Voices in Stone - Emily Diamand Page 0,83
tongue. The footsteps got nearer, stopped, and then carried on, hesitantly.
“Isis?” It was Jess.
Isis turned around. “What do you want?”
“I…” Jess faltered, a blush creeping up her neck. She took another step, hands clasped together, fingers twisting around each other. “I wanted to say sorry.”
Isis could hear her own blood in her ears. After everything that had happened, this wasn’t what she was expecting.
“Sorry for what?” she asked suspiciously.
“For making you do the seances,” Jess said quietly. “I know you didn’t want to, and I pushed you to because I…” Her eyes flicked away. “I wanted to be special, like you are.”
Isis was blushing too now.
“You didn’t say anything,” Isis said. She meant in Mr Gerard’s office, and Jess knew it, because she nodded, looking even more miserable.
“I’m sorry about that too. I was just…” Her blush had reached her ears, which were glowing red. “I’ve never been in trouble before, not for anything. I was really scared.”
“Pooh to you!” said Angel, sticking her tongue out again.
But on the other side of Isis, Mandeville shook his head. “I must say, that is a most thorough and admirable apology. Coming from one so young, it takes a lot of courage. This young lady must truly value your friendship.”
Isis looked at him in surprise, and Jess spotted the glance. “Are they here?” she asked quickly. “The ghosts?”
Isis gripped the rough edge of the wall. “You said I was making all that up.”
“That’s what Chloe said,” Jess answered. “I’m sorry I didn’t stick up for you, but I never doubted it, not for a second. You helped me, letting me talk to Gran Marie.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, I know you won’t want to be my friend any more, but I just wanted to say this, that’s all.”
Jess turned and began to walk away. Isis didn’t move; she was still a little stunned.
“Are you just going to sit there?” snapped Mandeville. “Have you never made any mistakes?”
She felt a cold shove on her back, as Angel poked her off the wall. “Now you got to make up,” said the little ghost.
Isis took a step, then another. “Wait!”
When Jess turned around, Isis felt a pure happiness swell inside her. Being special, being all alone – having a friend would be better.
“I won’t do any more seances,” Isis said, walking up to Jess.
“I don’t want you to.”
Jess shrugged. “I’ve been doing some paintings at home, and I wondered if you’d like to come and…”
But Isis wasn’t paying attention – suddenly her gaze was caught by a man walking out of the school entrance and heading to the car park. He was frowning, walking quickly, and didn’t notice the girls.
“Who’s that?” she asked, and Jess turned to look.
“Oh,” she said, “that’s the therapist. The one sorting everyone’s heads out after the school trip. Haven’t you seen him before?” Jess stopped. “Are you okay?”
“He looks like…” an old photograph. One she’d stared at so often it was imprinted on her mind. Isis and baby Angel, Dad and Cally. If Dad had pale hair, cut differently, if he dressed in a way she’d never seen him dress, if he wore glasses, which he didn’t… No. Her dad was on a cruise ship somewhere, so far away he hadn’t even made it back when Isis was in hospital. He wasn’t a therapist, at school every day and never even coming near her.
She shook her head. “He looks a bit like my dad, that’s all.”
Jess peered at the man. “Your dad? You don’t mean Gil, do you?”
Isis laughed. “Gil’s my stepdad, or he’s going to be when Mum and Dad get married. Did you know Mum’s going to have a baby?”
“No!” Jess squealed. “Oh, you are so lucky! I’d love to have a baby brother or sister!”
As Jess was pattering on, Gray came around the side of the school. He seemed to be searching for someone. Then he spotted Isis and Jess, and headed straight for them.
“Gray can tell us about the therapist,” said Jess. “He was the one called in today.”
Isis shrugged. “I don’t care.”
She glanced behind her and saw Angel spinning circles on the grass behind the wall, her arms outstretched. Mandeville had wandered out into the road, and seemed to be having a conversation with the ghost Isis couldn’t see. For how much longer would she be able to see Angel and Mandeville? Her heart tightened at the thought of losing them, but at the same time she understood that the day would come when