Girl Next Door - Alyssa Brugman [17]
Jughandles roars in my ear. 'Run, you bastard!'
I'm stifling a roar myself. I glance over at the betting booth where the lady watches me. I yawn, but she looks away. Bryce Cole's lips are pursed.
'The leader is Bee Shore, followed by Pair A Dice, then Miss Dependable, and Milken Honey. Bee Shore still a narrow leader, Pair A Dice three wide. Miss Dependable looking for a way out. She's slipped through, but it's going to be Pair A Dice. Pair A Dice then Miss Dependable. Bee Shore runs in third.'
I'm staring at the television. I can't believe it! All the numbers were right. He should have won it easily. I don't understand how he could have not won, when he gave all the signs.
The blokes shuffle away from the magic spot and back to their seats. I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Bryce Cole. 'Come on, kiddo.'
'Pair A Dice looked like a donkey,' I say. 'I had a feeling.'
Bryce Cole offers to buy me another soft drink.
'How could you let me put all that money on? Now I have nothing! It's not fair. You always win. Why didn't you stop me?'
'I don't always win,' he says.
On the way home we listen to the radio. Bryce Cole is rubbing the stubble on his chin and it's making a scratchy sound.
'That's how I lost my house,' he says. 'I was sure. I had a feeling. You can't be sure of anything, ever. The best you can hope for is really short odds.'
I think about my father and how he bet the whole lot on his empire.
7
NOTICE
Declan and I are in the alleyway between our houses.
'Can I feel your boob?' he asks, scooting closer.
'Why would you want to do that?'
'All the guys at school were talking about boobs today. I said I had felt yours, so now I need to do it so it will be true. I don't think it's properly a lie if I do it within twenty-four hours.' He hooks his arms around his knees.
'You want to feel my boob so you can tell your mates? Correction – they're not even your mates – just some guys. You want to feel my boob for people you don't even like! This is peer pressure. You're pressuring me into letting you exploit me sexually.'
He frowns. 'I'm not exploiting you sexually! I just want to have one little squeeze!' He puts his hands up in defeat. 'Fine! Forget it! I don't even want to any more. Make me a liar. It's not like it would hurt you. I thought we were better friends than this.'
'Declan! That's not fair!'
'Pllleeease? I'm just going to put my hand on it for two seconds.'
I squirm for a moment. 'Okay.'
Declan reaches for the hem of my shirt.
'Over clothes,' I say quickly.
He inches closer and then puts his hand on my breast – cups it. I'm looking in the other direction. Chairman Meow is washing himself on the back step. He's giving me a disapproving look. He thinks I'm a skank. Chairman Meow has never got over being given a joke name. He's an angry young cat.
It's been more than two seconds. 'How much longer?' I ask.
'Does it feel good?' Declan wants to know. 'Because one of the guys at school said that girls moan in ecstasy when you feel their boobs, and I've seen it on the internet.'
I shrug. 'It feels okay. I'm not in ecstasy though.'
'Why not?' he asks. He reaches out with the other hand.
I move away. 'You said one boob.'
'How come you didn't moan in ecstasy? Doesn't it turn you on?'
I sigh. 'Declan, you don't get it. If a girl really likes a boy then it doesn't matter what he does – whether it's feeling your boob, or when he says "pass the tomato sauce", you moan in ecstasy. When you say "pass the tomato sauce", it's all about the sauce.'
'Oh.'
'And as for those girls you've been looking at on the internet, you do understand they get paid to do that stuff, don't you? It's not real.'
We sit silently for a moment.
'How's the cancer going?'
'How's the gambling addiction?'