Carry You - Beth Thomas

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and then complete the MoonWalk next month really easily and feel fantastic and a huge sense of achievement as well as raising a bucketful of cash for the cancer that killed my mum, which would in turn contribute towards improving research and treatment and could in the end help save someone else’s mum or daughter or sister or grandmother or auntie. I said nothing. I wasn’t feeling it. One step at a time, I thought. No need to get carried away.

      OK. Julia Roberts has just told Hugh that she’s just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. I adore this bit. Internationally worshipped multi-millionaire A-list movie star falls for witty and diffident but obscure small bookshop owner, and propositions him. It makes you believe that anything is possible. Like maybe one day I’ll be standing in Tesco by the hair removal cream and Matt Damon will happen to have popped in for cotton buds and a travel iron, and he’ll see me and tell me he’s actually just a simple man who’s fallen in love with a simple girl or something, and all he can offer me is his heart, no more, no less. And unlike Hugh I’ll snatch his bloody hand off and jet off with him straight to his Beverly Hills mansion for a life of parties and extravagance.

      Hugh has turned her down though. Big mistake. Huge. But it all works out in the end. Of course it does, it’s a film. I’m a bit distracted this afternoon, actually. Can’t concentrate properly on the story. Well, I do know the story already, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t get something new out of it each time I watch it. The problem now is that it’s already half past three, and Abs is likely to get in from work anywhere between four and five, without warning. Being her own boss, she can finish work as soon as she’s had enough. No, all right, probably not as soon as she’s had enough. Not that exact second. She probably has to finish the lesson she’s giving before packing up for the day. Be a bit much if she just leaned over on the bypass, opened the driver’s door and gave her current pupil a good shove to send them tumbling out, then drove home. But she’s a professional, I’m sure she doesn’t do that. She probably pulls over first. Anyway I have no way of knowing what time she’ll get in, which means I have to be ready. I wait for a good shot of Hugh’s face, then pause the film. I can come back to that. I need to shut my computer down, put my quilt back on my bed and get the magic trainers on before she gets home. Then I can tell her I’ve just got back from a twenty-five-minute walk.

      My messenger makes the popping noise just as I’m about to close the web page I’m on. I have to move quickly now. That message is bound to be Abby checking up on me.

       Daisy Mack

      Is alternating contact with the ground of the lowest appendages of my body for 30 sweeps of the long hand. It’s more difficult than it sounds, people.

      OK, that’s that done. Hey, no one ever said that what goes on to Facebook has to be truthful.

      I click on the message and find that it is from Abby and my body floods with relief. I’ve still got plenty of time to get sorted before she gets home. I relax down into the sofa again.

      Abby Marcus What you doing?

      Daisy Mack Hi Abs! Just got back from a walk. What are you doing?

      I’m pretty pleased with myself there. Straight away I’ve given her the impression that I’ve been out walking, no hesitation. Add that to my status when she reads it later and she’ll have to believe me. No, wait. Maybe I should have not answered her for ten minutes or so, then I could have said I’d just got back. Would have been much more believable. Never mind, never mind, it’s too late now. Anyway, I can save that one for tomorrow. Yes.

      Abby Marcus You’ve been online a long time. Are you sure you’ve been out??

      Shit shit shit. Of course. Facebook always tells you the other members known to you who are online at the same time as you, so you can instant message them if you want. Which is clearly what she’s just done. Why didn’t I realise that? I’ve been on here for hours.

      Daisy Mack Yes, definitely. Twenty-five minutes, to the park and back, just like you said. Must be some kind of error on your computer. Have you refreshed the page recently?

      Yeah, I know, pretty lame. But Abs is so trusting, bless her, she’s bound not to even question it. Or maybe she just assumes that no one would ever dare to do anything other than what she’s told them to do. That’s probably more likely.

      Abby Marcus How odd. I just assumed you’d left your computer logged on when you went out for your walk.

      Bugger it. Bugger bugger bugger. What the hell is the matter with me? God, if I’d thought it through properly and not panicked, I’d have realised that of course I would have left the laptop logged onto Facebook while I was out walking. Because I was only going to be out for twenty-five minutes max, so I could simply pick up where I left off when I got back.

      Abby Marcus You didn’t really go out, did you? Be honest, Daze.

      Shit.

      Daisy Mack Course I did, Abs. Do you really think I would be lying about it? What would be the point of that??

      Abby Marcus Yes I do. And the point would be to get me off your back.

      Daisy Mack

      Actually, I don’t really know what to say here. She’s completely and utterly, absolutely, one hundred percent right. And I am exactly the same amount in the wrong. She’s my best friend, she’s really been there for me since Mum died, kind and supportive, helping me out with all the hideous arrangements, checking up on me all the time; and now she’s taken me in and let me have her spare room while I pull myself together and sort myself out somewhere to live. And she’s only making me do this MoonWalk thing for my own good. Everything she’s doing right now is for my own good. I absolutely cannot lie to her any more.

      Daisy Mack Well actually, Abby, to be totally honest, I’m pretty upset that you’re even questioning me about it. Of course I have been out walking. I said I would, didn’t I? And I didn’t want to tell you that I’d left the laptop on while I was out because I was a bit ashamed that I was wasting your electricity. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re recompensed for that.

      Don’t look at me, OK? I’m only lying to her for her own good. I want to make her happy, that’s all.

      Abby Marcus *pokes out bottom lip* I’m so sorry Daze. I do believe you, of course I do. Well done for getting out there, I’m proud of you. Hey, shall we get a take-away and watch Notting Hill tonight? I haven’t seen that one for ages!

      Daisy Mack Brilliant idea. I love that film. What time are you getting home?

      Abby Marcus Finishing in about half an hour. Will get food on the way home. Fire up the DVD player!! Xx

      Daisy Mack I’m warming it up even as we speak!

      Don’t look at me, I said. I’ve been through a tough time. I need empathy and understanding.

       FOUR

       Daisy Mack

      is thinking that maybe the time has come to get her act into gear. Or at least, to have a browse through the gear and try and pick something her act might like.

      Suzanne Allen Dare I say that it’s about time?

      Daisy Mack Apparently you do.

      Georgia Ling Luv ya hunni <3 X o X <3

      Jenny Martin Your wierd.

      Is there anything more gorgeous than the park on a warm spring morning, with daffs and crocuses clustered in colourful clumps around every shrub and tree, sun filtering in golden patches through the thick greenery, a gentle breeze with a delicious sea tang whispering through the leaves, and all the kids at school? Well, yes, possibly a walk by the actual beach would be just as nice. The rush and pull of waves lapping, shouts of children, gulls calling and the air sharp with that strong sea smell. The south-east coast is only four miles away from here, but

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