CHERUB: The Fall - Robert Muchamore Page 0,92

James. You’re shitting yourself.’

‘Who’s talking to you?’ James spat.

‘When we saw that you and Dana had gone, I mentioned that I’d caught you snogging,’ Lauren explained. ‘I said that you’d been having an affair and had probably run off together.’

‘Did Kerry hear about this?’ James asked.

‘Well …’ Lauren said sheepishly.

Bethany butted in. ‘It’s all over campus. It’s all everyone’s been talking about all day. Kerry was crying. Gabrielle and a couple of the other girls were comforting her.’

‘She’s gonna break my neck.’

‘I expect she will,’ Bethany said brightly. ‘And I really hope I’m there to see it.’

Meanwhile, Rat had come out of another classroom. ‘I thought you’d eloped with Dana.’

‘That was the first time I’d ever kissed her,’ James yelled.

‘Nobody believes that,’ Bethany sneered.

Rat nodded. ‘Seriously James, nobody believes it was the first time. Especially with her boobs out and everything …’

‘I didn’t even get to see them,’ James said. ‘And I don’t care whether you believe me or not. It happens to be true.’

‘It doesn’t really matter what we believe,’ Rat noted. ‘If I was you, I’d be more worried about what Kerry believes.’

‘Where is she now?’ Bethany asked.

‘She has football practice,’ James said. ‘It doesn’t finish for another twenty minutes. I don’t know what to do. I mean, if I confront her she might go nuts. But she might be even madder if I don’t have the decency to face her.’

‘Are you going to try getting back with Kerry, or are you going to start a thing with Dana?’ Rat asked. ‘I’d definitely pick Dana, there’s more of her to grab hold of.’

Lauren punched Rat on the arm. ‘Don’t ever speak about girls like that. We’re not ornaments, you know.’

‘Rat, I haven’t had time to think about that,’ James said. ‘Right now I’m just trying to stay alive.’

‘This is gonna be so much fun,’ Bethany squealed.

Lauren turned angrily towards her best friend. ‘Will you stop stirring it? I know you two can’t stand each other, but he is my brother.’

‘Fine, I’ll leave,’ Bethany said indignantly. ‘But don’t forget about our biology project. I’ll see you in my room later.’

James gave Bethany the finger as she walked away.

‘I tell you what,’ Lauren said. ‘We’ll go over to the all-weather pitches together and meet Kerry after practice. She probably won’t get so angry if I’m there.’

James looked at his watch and shook his head. ‘It’s too soon. I haven’t worked out what I’m gonna say to her.’

‘You can’t keep running away,’ Rat said.

‘Maybe not,’ James admitted. ‘But right now it’s the only strategy I’ve got.’

*

James wandered back towards his room and popped in to visit Bruce along the way. He was lying on his bed with a cast over the bottom of his leg.

‘How’s it feel?’ James asked.

Bruce broke into a big grin. ‘You’ll find out when Kerry catches up with you.’

‘I could have done with you as a bodyguard.’

‘Sorry, old bean. Takes me ten minutes just to hobble into the bathroom for a piss at the moment. Kevin Sumner came to visit this morning; he seemed pretty chuffed with himself.’

‘He’s a good kid,’ James nodded. ‘I hope he gets through basic training.’

James’ mobile rang. He flipped it open and heard Dana’s voice.

‘Where are you?’

‘Bruce’s room.’

‘I’m outside your door,’ Dana said. ‘We need to talk.’

James shut his phone and told Bruce that he had to go. He smiled when he saw Dana standing in the corridor in her black CHERUB T-shirt.

‘Looks good,’ James said.

‘Yours too,’ Dana nodded.

James felt awkward as they stepped into his room. He’d have liked time to think everything through, but he didn’t have that luxury.

‘Is me and you going to be a thing, or what?’ Dana asked.

Much to James’ surprise, he knew the answer as soon as Dana asked. He’d been going out with Kerry on and off for two years and the whole thing had gone stale. They’d had a lot of good times, but it just wasn’t much fun any more.

‘You were there for me when it mattered,’ James told her. ‘Me and Kerry have been drifting apart almost since we got back together in April. It just took you to make me realise.’

Dana smiled. ‘I’m kind of cranky, you know. I mean, I like being on my own quite a lot of the time and I’ve had a few boyfriends, but none of them have lasted more than a few weeks …’

James shrugged. ‘We’ll see how it goes. No pressure.’

‘And Kerry?’

‘I’ll have to face up to her, I guess.’

‘I’ve not eaten since breakfast,’