Page 61 of Foes & Cons
“A drawing internship thing?”
“Yes, a drawing internship thing,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“You still do all that?” I say, swallowing. “The drawing?”
He nods. “What about you?”
“What about me, what?” I ask.
“You still following Roxy to uni? Bristol, isn’t it?”
“Why’d you say that?” I ask, stiffening.
“That was the plan, wasn’t it?” he says. I can’t tell if he’s making fun of me, so I don’t say anything. “Wow. Your skin has literally just frosted over. Subject change.”
“Or just quiet time is also fine.”
“OK,” he says, shrugging as he pulls the lid off the pen. “Turn round then.”
I turn away then look up at the ceiling, waiting for something to happen.
“Are you doing it then?” I say.
He clears his throat.
“Take the . . . can you take the hoodie off?” he says.
I pull the hoodie from around my shoulders. He steps up behind me, but does it so quietly the only reason I know he’s closer is because I feel his breath on my neck. He clears his throat again and makes me jump a little. My adrenaline must be through the roof because of the competition and the costume and being late and the door and . . .
“Eliza?”
This time I clear my throat.
“Mm-yeah?”
Mm-yeah?What the hell dictionary did I pull that one from?
“Try and keep still,” he says.
“I am.”
“You’re shaking.”
“It’s cold in here.”
“It’s like a thousand degrees.”
OK, it’s not actually cold and itdoesfeel a thousand degrees, but that’s because he’s so close heat is radiating from his body onto my bare shoulders. I have no idea why I’m shaking. Suddenly and slowly, all at once, his fingers rest against my left shoulder. I flinch and he steps back.
“What now?” he says.
I turn round and look up. His face is exactly as I pictured it would be. His mouth in a firm line and his eyebrows slightly raised. This is the closest we’ve stood in years, and I can see the tiny freckle under his left eye.
“That’s the wrong side,” I say.
He rolls his eyes and turns me back round, resting his hand on my left shoulder again.
“I’m just steadying myself. I don’t want to mess it up. Permanent marker, remember? Just . . . keep . . . still . . .”
