Mel was waiting for him on the bench opposite the school gate, her tatty school bag at her feet.
‘Hello, I’m your security!’ The wind was up and her cheeks were flushed from the chill. Autumn was shifting into winter, and she’d pulled her woollen socks up over her knees instead of leaving them to wrinkle around her calves. Behind her, the grassy bank dropped steeply towards the river as it curved towards the dockyard and factories that lined the way towards the estuary and the sea. Hundreds of Danner kids filed out over the hill towards the bus stop and the High Street.
‘You OK? Get any more grief off that div, Shine?’ She stood and linked her arm through his.
‘No. Though he tried to warn me off you. You know, man to man.’
‘Really? Well I never.’
‘Yes. Where did you go today then?’ He shrugged his shoulder to pull the strap of his bag closer and she let her arm drop back by her side.
‘Out and about. Why?’
‘Just wondered.’
‘Did you now? You know what curiosity did?’
‘Killed the cat?’
‘So they say.’
They idled down the hill, watching the crowd of pupils pushing onto a bus. Darren and his gang were nowhere to be seen. A couple of stragglers huddled together puffing on their fags.
‘Do you know what they say about you, Mel?’
‘Who?’
‘Darren and everyone.’
‘Nope.’ She bent and tugged up her sock.
‘It’s just that, you saying we’re going out with each other, I think it confirms their impression of you.’
‘Speak English, Marcus.’
‘I don’t know how to say it. It’s horrid.’
‘Just say it. Come on!’
‘He called you a slag. He said that you’re a right goer and that you’re sleeping with a married man.’ He waited for her to get angry, with him and them, or defensive and upset, but she didn’t. She laughed.
‘No way! That’s funny.’
‘Is it?’
‘Yes. Very funny and ironic actually.’
‘Why is it?’
‘Because it is, Marcus. It’s ridiculous.’
‘Do you want me to tell them the truth about us?’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘To set them straight. To stop them spreading rumours about you.’
‘No. That’s sweet, but you’re alright. I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It doesn’t matter, just something my Nan says. Look, you can’t change no-one’s mind for them, so leave it. Why care what they think?’
‘Because it’s awful, and they’re wrong. They’re bloody arseholes. Wankers actually.’
‘It’s not their fault really. They can’t figure me out, so they take the piss to feel better. You can’t let that bother you, mate. You’ll be upset all the time. I know who I am and the people that matter know me and that’s what counts. People lie and talk shit all the time to make themselves feel better, might as well shrug it off.’
‘Well, if you’re sure.’
‘Yes, unless this is your way of fake dumping your fake girlfriend?’
‘No!’ The bus stop was almost empty now as they drew closer. ‘You want to come to mine for supper?’
‘Can’t, sorry. Got to babysit for me mum. Another time?’
‘Sure, see you tomorrow?’
‘Maybe,’ she winked at him and swung onto the bus as it pulled up. He watched her disappear up the stairs and then reappear at a window on the top deck. She blew a big, silly kiss and, laughing, he blew one back as the bus shut its doors and pulled away, hydraulic brakes hissing. Waiting for his bus, hands in pockets, still reeling from being beaten up for being gay to now dating the coolest and most talked about girl in school, he wondered if he could live like this forever, be straight and have a girlfriend like Mel. He could marry her. That would work. It might. They could be happy.