lust for life • james cook - skins

5 - eve

I watch as Cook walks away from me, his previous words still stinging the air.

"Where's your edgy friend, what is it, Elizabeth? She looks like less of a dry arse, she certainly has a nice arse."

I look down at the ground and watch Cook's discarded cigarette slowly burn out, the smoke wafting into the air, embers scattered about.

I don't know why I'm so bothered by what he said. He was right. I was being a dry arse. I don't know why I'm choosing to be so difficult. I thought boys usually like all that playing hard to get shit.

He's different, Eve.

I sigh and stamp on the dying cig, dragging it against the pavement with the sole of my shoe. I glance up again to notice that Cook was now gone.

There's a pit in my stomach. I don't know why. I know he only said that to get a rise out of me. Right?

I run my hands through my hair and sigh. I pull out my packet of cigs because I'm now in desperate need for one. I feel around in my pocket for my lighter when I realise Cook still has it.

Shit.

There's no way I'm getting it off him. He can keep it.

I tut in frustration and put the cigarette back in it's pack. I start walking in the direction of my house again, kicking the gravel in the process.

I left school early today because I was sitting in class, when I realised how pointless it is. I know technically it isn't actually pointless but the teacher didn't even show to class and everyone was so loud and getting on my nerves. I had to get out of there.

So I just grabbed my stuff and walked out of the school. I was on my way home when Cook then interrupted me.

I must admit, I was relieved that he just so happened to be bunking off school also. When he came up behind me I knew straightaway I had to act uninterested, because god forbid someone would see me showing any signs of interest in a teenage boy.

I regret acting like that now, because realistically, I was secretly hoping he'd walk with me the whole way home.

He'd insist on coming into my house, I'd laugh and say no. He'd persist, I'd roll my eyes and sigh and say "fine" and let him in, and we'd sit at opposite ends of the kitchen table and look at each other and just talk.

Instead, he's most likely off to find Effy. According to what he said anyways. I like to pretend I'm not bothered but I know that's just a lie. I want to get to know this boy. I want to crack his code, really see what he's all about.

Something tells me the little 'bad boy fuck everyone and everything' thing he has going on is just an act.

I may be very wrong, but it's worth a shot.

-

I breathe out as I slam the front door behind me. I rub my temples as I set my phone and the house keys on the small table beside the door, and make my way into the kitchen.

My house is small. The interior is nothing special either, but it's still my home. I live with my two older brothers; Milo, who is 20, and Charlie, who just turned 24. My mum cleared off ages ago with some random bloke I've never met. I still talk to her, I just haven't seen her in a while.

My dad used to live with us, but around a year ago him and Charlie had a massive argument resulting in my dad staying in a hotel for a night, which then turned into multiple nights.

He came back to us after five days to collect his stuff and to tell us that we're old enough to fend for ourselves now, and he's moving somewhere nice, not sure where yet, and he's still always here for us if we need anything.