He's After Me

Chapter TWELVE



Jem and I are becoming closer and closer. We spend as much time together as we can, though it’s difficult sometimes with work and college. When I can’t see him, he texts me all the time to see what I’m up to. Zoe says it would do her head in to have a bloke on her tail like that all the time.

She’s jealous.

At college they tell us the UCAS forms are now ready online. It’s time to think about uni.

‘Newcastle?’ says Mum, knowing it’s always been my ultimate goal.

‘Hopefully.’

‘You are getting your work done, aren’t you?’ she asks, sounding concerned.

‘Of course I am!’ I say, and she believes me because I’ve always got my work done, I’ve always been conscientious.

But, the truth is, I’m falling behind.

It’s Jem’s fault. I can’t resist him.

Livi thinks he’s wonderful too.

One day after school, Ferret comes up and apologizes to her in front of everyone for the way he’s behaved. Nobody could believe what they were hearing, he’s such an arrogant little shit normally. It made Livi’s day. She came home beaming, her self-esteem restored.

It had to be Jem’s doing. She said she could swear she saw him outside her school talking to her ex just before Ferret came over and apologized. By the time she’d picked herself up off the floor with shock, Jem had disappeared.

He wouldn’t admit it though when he came round that night. He just grinned and said, ‘Nobody messes with my little sister,’ in a croaky Italian accent like that guy from The Godfather. From that moment he could do no wrong in Livi’s eyes.

It’s funny. For an easy-going guy, Jem can be quite persuasive.