Felicity Crentsil
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An extract from Innocent Sydney
Chapter Four
“Benedict Newton-Blake,” said May.
“That’s quite a name,” Gemma said.
“Everyone just calls him Ben,” I said.
“Which one was he?” said Gemma.
“The one in the corner with black hair and hazel eyes,” I said.
“If you look close enough,” May said to Gemma, “You’ll see her eyes glaze over.”
“Very funny,” I said.
“So you like him?” Gemma asked.
“Does she like him?” said May. “Does she want to marry him, have his babies and live happily ever after as Mrs Ben Newton-Blake, you mean.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that bad,” I said. But I was. Ben was one of the things I wanted more than anything in the world.
“How long have you liked him?” said Gemma.
“A while,” I said. “A long time.”
“Since year seven,” said May.
“You’ve liked the same person through the whole of school?” said Gemma.
She said it like it was incredible. All that told me was that she’d never felt anything like it.
“She has tried to fancy other boys,” said May. “For a whole day, she considered going out with James Ivers, after he sent her a Valentine’s card.”
“Is he the blonde one in our English class?” said Gemma.
“That’s him,” said May.
“He’s cute.”
“One week and she’s already got her eye on someone,” said May. “You’ve got good taste.”
“I don’t like him,” said Gemma, “I just think he’s cute.”
“Not cute enough for Syd, though. She only has eyes for Ben.”
“So what’s so special about him?” Gemma asked.
It was a good question. I should have thought about it more.
“Well,” I said. “He’s kind and he’s smart and he’s just, gorgeous. I don’t know; there’s just something about him.”
“Have you ever asked him out?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “I’m not exactly his type. Why would he want me?”
“Lots of reasons,” said Gemma.
“Don’t waste your time,” said May. “I’ve been trying to get her to do something about it for five years and she won’t listen.”
“If he liked me that way, he would have asked me out. He hasn’t, so there you go.”
“He’s probably been thinking the same thing about you all this time,” said Gemma. “It’s quite romantic.”
“No it isn’t,” I said. “He’s been out with other girls. I know he’s not interested in me.”
“I think you’ll never know unless you say something to him,” said Gemma.
“Then I’ll never know,” I said.
We were walking up to Gemma’s house.
“I’d invite you in,” she said, “but it’s a tip and my Mum’s quite scary at the moment. She hates mess.”
“No worries,” said May. “We’ll see you again soon.”
“Bye,” I said.
Gemma went in and May and I kept walking, arm in arm.
“Are you okay?” she said.
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s weird talking about Ben with someone else.”
“You don’t mind do you?”
“I suppose not,” I said. “I know I should just get over this whole thing, but I can’t.”
“I don’t know what to say. Gemma’s right. There are lots of reasons why he’d like you.”
“Oh yeah, because I’m the spitting image of Lisa Ainsley.”
“That lasted a week,” said May.