Forget Me Never

ignore that last bit. Mum wouldn’t understand that I used to see Sophie every day at school and never ran out of things to say. I was trying hard to keep up with her properly. It wasn’t easy, not being at the same school any more, especially now I had new mates who wanted to see me too. Soph didn’t seem keen on them for some reason.
    By the time the day of the performance came, I was kinda looking forward to it. Sophie was coming. We hadn’t seen much of each other that week and there wouldn’t be much of a chance to catch up the night of the play. But there’d be time for that at Paloma Watson’s party, which was on Saturday.
    The show went smoothly. As soon as I’d changed out of my costume I made a getaway and met Sophie and Mum in the foyer. Mum had wanted to bring Neve too, but I’d managed to talk her into getting Aunt Meg to babysit. I didn’t think two hours of Jacobean verse was the kind of thing even the most cultured three-year-old would get a kick out of.
    ‘Well done, darling!’ Before I could stop her, Mum grabbed me and planted a kiss on my forehead. ‘I heard the parents sitting behind me whispering about how good you were. I wanted to turn around and say, “That’s my son!” but I didn’t want to interrupt your big moment—’
    ‘Mum! Stop it,’ I begged. Embarrassing or what! I looked at Sophie. She had her hands shoved into her pockets and wasn’t meeting my eyes.
    ‘What’s up?’ I whispered as we walked out. ‘The play wasn’t that bad, surely.’
    ‘It was fine,’ Sophie muttered. ‘I’d better go now.’
    ‘It’s only nine. Come over for an hour. Some of my mates are coming. Unofficial after-show party.’
    Sophie made a face and instantly I felt annoyed. She never made any effort with my Berkeley mates. They thought she was bad-tempered and moody. I wasn’t sure they believed me when I explained she was a different person when we were alone.
    ‘See you at Paloma’s at the weekend then,’ I said.
    Sophie shrugged. ‘Parties aren’t really my thing. Always feel out of place.’
    ‘You might feel more comfortable if you looked the part more,’ I said. ‘I mean, you look cool whatever you wear, but if you dressed up a bit sometimes, it might make you fit in better.’
    I nodded at two girls my mates were talking to. They were both wearing sleeveless tops and short skirts, maybe a bit overdressed, but it got my point across. Sophie stared at them, then mumbled that she was going home. I began wondering if she was interested in staying friends with me at all. It felt like I bent over backwards to meet up with her, and nine times out of ten I was the one to text or email. From the way she behaved sometimes, maybe I shouldn’t have bothered.
    ‘She’s probably just moving on,’ Mum said the next afternoon. Neve was nearby watching Postman Pat , nose almost touching the screen. ‘Sad, but it happens. Why don’t you invite some friends from school over next week to take your mind off her?’
    ‘Things were just dandy until recently,’ I said. ‘I sent her a text today. She never even replied! What’s changed?’
    ‘Be fair, Reece,’ Mum said. ‘Don’t forget, it’s only been a few months since that dreadful business with her cousin. Bereavement can affect people in strange ways – as you well know.’
    Mum actually sticking up for Soph shocked me into silence. She was right. Danielle’s death had unsettled me enough. We’d been eating lunch with her like everything was normal, then a few hours later she was gone. Totally surreal. And how I felt must be nothing next to what Sophie must be feeling.
    Maybe I hadn’t been looking out for her enough. But beyond being there for her and keeping in touch, I wasn’t sure how I could help. I didn’t think Sophie would ever really open up to me about Danielle.
    ‘Anyway,’ Mum continued, ‘Sophie’s a young woman now. She probably wants to hang out with girlfriends and talk girl stuff. It’s quite unusual for a girl and boy to have a friendship like yours at this age.’
    ‘Mum, you know that’s stereotypical bullshit.’
    ‘Less of the language!’ Mum snapped, quickly looking at Neve to see if she was listening. She wasn’t. ‘Picked up at Broom Hill, no doubt; it’s a good job you’re out of that place. I never liked your having to mix with those kids from the Raspberry Valley Estate.’
    I rolled my eyes. ‘You didn’t mind me going there before we got Dad’s life-insurance