‘Right, and when did you become a psychologist?’
‘The day I met you.’
Finn rested his elbows on his knees. He looked right into her eyes and she felt at home.
‘Thank you, Kelly,’ he said, his voice cracking.
Kelly switched couches, sat down beside him and took his big hand in her own. She could feel the heat radiating from his skin and the smell of him was as familiar as the shape of his palm. She placed her other hand on his cheek. His stubble was rough on her fingertips. ‘You don’t have to thank me. We take care of each other.’ She smiled. ‘We’re the warriors, Finley.’
Chapter Six
Kelly saw him at once. He was sitting at the previously spare desk in the second back row next to Oliver Turnbull, the world’s most annoying boy. The rest of the grade six class was dropping off bags and settling in as the music played. The new kid was hunched over and staring at the floor, but he was clearly tall. He looked sporty. Not good. There were enough sweaty imbeciles in the class already.
Kelly sat down in her usual spot next to her best friend, Toula. They were in the row in front of the new boy, three desks to the right. ‘Who’s the new kid?’ Kelly asked.
Toula shrugged. ‘Dunno. I just got here. He’s cute, though.’
Kelly rolled her eyes. Toula’s sudden obsession with who was and wasn’t cute was painful.
The bell rang and the rest of the students took their places. Mrs Richards stood at the front of the class.
‘Good morning, 6R.’
‘Good morning, Mrs Richards,’ the students chanted in unison.
‘Who’s doing our world of welcome today?’
Kelly raised her hand.
Mrs Richards turned to her. ‘And what country do we have this morning, Kelly?’
‘France, Mrs Richards.’
‘Wonderful. Welcome us as though we were in Paris, s’il te plaît.’
Kelly cleared her throat. She’d been practising this welcome ever since Mrs Richards had assigned the class exercise at the beginning of term. She’d listened to the words over and over on a language website to make sure her accent was perfect. ‘Bienvenue la classe.’
‘Très bien, Kelly,’ Mrs Richards said. ‘I can almost taste the croissants. Well done.’
Kelly smiled with pride.
‘Suck,’ Toula whispered.
‘Degenerate,’ Kelly said out of the corner of her mouth.
Mrs Richards clapped her hands. ‘All right, 6R. Continuing with our welcoming theme, we have a new student joining us today.’
Every kid in the class swivelled round to look at the new boy. He was staring at his hands and looked like he wanted to throw himself out the window. Defenestration, Kelly thought. A cool word she’d learned this year.
‘Welcome, Finley,’ Mrs Richards said.
Oliver sniggered. ‘Finley,’ he said. ‘Sounds like a girl’s name.’
All the boys laughed. Idiots.
‘Congratulations, Oliver,’ Mrs Richards said. ‘You’ve just earned yourself maths work at lunchtime.’
Oliver groaned. His stupid friends smirked.
