Page 77 of Boy Friends
Though things have quietened down in the past couple months, Simo and I are still keeping a low profile. Everything about our friendship had become so public that we decided not to tell anyone that we’re boyfriends. It’s not like much has changed, except that we make out now. Which, admittedly, is hard to resist, so we’ve come up with a system where we leave our respective classes at the same time and shut ourselves in an empty classroom or a cubicle of the boys’ toilets. Anywhere private will do.
As much as I like being a boy of many (one) secrets, I find it hard to keep a lid on my feelings, now that I’m no longer hiding them from Simo. I’m not denying my part in the whole mess, but that’s why I won’t be the one to bring up a potential soft launch. This town is so truly starved for excitement that a day later we’d be a headline again.
The good news is that the shipping has stopped. Mostly. The rumours are still rumouring, only more quietly. I suspect that Mairi put an end to the love hearts all over town, once she realised the pressure it put on Simo. I can’t say that I had a blast with it exactly. But if you make a mess, you can only complain about it quietly, in your own head.
Now that it’s spring, Paul is back in his kiosk by the promenade. He salutes me as I walk past. It’s 7.16 a.m., and I can hear the clatter of Heloise’s trolley before I reach thesquare. When she spots me, she winks. I immediately fear the worst. Heloise is not a winker.
With slow steps and dread in my chest, I approach the noticeboard, but I don’t need to get close before the words rise above me.
SIMO AND LUCA ARE
IN LOVE
‘It wasn’t me!’ I say when Simo picks up on the first ring.
‘Luca—’
‘I did not submit our names for the noticeboard!’
‘I kno—’
‘I say we find the town council ASAP and wring them out until they tell us who it was!’
‘Luca, it was me!’
‘What?’
‘It was me. I went to the town council. I asked them to put it up.’
I gawp up at the noticeboard. The panic melts away and is quickly replaced with so much adoration for the boy I love that it makes my knees wobble. I decide to give up on standing for the moment and land on my bum. ‘For real?’
‘I was tired of kissing you in a toilet,’ he says, and I’m glad I’m already sitting down.
‘Was a bit smelly,’ I agree.
‘But also, kind of hot.’
I’m not going to deny it. ‘But what about the May Couple?’
‘What about it?’
‘I thought we didn’t want to be part of that.’
‘Yeah, I stand by that.’
‘OK, phew. Good. So we’re still meeting at ten?’ I ask.
‘We’re meeting at ten.’
‘Don’t get caught. They won’t let you get away otherwise. Not after the stunt you’ve just pulled.’
‘Don’t forget to send Miss M the pic,’ he says with a smile and hangs up.
Three hours later, we lock up our bikes and cross the causeway. Clifford Island rises out of the mudflats in front of us, and I hope to reach it without slipping or getting my shoes muddy. Simo has brought the parasol and picnic blanket, I’m responsible for the snacks. The May Day celebrations start at midday with a parade through town, but unfortunately we’re not going to make it. We will be cut off from the mainland all day. Gotta love the ocean for its tides.
We find our spot by the remains of the stone wall, and I watch Simo wedge the parasol into the ground. A couple days of sun and already the freckles are popping up on his nose. When we’re set up, I hand out the muffins I made this morning. Simo takes a bite and reveals not one but three books he has brought.
‘Scared you’ll run out?’ I laugh.
