Page 93 of Pucking Obsessed

Shay was the one who used to cry because he couldn’t go camping with the other kids at school or on day trips because our parents couldn’t afford it.

I was secretly relieved not to be put through the torment.

But then, I went on the road trip with Robyn and D’Angelo, seeing the beauty of the American states that we traveled through. I began to understand how large and life changing the wider world could be.

I want that for Mum and Dad.

“You look happy.” Robyn nudges me with her elbow. “You almost smiled.”

“Thinking.” I take another drink of tea.

“Dangerous.”

I’m dressed in leather trousers and a thick, gray sweater and long coat against the cold. I’ve wrapped my gray scarf around Robyn’s neck, however, because she forgot hers.

She’s dressed in ink stained jeggings and creased blouse, under her woolen coat.

My expression tightens.

It looks like Robyn pulled those clothes off her floor, rather than the carefully ironed pile of fresh laundry that I did for her.

She’s still struggling.

Robyn is sitting next to me at a table in the café, which is shaped like a mushroom.

The entire café is themed after the bookAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The bookcases are built out of giant playing cards, while they’re guarded by chess pieces.

The café is styled like the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

White Rabbit sculptures pose by the door anxiously checking their watches. Vases of red roses stand in the middle of the tables.

My nose wrinkles at the rich, mingling scents of coffee, tea, and sweet pastries.

Only one other young man, who looks like a student in glasses and preppy shirt, is sitting at a far table. He’s buried deeply in a large book on the history of witch hunts.

This bookstore is my favorite place in Freedom.

When I was first learning to read,Alice’s Adventures in Wonderlandwas an escape for me.

I hoped that I’d fall down a rabbit hole into a magical world and never come out again.

D’Angelo told me about this bookstore.

“Books and tea,” D’Angelo said, casually. “It seems about your speed. I put some money into the business to help one of my friends set it up. It’s also small and quiet. People go there to buy a book and read it at a table over a slice of cake. Nobody will come up and talk to you.”

D’Angelo understands me without me needing to say anything.

How does he do that?

He’s right. I love it here. But I want to share it with Robyn today.

I’m going to buy her any book she likes for this week’s book club, after we’ve had this drink.

Robyn places down her coffee and picks up a sticky bun witheat mewritten on the top in white icing. “Great choice for ourlunch break. I appreciate this, by the way. You were perfect last night, when I needed your support.”

I study her. “How are you now?”

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