‘What the hell is wrong with this car?’ Alanna snapped.
Keira chewed the inside of her cheek. ‘How many lessons did you say you had?’
‘I candrive,’ Alanna said. ‘I might not have done it in a while, but I can do it.’
‘Are you alright?’
‘I just want to get this sodding car started, and then I’ll be golden.’
Keira took a pause. ‘What if I get it started and you take it from there? I’m used to the thing, maybe I’ve got the knack and I don’t realise it.’
Alanna’s head dropped to her chest. ‘Fine.’
They got out and swapped. Keira started the car without issue. ‘Hey, it’s only ten minutes to this brunch place near here and I’m Hank Marvin,’ she said. ‘Lemme just get us there, and you can do the second leg.’
Alanna shook her head at herself. ‘Yeah, sure. Go ahead.’
***
It was a very sloppy breakfast burrito. Alanna already looked like shit from a night in a chair, but now she was adding the extra glamour of Siracha down the front of her dress. If Alanna had known what this outfit was gonna have to go through, she’d have said fuck it and worn a onesie to the party. Imagining her mother’s reaction cheered her up a bit.
‘I wish I’d ordered that now,’ Keira said, looking from her egg’s benedict to the burrito. ‘It looks like the tits.’
‘It comes at a price. I look like a toddler learning to eat.’
‘Lemme get you a napkin,’ Keira said and then, in a move that astonished Alanna, began to dab under her chin. After a few seconds, Keira looked shocked at herself. ‘What am I doing? Sorry.’
‘No, no, it’s… Don’t… I don’t mind,’ Alanna said, completely flustered.
‘I didn’t mean to come off like your mother,’ Keira frowned.
Alanna snorted. ‘That’s not how Sandra handled mess. She’d scream at me to get my clothes straight in the washing machine. Which I then had to operate myself. At seven.’
Keira’s eyes widened. ‘She sounds like a delight.’
‘I’m not complaining. There’s worse, err...’ Alanna realised she had strayed into tricky territory. Childhood. She couldn’t face another asthma attack by her own hand.
Keira groaned and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re talking around the care home. Don’t. You know now. So stop being so bloody careful. It’s annoying.’
Alanna paused. ‘You’re OK?’
‘I’m fine. I have an inhaler if I… I’m fine.’ She tutted. ‘I’m not a refugee from a war-torn country. I just don’t have parents. Don’t tiptoe around me. I won’t attend any pity parties.’
‘You wouldn’t get one, Keira, I can assure you of that. Why would I pity you? I think you’re incredible.’ Alanna had not meant for that to pop out. She had to amend fast. ‘I mean, I think you’re anincredibly… resilient… person.’
Alanna thought Keira might roll her eyes again. But instead, she did something Alanna hadn’t known was in her wheelhouse. She blushed. ‘It’s warm in here,’ she said, her voice unusually high.
‘Keira, are you embarrassed?’ Alanna couldn’t help but ask.
‘No!’ Keira said, placing three syllables in the one-syllable word. ‘I told you, it’swarmin here.’ She began to shovel food into her mouth. ‘Look, finish up, because I’ve got writing to do.’
‘So, we’re just gonna go home and, you know…’
Keira looked up, and her mouth fell slightly. It was filled with eggs.
‘Just continue as we were?’ Alanna completed.
Keira looked confused. ‘What are you talking about?’
