FUCK OFF ETHAN I KNOW THAT’S YOU
So this is what I’m missing. I stand there for a full minute, trying to psych myself up to making a lap of the common room before escaping, when there’s a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Rhys’s smiling face.
Hi! he says.
I’m so happy to see him I almost hug him. Hi! I reply. I gesture to the noticeboard. I’m thinking of joining the Feminist Society.
Rhys looks at the notice and his grin widens. Cool, he signs. He thinks for a second, then signs, Up the women! with an awkward little thumbs up at the end.
I almost die with how adorable it is. Exactly, I sign, somehow managing not to show my complete adoration on my face. (I think.)
Want to get some lunch? he asks. I’m on my way to the canteen.
Sure, I sign casually. I hike my backpack further up my shoulder and smile at him. Lead the way.
On Friday, I give in to Tem’s constant begging and agree to go running with her. It’s a cool evening and the air feels fresh because it rained earlier. Even the pavement smells good. I bring Rita for moral support and meet Tem at the park near my school.
‘Hello!’ Tem shouts happily, throwing both her arms in the air before dropping into a squat to give Rita a hug.
‘You’re in a good mood,’ I observe.
‘I am!’ Tem jumps to her feet and bounces on the spot. ‘It’s perfect running weather. My best friend is running with me. Rita’s here. And . . .’ She wiggles her eyebrows at me. ‘I spent the afternoon with Karam.’
We take a long, lazy route around the residential part of town, alternating left and right turns for a while and then doubling back on ourselves. Tem lets me set the pace and doesn’t complain when I have to stop and wheeze. I’m not really up to talking and running, which is fine because she talks enough for both of us.
I hear all about Karam, who seems to have become even more perfect since the last time she’d told me about him. They’d apparently spent a couple of hours writing and printing leaflets for a march that’s happening in London in a few weeks’ time – Karam is arranging a coach to take people into the city – and then gone for a drink after.
‘An alcoholic drink?’ I ask.
‘For him, yes. For me, no. I wanted one, but he said no, so I had a Coke.’ She beams at me. ‘He’s really mature.’
They’d ‘talked and talked and talked’, had two more drinks (‘He let me have a G&T after the first two Cokes!’) and then gone for a walk.
‘Is “walk” code for kissing?’ I ask.
Tem grins. ‘Yes.’
‘So are you happier at college?’
‘Stef, I just told you I was kissing Karam Homsi. Ask me about that. College is boring.’
I roll my eyes. ‘How much can you really say about kissing?’
She chokes out a laugh. ‘I’ll remind you that you said that when you finally kiss someone.’
I stop running and put my hands on my waist, squeezing out a breath. ‘Thanks for that.’
‘Oh, I’m teasing,’ she says easily. ‘I just mean obviously there’s loads to say about kissing. And he’s such a good kisser, Stef. Like, a kissing god.’
‘Are you going out now?’
‘You’re asking all the wrong questions!’ she says in frustration. ‘Can’t you be excited for me?’
‘For kissing a guy?’ I’m not sure why I’m feeling so irritated.
‘For getting noticed by Karam. He’s so amazing, honestly. And he wants to be with me.’
‘So you are going out?’
‘For God’s sake, Steffi!’ she snaps.
‘So no, then?’
Tem lets out a growl of annoyance and then turns away from me, sprinting off down the street. I watch her go, still waiting for my heart rate to return to normal. I lean against the garden wall behind me and pull out my phone. I’m not sure how long it will take Tem to make her way back to me – she always does eventually – so I open jackbytes, hoping to see Rhys’s name on the online list.
rhysespieces: howdy
stefstef: ?
rhysespieces: wotcha?
stefstef: i’m RUNNING
rhysespieces: what really? right now?
rhysespieces: don’t run and text, stef. that’s how broken ankles happen.
stefstef: ok, i’m taking a break right now. how are you?
rhysespieces: i’m good. playing gran turismo with alfie. he says hi.
stefstef: hi alfie!
rhysespieces: are you running by yourself?
stefstef: no, i’m with Tem. did I tell you she’s a runner?
rhysespieces: no, that’s cool. i run sometimes too.
stefstef: you should come along some time.
rhysespieces: cool! it’s not as fun running alone.
stefstef: are you a good runner, though? bcoz i am not.
rhysespieces: ha! i can do it without falling over, but i won’t win any medals iykwim.
stefstef: still sounds better than me.
rhysespieces: well, if you fall over, i’ll carry you home!
stefstef: um. ok!
rhysespieces: jk.
stefstef: so you WON’T carry me home if I fell?
rhysespieces: well obvs i would rhysespieces: i just mean that rhysespieces: like not in a weird way rhysespieces: oh my god rhysespieces: so how’s Tem?
stefstef: she’s good. telling me all about this guy she’s madly in love with.