Page 5 of Revenge

Mummy always said I was a good judge of character.

His eyes met mine. They were dark in colour with slight creases at the side from the smile he was wearing. It made me feel warm inside, it was such a friendly face and friendly was something I rarely got from my Mummy’s friends and their kids.

“Well?” he said, but I continued to drink him in. “You know it’s rude to stare.”

His words shook me out of my daydream. “Sorry,” I said, pulling away and looking down into my lap.

“I’m kidding. You can look all you want. I don’t bite.”

His reply made me grin and I looked back. We were side by side beneath the stage, our backs against the pillar but it didn’t feel weird. I didn’t know this boy but his appearance made me feel nice and safe.

“Did someone hurt you?” he said, pointing to my knees.

My nose scrunched. “Why would I tell you? You’re a stranger.”

I heard his chuckle but I kept my face forward.

He shrugged, his shoulders brushing against mine. “I suppose I am. So, let’s get to know each other and then, I won’t be a stranger.”

Shuffling around, I moved to see him better without hurting my neck. “OK, that sounds like a good idea. I’m Boo,” I said, raising my hand so he could shake it. That’s what Mummy had taught me to do when meeting my future daddies. I gave him my nickname on purpose. It was funny that the boy had spoken of monsters, as my nickname was taken from a character in my favourite cartoon, Monsters Inc. Mummy said I had to be careful who I gave myrealname to. We were again marrying into another important family and important families had enemies.

“Pleased to meet you, Boo. You can call me K,” the boy said, taking my small hand and giving it a shake. K?

My grin widened as he released my cold fingers from his warm ones.

K was an odd name but it suited him. I was almost eight and wasn’t stupid; he probably didn’t want to give me his real name so I didn’t tell other people I knew him. I doubted it was for the same reason as me.

“So, you didn’t answer myfirstquestion,” K said gently, nudging his shoulder into mine as we both looked forward. You could see the shadows of people's feet as they danced beyond the material that fell from the stage.

“And I’m not going to. I fell and that’s all there is to it,” I sniffed, rubbing my hand across my nose.

“I don’t mean that one. I mean my question about monsters. Aren’t you scared of them?”

My shoulders slumped. “There are worse things out there than monsters,” I replied, glancing at him. His face was relaxed as he took in my words.

“Like what?”

I sniffed again, “People.”

My answer made him shift and turn towards me so we faced each other. He looked uncomfortable, scrunched up under the stage, he was so much bigger than me. I fit under there much better.

“You’re not wrong there,” he chuckled.

K was smiling at me. It was warm and real, not fake like the ones the other kids gave me at school. Mummy had said my new Daddy had promised I would be home-schooled with Tasha. At first, I’d been excited but after what had happened at the wedding, I’d changed my mind. Tasha was mean and would pick on me whenever she got the chance. Maybe going back to school was safer.

I sighed, feeling the most chilled I had felt all day. K leaned over and pushed some of my hair behind my ear; his fingers were soft, gentle, and friendly. Not like one of my Mummy’s new friends; a man who pulled me onto his lap and bounced me up and down on his knee like I was a baby. His hands were rough against my skin. It made me feel nasty being sat there but Mummy didn’t notice. She called him Gerry and I thought he was horrible.

“So those kids you were running from, I guessed they’re not your friends,” K said, his eyes searching my face.

“No. I don’t have any friends,” I said truthfully.

K grinned, showing his straight white teeth, “Me neither. It’s easier on your own.”

“I agree it is easier, but being by yourself gets lonely. I don’t want to be alone forever. One day I will get married. And then I will havemyhappy ever after. Just like the girls do in the books my mummy reads to me.”

“And who would be your hero? Prince Charming by any chance?”

“No, Ron Weasley,” I replied with a grin. K’s face lit up in understanding.

---