Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

me.’
    His eyes darted up, a look of surprise on his face.
    ‘I know.’ He looked away. ‘I’m sorry.’
    He took another gulp of coffee. I looked at his T-shirt more closely. It wasn’t just faded. It was all pulled out of shape at the bottom – like things get when you’ve washed
them too much. His jeans were the same. A good make, but frayed and worn. These clothes were as second-hand as his school uniform.
    He still looked good in them, but they were undeniably cheap.
    ‘Why d’you care so much about not having any money?’ I said.
    Flynn looked at me again. His expressive face told me quite clearly that he was staggered at my asking such a brazen question.
    I was pretty staggered at myself. But there was something about Flynn that made me feel reckless. I mean, he was so open. So direct. Why shouldn’t I be?
    Flynn put down his coffee mug and sat back in his chair.
    ‘Obviously you do have money,’ he said. ‘Or else you wouldn’t ask such a frigging stupid question.’
    My heart pounded. We stared at each other for a long moment. It was like being locked in a cage with a lion. Terrifying. But exhilarating to be up close to something so powerful.
    ‘I don’t have that much money,’ I said defensively.
    Flynn snorted. ‘I bet you even get an allowance,’ he said.
    ‘So what?’ I said, jutting out my chin. ‘That wasn’t a crime last time I checked.’
    Flynn’s face dissolved into another smile. It was like seeing the sun come out after a storm. ‘You’re a bold piece,’ he said, grinning more deeply. ‘A bold piece.
That’s what my mum would say, anyway.’
    I grinned back, relieved.
    ‘Have you got any other brothers or sisters?’ I said. ‘Apart from Siobhan.’
    Flynn nodded. ‘I’ve got a younger sister too,’ he said.
    I sat forward, transfixed by his eyes, by the elegant slope of his nose, by the perfect curve of his lips. ‘I’ve got a younger brother,’ I said. ‘Stone. He doesn’t
talk much. In fact he’s a pig, mostly, but . . .’ I stopped.
    An incredulous expression had spread over Flynn’s face. ‘You have a brother called Stone ?’ he said.
    I could feel a red flush creeping up round my neck. I hate it when people take the mickey out of our names. I mean, it’s not our fault Mum and Dad spent the whole of the nineties smoking
pot and demonstrating against GM foods.
    I shrugged, staring down at the table and cupping my mug in my hands. One of Flynn’s strong fingers pressed against my hand. The touch of it was like a burn.
    I looked up at him.
    ‘Sorry. Again,’ he mouthed.
    We stared at each other for a moment. Then I sipped at my coffee, trying desperately to think of something to say.
    ‘Your sister’s very pretty,’ I said. ‘Beautiful, actually.’
    ‘Yeah?’ Flynn looked mildly surprised. ‘Really?’
    I nodded. ‘Her hair’s amazing. And she’s got a great figure.’
    Flynn screwed up his face. ‘You’re not a lesbian, are you?’
    ‘No,’ I said indignantly, feeling myself blushing again. ‘Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay, but no.’
    Flynn laughed. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘That would be just my luck.’
    My breath caught in my throat as his eyes rested on mine again.
    Saying that . . . that meant he was interested, didn’t it? That definitely implied he was interested.
    Flynn was still staring at me. Into me.
    And then my phone buzzed.
    I leaped about ten centimetres in the air, then pulled my mobile out of my trouser pocket. My blush deepened as I bent over the text message. How seriously uncool was it to jump when your own
phone rang?
    Whre r u? G & me gng 2 look @ shop, bttm Brdwy. Wl go alone if u nt here in 2 . . . hurry up! x
    Emmi. I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to meet her and Grace further up the High Street half an hour ago.
    Oh no . They were going to be walking down to the bottom of the Broadway. They’d pass right by this café. I looked around. We were sitting beside the window and all