Page 2 of The Best Friend
‘Only if you want to be sick.’
‘I won’t be. I could have two different flavours. One for dinner, one for pudding.’
I take his hand and we turn into another side road.
‘This isn’t the way,’ he says.
‘We’re going a different way, today,’ I reply. We jog across the road and turn right and then left. I throw another glance behind us, but I can’t see the man any more. The sun has dipped behind the houses and a couple of street lamps flicker on. I shiver even though I’m warm after the thumping of my terrified heart.
Finally, we leave the unfamiliar side streets behind and come to Penn Hill Avenue. It’s busier here and so Joe and I head towards the crossing. Joe is still chattering away. I’m too preoccupied to pay him any proper attention. I usually love our walk home. It’s a chance to catch up on everything he’s done that day. A chance to chat without the distractions of TV or video games. But that creepy guy has unnerved me.
The green man flashes at the crossing and we stride across the road, leaving the leafy glamour of Lower Parkstone and heading through narrower streets to our characterful three-bedroom house at the top of the hill. My knee is throbbing. I can’t wait to get in and sit down with a cup of tea.
‘Mummy, do you want another race?’
‘You go ahead. I’ll time you. See if you can reach home before I count to ten.’
My phone pings. I pull it out of my bag and swipe the screen to see a new text message, number unknown:
Hi Louisa! Darcy here – Tyler’s mom. I got your number from the class list. Wondered if you guys wanted to come over after school tomorrow. Tyler can’t stop talking about Joe. We can have a cuppa while they play xxx
I text her back:
That would be lovely. Thank you. Can you text me your address? Louisa X
I smile. Maybe the mums here aren’t as snobby as I first imagined.
Even better, I haven’t spotted that creepy man again. I’m starting to feel a little silly for worrying about him. Perhaps this move to a new house and a new area has made me more tired than I realised. It’s been a lot to deal with. Anyway, why on earth would I have a stalker? What would anyone want withme?
Two
I stand at the edge of the school playground on my own, waiting for Joe. Darcy and a group of other mums are chatting to the sports teacher, clustered around him, laughing. But it is clearly Darcy who draws everyone’s attention, with her willowy figure and honey blonde hair. She has a natural magnetism. She catches my eye and smiles. I feel as though I’ve been caught spying.
‘Louisa!’ she calls. ‘Come over.’
I dip my head and smile back as all eyes flick over to me and instantly dismiss me as not worthy. Perhaps I’m being unfair. These people don’t know me yet.
‘Guys,’ Darcy says, drawing me into her circle. ‘This is Louisa, Joe’s mum. They only just started this term.’
I notice Darcy has a subtle American accent.
‘Oh, hi.’ A woman with a sleek, chin-length brown bob smiles at me. ‘I’m Tori. Louie has been talking about Joe all week. Says he’s a great football player.’
I recognise the name Louie. I think Joe’s mentioned him once or twice. I smile back.
‘We’ll have to get him playing some matches,’ the sports teacher chips in. ‘Joe’s really impressed me so far.’
I can’t remember the teacher’s name. I’ll have to look it up on the school website when I get home. I’m pleased he’s noticed Joe.
‘Your husband does the drop off in the mornings, doesn’t he?’ a woman in sports gear asks.
I nod. ‘Yes, Jared. It’s on his way to work.’
‘Lucky you!’ the woman says. ‘He’s hot.’
I blush, not quite knowing how to respond. ‘Thanks… I guess.’
Everyone laughs, and I join in, my cheeks burning. Sometimes it’s annoying being so fair skinned.
