Page 42 of The Girl in the Woods

Laine looked at him oddly. ‘Someone walking their dog, probably. Why are you acting all funny?’

‘I’m not,’ he said defensively, knowing he clearly was.

‘Yes, you are.’ She tucked her arm in his and laid the chip bag on her lap. ‘Are you finishing with me?’

‘Don’t be a dumb head,’ he said, putting his hand in hers. ‘I just worry, you know, what with me being Indian and you being white and all that, and you’re underage.’

‘I’m nearly sixteen,’ she said adamantly.

‘Nearly,’ he repeated. ‘I’m eighteen, don’t forget.’

Laine tossed back her curly hair, revealing large silver hooped earrings. ‘What do you think?’ she asked, fingering them proudly.

‘I think you nicked ’em, is what I think.’

She tapped her nose cheekily.

They ate the chips in silence for a while. Finally, Laine said, ‘Something’s up. I ain’t daft, you know.’

Sajid sighed. ‘Some racist lads turned on me Saturday night on the coach coming home from the football.’

Laine began to choke on a chip. Sajid pulled a can of Coke from the bag and handed it to her. ‘You okay?’

‘Is that why you didn’t want to meet me on Sunday?’ she asked.

Sajid looked upset. ‘I felt ashamed. I should have had more balls, but there were four of them. I thought you’d think me a coward. I was shaken.’

Laine put down her chips. ‘Was there some other guy with a machete?’

Sajid reeled back. ‘You what?’

‘Was there?’ she persisted.

‘How do you know about him?’ he asked suspiciously.

Laine sighed. ‘What did he look like?’ she said in a croaky voice. ‘The one that went for you.’

Sajid stared at her. ‘You think you know him?’

Laine nodded sadly.

‘He had lots of tattoos and said his name was Needles.’

‘Shit,’ cursed Laine. Her bloody brother ruined everything.

‘How do you know him?’

Laine bowed her head in shame. ‘He’s my brother.’

Sajid closed his eyes, despair washing over him. ‘Oh shit,’ he moaned. ‘If he ever found out about us…’ Sajid trailed off.

She grabbed his arm desperately. ‘He won’t, and besides, he’s all mouth. He wouldn’t hurt anyone.’

Sajid remembered the venom in Needles’ voice and the dark hatred in his eyes. ‘He has an irrational hatred of Pakistanis. He’s like all racists. He thinks all people of colour are from Pakistan.’

‘Honestly, he wouldn’t hurt anyone,’ she repeated. The truth, though, was that Laine wasn’t sure about that.

Sajid looked at her with watery eyes. ‘I can’t carry on, Laine. I’m sorry. I could put my whole family at risk.’

---