It's About Love by Steven Camden

Author:Steven Camden [Steven Camden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

Nan said: For every strength, a weakness; for every weakness, a strength.

I count six of them, sitting on the little wall and steps under the overhanging fibreglass roof behind the science block. It looks like the place where teachers would steal a quick smoke. Simeon, Jono, the ginger kid, Leia, the girl from film with the shaved side of her head and another girl with a jet-black bob, who I don’t know, but have seen before. They look like the cast of Skins and I try not to hate them.

“Waterboy!” Simeon calls out, and everyone turns and watches me approach. I concentrate on lifting my feet as I walk so I don’t trip. He’s sitting with Jono and the ginger kid near the wall. Leia’s slightly lower down the slope in between Shaved Head and the other girl.

You gonna let him call you that? In front of people?

I don’t respond. Leia waves me over and I sit on the step down from hers. The girl with the bob is staring at my scar. Shaved Head is eyes down, in her phone.

“What did he want?” Leia says.

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

“This is Luke,” she says, pointing at me.

“Luke, this is Megan.” Shaved Head gives the minimum acknowledgement it’s possible to give, lifting her chin a millimetre. “And this is Michelle.”

The girl with the bob holds out her hand and smiles. “We do English together. I’ve heard about you.”

I shake Michelle’s hand, trying to place her in English class. “Hi.”

What’s she heard?

“Come to hang with us then, Waterboy?” says Simeon, like I didn’t hear him the first time.

I feel my arms tensing.

I don’t look at him as I say, “My name’s Luke,” and I meant it strong, but not as aggressive as it came out. Nice. The girls watch. I try to neutralise it. “We’ve met, remember?”

I stare up at him. Jono and the ginger kid stare back.

Simeon smiles. “Sorry, man, just kidding. It’s a pretty sick nickname though, right? I mean, as far as nicknames go. Stupid film. Funny though. Ask Jono what they call him.”

He slaps Jono’s wide back and Jono looks embarrassed. I don’t say anything. Simeon gives it a second then says, “Jugs.”

Him and the ginger kid laugh. Jono looks at the floor, shifting his thick legs.

I look at Leia; she’s avoiding my eyes.

Simeon shakes his head. “But I’m with you, Luke, let’s leave the nicknames to the Rugby Club.” Then he points at me with both hands like guns. “You can help us.”

I look at Leia and Michelle. Both their faces are blank and I’m wondering who decided he was the leader.

“Six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but with different actors,” Simeon says. “You any good at it?”

And he’s not kidding. I can feel the sighs as Michelle and Megan roll their eyes. It feels like some kind of initiation test, but I like this game. I still play it with Dad sometimes; connect the actors via as few films as possible. I play it cool.

“Not really,” I say.

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