Page 107 of Take My Hand

“We can take her,” Zak offered. “I have mum’s car.”

I straightened up and smiled at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I have a double study period.” He turned to Liam. “Can you come? I’m not sure I can manage her on my own.”

As if to prove a point, Ana flopped forward, almost headbutting me. “Woah, careful.” Pushing a hand against her chest, I noticed that as more people arrived at school, more were gawking at us.

“We need to get her out of her quick before someone tells a teacher.”

Zak nodded. “Come on, Ana,” he said softly, “work with us here.”

Ana giggled and grinned at him. “Okay, Zakky.”

“Oh fuck,” Liam groaned, hoisting her higher. “She’s more than shitfaced. And she’s heavier than she looks.”

“Liam,” she snapped, looking affronted with her brows screwed together. “That’s not a nice thing to say.” She tried to slap at his arm, but it sent her off balance again.

“Teacher on the way,” Emma hissed. “Hurry up!”

“Ana,” I snapped, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Just help Zak and Liam, stop being a dick. Okay!”

Ana inhaled, her eyes closing like they were too heavy, as she gave me a slow nod.

“Let’s go.” Zak said, giving Liam a nod. They lifted her up and started to drag her away. As they did, she dropped her bag, so I snatched it up while Emma took Zak and Liam’s, passing one off to Liv. She shook her head and sighed but took the bag anyway. I gave one last look to the bench to check we hadn’t left anything behind, and then followed them as they practically dragged our friend to Zak’s car.

As they bundled her into the back seat, buckling her in, I turned to Liv and Emma. “Are you staying here, Liv?”

“Yeah. I can’t risk my mum finding out I skipped. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them you all had the shits yesterday.” She dropped Zak’s bag at my feet. “Are you coming back?”

I looked at Ana, her head lolling as she fell to one side. “I doubt it. Not by the look of her. Maybe the boys will.”

Zak straightened. “I’ll stay with you. Just in case.” His eyes were full of worry, and I knew he meant in case we needed transport.

“Okay.” Liv smoothed down her coat and leaned forward to look at Ana. “I think she may puke, by the way.”

Ana’s chest heaved, but instead of throwing up, she collapsed with a groan.

“We need to get going,” Zak said. “Liam, can you and Em get in either side of her. I know it’s a tight fit.” He looked disdainfully at his mum’s Mini. “If I’d known we were transporting a pissed mate, I’d have begged my dad’s car.”

I placed a hand on his back. “I’m sorry, Zak.”

He whizzed around to look at me. “Hey, it’s alright. I don’t mind. As long as she doesn’t puke. My mum will freak if she does.”

“Let’s go then.” I pulled open the passenger door. “I’ll message you Liv.”

“Here have this.” She thrust a carrier bag at me. “She can be sick in that. It’s had my brother’s trainers in it, so it probably stinks.”

I threw it into the back to Emma. “I doubt she’ll notice.” After giving Liv a quick hug, I got inside the car and buckled up as Zak sped off.

“She’s finally stopped,” Emma sighed as she flopped down onto the sofa next to me. “And she’s asleep.”

“Did you put her on her side?” Zak asked, grabbing my ankle and pulling my legs over his thighs. “If she pukes in her sleep, she might choke.”

“Yes, thank you, Zak,” she snapped. “I put her on her side.”

As Liam walked in with his head in a bag of crisps, we all turned to look at him. He hadn’t stopped raiding Emma’s mum’s food cupboard since we’d got there an hour before.

“I’ve never had chicken and stuffing flavour before,” he said, shoving another handful into his mouth. “They’re nice. I might ask my mum to get some.”

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