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‘Little toe-rag got away around the corner.’
The woman narrows her eyes at me. ‘He was with you, wasn’t he?’
‘No, honestly. I don’t know who you’re talking about.’ My voice is squeaky like a kid caught with their hands in the biscuit tin.
‘So, you’re about to spend £150 on this sleeping bag?’
‘I need to think about it,’ I stammer. ‘Erm, can I come back later?’
‘You’ll not come back later or ever again. You can think yourself lucky I can’t prove you knew him.’
It’s as much as I can do to get to the door on my shaky legs and keep walking down the street without looking back.
‘You fucking Eejit.’ Aiden emerges from behind a bush by the river path.
‘I’m sorry, she just turned round. I didn’t…?’ I look down the path to be sure no-one’s followed me. What if they’d got the police to tail me and I’ve brought them straight to Aiden?
‘What were you doing giving me eye contact, Dunderheid?’
‘Yeah, I’m right out of practice with nicking, know what I mean?’ I’m not exactly wanting to admit the last time was when I was caught stealing sweets aged nine. Mum gave me such a hard time I’ve literally never done it again.
‘No shit! Fucking stick to your mammy buying your stuff and I’ll try to keep myself this side of the nick.’ He slings the sleeping bag at me then kicks the bush before striding back along the path.
‘Oh God!’ I run to catch up. ‘Do you think they’ll report you? Maybe they could identify…?’ Flash of Aiden on a police line-up with a load of twelve-year-olds.
‘It’s a bit of petty theft. No’ worth their trouble.’
‘But if they did, literally you’d be back inside, right?’ The lump of guilt catches in my throat.
‘Aye, sure enough. Serves me right for being so soft.’
‘I don’t get it? Why take the risk for a twat like me?’
He stops and gives me that blank stare, his eyes like sea-worn bottle glass. ‘Let’s just say I’m superstitious?’ He walks away.
‘Superstitious? What the hell are you on about?’ I shout after him.
He stoops to pick up a stick. ‘You put me in mind of someone. Dinnae ask, OK?’ He swipes at the vegetation.
Back at the camp Aiden helps me to string up the plastic sheeting between a couple of birches for a make-shift tent, with a binbag and cardboard groundsheet. He hardly speaks, but I’m happy enough. The misty damp has disappeared, and the shelter looks almost cosy. I spread my sleeping bag and Aiden leaves me to settle in.
There’s no-one near so it seems safe to get my phone out. It had about ten minutes charge, enough for a quick check.
There’s a text from Ben sent a couple of hours ago – Awright mate? Immediate disappointment it’s so brief. I go to check Facebook notifications.
A picture posted by Ben with the caption On our way to With The Fairies Free Party. Gonna get mash up and forget all examsJ.There they all are: Fran draped round Jarvis, glitter-flowered face, glossy lips poised to kiss; Jarvis showing off a large trumpet of a spliff; Ben with his arms round Jarvis and Emily, all gold and turquoise face-paint and a garland of daisies; Emily with green fairy wings, pointing a sparkly wand. As far as could be from the Minx girl and I ache with the longing for my lost girlfriend.
I try to imagine being there. As in thinking of nothing more than going mental and feeling the ecstasy induced lurve. But from my far-away hide it all feels mega superficial. And no-one mentions the absence of me? OK, Ben sent the shortest possible text, but I can’t help feeling hurt, seeing them now, so happy without me. Not even any more desperate messages from Mum. I have never felt so alone.
The phone conks and I put it away, batting back the tears that I’m too scared to let flow in case I can’t stop.
‘Gethin, where are you skulking with the bevvies?’ Skunky’s voice breaks into my misery.
I haul myself up and take the supplies to the newly constructed fire. Skunky’s well happy with his White Lightening and Aiden and I settle into the wine and smoke a couple of roll ups. He says very little but I’m grateful for his company. Even Paoul seems to have cheered up, talking about his plan to catch rabbits.
‘I set up net, you see? Tonight, when is dark. You will help?’
‘Sure, awesome.’ I pass him the wine bottle. I’ll take the idea of belonging here for now. Never mind how I’m catching rabbits or anything.
