The Set Up by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

shoes. ‘Anyway, me and Billy . . . we’ve just been linking. We’re not going out or anything.’
    ‘Yeah?’ My heart leaped. I tried not to look too excited. ‘Well, whatever – this money’s got nothing to do with him.’
    ‘So where did you get it?’ Ketty paused, then her eyes widened. ‘You didn’t steal it, did you?’
    ‘No.’ I stared at her, astonished. ‘No, of course I didn’t.’
    Ketty jutted out her chin. ‘Where did it come from, then? And don’t give me any rubbish about winning it on a bet. Proper gambling’s illegal if you’re under eighteen and no one at school has this much cash to lose.’
    Panic swirled in my chest. My mind was blank. Part of me wanted to tell her the truth – but I was terrified she’d think I was a total freak.
    ‘Okay,’ I said. I could hear the desperation in my voice. ‘I won it doing a trick . . . in a talent competition.’
    Ketty screwed up her forehead. ‘What sort of trick? Like that stupid twig-moving thing you tried to show me a couple of weeks ago?’
    ‘No . . .’ I cast around for something . . . anything that would sound convincing. Stick as close to the truth as you can. ‘It was a trick, er . . . using balls.’
    Ketty shook her head. ‘Nico . . . I’ve known you for months . . . you can’t do any tricks – with or without balls.’
    The panic in my chest spread like fire. Breathe. Breathe.
    ‘I can,’ I said. ‘I mean, it wasn’t a magic trick or anything . . .’
    Ketty put her hand on her hips. ‘Tell me, specifically, what you did then.’
    My mind spun. I lighted on the only trick-related activity I could think of involving balls. ‘Juggling,’ I said.
    ‘Really? You can juggle?’ Ketty frowned. ‘Well enough to win a talent contest?’
    ‘Yeah, I juggled with seven balls.’ The claim blurted out of my mouth before I could stop it.
    Ketty raised an eyebrow. ‘Show me.’
    Oh God. Oh God.
    ‘I’ll show you later,’ I said, frantically trying to buy myself some time.
    ‘Right.’ Ketty looked away, her face a picture of disbelief.
    We stood in an awkward silence.
    Shit. This was so not how I’d imagined this moment. Ketty was supposed to look up at me with big, grateful eyes and I was supposed to put my arms around her and . . .
    ‘I don’t think I should take your money,’ Ketty said, stiffly. ‘Seeing as you’ve now given me three versions of how you got it.’ She held the two hundred pounds and the entry form out to me. ‘Here.’
    ‘I’m not lying to you about the juggling, I promise .’ I remembered what Jack had said to me after the football match. ‘If you can’t use the money then give it to charity,’ I said.
    ‘I don’t know.’ Ketty hesitated. ‘I really want to run in that marathon but . . . do you promise you didn’t steal it?’
    ‘Yes.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘I told you . . . I won a talent competition by juggling with seven balls. I’ll show you . . . we’ll go out on Saturday night. Yeah?’
    Crap. Crap. Crap.
    What had I said ‘Saturday night’ for? That was far too soon.
    ‘Okay.’ Ketty bit her lip. ‘But I won’t need all of it.’ She handed me back fifty pounds. I had no choice but to take it. She pocketed the entry confirmation and the rest of the cash. ‘Thank you.’ She stared up at me.
    Oh God , that wasn’t how I wanted her to look at me. Her eyes were all wary and suspicious.
    ‘Ketty?’
    ‘I’ve got to get to Art.’ Ketty tucked her hair behind her ears, all self-conscious. ‘Er . . . thanks again . . . see you later . . .’
    She turned and walked away. I sagged against the wall. watching her go and feeling like crying.
    What had I done? I’d given Ketty all that money but, if anything, she seemed to like me less than she’d done before. Plus, even though she wasn’t with Billy, I couldn’t tell her how I felt myself. Not yet. First I had to prove to her that what I’d said about doing tricks was true. Proving my honesty and impressing her with