The Shell House by Linda Newbery

Author:Linda Newbery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780307434005
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2007-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

Gaia

Greg’s mental snapshot: In the swimming-pool changing room, Jordan stands beneath the shower, his back to the viewer. Water bounces off his head, shoulders and upraised arms. His body is slender and strong; his wet skin gleams in the artificial light. He is washing himself unselfconsciously, not knowing he is being watched.

Greg watched Faith stomping along the edge of the common and out of sight.

It was her fault, wasn’t it? She’d started this. They were becoming good friends till she’d spoiled it. Let her go off in a huff if she wanted to. If he ran after her and said he was sorry, she’d get the wrong idea again.

Wrong? Right? Which was which? How could you tell?

Greg heard Dean’s taunt: ‘You’re gay!’ Well, I’m not, Greg thought. Definitely not. I could have kissed her properly if I’d wanted to.

Kids said that quite meaninglessly. Unless Dean could read Greg’s mind better than Greg could read it himself, and sort out the muddle, he couldn’t possibly know.

Know what? What is there to know?

Greg walked back slowly, kicking at leaves, thinking about Jordan. I am not gay, he told himself. Not even remotely. Just because I—

Just because he’s always on my mind. Just because I’d rather be with him than with anyone else. Just because it’s enough to be together, not even talking. Just because he obviously likes me the same way.

Again Greg thought of that glance, of what had seemed like a current running between them. But what had Jordan actually said? Hi. Ready in a couple of minutes, if you don’t mind hanging on. Definitely not the words of someone who had just experienced a blinding revelation. Male bonding, Greg decided, that’s all. He picked up a conker that gleamed among fallen leaves, and put it in his pocket for the cats at home.

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