The Mute and the Liar (24 page)

“
I
got
to
the
final
round,
but
I
wasn't
chosen.
It's
okay,
though.
There's
always
next
year,
right?
”
she
smiles,
and
begins
pouring
the
water
inside
four
rainbow-striped
mugs.
“
I'm
going
to
try
as
hard
as
I
can,
and
I
like
to
think
that
happiness
always
comes
to
those who are
willing
to
work hard
for
it.
”

The
boys
offer
simple
condolences,
with
Nick
going
as
far
as
to
say
the
judges
deserved
to
die
a
slow
and
painful
death
in
the
jaws
of
a
dinosaur.
She
finishes
making
the tea
and
hands
everyone
a
mug.

“
Thank
you.
You
haven't
had
dinner,
I
presume?
”
They shake
their
heads,
and
Kit
immediately
clatters
back
over
to
the
kitchen
in
her
stiletto
heels.
“
What
should
I
make
you?
I
have
fish
and
chicken,
or
I
can
make
you
a
stew
or
a
pie?
”

“
We
don't
want
to
cause
you
any
trouble-
”
Nick
begins,
but
she
continues
insisting
she
will
make
them
food,
and
asks
me
if
there
is
anything
I
want
to
eat.

“
Alicia
only
eats
pasta.
”
Jayce
tells
her.

Not just pasta,
I
silently correct him.
I
eat cereal too. And fruit and veg.

Kit
laughs
and
says
that
she
loves
pasta
too,
and
opens
the
cupboard
to
reveal
her
whole
collection
of
bags
of
spaghetti
and
pasta
in
almost
every
colour
and
shape.
She
rushes
around
again,
and
Nick
gets
up
to
help
her,
and
pulls
out
some
pans
from
one
of
the
countless
cupboards.
He
seems
to
know
exactly
where everything is.

“
So how is
it
going with
work,
Jaycie?
”

“
Brilliant.
I’m
working
as
a
receptionist
down
at
a
hotel
in
Elmview.
It’s
great
fun.
I
get
a
good
salary
and
it’s
actually
okay,
you
know,
talking
to
all
these
interesting
people.
And
it’s
not
too
bad
watching
Spanish
girls
bending
down
to
sort
out
their
suitcases
all
day.
And
the
uniform
is
amazing;
I
look
like
an
air
steward.
It’s
a
great
look
for
me.
Persimmon
is
definitely
my
colour.
”

I can’t really see Jayce working in a hotel. The
whole
idea
i
s
a
bit
ridiculous.
It’s only when Nick sighs
and rolls his eyes
in
a
‘yeah,
right’
sort
of
way,
that
I realise
none of that is true.

“
Jayce
is
doing
some
music
stuff
at
the
moment,
”
Nick
inputs.
My
guess
is
this
is
actually
true,
and
Nick
is
deliberately
telling
Kit
to
try
and
put
some
reality
into
the
conversation.
Jayce
seethes
on
the
other
end
of
the
table,
eyes
narrowed
into
a
killing
gaze,
obviously
resenting
Nick
for
saying
something
true
about
him.
“
He
played
piano
in
the
Elmview
High
School
Fair
three
weeks
ago
and
they
said
he
could
join
their
band
for
the
Spring
Musical.
Oh,
and he filled in
for
his
friend
Jory’s
keyboardist when he
was
ill last
month.
”

“
That’s
great!
Keep
up
with
your
music,
Jayce.
Obviously
I’m
a
bit
biased
in
telling
you
that
because
I’m
the
one
who
taught
you
piano,
but
you're
so
good
at
it
.
But
of
course,
the
hotel
thing
sounds
fun
too.
How’s
the
boxing
going,
Nick?
”

Nick's
eyes
flicker
up
to
Jayce,
whose lips
curl
into
a
taunting sneer.
“
Oh...
Erm...
”
he
stammers,
a
slight
wispiness
in
his
distant
voice.
“
I...
I
quit
a
few months
ago.
It
just...
Wasn't
for
me.
”

“
Oh,
I'm
sorry.
I’m
sure
it
was
for
the
best.
But
you
were
doing
so
well!
Was
it
second you
placed in the-
”

“
Eleventh Southeastern
Amateur
Boxing Regionals.
I
came
second,
yeah.
”
“
He
lost
out
to
Marty
Wilson.
Right
legend
he
was.
Right,
Nick?
”
Jayce’s
mad
sneer
only
stretches
even
wider.
Nick
looks
down,
refusing
to
meet
his
gaze.
Hmm.
What's
all
that
about?
There’s
something
going
on
here.
I’ll
have to
make
a
note
of
this
and
come
back
to
it.

“
It
doesn’t
matter.
I'm
sure
it
was
for
the
best.
I
was
always
so
worried
about
you.
I
couldn’t
stand
the
thought
of
you
getting
hurt.
”
She
puts
a
comforting
hand
on
his
shoulder
and
he
thanks
her
and
gives
her
a
weak
smile.
“
What
are you
doing
now?
”