Page 123 of Oar Than Friends

‘Give yourself a break. You’ve had a lot going on the past few weeks, I’m amazed you have any space left in your brain. You’ve been training twice as hard as me, you’re clocking more water time and with everything you’ve been through with Oz …’ she added quietly then paused, waiting to see if I’d start crying again, like I had been doing forthe past two weeks whenever his name was mentioned, but I managed to hold it in. ‘It’s a wonder you haven’t imploded, I would have. At least the media has quietened down for the moment.’

‘Yeah, for the moment.’

‘And I was just getting used to his funny little friend following us around. We won’t need him any more. Shame.’

I managed a dry chuckle as we continued walking back to Downing, along the path of trees still waiting for the blossom shoots to appear. Imogen had not taken well to Olly checking up on us, and they’d had more than one very loud, very public argument about it too. But after a guy jumped out of the bushes in front of us as we were heading to class last week, and Olly had promptly thrown him back in, they’d come to a truce.

Thankfully that was the last time anything happened. No one had dialled my cell, no one had been around my parents’ house again, no one had interrupted training, and beyond a few small gossip articles, any news about the Boat Race had focused solely on the race itself. I would have asked Oz if he’d had anything to do with it, but he wasn’t speaking to me, and I had started to feel foolish for the fuss I’d kicked up. He said it would be fine, and I should have believed him.

I was trying hard not to think about Oz when Imogen mumbled something, and I looked up to find Mary Heston walking toward us. Her head was down so she hadn’t spotted us yet, but that only stoked the rage burning in Imogen.

‘Hey, Mary, sold any more stories?’ Imogen yelled almost in her face as she reached us.

To her credit, Mary didn’t even startle. She peered upfrom her phone, her snub nose crinkled with derision, and simply raised an eyebrow. ‘You need to watch who you’re talking to.’

‘Looks like I’m talking to a back-stabbing witch. Am I wrong?’

Instead of responding to Imogen, Mary glanced over at me. ‘You really spend time with the worst people.’

‘I’ll disagree on that point.’ I leaned in closer, no longer intimidated by this girl who used to have me trembling with nerves. Instead, I saw her as the girl who’d brought my current life as I knew it to a crashing halt, the one who’d caused me three weeks of headaches from too much crying, and to lose the first boy I’d ever loved. ‘I know it was you.’

‘You know nothing. And anything that may or may not have happened was done for the good of the Boat Race. Cambridge is the superior team, and we deserve to be crowned winners. If Oxford wins, it will only cast doubt on how they’ve won, and I’ll report you to the racing federation for cheating.’

I was about to laugh in Mary’s face, but Imogen got there first. ‘You’re insane, Mary. If Oxford wins it’s because they rowed better on the day. Training tips aren’t going to make any difference if their crew isn’t prepared.’

Her eyes narrowed defiantly, but she didn’t argue, just scoffed and continued walking.

‘I hope you step on a Lego,’ I shouted after her.

Imogen threw her head back with a loud snort and a laugh. ‘A Lego?’

‘Yeah, it would hurt.’

‘Brilliant,’ she laughed again, ‘brilliant. I’m using that next time someone pisses me off.’

‘Do you really think she did it?’

‘Yes! Or got her friend to sell that picture. She’s the worst. No idea what Will Norris ever saw in her,’ she added, before quietly asking, ‘Have you heard from Oz today?’

I shook my head.

The amusement I’d felt a moment ago had vanished, allowing the sadness to sink back in, not that it ever disappeared; it was always there and I knew full well if I started talking or even thinking about Oz my tears would reappear, but I didn’t have time for that today. I had to study, then train again, then studyagain. Instead, I bit down hard on my cheeks to distract me from the heavy tightening in my chest.

It had been gradually getting worse over the past weeks, like a dense fog dragging itself through my body and sticking to my bones. I’d almost gotten used to it, or forgotten it was there, but then it would remind me at the most inopportune times – like the beginning of Tideway practice when I peered up to see my magic flag flying, or when I’d be studying and have to look up a Greek or Latin word instead of messaging Oz for the meaning, and he’d invariably give me the entire origin, and usages. Or like right now.

I rubbed down my throat hoping to loosen the tension.

‘I’m sure you will.’

‘No, I won’t. We’ve broken up, I haven’t heard fromhim in two weeks. There’s no reason why I would hear from him today.’

‘Because it’s Valentine’s Day, silly.’

‘Yeah,’ I huffed, ‘how could I forget the obstacle course of cards and flowers I needed to step through in order to get to your door this morning?’

‘You’re welcome to them. They’ll mean as much to you as they do to me, which is to say not a lot.’ She put her arm around me again, ‘We can be each other’s Valentine’s today.’

‘That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard all day.’ I smiled at her, ‘Come on, let’s go and find Hannah. She normally finishes about now, we can all go for lunch.’

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