Page 38 of The Match Faker

‘No. Definitely not action.’

‘So you’ve never seen any of my films?’ I teased. Mia started playing with the paper clips on her desk like they’d suddenly become interesting.

‘Maybe one or two,’ she murmured. ‘Anyway, what about you?’

‘Me? Apparently sex is my only hobby. That’s what you think, isn’t it?’

‘Can you blame me?’

‘Actually, I can. We grew up together. You should know me better.’

‘That was years ago. We’re adults now. People change.’

‘Sure’—I paused—‘but in many ways they stay the same. That’s why this “let’s get to know each other better” interview thing is kind of pointless.’

‘Trust you not to take things seriously. This is important! People are going to start asking what we see in each other. Why we’re together. And if we don’t study each other’s personalities, they’ll know we’re lying!’

This was so Mia. What I’d said was true. Although we’d matured, I bet we hadn’t changed much. Physically, yeah. Mia was cute when we were teenagers, but she’d blossomed now, in every way. But her personality seemed the same. She was still serious. Still obsessed with doing everything by the book.

‘That’s not how you get to know someone. You do that by spending time with them. We did a lot of that, so I know you better than you think.’

‘You don’t know anything about me anymore.’ She folded her arms.

‘You still terrified of spiders?’

‘Well, yeah. But most people are. Except you.’

‘Yep. And are you still afraid of wooden lollipop sticks?’

‘Ugh!’ She shuddered. ‘Don’t! Just the thought of them makes me cringe…’ She shivered again. ‘I know it’s irrational, it’s just… the thought of touching or licking them makes me shiver. You know, like when people—’

‘Drag their nails down a blackboard,’ I finished her sentence.

‘Exactly!’

‘And is your favourite ice cream flavour still tutti-frutti?’

‘How did you…?’ Her jaw fell open. I tapped the side of my head.

‘You still a fan of games, like Guess Who, Connect 4 or Jenga?’

‘Oh my God! I haven’t played those in years!’ she laughed and her face lit up. It was a nice change to see her smile. All she’d done since we met up again was scowl like she was plotting different ways to murder me as slowly and painfully as possible. ‘I always used to beat you at Connect 4.’

‘Always is too much to say. Occasionally is more accurate.’

‘Dream on! And remember when my parents took us to Brighton and we played Hangman in the car and you cried because you kept losing?’

‘I was ten years old!’

‘Such a bad loser!’ she laughed again and the corners of her eyes crinkled. She’d always had pretty eyes. For a devil.

‘You’re evil! How can you find such joy from laughing at my pain?’

‘Because it’s funny! You were always so competitive.’

‘So you do remember something about me from back in the day.’ I leant forward, propping an elbow on her desk.

‘Yeah, I remember.’ Her smile dropped. ‘Too much…’

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