round to throw my bag on the back seat as Dad pulls out of the car park to join the queue of traffic edging up the hill. A few seconds pass before I realize he’s waiting for more information. “It was fine, Dad. Really.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “Fine as in OK, as in all right, as in satisfactory.”
    “When I write ‘fine’ in an assessment I mean ‘fine as in could be better’.”
    “When I say ‘fine’, I mean fine as in…” I think about lying and decide against it. “As in nothing special.”
    “But not…?”
    “No. Nothing awful, either.” Because for that to happen I’d have to care about something, and I don’t. I lean to turn the stereo on, but Dad turns it back off using the remote on the steering column. I switch it on again. He turns it off. On. Off.
    “For God’s sake, Aaron!” he snaps and I sit back in my seat, Dad looking over at me, huffing. He’s angry and sad and frustrated. Everything my father feels shows on his face – it’s what makes him a good teacher. He loves his job, loves his subject and his passion is infectious. The flipside is that he can’t hide anything, even the things he’d rather no one could see.
    “Dad—”
    “You’re not trying.”
    I say nothing.
    “You can fool your mother, but I can see that all this park business is a charade. Tyrone, Rex, Mark Grey … they’re not your type.”
    “And who is?” I say, but there’s no substance to my sarcasm.
    “Let’s not get into this again. I know it’s not my place to choose your friends.” Dad looks over at me. “Which leaves it up to you.”
    I was worried he might say that.

THURSDAY 5 TH NOVEMBER
BONFIRE NIGHT
    AARON
    Dad does not like this time of year. He does not like Diwali; he does not like Bonfire Night. We should keep him indoors with The Kaiser, although I reckon the cat has fewer issues with fireworks than my father. I’ve already lost count of the number of times he’s used the words “pyromaniac” and “explosives” as he catalogues how many pupils he’s caught trying to bring fireworks in today. I’m relieved it’s only a short journey to Cedarfields. The staff asked if I’d help out tonight instead of tomorrow. I get a sparkler, a jacket potato and an excuse not to listen to Dad.
    “I’m cold,” Neville complains once we’re out on the balcony.
    “Here,” I say, handing him a second coat. He eyes it suspiciously, but cold trumps taste and he puts it on. It’s my