“Maybe you shouldn’t be earwigging,” I responded archly.
“Yeah, mind your business,” Aoife added.
“Blowing people’s holes,” Sally chuckled loudly. “I didn’t realise you were such a nasty little bitch.”
“The only nasty little bitch around here is you!” Aoife shot back.
“Miss Boyle, enough of that language,” Sister Dorothy reprimanded. She stood by the door to her classroom, arms folded, but she didn’t look very angry. She looked amused, like she secretly agreed with Aoife’s assessment. I knew there was a reason I liked her.
Sally, her back to Sister Dorothy, stuck her tongue out at Aoife, her shoulder intentionally knocking into my arm as she walked by. Sally was a lot smaller than me, short and skinny as a rake. Sometimes I wondered why I was even intimidated by her, but then, it wasn’t a physical thing. It was psychological.
Just like Vee, she had a knack for getting into my head. Did I somehow attract these kinds of people, or was it simply bad luck?”
A moment of quiet passed before I spoke, my voice low, “Vee locked me out of the bathroom this morning. I think it was punishment for hanging around with Noah.”
Aoife gaped at me. “She…she can’t do that. It’s inhumane.”
“Somehow I doubt Vee is a big proponent of human rights.”
“That woman is a monster, Stells.” A pause. “Why would she want to punish you for being around Noah though?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” I said. I was still trying to get my head around the idea that she might be doing it for my best interests. Vee thought Noah was unpredictable. It was difficult to understand how she cared enough to warn me away from someone who might be a wild card, yet she still made me suffer by locking me out of the bathroom.
“Well, I’m telling my mam,” Aoife said, furious. “She’ll go and have a word with Vee for you. Things can’t go on like this.”
I grabbed her arm. “No, don’t do that, please. I’m only under her roof for a few more months. I’ll get through it.”
Aoife’s eyes dipped down sadly, and I saw two opposing emotions war within her. She stared at me for a long moment, then said, “Fine, I won’t tell Mam, but come over to mine after school and you can use our shower. Mam will be at work. Jimmy’s coming over to watch a movie, but he won’t bother you.”
I squeezed her arm, trying to show her how grateful I was with my eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered. Aoife was one of those people who were just naturally kind and protective. I was so thankful to have her as a best friend.
After school, I headed out with Aoife, looking forward to showering at her place. We walked through the gates, and I got a surprise to see Noah on his bike waiting to collect me just like yesterday.
“He’s back again,” Aoife said, eyebrows raised.
I frowned. “Let me go talk to him. I’ll catch up with you.”
She nodded. “Sure, I have to go meet Jimmy outside the supermarket anyway. We’ll wait for you there.”
Aoife’s boyfriend had graduated the year before, and he was working stacking shelves at the local grocery store. He also played the drums in a rock band called The Magnificent Owls.
“Okay, see you in a few minutes.”
Inhaling deeply, I made my way toward Noah. He was almost finished smoking his cigarette, taking one final drag before tossing it to the ground and stubbing it out with his boot.
“What are you doing here?” I asked when I reached him.
His lips made a funny shape. “Did you think it was a one-time thing? I hate to break it to you, Estella, but you’ve got my attention now. I’ll see this through ‘til the end.”
“What is this?”
He was momentarily distracted by the students leaving the school behind me. I recognised the excited whispers and giggles Noah’s presence tended to solicit.
Now he leaned forward so that his mouth hovered over my ear. “Get on the bike, baby.”
I startled at his endearment. Noah’s voice was equal parts husky and authoritarian, and it had a shockingly weakening effect on me. But no. No. I had to stand my ground. No matter how sexy his command was, or how it awakened a part of me that hadn’t yet fully blossomed.
“I can’t,” I said, holding his gaze.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to know what else Vee will do to me if I arrive home with you again,” I told him honestly.
His eyebrows drew together. “What has she done?”
I exhaled tiredly, my gaze on the ground. “She locked me out of the bathroom this morning. I had to come to school without washing, which is one reason why you shouldn’t want me on the back of your bike. I stink. I’m going to Aoife’s house to shower.”
“How do you know she locked you out? The house is old. The door handle could be jammed.”