CHERUB: Class A - Robert Muchamore Page 0,34

if to say, Oh god, not another kid, and started bawling for Zara.
‘Hey, Ewart,’ James shouted, ‘there goes your theory that Joshua likes anyone with blond hair.’
Lauren wandered into the living-room, threw off her bomber jacket and sat on the couch. Kerry and Kyle wished her happy birthday.
‘So,’ Lauren asked, ‘where’s all my prezzies?’
‘Actually,’ James said, ‘I haven’t got you one yet.’
‘Typical,’ Lauren huffed.
‘Now I’m a bona-fide drug delivery boy, I thought you might like to spend my ill-gotten gains.’ James burrowed down his jeans, pulled out a fistful of scrunched-up bank notes and dumped them in Lauren’s lap.
Lauren grinned. ‘How much is this?’ She straightened out the notes and started counting. ‘Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, a hundred, and ten, fifteen. Wow … How long did it take you to make a hundred and fifteen pounds?’
‘Four nights,’ James said. ‘The only thing is, if you want me to take you shopping you’ll have to pay my bus fare. I’ve only got sixty pence left.’
‘Is there a Gap near here?’ Lauren asked eagerly. ‘I want some new jeans. And a Claire’s Accessories? If there is, I can get those cool black hair scrunchies like Bethany’s got.’
‘Can’t you just use an elastic band?’ James asked.
Lauren ignored her brother and glanced at her watch. ‘What time do the shops open?’
‘Calm down, you idiot,’ James said. ‘The money’s still gonna be there in a couple of hours. Why don’t you go in the kitchen, get some toast and say hello to Zara and the others.’
‘Whatever,’ Lauren said. ‘But let’s go early. The shops get really busy on a Saturday.’
*
Zara dropped the kids at the Reeve Centre. James hoped none of the security guards remembered him.
‘Why are you wearing those sunglasses?’ Lauren asked.
James shrugged. ‘Am I? I forgot to take them off.’
‘You look a right twit,’ Kerry said.
‘It doesn’t have anything to do with the five Playstation games you’ve got stuffed under your bed, does it?’ Kyle asked.
‘What were you doing spying under my bed?’ James asked indignantly.
‘Remember Monday, before school?’ Kyle asked.
‘No.’
Kyle mocked James’ voice. ‘I can’t find my PE shirt, Kyle. Will you help us look for it?’
‘Oh yeah,’ James said, ‘that.’
‘So let me guess,’ Kyle said. ‘You don’t want to go anywhere too near Gameworld either.’
‘But if he stole them as part of a mission, he’s allowed, isn’t he?’ Lauren asked.
‘He’s supposed to give the proceeds of any crime to charity,’ Kerry explained.
‘Well he should give them to charity then,’ Lauren said. ‘You’re not on this mission to make a profit, James.’
‘Does that include the birthday money in your pocket?’ James asked.
‘Oh,’ Lauren gasped.
‘Yeah,’ James giggled. ‘That shut you up, didn’t it?’
Normally, going around the girly shops would have driven James mad, but being the big brother treating his sister felt good. Lauren, who wouldn’t be seen dead in a skirt, got two hooded sweatshirts in Gap, a pair of faded jeans and some silver stud earrings. She treated everyone to lunch in the food court and even got James a pair of novelty socks as a thank you. He was never going to wear the ghastly things, but it was a nice moment when she gave them to him.
After lunch, Kerry went off to meet Dinesh. She told James to give Zara a message that she wouldn’t be back until after dinner. Kerry being with Dinesh pissed James off, but he didn’t want to spoil Lauren’s birthday, so he tried not to think about it.
When they got home, Zara had ordered a fancy cake. The icing was camouflage green and there was a miniature assault course built out of marzipan, with a climbing tower, a water jump and toy soldiers running around. The iced message around the edge said, Happy Birthday, Lauren & Good Luck in Training.
Joshua thought the cake was a toy and kept lunging out of Ewart’s lap towards it. After Lauren had blown out her candles, everyone sat around the table, cracking up at the huge mess Joshua made with his tiny piece of cake.
*
Lauren was tired out by half-nine and James decided to go up to bed with her. She started off in a sleeping bag on the floor, but she decided it was uncomfortable and climbed in with James. She’d always got into his bed when they were little, but they’d grown since those days.
‘This is ridiculous,’ James said, wriggling up to the wall so she had more room.
‘I’m still scared about training,’ Lauren said quietly. ‘I don’t even see the point of it.’
‘You’ll understand after