‘Ah. Is Perry not going to make it, Faith?’
The other couples untangled themselves enough to turn and peer at me, sitting bolt upright in my chair near the back.
‘He got caught up at work. When he picks me up, we’ll go through everything together. I’ve been making notes for him.’ I waved my notepad, fast enough that no one could read my sprawling message to Perry, which included my opinion of his late-night money making, and where exactly he could stick his gazillion, gatrillion pound contract. ‘You work away; don’t worry about me.’
Gavin, who generally remained silent until Zoe nudged him, frowned.
‘Well, we can’t have you sat there on your own. The whole point is you articulate your feelings.’
‘It’s fine. Like I said, we’ll do it later.’
‘Why don’t you work with Dylan for now? I’m sure he’d be happy to stand in.’
I shrivelled up in my seat, stealing a look over my shoulder at where Dylan stood, leaning against the back wall. He did not look happy to stand in. Arms folded, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, he looked like a pirate facing down a flotilla of the British navy.
‘What do you think, Dylan?’ Gavin asked.
‘No.’
‘Oh, come on now!’ Zoe laughed. ‘It’ll only be for a few minutes.’
‘It wouldn’t be appropriate,’ he practically growled.
Zoe put her hands on her hips. ‘Don’t be silly. It’s just an exercise. You don’t have to pretend to be Perry, just help Faith think through the questions.’
His scowl, if possible, intensified.
‘It’s fine,’ I said, trying to press myself as deeply as possible into the chair fabric. ‘I can sit here and think about them by myself. Or, or maybe I should just go?’
‘You can’t go!’ Zoe slapped Gavin on the arm.
He coughed. ‘No. You can’t go. Isn’t Perry picking you up?’
‘And?’ Zoe said.
‘And we haven’t given out the gifts yet. Please stay.’
I looked down, feeling the eyes of the class on me. Well, nearly all of them.
Zoe sung out, ‘Allie and Tom, please save it for after Dylan says, “You may now kiss the bride”!’
A sheepish Allie and Tom unlocked lips.
‘Look, I’ll just sit here. It’s fine. I can go over my notes.’
I opened my course workbook and began reading it furiously, pointedly ignoring the angry bear behind me in the corner.
‘What does it say then?’
I rolled up my eyes to see him pulling up a chair and sitting on it backwards, leaning his arms across the top.
‘You don’t have to do this.’ I flapped my hand at the book weakly.
He leaned his head forwards in one fluid motion that betrayed something of the energy contained.
‘I shouldn’t be doing this,’ he muttered, running his fingers through his mop of hair, a sure sign he felt awkward.
‘Then don’t. I said, it’s fine.’
