Gypsy Wedding (5 page)

In the end she chose a pair of jeans and a bright green T-shirt and tied back her hair in a neat ponytail. She checked her appearance in the long mirror on the wall. Good, nothing about her that would make her look any different from the one hundred or so other girls also getting their results. Neat, tidy, plain and unremarkable. Job done.

‘What time do you want to leave?’ asked her father, watching breakfast TV as he finished the last of his bacon butty.

Vicky glanced at her watch. ‘About quarter to nine. Ages yet.’

And in the meantime she had to find something to do to keep herself busy or she was going to end up a basket case with worry and nerves. She’d be all right for a few minutes and then the memory that this was results day would come crashing back into her mind and her stomach started to churn once again. In fact, she thought that her stomach was whirling so much someone could use it as a cement mixer.

She filled the sink with hot water and began on the washing up, then she made the beds while Shania got on with cleaning all the windows. Although the two girls largely ignored each other the atmosphere thawed. And when the clock had finally crawled round to the time for Vicky to leave, Shania even wished her a grudging ‘good luck’.

‘I’ll wait for you here,’ said Vicky’s dad as she got out of the car around the corner from the main entrance and well away from the school car park where most of the kids got delivered. While Vicky didn’t look different from anyone else at the school, her dad, with his skin colouring, gold earrings and tattoos, certainly did. When, on her first day at the comp, she’d suggested that driving up to the school gates wasn’t a good idea, he’d wanted to know if she was ashamed of who she was.

‘Of course not, Dad, but you know what kids can be like. Remember how it was at primary. I don’t want it to be like that here. There’s no point in me going to school right across town if it all kicks off again, is there? And if I get bullied then so will Shania and then it’ll be the boys. They’re always in fights with other school kids as it is.’

Since Johnnie adored his children and wanted to protect them from harm as much as possible he’d accepted Vicky’s argument. There was no point in deliberately looking for trouble and if parking several hundred yards away was going to help, then so be it.

‘I’ll be a bit,’ she said. ‘Maybe thirty minutes.’ Her dad sighed. Vicky got the message. ‘Okay, I’ll be as quick as I can,’ she promised.

As she walked the few hundred yards to the entrance she slipped her engagement ring off her finger and onto the chain around her neck with her crucifix. Along with her accent and her normal style of dressing, her engagement ring, which she’d had since she was fifteen, would have raised tricky questions. Outside the traveller community girls that young didn’t get engaged. Kelly knew the situation but not a soul else in the school had the smallest clue – and as far as Vicky was concerned it was going to stay that way. And it was going to have to stay that way if she made it to college.

Oh God – thinking about going to college set off her nerves again. With trembling fingers she texted Kelly.

‘U here yet,’ she sent.

‘Yes w8ing 4 u b4 I open mine hurry.’

The girls had sworn that they’d open their envelopes together. Vicky couldn’t bear the thought of keeping her friend waiting a minute longer than necessary so she broke into a trot. A couple of minutes later she raced through the door and skidded to a halt in front of the desk where the Head was handing out the results.

‘Vicky O’Rourke,’ he said as he glanced at her and began rifling through the alphabetical pile. By the time he’d found hers Kelly was beside her. Together the two girls, who were so similar in colouring and curves they could be sisters, went off to a quiet corner to find out the truth. Around them were shrieks and laughter as those who had received good grades celebrated, phoned home and shared the news. But these were also a couple of pupils staring at their slips ashen-faced, as they realised that whatever hopes or ambitions they had had, had just slipped away.

‘Oh my God, this is it,’ said Kelly.

Vicky looked at her envelope clutched in her shaking hand. ‘One, two, three.’

The girls ripped open the flaps at the same time. And took out the slips. Both stared at their results for a couple of seconds, taking in the grades, and then they looked at each other.

‘And?’ breathed Vicky.

‘I got three Bs and five Cs. You?’

‘A star for textiles, A for art, three Bs and a couple of Ds.’

‘Did you pass English and maths?’

Vicky nodded.

‘So we’re both going to college,’ they shrieked in unison, their voices adding to the cacophony. They hugged each other, jumping up and down.

‘Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod,’ chanted Kelly, the words running into each other in her excitement.

‘We’ve done it!’ Vicky laughed.

‘Someone’s pleased,’ said a male voice.

The girls broke apart to see who was talking to them. ‘Jordan,’ said Kelly. She clocked his smile. ‘You look happy. I suppose that means you did okay.’

‘Yup, got the grades.’

‘So you’ll be going to college too,’ said Vicky.

‘First one in my family to stay in education beyond sixteen.’ He gave her a huge happy smile.

‘Me too,’ said Vicky.

A tall blonde with a sour expression joined their group and put her arm around Jordan. Her body language was unmistakable. He’s mine – keep off.

Vicky and Kelly exchanged a look. Neither of them liked Chloe very much. Whenever she turned up she always seemed to put a downer on things. Kelly and Vicky couldn’t work out why but there was an atmosphere whenever she was about. It was like she came with her own personal rain cloud. Today was no exception.

‘So, did you two pass?’ Her tone of voice clearly indicated she was expecting a negative answer.

‘Yes, great, isn’t it,’ said Vicky, refusing to be intimidated.

‘Oh.’ Chloe failed to hide the surprise in her voice. ‘Well done,’ she added grudgingly.

‘It’s fantastic, isn’t it?’ said Jordan. Was he ignoring his girlfriend’s rudeness or had he just not picked up on it? ‘We’re all going to be at college together, won’t it be great?’

‘Lovely,’ said Chloe flatly, looking down her nose at the other two girls. She snuggled up even closer to Jordan.

Over the top of her head, Jordan winked at Vicky, who had to pretend to cough to cover up the laugh that burst out of her. Chloe looked at her with narrowed eyes, making her appear even more bad-tempered. Vicky wondered, not for the first time, what on earth a fitty like Jordan saw in her. When the pair had first started dating Kelly had suggested that maybe Chloe’s knickers came down more easily than most, which was why he’d asked her out.

Which was possibly quite true although, at the time, Vicky had refrained from mentioning pots and kettles because she knew for a fact – because Kelly herself had told her – that Kelly had gone with Bradley Brown when they were only in year nine. Vicky had been horrified. If a gypsy girl wasn’t a virgin on her wedding night then the disgrace and the shame were intolerable. But non-travellers had a very different set of values. Which made it odd, Vicky had thought, that they treated Romanies and travellers like they were the scum of the earth when their kids were behaving like harlots and gigolos. But she loved Kelly far too much to let her know what she really thought about her friend’s behaviour. However, passing judgement on a cow like Chloe was a whole other matter. Chloe deserved it.

‘Come on, Jordy,’ Chloe said, ‘I want to tell Jenna how I did. Bet it was better than her,’ she added smugly.

After Chloe had dragged Jordan away from them, Kelly turned to Vicky.

‘I saw that wink that Jordan gave you. I keep telling you he fancies you. Do you believe me now?’

‘Don’t be silly.’

Kelly raised her eyebrows and sighed. ‘You could have him like that,’ she snapped her fingers, ‘if you wanted.’

‘Don’t be daft. And anyway, I don’t want.’ Which she definitely didn’t. Not with the lovely Liam firmly in the picture. However, there was a little bit of her that, treacherously, couldn’t help feeling flattered. And, although outwardly she rubbished Kelly’s words, she knew deep down that her friend had a point. Jordan was often finding an excuse to chat to her, if he managed to get away from Chloe. They’d done geography together, which Chloe hadn’t taken, and Jordan had sat next to her for that. He was just being nice, she’d told herself, they were just mates. You could like someone without fancying them, couldn’t you? And anyway she didn’t fancy him – even if he was drop-dead gorgeous. One thing was certain, though, he was the fittest boy in year eleven and, quite probably, the whole school.

Not that he was completely perfect. On the downside, he’d already dated quite a few girls from their year – Chloe was hardly his first love, although she was the one who seemed to have got her claws into him deeper than anyone else. Jordan might be gorgeous but Vicky didn’t think he’d win a Mr Faithful contest and, judging by the way he kept giving her the eye, maybe he was already trying to dump Chloe and move on. But he’d picked on the wrong girl if he thought Vicky was going to be next in line. No way.

‘What’s wrong with you? I’d go with him,’ said Kelly, looking wistfully in the direction of where Jordan and Chloe had gone.

‘You’ll have to get Chloe out of the picture first.’

‘And you,’ Kelly pointed out.

‘Do me a favour. I keep telling you I’m not interested.’

‘That’s not the point.’

Vicky frowned. ‘I know I’m not thick – hey, I’ve got GCSEs to prove it now – but which bit of
I’m Not Interested
don’t you get?’

Kelly shrugged. ‘But it isn’t
just
about you. If Jordan escapes from Chloe’s clutches, he’s not going to come looking for me, he’s going to head for you. I could have a neon sign strapped to me flashing “Come and get it here, Jordan” with a big arrow pointing straight at my fanny and he wouldn’t pay any attention. Not while he’s got the hots for you.’

Kelly’s outrageous comment made Vicky giggle. That was one of the things she loved about her friend – she was so upfront. Kelly would say what she meant, no mucking about with weasel words, and she expected her mates to be equally straight with her. If she asked if she looked rough she wanted an honest answer, not some fudge about looking a bit peaky or any other sort of crap.

Vicky shook her head. ‘Then he’s going to be disappointed because he’s not in the frame.’

Kelly looked exasperated but could tell that her friend wasn’t going to budge. She changed the subject. ‘I know it’s unlikely but any chance of you being allowed out tonight? A bunch of us are going out on the lash.’

Vicky sighed. ‘Come on, Kel, what do you think?’

‘That’ll be a no then.’

Vicky nodded. ‘I don’t know how you get away with it. I mean, I know your mum and dad aren’t as strict as mine but don’t bars and clubs want ID? Your mum and dad mightn’t mind you having a drink but the coppers do.’

‘Some bars do, some don’t. Me and the other girls have sussed out the ones that don’t care. Besides some of us have got fake IDs.’ She gave Vicky a knowing wink.

‘You are so naughty, Kelly Munro! And you know I’d love to come out but … well, it isn’t going to happen, is it.’

‘Not even tonight?’

Vicky shook her head sadly. ‘Not even tonight.’ Her phone bleeped. ‘Shit,’ she said guiltily, hauling it out from her pocket. ‘That’ll be Dad wanting to know where I am.’ She looked at the caller ID. ‘Aw, no it’s not.’ She checked the text. ‘Bless him.’

‘The lovely Liam?’

Vicky nodded. ‘He’s desperate to know how I’ve done but says that whatever the results he’s more proud of me than I could possibly guess.’

‘Aw, sweet.’

‘Isn’t he just?’

‘You know, he needn’t know.’

Vicky looked bewildered. ‘Needn’t know? But I want to tell him my results. I’m dead proud.’

‘Not that. What I mean is he needn’t know if you had a fling with Jordan. It isn’t as if your two worlds overlap. Liam and Jordan will never run into each other. So have some fun and just don’t tell Liam.’

Vicky’s jaw dropped at the enormity of what Kelly was saying. ‘You don’t get it, do you?’ She began to tick points off on her fingers. ‘One, I have to be a virgin on my wedding day; two, I don’t fancy Jordan; and three, I love Liam. So can we drop this crazy idea you have about me and him?’

‘And just how is Liam going to tell if you’re a virgin? I bet he wouldn’t have a clue. If you tell him you’re whiter than white, he’ll believe you.’

‘Hush your mouth, Kelly Munro. That’s the most disgraceful suggestion I have
ever
heard! I couldn’t lie to Liam. For a start I just couldn’t live with myself and also I’ll burn in hell for all eternity.’

Kelly shrugged. ‘It was just a thought.’

‘Well, keep thoughts like that to yourself. Now I have to go. My dad will be wondering where I am. Have a good one tonight.’ She gave Kelly a quick hug to show that she forgave her for her shocking suggestion. ‘I’ll text. Maybe, if I can get Shania to come too, we can meet in town and go shopping together.’

Vicky rushed out of school and raced back to find her dad before he got too antsy about being kept waiting.