Transported

13. Safe and Sound

"Where did you get that from?" I pointed at the button as I looked at a girl who was texting and chewing gum with her mouth open. She was about 16 I'd say.

"Some kid at another school sold it to us," she said.

"How much for it?"

"15 quid,"

"15 quid! I don't have enough money!"

Angel had obviously heard me, because he then came over to the jewellery stand and joined our conversation.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"They have my button. It's 15 pounds and I don't have enough money,"

"Too bad! Pay or jog on," said the girl at the stand. I clenched my fists in frustration.

"I have a tenner, that's it,"

"Not enough,"

"Hang on, I have some money," Angel dug into his pockets and pulled out some lose change.

He counted them up and placed them on the table on top of the ten pound note. "I have 3 pounds and 14 pence. Is that enough?"

"No," I was getting really angry at that point.

"Listen, Marilyn here lost her button 'cause some jerk sold it to you. This is all the money we have. You can have this for the button or nothing,"

The girl looked at the money, then the button, then at our faces.

"Fine, you gotta deal. Nobody would buy that crappy button anyway,"

Before she changed her mind, I grabbed the button and walked away from the stand. I didn't want to be around the markets. The button felt safe in my hand. I held onto it tight, I was not losing it again.

"Sorry about the loss of money," Then I remembered how I was trying to save my money to buy the necklace. I had to start all over again, I spent it on my button.

"It's OK, I was saving up to buy a necklace there, but it's worth starting again if it means getting my button back,"

When I got home that evening, I went upstairs to put the button in my precious box. I reached under the bed to grab the box.

I unlocked the padlock by putting in the combination, then I remembered, Kieran knew that combination. It was in his head. My button was not safe if he knew it. My box had to be put somewhere else, but where?

After placing the button in the box and locking it up, I shoved into the back of my sock draw. Who would look there?

But what if someone did? What if Kieran was trying to find it? He would do anything to get on my nerves.

My box was not safe enough to keep my button in there. I would have to carry it around with me, tight in my hand.

But what if I transported? I would lose the button, I had lost clothes several times from transporting. Nothing could transport unless it was part of me or inside of me.

Suddenly, I had an idea. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth saving my precious button and avoid losing it again.

"Psst!" I stood leaning against the wall beside Phil at the market. "Pssst!"

"What is it?" Phil looked at me.

"I need something,"

"What?"

"Not here, somewhere else,"

"Fine,"

We walked away from the crowds at the market and went round the corner. I stood there and took a deep breath.