Saving Silence Read Online Free PDF

mine. I don’t fancy him, OK? Come on, stupid.’ I gave Ollie a gentle push. ‘Why would I want him when
I’ve got you?’
    He didn’t smile. ‘You’ve always liked him. When he started here you went way beyond what was needed to be friendly to him, even after he threw it back in your face. Remember
that? So stop lying to me! How many times have you seen him on the sly?’
    Annoyed now, I said, ‘None! I’m not lying. Like I said: I’ve got you. And unless you’re trying to use what happened on Saturday night as some lame excuse to break up with
me, I’m happy with that.’
    ‘I wish I believed you.’
    ‘
Ollie!
’ I cried in frustration. ‘Sam doesn’t even like me! You said it; he’s thrown every attempt I ever made to be friendly back in my face.’
    ‘So what was he saying?’
    ‘
I don’t know!
’ I felt like yelling, but just about managed to keep my voice calm. ‘I never got the chance to find out.’
    Ollie looked as though he wanted to say something else. Instead he glanced away. I put a hand on his arm. ‘What do I need to do to convince you I’m telling the truth?’
    ‘Dunno.’ Ollie slid off the bench.
    I grabbed his hand. ‘I’m not leaving things like this. It’s a stupid misunderstanding. You’re the only guy in my life, Ollie. Not Sam.’
    The buzzer went for the end of break. Ollie sighed. After a moment he said, ‘Fine, whatever you say. I’ll see you later. You are OK after Saturday though, seriously?’
    ‘Yeah,’ I said, relieved that I seemed to have got through to him. ‘I’m always OK, aren’t I?’
    ‘Hard to tell with you.’
    Ollie headed off. I wondered what he meant. It didn’t feel as if we had patched things up, exactly. Ollie still seemed reluctant to believe me. It was weird. Why would a popular, confident
guy like Ollie feel so threatened by a loner like Sam?
    My mind wasn’t on business studies that afternoon. I zoned in and out, doodling on the corner of my notepad. The conversation with Ollie had thrown up a problem. Before
lunchtime I’d been all set on visiting Sam. Calling wasn’t an option as I didn’t have his number, but I did know where he lived. There’d been an episode last year about
Sam’s dad wanting to build an extension and neighbours complaining and it had been in the local paper. They had only mentioned the road, not the exact address, but I’d recognize the
house from the photograph when I saw it. Going round didn’t feel right now. Ollie being jealous was stupid, but I didn’t want to rub him up the wrong way.
    Then again, what about me? Didn’t I have a right to do what I wanted?
    In the end I went for the good-girl option. I dropped Benno home, made us something to eat and went to volleyball as usual, turning over in my head all the questions I hadn’t asked
Sam.
    But the next day, when Sam wasn’t in again, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.
    Sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, I thought. What Ollie doesn’t know can’t hurt him. Tuesday was Benno’s reading club day so I didn’t need
to pick him up after school. Sam wouldn’t be there obviously, but there were other tutors. So I was free to go to Sam’s place straight from sixth form. Luckily the bus to his also
passed the high street, so if anyone did mention it to Ollie it wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Not that anyone would. Imogen gets on a bus! Hardly a newsflash.
    Sam’s place was one of those Edwardian houses with big gardens, up near Lee Valley Nature Reserve. It was quiet there. Almost like not being in London at all. I couldn’t help but
feel a little excited. I knew so little about Sam and now I was going to see where he lived.
    A woman wearing a dressing gown answered the door when I knocked. She had a very pretty face, but it was her hair that made an impact. It was waist length, exceedingly thick and a red-brown
colour that had to have come out of a bottle. This house ain’t the only thing with extensions, I