An Impossible Secret (2 page)

So many students considered studies to be an interruption of their social life. Brice had fought hard to get a place at university, and was determined to get the best degree he could. He didn't want to end up in a dead-end job; he wanted a career. Some students seemed to breeze through their course—not Brice. He'd never found it easy—the only way he would get a good degree would be to work twice as hard as everyone else. He didn't mind. If that's what it took, he was up to the challenge.

“Are you completely insane?” Jimmy slid onto the seat next to Brice.

“I'm busy.” Brice said.

“Courtney told me she asked you to go to Toppers.” Jimmy's volume level made no concession to library etiquette.

“So?”

“You said no!”

Out of the corner of his eye, Brice thought he saw the girl at the next table look across at them, but when he turned his head, she was deep in study.

“I know what I said.”

 “But it's Courtney,” Jimmy protested.

“So?”

“And Chrissy.”

“Is there a point to any of this?”

“The point is—you and me could have been with those two.”

“Jimmy.”

“What?”

“Go away.”

“But—” Jimmy shook his head.

“Leave!” Brice spoke quietly, but left Jimmy in no doubt that it was time for him to leave. Brice watched his friend walk away, then turned to the girl.

“Sorry about that.”

The girl looked up, nodded and then returned to her book.

Chapter 4

Kerry would usually walk home from university unless it was raining, snowing or simply too cold. On foot, it normally took her thirty five minutes. As usual, her mum was at the window—waiting. She always wore the same worried expression, as if expecting bad news.

“How was it today?” her mum said.

“Okay.” Kerry squeezed past.

“No problems?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

She faced the same interrogation every day when she arrived home.

“I'm sure. I have homework. I'm going to my room.”

“You're certain everything's okay?”

Kerry, who was already halfway up the stairs, pretended she hadn't heard.

Once inside her bedroom Kerry closed the door, dropped her bag onto the floor, and sat on the bed. It was only a respite. Over dinner, she'd have to face further questioning. She understood why her mum worried, but it was still wearing.

As she stared out of the window, her mind went back to the library. His name was Brice, and he'd spoken to her. She'd wanted to tell him she knew his friend's interruption hadn't been his fault. The words hadn't come; all she'd managed was a nod.

During Kerry's first week at university, a girl named Cindy had asked if she wanted to join her and a couple of other freshers on a night out. Kerry had thanked her for the invitation, but politely declined. No one had asked her to go out since. Before she'd started at university, Kerry had assumed everyone there would want to immerse themselves in their studies. It hadn't taken long for her to realise that was anything but the case. Students routinely skipped classes and lectures, either because they were hung-over, or simply couldn't be bothered.

Over dinner, her mum asked the usual questions; Kerry gave the usual answers. Afterwards, Kerry went back to her bedroom. Her mum wanted her to stay downstairs, but Kerry said she had work to do. It was a lie. They didn't have the Internet. They didn't have TV. Her mum even refused to let her have a mobile phone. Kerry spent the evening reading—her favourite pastime. She loved to lose herself in stories which transported her out of those four walls, and into other lands—into other worlds.

Chapter 5

Lizzie stared at Kerry's house. Why had Kerry frozen her out of her life? They'd been together for as long as she could remember.

Now Kerry thought she was all that. She thought she was '
oh so smart
'—just because she was at university. They used to be close. They used to share everything, but since Kerry started university, she hadn't told Lizzie anything. It was like she'd forgotten all about her. Kerry had thought she'd make a load of new friends at university, but Lizzie hadn't seen any sign of them. Kerry would realise soon enough that no one wanted to be her friend and, when she did, she'd come grovelling back to Lizzie.

Lizzie knew about the guy—the one in the library. Kerry could be such an idiot. As if a guy like that would give her a second look. That kind of guy only wanted one thing.

Chapter 6

 “You can't go to the library again today,” Jimmy said.

“Why not?” Brice was growing tired of having the same conversation every day.

“Look!” Jimmy pointed to the window. “See that blue sky? See that sun? Why would you want to lock yourself away in the library on a day like today?”

“To study? You know—the reason we're here. ”

“You can study in the park. There's bound to be loads of chicks wearing next to nothing in there today.”

“Chicks?”

“Birds, crumpet, skirt. Call 'em what you like.”

“And, you wonder why you haven't got a girlfriend.”

“Come on. You can skip the library for one day.”

“I'll see you tomorrow,” Brice said.

The library was much quieter than usual. Jimmy obviously wasn't the only person who had decided to enjoy the summer weather. Quiet girl was in her usual seat, but the table next to her was already occupied. Even from a distance, Brice could see she looked uncomfortable, and it didn't take him long to figure out why. Alec Weston and two of his sidekicks were seated at the next table. Weston played on the same football team as Brice. He was a show-off, a big mouth, and a bully who spent most of his time trying to impress the girls. Weston leaned across the table, and took one of quiet girl's books. She tried to get it back, but Weston waved the book a few inches beyond her reach.

“Give it back,” Brice said.

“Keep your nose out, Brice.”

Quiet girl looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

“Give the book back.”

In common with most bullies, Weston's targets were carefully selected. He went for those smaller and weaker than himself—those unlikely to put up a fight. Brice was neither small nor weak. Even with his two side-kicks, Weston looked unsure of himself.

“We were only messing around.” Weston slid the book across the table to quiet girl.

“Now get lost.” Brice motioned to the exit.

“I didn't think she was your type,” Weston said as he brushed past Brice.

“Thanks,” quiet girl said.

“No problem. I'm Brice.”

“Kerry.”

“Nice to speak to you at last, Kerry.”

She smiled, but then went back to her book.

“You're in here a lot,” he said. “What do you study?”

“Psychology.”

This wasn't going to be easy. He wasn't sure if her mono-syllabic responses were a sign of shyness, or if she simply wanted him to shut up and leave her alone. Undaunted, he persevered.

“I'm studying architecture,” he said.

“Do you enjoy it?”

Progress! She actually appeared interested.

“Yes, but it's hard going. What about you? Why did you choose Psychology?”

“I've always been interested in the human mind. What makes us do the things we do—that kind of thing.”

“Do you plan on being a psychologist?”

“I'm not sure what I'll do after my degree.”

“I want to work as an architect in London.”

“Why London?”

“That's where all the interesting projects are. There's nothing around here.”

“Thanks again for—you know.” Kerry smiled, but then went back to her studies.

“No problem. Any time.”

Brice tried to focus on his work, but his mind was elsewhere. Several times, he glanced across at Kerry, but she was deep in study. After an hour, he was forced to admit to himself the day was a bust. He was never going to get anything done.

“I'm off,” he said.

“Oh. Okay.”

“I can't seem to focus. It must be the weather.” Brice nodded to the window. “Seems a pity to be inside.”

Kerry nodded.

“I don't suppose you'd like to come for a coffee?”

“I errr—I can’t.” Kerry blushed.

“It’s okay. Sorry, I should have realised you're busy. Bye then.”

Chapter 7

Kerry wished she could block out all the idiots on campus, but they seemed to home in on her. She’d been grateful when Brice had stepped in and put the bully in his place. He'd wanted to chat, but she found it difficult. She spent so much time on her own that she didn't know how it was supposed to work. When Brice had asked her to go for coffee, it had taken her by surprise—she’d said no before she’d even had time to think about it. After he‘d gone, two girls came over to her table.

“Are you mad?” the taller of the two said.

Kerry looked puzzled.

“Brice West just asked you to go out for coffee, and you said no?”

“I’m busy,” Kerry said. She couldn’t tell the girl the real reason: she’d never been for coffee with anyone except her mum

“Busy? What with?” The girl picked up one of Kerry’s text books. “Psychology? You need a psychologist or a shrink to find out why you turned down a chance to go out with Brice.”

“Come on, Sophie. Let’s go.” The girl's friend pulled at her arm. “She’s bloody weird that one.”

Kerry didn’t get much work done. She couldn’t stop thinking about Brice. Why had he asked her out? Had he been teasing? If she’d said yes, would he have laughed at her, and walked away? She didn’t think so. She thought he was being sincere, but what did she know? She kept imagining what might have happened if she’d said yes. What would they have talked about? He'd have soon realised how boring her life was. She never did anything or went anywhere. She would have let him do all the talking. His life was bound to be infinitely more interesting than hers.  What if he’d wanted to do more than just talk? What if he’d tried to kiss her? When she closed her eyes, she could picture his lips. What would it have felt like for them to touch hers? A shiver ran through her entire body. Who was she kidding? Why would he want to kiss her? Whenever she’d seen Brice in the library, there always seemed to be at least one girl hovering around him. He was really good-looking, so it wasn’t all that surprising. He always appeared to be annoyed by their attention, and she’d never seen him talk to any of them for more than a few minutes. It didn’t make any sense. If he could go out with any girl he wanted, why had he asked her to go for coffee?

Her mum wasn’t in when Kerry arrived home. She hadn’t left a note, but then she didn’t need to. Other than shopping, which she always did at the weekend, her mum only ever went to one other place—her sister’s—Kerry’s Aunt Wendy. When Kerry was a small child, her Aunt Wendy used to come around every week, but she was poorly now, and couldn’t get out of the house.

Chapter 8

Pete Myers pulled on the number six shirt which was normally worn by Alec Weston.

“Hey Pete, where’s Weston?” Brice said.

“Didn’t you hear? He’s in hospital.”

“What happened?” It had only been the previous day that Brice had had words with him in the library.

“Broke his leg.”

“How?”

“Fell down the fire escape—according to Monty.”

Charlie Montgomery (Monty) was one of the sidekicks who had been with Weston in the library.

“Monty heard him screaming,” Pete said. “He found him at the bottom of the fire escape.”

“What was he doing on the fire escape?”

“No one knows. Weston blanked out after Monty found him. He can’t remember anything. Monty was shooting his mouth off, though.”

“What about?”

“He said you’d threatened Weston yesterday.”

“That’s crap. He was annoying a girl in the library, so I told him to leave her alone.”

“That’s not how Monty tells it.”

“Monty’s full of shit.”

Weston might have been a bully and an idiot, but he was one of the best players in the team. Without him, Westchester lost two nil to opposition they should have beaten easily.

“What happened? You were crap today.” Jimmy was waiting on the sidelines when the match ended.

“Cheers.” Brice gave his friend a friendly push.

“You probably shouldn’t have thrown Weston off the fire escape.”

“I didn’t…”

“Relax. I know you didn’t. What did happen between you and him?”

“He was giving someone a hard time. I stopped him.”

“Someone?”

“Yes, someone.”

“A female someone? Who was she?”

“No one you know. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

“Come on. You know I’ll find out. Tell me or I’ll ask Monty.”

“Her name is Kerry.”

The cogs in Jimmy’s mind were spinning as he tried to put a face to the name.

“She was at the next table when Courtney …” Brice said.

“I remember. She’s always in the library, but I’ve never seen her speak to anyone. Quiet as a mouse.”

“That’s her.”

“So, you had a chat with mouse girl?”

“Not really. Just a few words.”

“You like her,” Jimmy said.

“Don’t be stupid. We barely spoke.”

“I know you, Brice. I can tell.”

“You’re talking shit—as usual.”

Chapter 9

While waiting outside the library, Kerry overheard three guys talking. One of them mentioned the name ‘Weston’—that’s what caught her attention. He was the guy who had picked on her the previous day. She heard them say he’d fallen down the fire escape, and broken his leg. They said that Brice had pushed him. Even though she barely knew Brice, Kerry couldn’t believe he'd be capable of something like that. What if he was, though? It would be her fault. He’d only gotten into an argument with Weston because of her.