Tide - By Daniela Sacerdoti Page 0,30

know.” Sarah shrugged. “I don’t know if I … love him.”

“Love is a big word! Do you feel butterflies when you see him?”

Sarah looked at her friend, opening her mouth to reply, and then she closed it again. How could she explain what happened to her thoughts when Nicholas was around?

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

“You don’t seem convinced.”

Sarah stood up suddenly. She’d said enough. “Well, I’ll keep you posted. It’s all good. And anyway, these days all I’m thinking of is that letter from the RCS.”

“That’ll take ages. I’m dying to hear from the art schools. So, when will I meet this Nicholas?” Bryony wasn’t giving up.

“Soon. Promise.” As soon as I have the whole Sean mess sorted out. As soon as I can face it.

“We can go out, the four of us. For chips, maybe?”

“Sure. Great idea,” Sarah replied, aware of her stomach tightening at the weirdness of the whole set up.

Why should it be weird for us to go for chips all together? I don’t know. But it would be. Nicholas hardly ever eats, for a start. There never seems to be the time, somehow.

In a rush of affection, Bryony threw her arms around Sarah, who closed her eyes for a brief moment, inhaling the distinctive scent of her friend’s hair – bluebells, she would have recognized it anywhere.

“You know I’m here, don’t you? Any time, day or night, you can phone me. Or come up to my house.”

“I know, I know.” If only I could tell you.

Bryony got up and started gathering her things. “Oh, wait! I completely forgot. I have to do a project for my photography class. Pictures of the full moon. I thought your garden would be the perfect place.”

Sarah hesitated. Just because she hadn’t been dreaming, just because they’d had some peace for a while, didn’t mean they weren’t still under threat. To have Bryony wandering around her garden at night …

She wracked her mind, trying to find an excuse. Couldn’t think of anything.

“When?” she asked with a smile, pretending to love the idea.

“The full moon is tonight. Please, please, please, Sarah? Sorry about the short notice.”

Oh, no.

“Okay,” Sarah sighed, trying not to sound too anxious.

“Great, then! I’ll see you around nine.”

The girls turned their backs on the football pitch and all that had happened there, and walked, arms linked, towards the school building.

As soon as they were gone, Sean broke his glamour of invisibility, stretching his arms and legs.

I’ll watch over you both, he thought.

“Yes?” whispered Sarah into her phone, gaining a few dark looks from the serious looking boy sitting across her. They weren’t supposed to take calls in the library, but when Sarah saw it was Nicholas, she had to answer. She had to warn him that he was about to meet Bryony, the girl he’d heard so much about.

“It’s me. I just called to say hi.”

“I was about to phone you. Bryony is coming round to the house tonight. Around nine.”

“Exciting. I’m about to meet the famous Bryony. I’ll come and get you at school.”

“No. I mean, I have so much homework …” She scrambled. The boy sitting across Sarah stood up, glared irritably and strode out of the room. He was going to find Mrs McGough, the school librarian, to complain about Sarah.

“Would I … inconvenience you, Sarah?”

“No, of course not. Honestly, Nicholas. Come up to the house later. I need … I need some time alone, I have stuff to do.”

“Right.”

His voice was cold and Sarah’s heart started beating faster. Have I upset him? And why should I feel so guilty for wanting some time alone?

“I’m in the library. I have to go.”

“Fine.”

She closed her eyes. “Please don’t be angry,” she began, but stopped at once. This is not me. I shouldn’t be apologizing for this.

She heard the click that signalled the end of the conversation. Suddenly, she realized why she was feeling so nervous about Bryony’s visit. It was because she felt in her bones that Bryony wouldn’t like Nicholas.

What if Sean turns up tonight too?

Sarah stared out of the window onto the school car park. Nicholas, Sean and Bryony all there at the same time. The thought of it was like a firework going off in her head. She stood up and gathered her things quickly, so quickly that a few loose papers and a pencil fell out of her messenger bag, and she didn’t even stop to gather them. On the doorstep she bumped into Mrs McGough, followed by the boy who’d been so annoyed