17 Chapter 17

A maths teacher, Ted was eccentric but kind. He’d offered me refuge in his spare room after Shanice’s Christmas bombshell. He’d been a life-saver taking me in although the arrangement was far from ideal—a desperation measure after asking everyone else I knew. Ted and I weren’t close at the time and it was hard to accept his charity, harder still that my friends all turned their backs.

“And there it is…” I stared out the window at the stone frontage of Lindhurst High School. “Looks exactly the same.”

“It is. Lindhurst will never change. Do you miss it?”

Now, there was a question. I shook my head, then nodded.

“Ah, yes, it must be difficult, being here.” Ted straightened the towel folded on the bed. “Stay as long as you like. This room’s yours.”

Touched by his kindness, I thanked him again. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be staying, that depended on Shanice.

Shanice!