Page 40 of The Edge of Always

‘Oh right, yeah, well it’s just you know Mae mentioned that I failed Maths.’ Luna started talking really quickly.

‘How bad did you fail?’

‘Got a D on my mock. Mum treated the news like I’d announced that I was dying of syphilis.’

‘That’s not so bad.’

‘Syphilis or the D?’

‘The D. Syphilis is an awful death. Your brain melts.’

‘It does not!’

‘Yep, happened to King George.’

The smallest of smiles ghosted across Emmett’s face and Luna felt delighted that she’d helped to bring him out of his dark mood. But then he seemed to remember that he was annoyed at Luna and quickly went back to frowning again. Luna wanted to reach up and smooth out his frown lines. Possibly her crush was so deeply depressing that it was driving her insane.

She cleared her throat.

‘But Mum is dramatic, remember.’

Emmett nodded.

The depressed grass path they were walking along was only really wide enough for one person. It meant that Emmett’s arm kept brushing against Luna’s in the most alarming way. It was like being zapped with a live wire every time it happened. Luna decided to walk in the grass.

‘So this morning…’ she breathed and started lifting her knees with each step to cope with the grass. Emmett noticed and moved further to the side of the depressed grass. ‘She was talking about needing a maths tutor and Mae suggested you.’

‘Me?’

She went immediately red.

‘Just because you’re so good at maths.’

Emmett mumbled something under his breath.

‘Sorry, what was that?’

‘I said, I’m surprised you’d want me to, seeing as you’ve ignored me all year.’

Luna stopped walking.

‘I haven’t ignored you. Emmett, I… I’ve been busy.’

Luna didn’t have an excuse. Or not one that she could admit to. It had felt like such a power move, not replying to Emmett’s letters, but now, she just felt crappy.

‘Too busy to write a couple of letters, that’s bullshit, Luna.’

Mae and the others, walking ahead, turned to frown at the pair of them.

‘Whatever you’re arguing about, I side with Luna,’ Mae called before they set off again.

‘We aren’t arguing.’ Emmett looked out at the sea.

Luna had secretly hoped that like her, Emmett was just miserable about the state of the world. Now she knew for sure it was her though. ‘Look, I’m sorry Emmett. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, I don’t know…’ Once again, the things that Luna wanted to say were floating around, just out of reach.

Emmett smacked his hands down to his side in a move of sheer exasperation.

‘You’re meant to be my best friend, Luna, and I haven’t heard from you all year. I missed you. I didn’t even know that you were coming yesterday. I’ve never not met you at the cottage, not since we were like seven or something.’