Three tables away sat Katerina Svensson and three older girls, sixth formers. Katerina didn’t smile, and neither did Cassie.
‘Did it just get colder in here?’ She nudged Isabella and giggled, but the laughter died on her lips as the restaurant door opened again. ‘Oh, hell. It’s him. No! Isabella, don’t look!’
Too late. Isabella’s whole face brightened as she waved. ‘Jake. Hey, Jake!’
‘Can you act a bit cooler yourself?’ muttered Cassie. ‘Hard to get, that kind of thing?’
‘But I’m not,’ Isabella said mischievously. ‘Not where he is concerned. Hey, Jake!’
But Jake Johnson, thought Cassie, had no chance of getting to their table. Poor Isabella. Katerina had turned, laying a delicate hand on Jake’s arm as he passed, smiling up beguilingly.
‘Jake, darling.’
Cassie could read Katerina’s lips, though she couldn’t hear her over the lunchtime murmur of voices. The Swedish girl cast a sly sneer at Isabella as Jake came to a besotted halt. Leaning down, he kissed her proffered cheek and said something. Katerina laughed and clasped his fingers, and Cassie waited with a sinking heart for Jake to sit down and wrap an arm round her.
He didn’t. Cassie frowned, surprised. Smiling, Jake straightened, and released the Swedish girl’s hand. Katerina’s smirk evaporated as Jake turned away, towards Cassie and Isabella. Cassie had to put her hand over her mouth to hide her grin of delight. That expression on Katerina’s face? She wanted to cast it in marble for posterity, and stick it on a bust in the entrance hall.
‘Hi, Isabella. Hi, Cassie.’ Jake yanked out a chair and sat down. ‘Isabella, you haven’t been shopping again? Did Daddy mortgage the ranch?’
Isabella punched his arm. ‘You wound me, Jake. Always, you wound me.’
‘Speaking as the Kettle, Miss Pot, I find that remark pretty ironic. Whatcha bought?’
Cheeks pink with pleasure, Isabella lifted her bag and opened it for his inspection. As he examined the contents, Cassie looked to the side again.
‘Does your back hurt?’ she said dryly. ‘’Cos it’s full of daggers.’
‘Huh?’ Jake turned, but Katerina had swiftly averted her venomous stare. He scratched his neck, blushing. ‘Oh. Katerina. She’s OK.’ His hawkish features melted into a helpless smile. ‘Well. Incredible, actually.’
‘Incredible,’ muttered Cassie. ‘You got that right. I wonder where her pal Keiko is.’
‘In detention,’ said Jake, winking at Cassie with wicked satisfaction. ‘She was called to Sir Alric’s office this morning. Got an absolute rocket, apparently.’
‘Really?’ said Cassie, feigning surprise. So Sir Alric hadn’t quite finished with the wretched girl last night? She couldn’t help grinning, though. ‘Poor Keiko.’
‘Oh dear. Sir Alric does get annoyed sometimes, even with the Few.’ Isabella managed to sound concerned. ‘And is Katerina upset that you are sitting with us?’
‘Nah. Why would she be upset? I just wanted to talk to you … guys.’
Cassie heard the slight hesitation, and realised Jake was entirely focused on her. She gave him a frown. Not only did the boy have a sinister sleepwalking habit, he had about as much tact as Katerina. Deliberately she smiled at Isabella, not Jake. ‘Yeah? What about?’
‘Actually, Cassie, I wondered if I could have a … word?’
Cassie wondered if her foot would reach far enough to give him a good hard kick. ‘With us? Course you can. What do you want?’
‘Well, I …’ He fidgeted, half-turning towards Isabella.
Cassie saw the flush creep up Isabella’s throat and darken her face. Abruptly, the Argentinian stood up, her linen napkin crushed in her fist. ‘I’m sorry. I am being obtuse. Of course, it is something private.’ She bent down to kiss Cassie’s cheeks and snatched up her shopping bags. ‘You know, I am not so hungry. I’ll see you back at school, Cassie.’ Managing one over-bright smile, she turned and walked out of the restaurant.
Cassie couldn’t miss Katerina’s satisfied smirk.
‘That was really rude,’ she hissed, standing up sharply. ‘I’m going with her. You’ve got anything to ask me, you can ask in front of my friend.’
His fingers gripped her wrist. ‘Cassie, please. Please.’
‘Get stuffed.’
‘I’m sorry, OK?’ His voice was a desperate whisper. ‘Listen, I’ll make it up to her. I swear I’ll apologise. Please stay, Cassie. This is important. Really important.’
She scowled at him. ‘You’ll make it up to her?’
‘Yeah. Um, yeah, I promise.’
Cassie gave him a hard smile. ‘Flowers.’
‘What?’ He blinked.
‘Flowers. That’s the only way to apologise to a girl. Don’t you know anything?’
‘Flowers?’
Bitchy inspiration struck. He really ought to pay for this. ‘Make it an orchid. A good orchid.’
‘OK, OK, I promise. Now will you listen to me?’
‘Five minutes,’ she snapped. ‘And let go of me.’
He released her wrist, as if shocked he was still holding it. ‘What were you up to last night, Cassie?’
She hesitated, surprised by his directness, then sat back down. ‘Isn’t that kind of a personal question?’