A Future Somewhere by Cece Beyer

Author:Cece Beyer [Beyer, Cece]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-12T05:00:00+00:00

Sunday 24th November

Mai faffs about what to wear for forever. It takes her four changes before she decides on a black skirt, big black boots, and a black T-shirt with a bright yellow stripe running through it. Her wardrobe’s well stocked with chic, expensive outfits, so the decision is especially tough.

She convinces me to change out of my tracksuit bottoms and into jeans. She throws one of her designer tops at me and gives me the old “Let him know what he’s missing” pep talk. Then she applies three layers of pink blush to my face.

#

When we walk in to the pub, I’m relieved to see that Sam and Lydia have saved us a table a couple of rows back from the stage. I can see Rosie, Phoebe, and a few others sat at the other end of the room, closer to the door. Sam says it’s so Phoebe can exit quickly for cigarette breaks. Mai grabs the seat next to Lydia and their conversation quickly turns to university applications.

The pub’s rammed, students and locals spill out of the big oak doors onto the village street. A crowd forms around the bar, mostly with upper sixth formers who are over eighteen and allowed to buy booze. We’re on the soft stuff. It’s pointless trying to get served, the village pub is as much part of the school as the tuck shop, and the odd teacher is scattered in amongst the students. I feel uncomfortable, it’s hot, loud, and remarkably dark for early afternoon.

Sam turns to me and smiles. “I’ve been completely bricking it.”

“Well, you’re brave to come. He’ll appreciate it.”

“Yeah, but it’s that one as well.” His eyes focus on Phoebe. “God, Max, I just want all this to stop now. I’m sick of it. Seriously, I can’t fight with her anymore. It’s exhausting.”

“Have you tried apologising?”

“I was a dick.”

“You were a mega-dick.”

“She didn’t deserve it.”

“Nope. Why did you do it? What were you thinking?”

“Shit, I was smashed. It’s no excuse, but it’s the truth. I’d been thinking about finishing it with her for ages. I was ready to come out, but you know what she’s like, she wasn’t making it easy. I think she knew, I mean she must of…we never did anything, apart from when other people were about or I was hammered. But still, I really hurt her. I can’t blame her, she was just trying to protect herself. I’m a dick.”

“Well, I wouldn’t feel too bad about it. She’s the worst person I’ve ever met.”

“Don’t be too tough on her. Like I said, I blame her messed-up mother. She’s calmed down a bit this year. Last year she just turned up to the dorms whenever she felt like it, smashed on whatever prescription drugs she was taking. She’d sit in the common room and slag everyone down. It used to really piss all the other girls off. Phoebe could never relax, couldn’t take a shit without wondering if her mum was going to walk in half-way through.

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