Page 31 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

“Dottie,” said Philippa, a pained expression on her face, “for goodness sake, get back on the coach. You’ve already got on and off three times now.”

Nisha and Chrissie exchanged a wordless glance. At least it wasn’t just her teachers that Dottie drove to distraction.

“Hiya, Francis,” said Dan, saving his warmest smile for the shy boy who’d just presented himself, hanging onto a yellow toy car, his father a step behind him.

“Hello, Mr Harvey,” replied Francis solemnly.

“You’ve arrived at just the right time. There’s a seat on the coach right near the front, so you can see what the driver’s doing at all times,andyou get to see through the front window,” said Dan, knowing a car-obsessed child when he saw one.

Francis’ face brightened, and he turned to hug his father goodbye, before getting onto the coach.

“Nice save,” said Nisha. “I thought he was going to cry, poor little thing.”

“I’ll keep a close eye on him,” said Dan. “I don’t think he’s been away from home overnight before.”

“I don’t think many of them have,” Chrissie chimed in, as she slid the last of the bags into the storage area at the bottom of the coach.

“I hope we’re all ready for an onslaught of homesickness, then,” said Nisha.

“Yeah,” agreed Dan. “Mostly from me. I’m missing darts night at the pub for this.”

Nisha laughed. “And I’m missing football.”

“Oh, shush, you two,” said Chrissie. “You’ll be eating baguettes and snails before you know it.”

“Ugh,” said Dan, going slightly pale.

“Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it,” said Philippa, appearing beside them. “They’re all on. I’ve done a head count and I think we’re complete, but one of you should probably do the same.”

Nisha looked again at Chrissie. They climbed onto the coach and Nisha whispered to her. “Why do I feel like she’s in charge?”

Chrissie giggled. “I think she is. Let’s get counting.” She was relieved that some of the ice between them had started to thaw. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but these last few weeks had been really difficult. She’d even started to wonder if she ought to get a job in a different school.

But now, looking down the length of the coach, into the excited faces of all the children she’d spent the last few weeks getting to know, she knew she couldn’t leave them. She owed it to them to hang on in there, even if it was a bit tricky. It was, after all, part of her mission to give back.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The scenery of Birmingham was soon replaced by motorway as the school party headed towards the south coast and the Channel Tunnel. For some of the children it was their first time out of Birmingham, and for many their first time out of the country. Chrissie tried to distract herself from the enormity of what she was doing by chatting to Dan, who was sitting beside her, but it quickly became clear he had an agenda.

“When are you two going to patch things up?” he asked in a stage whisper.

“Who?” said Chrissie, playing for time. She knew exactly what he meant.

“You and Nisha. You’ve both been wandering around the school like a reception kid who misses her mum.”

Chrissie sighed. “It’s complicated.”

“Blah blah, yeah yeah, stuff happened a hundred years ago and then there was some kind of fumble in the rain and now everything’s weird. Is that about right?” he asked, folding his arms.

“What has she said to you?” asked Chrissie, surprised Nisha had shared anything about what had happened. The only person she’d told was Rae.

“Not much,” said Dan. “She was looking a bit glum the other night after the staff meeting, so I took her for a pint. She wouldn’t tell me the gory details, more’s the pity.”

Chrissie harrumphed. “I should hope not. Honestly, I don’t know how all this became such a mess. What did you say to her?”

“I told her to just talk to you and sort it out. Pretty much what I’m saying to you now,” he said, before turning in his seat and shouting, “I can smell prawn cocktail crisps being eaten. The regulations of this coach company stipulate that prawn cocktail crisps are not to be consumed before the hour of ten am. It is currently seventeen minutes past six, and I must therefore inform you that you are in breach.” The coach had fallen silent. “Put them away, please.” They heard rustling behind them, and then silence resumed.

“What the heck was that?” asked Chrissie.

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