The Second Virginity of Suzy Green - By Sara Hantz Page 0,33
a job. I worked in a supermarket. Really boring it was, packing shelves. How come you haven’t worked before?”
Guy turns his nose up and suddenly I feel like a lower class person.
“I don’t have to. My parents give me money. They’d rather I concentrate on my studies. They say there’s plenty of time when I’m older for me to work. And I’m more than happy to go along with them.”
“Oh. Well lucky you. Lots of guys I know have to work or they’d have no money.”
Guy shifts uncomfortably in his chair and sort of coughs.
“Sorry Suzy, I didn’t mean to sound like a snob. I understand that some people less fortunate than us have to work.” God he sounds like a pompous ass. And with an attitude like that you’d think he was fifty not eighteen. I blame his parents.
“Yes, well they do. So think yourself lucky your parents give you everything you need.” I sit back in the chair and fold my arms.
Then, yet again, I drink my frap straight down and don’t enjoy it.
“I take it that means you want to go,” Guy says nodding at my finished drink.
“Yes please. I’ve got to finish my project tonight and it’s already late.”
As we’re on our way out Ryan walks past and winks. I can’t help but grin in response. Lucky Guy is walking in front of me so doesn’t see.
Chapter Thirteen
“Ouch.” I cry, banging my arm on the side.
I give it a quick rub then resume pulling on my jeans. Trying to change in a small cubicle in the girls’ bathroom at school isn’t exactly what I’d planned during my pre-meeting planning session with Maddie last night. I’d got it all sorted: take the bus home after school, change, grab something to eat so my stomach doesn’t rumble, and get Mom to take me into town. Simple. And nothing could possibly go wrong.
So I thought. What I didn’t bank on was the freakin’ Principal asking all the Student Committee reps to meet him in the hall after school for a quick run through of what he expects of us. Like we need to be told how to behave and stuff. I don’t think so.
Lucky for me when I phoned Mom she agreed to bring my jeans and shirt to school at lunchtime or it would have been a nightmare—although she did take a bit of persuading. Imagine if I’d had to go in my uniform. At the moment all Ryan knows is I live around here. Who knows what might happen if he finds out where I go to school. Though I suppose if he really wanted to find me it wouldn’t be hard as he’s bound to see who I hang out with, we go to Starbucks so often. All he’d need to do is ask one of them, on the pretence of me leaving something there.
My other problem is getting out of school without being seen. School regulations state we have to be in school uniform all the time until we get home. I reckon they have an easier time in prison than we do here sometimes. Especially with all these silly rules. Like who cares if I take my tie off after school?
When I’m ready—well ready in the loosest sense, my hair’s beyond fixing so all I can do is scrape it back and hope I don’t look too stupid—I peer out of the door and make a run for it. My heart’s pounding so loudly in my ears I swear the Principal will hear it in his office. The corridors are empty. Even so, I daren’t breathe until I get out of the back door and run down the side of the building and I’m in the street. If any teacher sees me now I can say I’ve already been home.
I stand still for a moment and take a few deep breaths. I need to appear calm and in control, whatever I feel like inside. If Ryan sees me all flustered and stressed out he’ll think he can do what he likes.
The walk to Victoria Park takes about ten minutes and when I get close to the entrance my calmness evaporates and my stomach begins to churn. I feel so sick, I’m not sure I can go through with it. My hands are all sweaty so I wipe them down the sides of my jeans. I’m scared. Not only that I’ve totally forgotten what Maddie and I planned I’d say. I’m not going. I can’t.