Bad at Love

Prologue

I can't believe I used to think Mr Gallagher was a decent teacher.  The kind that would let you talk quietly to friends during silent work or wouldn't blow a fuse at homework being a day late.  He'd even been known to stick a film on for the last lesson of term, not caring if we paid attention or not.

My heart feels like it's going to explode out of my chest as I swipe my hands back over my trousers for the millionth time since I walked into class.  He is so not my favourite teacher right now.

There's a smattering of applause as Candice Bower's takes her seat two across from me and I gulp in air at the thought of going next, my throat going dry.

"Memphis Wills."

My eyes dart to Jack and he gives me a small nod, letting me know it's going to be ok, but I feel like I'm going to die.  Or have a panic attack.  Or spew all over the front row.  Have I mentioned how much I hate public speaking?

I'm cursing Mr Gallagher in my head as I take my place at the front of the room.  I wait for the chatter to die down before I clear my throat and will my voice to work.

"I.  Uh.  Ok."  I look up from the paper clutched in my trembling hands to see Eli giving me a thumbs up from beside Jack.  "Ok.  Right.  So, where do I see myself in five years?"I try and focus my eyes on the words written in front of me but the sound of blood rushing in my ears is a distraction.

"Memphis?"I start a little at Mr Gallagher's voice.

"Sorry.  Right, well.  Uh, not here."There are a few giggles and snorts from my classmates, and I look to Mr Gallagher, my expression innocent."I mean, in five years from now, I'd like to be in a city.  Living in one of those apartment blocks you see on TV, like in Friends or Big bang theory.  I'll have a job at a fancy magazine taking artsy photos and meeting celebrities on exotic shoots."

Chancing a glance up at the room I'm surprised that no-ones rolling their eyes or chuckling at my belief that I can actually leave this little tiny town and make something of myself.  I stand a little straighter on impulse.

"I'll have been to college and university.  Maybe travelled a bit. India and Australia.  Ooh, New Zealand."Now I hear a ripple of laughter, but I know it's Elijah and I purse my lips at him over my paper.

"Thank you, Memphis.  I look forward to reading your full presentation."Mr Gallagher's eyes are soft as they follow me back to my seat and I hate him a little less for making me speak in front of my peers.

I glance over my shoulder and Jack and Eli are both smiling at me, Jack's expression comforting.  Maybe that wasn't as bad as I'd been expecting it to be.

"Do you think we'll still be friends in five years?"I blink at Jack and Eli shoves into him gently, his own bag strap slipping from his shoulder.  He shrugs it back up and sets his hand on Jack's back.

"Of course, mate. It's been the three of us since forever."

"But we'll be twenty-one.  Adults."

I stop walking, pulling them both down onto a nearby bench.  "Look, we'll always be friends."

"Even when you're some hot shot city girl?"I frown at Jack's tone, but he softens it with a smile."I'm just making sure, that's all."

"Well you don't need to," Eli says.  "Nothing's going to change."We share a look around Jack, stifling smiles.  Jack's always been the worrier, just like I've been the glue and Eli's the clown.  "Memphis will always have boy eyebrows..."

"Hey!"

"...and you'll always be a lanky shit."

Jack flips Eli off and we all smile."And you'll still be a loser with the ladies."

Eli clutches his chest.  "Why do you wound me?"

I get up from the bench and the boys follow, flanking me as we start to walk home again."So you've got nothing to worry about, ok?  Besides, we've still got three months of school left. Then exams and then prom and then a whole six weeks of summer."

"And then?"

I squeeze Jack's hand."We're free."

"And then we're free!" Eli shouts, startling an older lady on the other side of the road.  "Sorry Mrs Perkins!"

I shake my head at Eli, forever earning frowns from the elderly residents of Whitehaven.

Mrs Perkins storms off, shopping trolley wobbling over the cobblestones, but Jack's smiling now, his hazel eyes warm.

"Race you to your Grandad's," Eli calls, already a few feet ahead, his bag slipping from his shoulder again.

Jack grins.  "Last one there makes the popcorn?"

"Don't forget the syrup!" I shout, sprinting after Eli as he breaks through the gap in the hedge up ahead.

I barely hear Jack curse me over the sound of my own laughter.