Peppermint Kiss by Kelly McKain Page B

were basically off on a long luxury holiday. If I’d known I’d never see the place again, or my stuff, I’d have brought pink rabbit with me. He was only a tattered pyjama case, but I’d had him since I was about four. I know it was stupid, but thinking about him sitting there on my shelf (if he still was), or in our old neighbours’ garage shoved in a box, or worse, chucked away in a bin bag somewhere, got me all choked up and I couldn’t finish speaking.
    Summer put her arm round me. “Oh, you poor thing,” she said. “How did that happen?”
    But I still couldn’t get any words out. Suddenly what had happened between Mum and Dad seemed too awful, and overwhelming, and I didn’t want to talk about it any more.
    â€œYou look like you could do with an iced bun,” said Marco.
    â€œThat would be nice,” I said. I smiled gratefully at him and he smiled back at me. Then he got up and headed for the counter. It was nice, too, that he hadn’t let on to Ben and Summer that he’d already known about my family situation.
And
he’d kept it just between us since I’d told him. He’d let
me
decide when I was ready to talk to them about it.
    Summer was doing the goggly-eyes thing at Ben. “Good thinking about buns,” he said suddenly, shooting out of his seat. He gave me such a sympathetic smile I almost burst into tears, and then he went after Marco.
    I leaned in to Summer. “I’m okay now, but thanks for being so lovely,” I said.
    â€œWell, if you ever want to talk—” she began.
    â€œThanks,” I said quickly, cutting her off. “I just want to forget about it for now though.” I knew I had to compose myself
right away
, or there was a danger I’d lose it completely and have to go round all day crying like a total wreck. Which would play havoc with my mascara.
    â€œOkay, if you’re sure,” she said then.
    â€œI’m sure,” I insisted.
    She followed my gaze to where I was accidentally staring at Marco. “You two were acting weird by the lockers just now… Is something going on between you?”
    Bless her for changing the subject even though I could see she was still worried about me. “I don’t know, is it?” I asked. “You know him really well. You tell me.”
    â€œAbbie!” she gasped, staring at me wide-eyed.
    â€œI mean, no it’s not!” I hissed, back-pedalling. “Nothing’s going on…”
    But she stood up and pulled me with her. “Right. Me. You. Loos. Now,” she said, and I was marched off.
    â€œSummer, I don’t know why you dragged me in here!” I protested, when we were in front of the mirrors, pretending to check our hair. “There’s nothing to say! I really like him, that’s all… As a friend…”
    Her eyes bored into mine. She wasn’t buying any of it.
    â€œOkay, I admit it, I have a huge bone-shaking crush on him!” I cried. “Are you happy now?”
    She gave a long sigh. “No, not really. Ben said he gave you the heads-up about Marco already, or I would have said something myself.”
    â€œI can’t help how I feel,” I said, a bit snottily.
    â€œWell,
try
,” she countered. “Five words: Lucy. Ruby. Rachel. Sharmin. Alesha. Those are all the girls he’s led on then messed about in the last few months. No, hang on, six words: Gabrielle.”
    â€œOkay, okay, I get the picture,” I grumbled.
    Summer frowned, thinking. “No, actually, seven, because there was Charlise as well. I forgot about her because she’s in Year 11.”
    â€œYear 11!” I screeched, then managed to compose myself. “Look, it’s irrelevant because I don’t think he likes me anyway,” I said. I secretly thought he might, but I wanted to see her reaction.
    â€œIt’s obvious he does,” she countered, and I had to concentrate