Broken Read Online Free PDF Page B

she’s stating an indisputable mathematical fact, ‘and, um . . .’
    Her voice drops so low suddenly that I struggle to hear her.
    ‘. . . it just happened.’
    A tingle starts up at the top of my spine. By the time she tells me everything that just happened the tingle is in overdrive, and I have a sour taste in my mouth.
    ‘Say something,’ she pleads.
    ‘Like what?’
    ‘Jordan, I’m so –’
    As soon as I spot the pity tears, I back up quickly and plaster a smile to my face. ‘Nothing’s gonna change, if that’s what you’re worried about.’
    ‘Really?’ she sniffs, bringing her mega smile out.
    ‘Of course, Sophie. I’m happy for you. Really.’ The buzzer rings through the corridor ending the morning break and, even though my next class is a free period I’m supposed to take in the library, the buzzer gives me the excuse I need to leave. ‘I gotta go. But I’ll see you later, OK?’
    I run through the corridor without glancing back, not sure where I wanna go next, but it should be somewhere Ebony can reach me in case she decides to leave, so probably the library.
    But the moment I step out of B Block, Skinner is waiting and motioning with his head to follow him. This is all I need after Sophie’s insightful revelation.
    About twenty metres past the new Drama Block extension, there is an old white building made from cement blocks. This eyesore used to be the original school toilets, but today it looks a lot more like an abandoned convict prison. Since the school opened two new facilities about fifty years ago, the local council condemned the structure, fixing steel grid gates to both male and female openings. These entrances are both tightly secured with solid brass padlocks.
    Skinner produces a key, unlocks the female entrance and walks in.
    I stand outside and stare at him. Even though it’s fifty years since the last kid peed in there, it still reeks of urine and, well, other stuff.
    Right now, with pre-lunch classes underway, there’s no one around, not even the usual bunch of Year Seven boys that congregate at the back sometimes for a smoke.
    Skinner sits on a timber bench inside, stretching his legs out and crossing his ankles. ‘Come in.’
    ‘It stinks.’
    ‘You’ll get used to it.’
    ‘I don’t think so. I’m not coming here again.’
    He gets up and stands right in front of my face. He gives me a condescending smirk, like he’s privy to information so secret and important I could die from not knowing what it is. ‘Is that how you greet your best friend?’
    ‘No, but you’re not my best friend. You’re no friend at all. Not any more.’
    He swings an arm round my shoulder. I don’t see it coming and I flinch and try to get away. But his grip is solid, like he’s been working out at the gym. He hauls me inside where it’s grey and cold and damp. ‘That’s why I’m here,’ he says.
    ‘Huh?’
    ‘To clarify the status of our renewed friendship.’ His face is too close. It feels wrong on every level. I stretch my neck as far away as I can. ‘We’re going to hang out again, just like we used to.’
    ‘Like when we were eleven?’ He can’t be serious.
    ‘Exactly, dude.’
    He releases me and I stumble backwards in my rush to put space between us. My back hits a stained cement wall. I’m not sure in the dim light whether the stain is a shadow or mould or something else.
    ‘Too much has happened since then, Adam. We can’t go back.’
    He’s in my face again, forehead to forehead, eyeball to eyeball, nose to nose. He moves fast, and with aggression. ‘You’ll do what I say, all right, Jordy-boy?’
    I try to shove him. ‘It’s not all right . And don’t call me that.’
    He pouts like I hurt his feelings.
    ‘What are you doing here?’ I ask.
    He steps back, laughing. ‘You’re touchy this morning. Did my ex not give you the good news you were hoping to hear?’
    I don’t say a word. He laughs. ‘Just relax, dude, I’m not here to hurt