Page 27 of The Forever Gift

‘But as a team captain you know that when the going gets tough you just have to be a little tougher.’

I nod again. He sounds like Miss Hanlon. She’s always giving us pep talks about how if you stay strong you can achieve anything.

‘So, can I count on you to fight hard?’ he asks.

‘Yeah,’ I say.

‘Good,’ he smiles, walking back to his desk and sitting down. ‘Now are you going to open that KitKat, or what? And can I have a bit, please?’

THIRTEEN

KAYLA

‘So that was super weird, wasn’t it?’ Aiden says as I hold the phone to my ear.

‘What was?’ I ask, switching ears. I never talk on the phone like this. It feels strange, but I don’t want to video call. Not right now. I don’t want Aiden to see the huge, bright-green Peter Pan painted on the hospital wall behind me as I sit cross-legged on a lumpy hospital bed. I think Wendy used to be painted too but she’s flaked off and all that’s left is half her dress and part of her shoe. It’s actually a bit creepy.

‘Your dad turning up at my house randomly?’ Aiden says.

I sigh. ‘Yeah. A bit unexpected.’

‘So, c’mon then. What’s going on?’ Aiden says.

‘Nothing really,’ I lie.

‘Kayla Prendergast Doran you can’t lie to save your life, you know that?’

I smile. Aiden is right. I go all squeaky and sound like Molly when I lie. It’s as if I pre-empt getting caught and panic.

‘Just some family stuff, that’s all,’ I sigh, and console myself that I am technically telling the truth.

‘Where are you?’ Aiden asks. ‘There’s an echo or something.’

‘Dublin.’

‘Haha, smartarse.’ Aiden laughs. ‘Where in Dublin? You’re not at your dad’s.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘Because you said the WiFi is crap and that’s why we have to talk on the phone like old people. And I know the signal at your dad’s is great ’cos you’re always boasting about how fast you can stream Netflix at his house.’

‘Oh yeah,’ I say, realising that this is another reason I don’t lie. I can never remember what I said just seconds ago and I trip myself up.

‘Okay, Kayla,’ Aiden’s voice takes a sudden serious turn and he sounds as grown-up as my dad, ‘What’s really going on? Don’t make me call your mam. I will you know.’

He actually will,I think.

‘Okay, okay,’ I say, ‘But you’re not to freak out…’

‘Kayla what do you mean I’m not to freak out. Now I’m freaking out.’

‘Aiden. I’m serious,’ I warn. ‘Everyone else is already acting so weird and I can’t handle it if you do too, okay.’

There’s silence for a moment and I know he’s thinking.

‘Yeah. Okay. I promise I won’t freak out,’ Aiden says, calmly. ‘Just tell me.’

I take a deep breath as I stare at Mowgli fromThe Jungle Bookpainted on the wall opposite me and shake my head. I look around for Tinker Bell. She’s not on any of the walls.Seriously where are they going with this theme?

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