You Against Me by Jenny Downham Read Free Book Online Page B

is nearly two thousand miles an hour. We’re also spinning around the centre of the Milky Way at some rate I forget.’ She grinned at him. ‘I’ve been revising Physics. You probably think I’m a total geek.’
    He shook his head. ‘Why don’t we feel it then?’
    ‘That we’re moving?’
    ‘Yeah. If we’re spinning about so fast, how come we’re not dizzy?’
    ‘Because our perspective doesn’t extend beyond our fixed surroundings.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘We only notice movement if it relates to what’s right in front of us. In a plane above the clouds you don’t notice speed because there’s nothing to compare it with, but on the ground as you take off, you can feel you’re going fast.’
    He didn’t know what to say. Keeping quiet was probably best. He didn’t want her to know that he’d never been on a plane or that he didn’t quite understand what she was talking about.
    ‘Are you doing any sciences?’ she asked.
    He wasn’t sure cooking would count, but he went for it anyway, told her he was doing an NVQ, with two days a week work experience attached. He didn’t know if such a course even existed, but it sounded cool. And because he wanted to impress her more, he took the bottle of whisky from his jacket pocket and held it out. ‘Look what I’ve got.’
    ‘Where did you get that?’
    ‘My mate. You want some?’
    She shook her head, but he unstoppered it anyway, tipped the bottle back and took a long slug. Before he’d had time to swallow, she reached over and grabbed it from him. Whisky spilled down his chin and onto his jacket. He wiped his mouth, laughing. ‘You said no.’
    She smiled prettily. ‘I changed my mind.’
    He didn’t know what would happen next and he didn’t know what he’d do when it happened. He watched her sip. She grimaced as she swallowed, then passed the bottle back.
    ‘Listen,’ she said. ‘I should probably go back. They might wonder where I am.’
    ‘I’ll come with you.’
    ‘If you like.’
    It was only as they went through the gate that he realized he hadn’t found out anything useful about her brother at all.
    ‘So,’ she said as they walked back up the slope. ‘How does your mate know Tom?’
    She stopped walking and smiled. He knew she’d seen him falter. She leaned in to him, whispered, ‘You better get your story straight, because here he comes.’
    Tom Parker came walking down the slope towards them. He was thinner close up, and looked younger. He had big blue eyes, like he wouldn’t hurt anyone. But Mikey knew his secret.
    Tom smiled at his sister. ‘All right, Ellie?’
    So that was her name.
    He said, ‘Found someone to talk to in the end?’
    She shrugged. ‘Whatever.’
    ‘Don’t be like that. I’ve been looking for you for ages. Where have you been?’
    Ah, it was thrilling how close he was. He had designer stubble, a sore place at the side of his mouth, a spattering of freckles across his nose. If they were alone, Mikey would reach into his pocket for the spanner. He’d yank it high and slam it down on the bastard’s skull.
    Tom frowned at the whisky in Mikey’s hand. ‘Where did you get that?’ He leaned right in and grabbed the bottle from him.
    Mikey shot a glance at Ellie. She was smiling, or rather trying not to laugh. ‘Leave it, Tom. He didn’t know it was Dad’s.’
    Tom waved it at them. ‘You know how much this is worth? Two hundred quid a bottle. I’m sorry, but this is definitely not for public consumption.’
    Mikey wanted to say something funny, but couldn’t think of anything.
    Tom turned to Ellie. ‘Who is this?’
    She hesitated. Mikey could hardly breathe, waiting for what she’d say. Finally, ‘He’s with me.’
    Mikey liked that. All the tension coiled out of him, knowing she was on his side.
    A boy came running up, pulled on Tom’s sleeve. Mikey saw he was desperate for something. ‘Your dad’s freaking out,’ the boy puffed. ‘Some bloke’s been asking questions about you and your dad