Chapter Eight
“The first round nomination results for seventh form representative on the Student Liaison Committee are: Michael Reardon, William Phillips, Suzy Green—”
My jaw drops and my heart skips a beat. Principal Roberts just called my name. That must mean loads of people put my name forward. I don’t believe it. You know, I’ve never been nominated for anything in my entire life. Non-conformists are always on the periphery when it comes to roles of responsibility.
Of course, that’s how I always wanted it. So I’m not complaining. But now it’s actually happened to me, I have to admit it does feel kind of good. I suppose Rosie must have felt like this all the time. No wonder she kept her butt firmly on the pedestal.
“Decide which of the five candidates you wish to vote for,” the Principal continues, “and place your voting slip in the box by the stage on your way out.” Did he say five? Who are the other two? My mind wandered after he announced my name.
“Yay, Suzy,” says Lori in my ear from where she’s sitting behind me. “Two from the gang nominated. May the best person win.”
I turn my head to face her. “What? Are you nominated too?”
“Duh. Not me. Rachel.” She laughs and shakes her head.
“Sorry. It’s just after he said my name I sort of tuned out. We’ve both been nominated. That’ll sure cause a stink.”
“Why?”
“Well, you know. I’m new and suddenly I’m nominated. I bet Rachel will really hate me now, especially because of my going out with Guy.” I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I mention Guy and the movies tomorrow night.
“Don’t worry.” She grins, looks from side to side conspiratorially and whispers in my ear. “I nominated you in this first round. But don’t tell Rachel.”
You could knock me down with a feather. I never in a million years expected her to suggest me over Rachel.
“Why? It’s not like I told anyone I wanted to be on the Committee.”
“That’s the whole point. You haven’t been begging for nominations like certain others. And that’s why people put your name forward.”
I pull out a pen from my bag and stare at the blank voting slip. Shall I vote for myself or is that not the done thing? Mind you, I’m not sure that I actually want to serve on the Committee. I like that I’m in the final round but if I win that means lots of extra work. On the other hand, it will look really good on my college application. And as I don’t have anything to put on it other than stuff from this year, it might not be such a bad thing.
“I think I’ll vote for Rach,” I say my pen hovering over the top of the slip.
“You freak,” Lori says, as she leans over my shoulder and grabs my hand just before pen hits paper. “Vote for yourself.”
“I can’t do that, it’s cheating.” Like that’s ever bothered me before. Not that I’ve cheated a lot in the past, but Maddie and I have been known to write ‘helpful exam hints’ on the inside of our shirt cuffs—only when things were desperate, though, like: ‘if you don’t pass this exam you’ll be chucked off the course’.
“It’s not. It’s called giving yourself the best possible chance.” She pulls the paper from my hand and writes my name on it. “There. I did it so it’s not like you can accuse yourself of cheating.”
“Thanks. I think.” I take the slip from her, fold it in half and slide it in my pocket—in case someone sees what she’s written.
It takes ages to get from where we’re sitting to the entrance because everyone keeps stopping to congratulate me. When we finally make it I give my voting slip a good luck kiss (under the pretence of coughing) and drop it in the box.
***
“Hey Mom, guess what,” I say the moment she arrives home. She’s never usually out when I get home, but isn’t it typical that today just because I had news she wasn’t here?
“What?” she replies not stopping to hear me out but heading toward the kitchen. I follow and watch as she reaches for the kettle and fills it with water.
“I’ve been nominated as seventh form rep on the Student Liaison Committee.”
The look of disbelief on her face is classic. Good job she wasn’t holding anything or she would have definitely dropped it. She hasn’t looked like that since the day I told her I was going to be a nun when I left school—luckily, the nun phase didn’t last too long. Once I found out you have to take a vow of silence it became much less appealing.
“That’s marvelous,” she says after a few seconds. “Well done. Your dad and I are really proud of the effort you’re making. We know it hasn’t been easy.” She gives me a huge hug and it brings tears to my eyes.
When I think of how close I came to destroying everything—as if things weren’t bad enough with Rosie dying.
“Yeah.” My voice is a little croaky so I cover it up by coughing. “A bit of a shock though.” She releases me and I turn slightly so she can’t see my tears—it’s not like me to get all emotional, but sometimes the enormity of what’s happened hits me without warning.
“I can’t wait to tell your Uncle Peter tomorrow. He’ll be very impressed.”
Oh no. Uncle Peter’s coming tomorrow. That brings me back to earth with a jolt. I don’t believe it. How could I forget that? What the hell am I going to do? Mom will never let me go to the movies now. A huge sigh escapes my lips. Nothing ever goes right for me.
“What’s the matter, love?” Mom asks.
“I forgot about Uncle Peter. And I’ve arranged to go out with someone from school.” I bite on my bottom lip.
“Just explain to her. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“He won’t,” I mutter. An urge to stomp up the stairs is coming on big time. But I guess it’s not acceptable behavior anymore.
“He? Did you say he? You didn’t tell me you were going out with anyone.” She leans against the work surface and fixes me with a stare.
“I’m not going out with him. We’re just going to the movies, that’s all.”
A slow devious smile stretches across her face. “I’ll tell you what. Invite him around here for tea, which will give you time with Uncle Peter, and then you can go out with him.”
Yeah, that’s a great suggestion. I can just imagine Guy’s face if I ask him. I never bring boys home. Never. Mom and Dad would’ve freaked—the boys I knew were nothing like the boys Rosie went out with, who were all rich and heading for high-powered careers (well, maybe not all of them but definitely her last two).
Although, just for argument’s sake, say Guy did agree to come. He would definitely be boyfriend material from a parents’ perspective. It could work. The only thing is, how to break it to him?
“I’ll ask him and let you know.” Mom practically chokes on the sip of coffee she’s just taken. “Is that okay?” I ask, trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably.
“Sure. I’ll look forward to it.”
“I’m going to my room,” I say trying to act all virtuous. “Call me when dinner’s ready.”
I’ve got some serious planning to do. First thing is to text Lori and elicit her opinion on my best course of action. I race up the stairs two at a time, retrieve my phone from the dressing table and send Lori a message. In less than a minute my cell phone rings. It’s her.
“Hi. Can you believe Mom wants him to come to tea before the movies?”
“Why don’t you say no, if you’re not happy about it.”
“I can’t because my uncle is coming around, and we haven’t seen him for ages because he lives so far away. And Mom won’t let me go out if I don’t agree to Guy coming.” How sad does that make me sound? I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation. Old-Suzy would have just said ‘sorry Mom, I’ve made plans.’
And, more to the point, old-Suzy would’ve texted Maddie for advice of this nature. What sort of friend does that make me? In less than a couple of months Maddie’s been relegated to friend-when-it-suits-me. God, that makes me feel awful.
Thing is, she doesn’t know Guy like Lori does. Which is why Lori is the best person to ask. So I’m not really dumping Maddie. And I’ll definitely give her a ring as soon as Lori and I have sorted this mess out. If only to tell her about the committee. I just know she’ll barely be able to contain herself when she hears.
“But surely you can just have tea and then go straight out. Why does Guy have to be there? Or is she always like this about boyfriends.”
“No, she’s not. But things are different now. You know, with Rosie and stuff.” Stuff being the operative word and something not for sharing.
“Yeah. Well, looks like you have no choice then.”
“I reckon you’re right. But what shall I say?” I pause for moment. “Hey, maybe you can ask him for me.” I say it as a joke, but part of me wishes she would agree to do it.
“What, seriously?” I can’t see her face, but I can imagine the expression of disbelief on it.
“Nah. Only joking. But you can tell me what to say. As you know him so well.”
“I’m not sure.” She’s silent for a few seconds. “I know,” she continues. “Why don’t you say haven’t seen your uncle in a while, since the funeral—”
“I can’t say that. Guy doesn’t know about Rosie.”
“Um—actually he does.”
“How? I didn’t mention anything to him. The only person I’ve told is you—” I stop speaking. Oh no. Lori told Guy. I don’t believe it. After I specifically asked her to keep it quiet. “You told him didn’t you?” My voice comes out harsher than I intend. Though if you ask me she deserves it.
“I’m so sorry Suzy. It was an accident. I was going to ring and tell you but I felt so awful. It just sort of slipped out after school today when he gave me a ride home. But he knows you don’t want the others to know. And he’ll keep it secret, I promise.”
Yeah like she promised not to say anything. Well if this doesn’t prove that Maddie is the only person I can trust I don’t know what does.
“Whatever.”
“Please say you forgive me.”
“I forgive you.” That couldn’t come across as more belligerent if I tried. Maybe I’m being mean. These things happen. I’ve done it myself. What about when I accidentally dropped Maddie in it when she said she was at my house and she’d gone to that concert across town with some guy her parents said she couldn’t see. “Sorry. Of course I forgive you. But please don’t say anything to anyone else. It’s just that I don’t want to go through everyone staring and talking about me again. I had enough of that when it all happened.”
“You have my word.” She breathes an extremely loud sigh of relief down the phone.
I’m still cross, but it’s not going to change Guy knowing. Just as long as he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“So back to Guy. What shall I say?”
“Like I said before, say it’s been ages since you’ve seen your uncle. Failing that, just say that your Mom wants to meet him. That’s perfectly acceptable.” For around here maybe.
“Anyway, you better phone him now. Give him some warning.”
“I suppose. Wish me luck. I’ll phone you right back once I’ve done it.”