One Perfect Summer

see each other very often.
    ‘LUKAS!’ We turn to see Harry and Matthew crossing the bridge behind us.
    ‘Hello!’ he says, grinning. I’m glad they ’ ve cheered him up. They slap each other on the back and then Harry turns to me. He looks me up and down and then stumbles backwards, pretending to be struck dumb by my appearance. Matthew picks him up and whacks his arm.
    ‘You idiot,’ he jokes, then smiles at me. ‘You look beautiful, Alice.’
    ‘Oi!’ Harry exclaims. ‘I was going to say that!’
    ‘Too late,’ Matthew replies, not taking his eyes from mine. Lukas puts his arm around my waist.
    ‘You both look very smart,’ I say, smiling at them, then my eyes widen with shock. ‘Harry!’ I gasp. His face freezes. ‘You’ve ironed your shirt!’
    He puffs out his chest like a peacock, before prancing about. ‘I bought it at the weekend.’
    I laugh. ‘That explains it.’
    ‘You two coming on the dodgems?’ Matthew asks us.
    ‘Ooh, yeah, I love the dodgems!’ I cry.
    Lukas shakes his head. ‘No. But we’ll walk there with you.’
    Oh. ‘Really?’ I ask with surprise as we set off.
    The corners of his lips turn down and he shrugs.
    ‘Why don’t you like the dodgems?’ I ask under my breath.
    ‘I just don’t,’ he replies abruptly.
    We stand and watch as Harry and Matthew rush onto the track and climb into separate cars. They laugh as they collide with each other. I hop on the spot, desperate to join in the fun. Matthew glides to a halt in front of us.
    ‘Want to jump in?’ he calls in my direction.
    I glance at Lukas. ‘Can I?’
    He nods, but doesn’t smile. Where’s his sense of fun? He’s starting to annoy me.
    Harry comes along and crashes into the back of Matthew, whose head jerks forward.
    ‘You moron!’ Matthew yells at him.
    Harry beckons desperately at me. ‘Get into mine!’
    Bugger it. ‘I don’t trust you!’ I shout at Harry as I clamber ungraciously into Matthew’s car. He zooms off. I’m laughing as he attempts to take out Harry’s back end. I glance over at Lukas on the sidelines, wanting to see him smile at us, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I scan the crowd with a bad feeling in my stomach. The ride comes to an end.
    ‘Stay on,’ Matthew urges, briefly touching my leg.
    ‘No, I’d better go.’ I hurry across the track and carefully climb down the steps, searching the crowds. I can’t see him anywhere. I search for several minutes before returning to the dodgems. Surely he’ll come and find me here. I hope so. Harry spots me and waves. I smile a shaky smile back and turn to look behind me. No sign. I wait with an uncomfortable feeling. Someone touches my back. I spin around to see him.
    ‘Where did you go?’ I demand to know.
    ‘For a wander.’ His eyes follow Matthew as he races around the track.
    ‘I couldn’t find you! I was worried!’ Am I overreacting?
    ‘I’m back now.’ Finally he meets my gaze. His expression is cool. ‘Let’s go.’
    He sets off and I follow him. ‘What’s wrong with you tonight?’ I ask.
    ‘What makes you think something’s wrong with me?’ he replies over his shoulder as I hurry after him in my heels.
    ‘Come on, Lukas,’ I snap, catching up with him. ‘Don’t play games.’
    ‘He likes you, you know.’ He looks across at me. His tone is dry.
    ‘Who likes me?’
    ‘You know who I’m talking about.’
    ‘Harry?’ I ask. Of course, I know he means Matthew. Harry is no threat to Lukas.
    He regards me wryly. I look away.
    ‘No, he doesn’t,’ I brush him off. It’s clear we’re now talking about Matthew. It became apparent quite early on that he and I have a bit in common – he’s also studying English Lit – and we often find ourselves talking about all things literature, while Lukas and Harry rattle on about astrophysics and God knows what else. Also, Matthew has given me a few too many meaningful looks since that first time I met him at the college bar. A few too many to ignore. I’ve suspected for a while that he’s attracted to me.
    ‘Anyway, what does it matter?’ I continue. ‘I’m with you. He knows I’m with you.’
    ‘You’re right,’ he says, leading me away. ‘It doesn’t matter. I just wanted you to admit it.’
    I feel slighted, and I don’t know why. Neither of us has done anything wrong.
    ‘I heard you discussing with him recently that you’re thinking of taking a language module next term,’ he comments offhandedly.
    ‘Yes, that’s right.