Keep the Faith (12 page)

When Finn arrived, I got separated from the girls for a while, but I didn’t mind because Finn was being super chatty and attentive. Also, he was looking really good. He was wearing a
T-shirt that seemed to showcase his collarbone. Even that boy’s skeleton is attractive. I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed how gorgeous he was looking; every time I turned round,
I could see dozens of girls’ eyes fixed on him. Some of them didn’t just look. Some of them wanted to chat. I suppose that it’s to Finn’s credit that he talked to everyone
that wanted to speak to him rather than swatting them away like the blood-sucking insects that they are.

I was wondering if we could set up some sort of force field to keep back dribbling girls when I spotted Megs, Cam and Ethan working their way across the hall. I waved. ‘Come and sit with
us!’

Ethan looked at the people sitting at my table: sporty boys and hair-flicking girls. ‘Sorry, Faith, the light bouncing off this lot’s fake smiles would give me a migraine.
We’re going to sit with Westy.’ He pointed towards the back of the hall. ‘If you get tired of listening to people tell you how great they are, you should come over.’

He turned away and Cameron followed him, pulling Megs by the hand. Megs mouthed sorry and said, ‘I’ll see you in a bit, yeah?’, leaving me on my own. I mean not on my own
obviously: I was sitting next to my lovely boyfriend. But I wished the gang had stuck around. I don’t see why Ethan couldn’t put aside his dislike of people who can run faster than him
for once.

Finn asked me about my day and we had a nice chat about why parents are obsessed with the tidiness of rooms they’re not even allowed to enter, but when he went off to get us some drinks I
was left with his friends and the large crowd of girls they’d attracted, and I was a bit stuck for something to say.

‘I like the fairy lights,’ I said to Josh.

He nodded.

‘It’s a good night, isn’t it?’

He nodded again.

Then a girl interrupted me to say to Josh, ‘I saw you playing basketball the other day. You were amazing.’

Which was obviously the key to Josh’s voice box because he started going on about jab steps and skip passes.

I could see that Finn had been waylaid on his way to getting our drinks so I decided to look for the girls. I got as far as the steps up to the stage when a voice in my ear said,
‘Where’s the bar?’

It was Ethan.

I pointed. ‘It’s less of a bar and more of a hatch.’

Ethan looked round and saw Mrs Webber trying to open a packet of straws behind the serving window that connects the hall to the kitchen.

‘I was going to suggest whisky and soda,’ Ethan said, lounging against the stage, ‘but I think weak lemon squash is more likely.’

‘I’ve often wondered about the lemon squash market,’ I said.

‘Yeah, it’s entirely supported by schools and the Guiding movement.’

‘Makes sense,’ I said. ‘Explains why teachers always look so sour.’

‘That’s their disappointment in the youth of today,’ Ethan replied, ‘but the squash doesn’t help.’

We talked for a while. I was really pleased because I haven’t had a proper chat with Ethan for ages, but, just when I was really starting to enjoy myself, he said, ‘Better do the
rounds. I’ll never make it as a corrupt MP unless I get the support of the unwashed multitude.’ And he sauntered off.

Which was fine because Finn was coming over to dance with me. I hardly even noticed that the unwashed multitude that Ethan was talking to most were a bunch St Minger’s girls.

That’s his business. I was having a great time with Finn. My boyfriend who I like loads.

Dancing with Finn really was great. He looks amazing when he moves. I got tingles every time we touched hands or bumped hips.

Megs and Lily came back from the loos and joined us to show off their dancing skills. Or at least Megs did. Lily mostly showed off the backs of her knees and the price sticker on the sole of her
shoe while she repeatedly did scissor kicks.

‘Where’s Ang?’ I asked Lily.

‘Dunno. She said she was going to look for Elliot.’

After a bit, I said to Finn, ‘I’m boiling. Do you want to go outside for a bit?’

He smiled. ‘OK.’

I was steering us through the hordes, thinking that maybe outside there’d be a bit of snog action, when I finally spotted Angharad. She was sitting on a chair, all by herself, looking
miserable.

Finn squeezed my hand. Part of me was already outside with my arms round him, snogging for England, but I couldn’t just leave Ang. I turned round to get Megs’s attention, but she and
Lily had already disappeared. Maybe Ang was all right; maybe she was just taking a breather? I looked over at her again. She hunched her shoulders and bit her lip.

‘Listen, Finn, I’ve just got to see Angharad. It’s important. Can we do this in a bit?’

‘Sure, OK, Faith.’

Before he’d got three steps from me, I saw a Year Eleven swoop down and start smiling all over him.

Angharad didn’t even look up when I sat down.

‘You OK?’ I asked.

She looked at me and then back at the dance floor. Between bobbing heads and waving hands there was Elliot. Dancing with a curly-haired girl.

‘Oh. Well, they’re just dancing, Ang. Maybe you could dance with him next?’

‘How? I’m not like her. She just walked right up to him and asked him!’

‘I thought after the New Year party you were feeling more confident with Elliot?’

‘I was, but I’m never going to be like that, am I?’

She pointed at the curly girl who was flinging her arms out and grinding her hips.

‘You shouldn’t compare yourself to other people, Ang! I mean that girl does look confident and outgoing . . .’ I paused to watch her twitching her bottom about, ‘and like
she’s got a small animal attacking her in the knicker region, but you’re quieter and more dignified. Those are good qualities too.’

Angharad looked unconvinced.

‘You’re also really kind and considerate and thoughtful and generous and brainy and pretty and sweet. And there are lots of people, including boys, who think that makes you a great
person to know.’

‘I’ve just been feeling a bit . . . left out. It’s so busy and noisy here.’

Which I thought was one of the best things about it, but obviously Ang wasn’t enjoying it.

I looked at the dance floor again. Finn was dancing with Josh and a couple of girls. I really wanted to be the one dancing with my boyfriend, but I squashed down my dancing desires and said,
‘Do you want to go back to my house instead, Ang? We could watch a film and eat chocolate and do impressions of curly-haired girls who wave their arms about so much that they accidentally
pick their dancing partner’s nose.’

Angharad looked over. Elliot was jerking his face away from the girl’s flailing nails. She laughed. ‘That’s OK, Faith. I’m staying the night with Lily. I don’t mind
waiting for her.’

‘Why don’t we go outside and get a bit of air then?’

‘I’d like that.’

So we went outside and sat on the wall and I reminded Ang how amazing she is.

When we’d cooled down, we came back into the entrance hall where Icky’s idiot friend was attempting to pull one of the Viking shoes off Icky’s swollen trotter.

‘It won’t budge; you’re just going to have to wear them for the rest of the night,’ Icky’s friend said.

When Icky saw us, she snatched her foot away and attempted to look casual. ‘Have you lost your tiny boyfriend?’ she asked Angharad. ‘Did you put him down and forget where you
left him? I hope someone doesn’t step on—’

I shoved Icky backwards. How dare she talk to Ang like that? ‘That’s enough, Vicky! You’re clearly just jealous of Angharad’s poise and her ability to attract
boys.’

‘I can attract any boy I like.’ She narrowed her ratty eyes. ‘You know, Faith, you really shouldn’t leave your boyfriend unattended.’

‘Shut up, Vicky!’ Ang said.

‘Finn’s not a laptop,’ I said to Icky. ‘He’s not going to get stolen just because some nasty thieving types like to try and pick up anything that’s not nailed
down.’

Icky sneered. ‘I don’t think he needs to be stolen. He’s been running after me for ages.’

She is so full of herself. ‘Running away from you. Remember, there’s a difference.’

She turned to her dopey friend. ‘It’s pretty clear Finn’s looking for action.’ She looked back at me. ‘He’s obviously fed up of kissing you.’

What the hell? My blood was starting to boil. ‘I know you’re obsessed with me and like to follow me around, Vicky, but I don’t recall you actually being present any time Finn
and I have had a private moment.’

‘I don’t need to be; he told me all about it. He said you stopped kissing just to show him a picture of a cat or something.’

It was all I could do not to flinch. How could she know that? Had Finn really told her?

‘You can tell Finn likes Vicky from the way he looks at her,’ the idiot friend said.

‘Faith’s the one he’s going out with,’ Ang said.

I knew I should say something, but I just couldn’t believe that Finn had discussed our private snogging. To add to my humiliation I noticed that Ethan was lurking nearby. How much had he
heard? He was looking at Icky.

‘Be fair, Vicky,’ Ethan said. ‘Finn might be a dumb blond, but he does at least have the power of speech, unlike some of your boyfriends.’ He walked towards her.
‘In fact, now that I think about the way that last one used to lumber along grunting, I’m pretty sure he was a zombie, which would explain why he was attracted to you, because
you’ve got the stench of decomposing flesh about you, haven’t you?’

Icky’s mouth had dropped open.

‘Faith’s not worried about Finn; he can tell you to move your rotting carcass along just as well as I can.’

That shut her up.

One of the things I really like about Ethan is his ability to make Icky disappear. She stropped off with her friend.

I looked at the floor. I could feel myself getting very warm again. Had Finn really told Icky I’m a rubbish snogger? Am I a rubbish snogger?

Ethan didn’t seem uncomfortable. He just said, ‘What do you reckon? Vicky is actually deceased.’

‘It would explain why you can see her bones through her skin,’ Ang said.

Ethan nodded. ‘And the state of her hair.’

‘The lack of warmth, compassion and basic human decency,’ I said.

Ang and Ethan laughed. I tried to join in.

‘You all right?’ Ethan asked.

I wasn’t going to tell him that I was devastated that it seemed that Finn had been talking about me with Icky. ‘Fine! Just taking a breather with Ang.’

Ang squeezed my hand.

‘Hi, Angharad,’ Ethan said. ‘Actually, Elliot was looking for you just now.’ He glanced at her tear-stained face. ‘You know, he really likes you.’

It was nice to see Ang smiling again. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Oh. I . . . I might just go and find Lily.’

‘Why don’t you find Lily
and Elliot
,’ I said.

Ang nodded and hopped off, looking a lot more cheery.

‘Did Elliot tell you he likes Angharad?’ I asked Ethan.

‘He doesn’t need to. I see in all directions. Like God.’

‘Or a fly.’

‘You don’t need to be a maggot-laying, disease-spreading insect to see that Angharad and Elliot like each other. Although it would explain why Icky seems to know.’

I snorted. ‘You know everything, don’t you?’

He grinned.

I took a deep breath. ‘Thanks for just now. You did an excellent job of putting Icky in her place.’

‘Oh, stop,’ he said. ‘Any truly brilliant person could have done it.’

Even though Ethan was cheering me up a little bit, I couldn’t stop thinking about whether what Icky said was true so I said, ‘I think I’ll get back to it.’

‘OK. Listen, Faith.’ He put a hand on my arm. ‘Don’t let Vicky get to you.’

‘I won’t.’

I walked back into the hall to look for Finn, but I was strangely aware of the patch on my arm where Ethan had touched me.

I marched straight up to Finn and asked him, ‘Did you speak to Vicky?’

‘Vicky? Yeah,’ he said, as if engaging troll girls in chit-chat was a perfectly acceptable thing to do. ‘She’s nice, isn’t she?’

Nice. He thinks Icky is nice. ‘Did you speak to her about us kissing?’

‘I don’t think so.’ He screwed up his face in concentration. ‘Oh right. Vicky asked me what it’s like going out with you. I said you’re always making me
laugh, like last week when you we were, you know, and you stopped to show me that cat wig. That was really funny.’ He smiled.

I didn’t smile. ‘In future, do you think you could not talk about us snogging?’

He looked confused. ‘But I like snogging you, Faith.’ He took a step closer to me so that we were almost touching, but I wasn’t going to forget Icky’s sneering face that
easily.

‘I’m not sure that you give people the impression that you enjoy kissing me if you tell them I’m all weird and break off in the middle to talk nonsense.’

He took hold of one of my hands. ‘I’m sorry I upset you, Faith. I was just saying you’re cool and funny.’

I could see that he didn’t really understand what the issue was.

He pulled me closer to him. ‘It doesn’t matter what other people think, does it? Because you know I like you, don’t you?’

Maybe it is stupid to care what Icky thinks. She just makes stuff up to annoy me anyway. And, after all, Finn had been saying how funny I was.

‘Just please don’t talk to other people about us kissing again, will you?’

He shrugged. ‘OK. Is it all right if I do this?’ He slid an arm round my shoulders.

I was still all tensed up, but I let out a breath and tried to relax. I know Finn didn’t mean any harm. He’s just too nice. He can’t see that people like Icky always have an
ulterior motive.

By the time the DJ put on the last song at the end of the night, I had pretty much completely forgiven Finn. Icky, on the other hand, I will never forgive. That girl is poison.

The whole gang got up for the last dance (although Ethan had disappeared by this point. I wondered if he’d gone off somewhere with one of the St Minger’s, but then I realised that if
he wants to make poor choices that’s his business). Westy tried to insist that it was traditional for red-headed girls to dance the last dance with boys whose names begin with
‘W’, but I told him I was already booked. Ang and Elliot were shuffle-dancing within three metres of each other, so I take it that their relationship is going well.