Page 21

I was meeting Shane at Victoria Square. I parked in the underground car park and practically ran up the escalator.

I glanced around outside House of Fraser, then I saw him.

He was in his St Anne’s school uniform, looking at his phone, his shirt tail out and his tie a mess.

I stopped for a second and just looked at him.

I’d never seen him in anything other than a tracksuit – or boxers.

And as if he’d felt my gaze, he looked up and smiled.

My whole world stopped.

I had Shane. I was starting in the match on Friday, and we were about to go shopping for V-Ball outfits that would blow everyone away. Could life get any better?

When I got to him, he smiled even harder. I kissed him, pulling his head towards mine, making sure he knew how much I wanted him. Then I scanned the shopping centre, checking there was nobody else in our uniform in our eyeline. Safe.

‘What was that for?’ he teased.

‘I couldn’t help myself,’ I said.

He stepped back and scanned my school uniform. ‘So this is what posh girl uniform looks like close up.’ He nodded in approval. ‘Pretty hot.’

I smirked and rolled my eyes. ‘Do not call me “posh girl”.’ I pushed him playfully.

‘And I’m loving the “St Anne’s boy pulled through a hedge backwards” uniform too.

’ I tugged his wonky tie and pulled him closer to me again, planting a tiny kiss on his lips.

Then I quickly looked around to make sure nobody had seen.

I had to stop being careless, but it was hard when he looked like that.

‘Where are we headed? I haven’t a clue,’ he said. ‘Oh, and I don’t have that much time.’

‘Oh, everything OK?’ I asked, hoping he would elaborate. But he didn’t.

‘Yeah, grand, just something I have to do.’

‘Why so mysterious?’ I said with a grin, keeping it light, but I really wanted to know.

‘It’s boring, that’s all. This is way more exciting. Where are we going?’ He scanned the shopping centre.

‘Hugo Boss?’ I asked.

‘ Hugo Boss? ’ He didn’t hide his shock. And he looked so cute I laughed. ‘I was thinking Primark or something.’

‘No. Sorry. I’ve been thinking about how good you’d look in Boss all day.’ I smiled and took his hand, pulling him towards the escalators.

‘Oh really?’

‘Really.’ I kept checking around me. I couldn’t let this get back to Niall, especially with the state he was in at the minute.

Then we were outside the shop. ‘Seriously, Lexie, you can’t,’ he said, trying to stop me pulling him inside.

‘I can. And I will,’ I said stubbornly.

He rolled his eyes and let me pull him in.

I told the shop assistant what we needed. Years of shopping with Mum taught me that you need to be confident for them to take you seriously. Especially in shops like that.

She came back with a couple of different options, and we followed her to the unisex changing rooms, where I sat on the sofa to enjoy the show. I watched the assistant take his measurements and was shocked by how it triggered a pang of jealousy.

When Shane stepped out of the cubicle in the first tux, I had to stop myself from throwing myself at him then and there.

I was so used to seeing him in football shirts and tracksuits, playing with a ball, that the beauty of his face sometimes took a back seat to his skills. But now? It was centre stage.

I stood up to get a closer look. I hooked my arm through his and looked at us in the mirror. ‘We look good together.’ I smiled. ‘Well, maybe not how I’m dressed right now, but I don’t think V-Ball’s going to know what hit it.’

‘You look amazing right now.’ He turned away from the mirror and looked down at me. And then we were kissing, right there in the shop.

The shop assistant cleared her throat and we jumped apart. ‘I brought another one,’ she said, hanging up another tux behind us.

‘Thanks,’ I said and dissolved into giggles.

Shane chose the second tux. Traditional. Gorgeous.

Shane watched me try on four dresses.

I settled on a floor-length black-sequin dress with cream contrast down the sides that made my hourglass curves look even more dramatic. It was the look on Shane’s face that made my final decision.

‘You like it?’ I asked, looking in the mirror and smoothing the fabric over my hips. I was standing on my toes, mimicking the heels I’d be wearing.

‘Too much.’ He smiled and pushed his hand through his hair.

‘How am I supposed to get through a whole night of you looking like that? But, Lexie, are you sure it’s a good idea?

Me coming? I mean, what if your brother is there?

Half the Westing team go to Blackport. I mean, I don’t care about all that, but I don’t want to make drama for you. ’

But I was sick of sneaking about like he was some dirty secret.

‘I don’t care any more. Let them know,’ I said with as much conviction as I could, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach that haunted me every time I thought about Niall realizing that I was going out with his nemesis.

I reminded myself how cruel he’d been to Shane, to me, and how selfish him and Megan were being.

Now it was my turn. Why should I have to hide the person who made me happier than anything? Even football.

‘You really don’t care?’ I checked.

He shrugged. ‘Nope. I reckon there are way more serious things to get stressed about than some other kid’s jealousy. I just don’t give stuff like that any space in my head.’

He’d done it again: made me see something from a different angle. He was right. And I wished I could do it too.

When I paid, I saw him look at the time again.

‘I hate that I can’t stay. And thank you, really. So much. I’ll pay you back for it.’

‘You will not!’ I said, meaning it.

He hesitated and looked away, then back to me. ‘Sorry, Lexie, I really have to go.’ He kissed me briefly, then turned and walked away. And I just stood there watching him disappear with an uneasiness in my chest, wondering why he wouldn’t just tell me what was going on.