‘Hi,’ she said, allowing a drop of ice into her voice; it was the best she could manage.
‘Little Women … I read that years ago. With my little sister. It’s her favourite. Always made her want sisters rather than brothers though. But who’d want a sister like Amy?’
She had no idea who Amy was … she hadn’t read a page, so, just to be contrary, she said, ‘I like Amy. She’s misunderstood.’ Aleisha kept flicking through the pages, trying to act aloof. ‘How many books have you read?’
‘Thousands, probably. You seem to be sticking with the obvious ones for now.’ At first, it felt as if he was doing a sharp, disinterested, Darcy-style response. But, when she looked up at him, a generous grin decorated his face; he was teasing.
‘Bit harsh,’ Aleisha smiled, looking down at her book. She refused to reveal the reading list to him. It felt like something sacred, just for her （and sort of for Mr P, though he didn’t know it）。
‘Do you have time to get a coffee?’
‘No, sorry, I’m waiting for my brother,’ Aleisha said sharply, putting her book down and looking straight at him. ‘I can’t.’
‘Okay, well why don’t we put a date in the diary?’
‘Who says that?’ Aleisha cringed. ‘Actually, probably someone from here,’ she said, slapping her hand on Little Women, ‘or Pride and Prejudice. That must be where you get your lines …’
‘Very funny. There are worse places to get lines from.’
‘Look, I’ve got five minutes now. If you want to talk, please be my guest,’ she said sweetly.
‘Oh, right, okay.’ She watched in surprise as his face went pink. He started scuffing his trainers uncomfortably. ‘I don’t know where to start,’ he laughed, a tremor lingering in his voice. The pink turned into bright red blotches that began to spread across his neck, crawl up to his chin and creep onto his face – he had none of that casual nonchalance of Mr Darcy after all. In that moment, she felt bad for putting him on the spot, exposing him. So, after letting him suffer for a few more minutes of silence, just because she could, she gave him a little help. ‘You at uni then?’
‘Yeah, Birmingham.’
‘Cool. What are you studying?’
‘Law.’
Aleisha turned to look at him. ‘That’s what I want to do.’
‘Really?’ His eyes brightened. ‘Think you’re up for it?’
She frowned at him. ‘Yeah, I’m serious.’
‘What are you doing with all these stories, then? You gotta read some real books,’ he pointed towards the rucksack at his feet. ‘Pick it up. Try it.’
She shook her head.
‘Go on.’
She shook her head again, but then made a lunge for it. ‘Fucking hell. You got a dead body in there?’
She leaned back into the bench, leaving the bag on the floor, when she spotted Aidan walking towards them. Zac followed her gaze.
‘Your brother?’
‘Yeah.’
‘You look alike.’
Zac started to get up, but before he could pick his bag up too, Aidan was right beside him.
‘Hey, Leish, this guy bothering you?’
‘No,’ she said more coolly than she felt. ‘He’s just a friend. Zac, meet my brother Aidan.’
‘Hey, mate,’ Zac put his hand out to Aidan. Aidan didn’t reciprocate.
‘Not heard of you before. You a mate from school?’
‘Just … around,’ Zac replied. He looked suddenly young, awkward again, like a rabbit in headlights.
‘I’m joking, man,’ Aidan cracked into a smile and Zac instantly released the breath he was holding captive.
‘Hey, that’s okay, I’m heading off now. Aleisha,’ he turned to her, ‘really nice to see you. Let’s not bump into each other next time, and just put a date in the diary. Here,’ he passed her a business card. ‘I can talk to you about being a lonely hermit, or even law, if you want to know what you’re letting yourself in for.’ He winked at her.
She took the card, rolling her eyes. Who their age had business cards?
Zac Lowe – Law Student/Freelance Graphic Design it said, his mobile phone number bold and bright in the centre of the card. Graphic design too, like her mum, she noted.
Aidan sat down beside her.
‘What took you so long?’ she asked.
‘Just picking up a prescription. Really long queue at the pharmacy.’