Peppermint Kiss by Kelly McKain Page A

sending a shiver right through me.
    â€œHmm, nice smell,” he said.
    I knew that voice. But I should have realized it was Marco
before
he spoke. Who else would make me go all trembly like that? I had to reduce the wattage on my grin before I turned round though, so that he didn’t think I was some kind of loony.
    â€œIt’s solid perfume, I made it myself,” I said, showing him the little vintage compact I’d put it in. “I like making beauty products.” He looked a bit blank, so I added, “You know, face masks, moisturizers, bath foam…”
    â€œOh, right, like, girl stuff,” he said gruffly.
    â€œMen should moisturize too, you know,” I told him, acting all stern. I leaned right up to him and peered at his skin. “Hmm, yes, I can already see some fine lines and wrinkles…”
    He grinned. “Oh yeah?”
    â€œYeah. Look, here…” I brushed his cheek lightly with my finger. Honestly, I had to use every ounce of my willpower to stop myself from trying to kiss him there and then.
    Just then, Summer came striding up, and I leaped backwards and tried to look normal. She spotted the compact, took it from me and had a big sniff. “Ooooh, that’s gorgeous!” she cried. “Where did you get it?”
    â€œI made it,” I said.
    â€œOMG, wow!” she squealed.
    â€œOMG, wow!” copied Marco, in an even more girly way, and headed for the lunch hall before Summer could slap him one.
    â€œI
love
this. Can you make me one?” she cried. “Where did you get the little case?”
    â€œOh, I pick them up from junk shops, vintage fairs. I used to go down to Portobello Road market all the time,” I said. “I’ve got a few left at home. Course I can do you one.”
    Summer grinned at me. “Thanks. It’s amazing you can make this stuff. You’re so talented!”
    â€œOh, yes, I’m just amazing, me!” I joked. As we linked arms and set off down the corridor, I felt all warm and glowy inside. I hadn’t felt that way for ages. Summer liking the perfume and wanting one had given me that real boost I used to get, like when I made stuff for Em and Zo and I could see they really loved it.
    Thinking of them made me desperate for one of our long girly three-way Skype chats, but then I remembered I didn’t have a phone. Mum had bought one of those pay-as-you-go ones for a fiver from the supermarket the day before, but that was strictly so people could call her about jobs, and she’d put a pound on it in case she had to ring a doctor or something.
    And anyway, even if I had an iPhone with video link, what would I say to them? I’d have to tell them about everything that had happened, and how we might soon be completely homeless. For some reason, I just felt like they wouldn’t understand. But strangely enough, I found myself wanting to tell Summer and Ben. Some of it, anyway. And I soon got my chance.
    What happened was we were all sitting around at lunch, and I must have been off in my own world, because suddenly Summer was going, “Earth to Abbie? Are your parents cool with you coming to His Maj’s gig, then?”
    â€œPar
ent
,” I said, and then it all came out.
    Of course, Summer wasn’t going to be happy with just one sentence, like Marco had been. She wanted to know all the details, about the affair, and the family conference, and Mum and Dad splitting up. I told them as much as I knew, and it was a relief, actually, to talk about it.
    â€œOh my gosh!” gasped Summer. “You poor thing! I wish you’d told us sooner!”
    Marco just gave me a sad smile.
    â€œSo what are you doing down here then?” Ben asked, looking a bit shocked.
    â€œMy dad’s business went under and we lost our house,” I croaked. In my mind I saw the image of us throwing our stuff into suitcases and bags, with no idea of what was really going on, thinking we