Everyone’s hugging.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to join in, but I don’t like hugging, so I just drum my fingers on the bonnet of Liz’s car instead till everyone looks round to see what the weird noise is.
“So… does this mean you’re getting back together and I can move back into my bedroom again?” I ask Liz. I don’t know if she’s forgiven me yet for all the trouble I’ve caused, and the way she looks at the ground and shuffles her feet isn’t giving me any clues. Dad takes it as a good sign though, and he whispers something in her ear that makes her smile.
“Let’s take one day at a time, OK Sandwich Man?” he says to me.
I’m back to being Sandwich Man again.
This is very definitely a good sign.
They are so getting back together.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” I tell Elin. “I’m sorry you have to go to the homework club.”
“I’m sorry I wrecked your science project,” Elin says. She still looks a bit sad, but I’m pretty sure I can cheer her up with a couple of Mad Jamie Specials when we get home – they can cure just about anything. I don’t need to say I’m sorry for breaking all the things in her room.
We’re even now.
My medication’s worn off and now I’m starving and I want my chilli. I don’t want to stand around in the school car park watching people hug. I’m just about to run to Dad’s car when he calls me back.
“Hey! Wait a minute, Jamie. I’ve just remembered something I meant to tell you. There was a notice on the library website the other week – they’re running a special science fair entry contest after the Easter holidays for groups. Maybe you and Elin should do a joint project and see if it wins a place. You’d be on the same team for once. What do you think?”
It feels like he’s just zapped me with a million volts of electricity. My whole spine’s tingling and my hands are shaking with excitement. There’s nothing I want more than another shot at that science fair! If I win, I can prove to everyone there’s something I’m actually good at. And after the brave thing Elin did for me today, I’m desperate to find a way to pay her back. I know riding lessons are something that would make her really happy.
Elin deserves to be happy. She’s been sad for too long.
I bite my lip and grin at her, willing her to say yes.
She frowns in that super-annoying way that’s impossible to read, then says, “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
It’s not as good as a ‘yes’, but it’s close.
“Yes!” I yell for both of us. “Glasgow Science Centre here we come!”
“Not so fast!” Dad laughs. “You haven’t even entered yet!”
“Or thought up a project,” Liz adds.
“What about your crystals project?” Elin says. “Could we redo it?”
“Nah,” I shake my head. “The whole point of science is investigating something you don’t already know the answer to. I know everything there is to know about crystals now. Almost.”
“Then what could we investigate?”
I’ve already worked out the answer to that one. I put my hand in my schoolbag and pull out the book I’ve been carrying about with me ever since Paige gave it to me at Christmas. “We’ll study the most amazing thing on the whole planet!” I grin. “BUTTERFLIES!”
Elin can’t help smiling back.
I’m going to take that as a ‘yes’ too.