Cherry Blossom Dreams Read online

  ‘Lily!’ I scrambled to my feet from being down on my hands and knees looking for Monty. I’d been searching under the tatty old sofa – the only piece of furniture left in the front room – since the bedroom where we’d been keeping Monty was directly overhead.

  ‘Wow!’ Lily exclaimed in admiration as she took in her surroundings. I’d told her about Blossom House over the phone, explaining about the Monty crisis and that we couldn’t get hold of Zack and therefore needed Raffy’s help.

  ‘Isn’t Raffy coming?’ I asked.

  ‘I asked him, but he said he doesn’t know how to catch a snake and that in any case he’s too busy. More like lazy if you ask me. But don’t worry. I’ll help you look.’

  ‘Oh.’ I actually felt a bit let down and it was a struggle not to show it. Luckily, Lily was way too distracted to notice my reaction.

  She was walking slowly around the room, staring with wide eyes as if she was in some sort of palace. ‘I can’t believe you’ve never told me about this place before! Sasha, you do realise this would be the perfect place to hold a party.’

  Trust Lily to think of that.

  ‘Yeah, like that’s really going to happen,’ I muttered sarcastically.

  ‘Oh, you’re such a scaredy-cat, Sasha!’ Lily teased, though I could tell she knew better than to try and push it. ‘So where’s Sean?’

  ‘Upstairs … Lily, you mustn’t tell anyone you came here, OK? My mum doesn’t even know we come here.’ For some reason Zack’s warning had suddenly popped back into my head: If Lily and her pals ever find out about this …

  Lily must have picked up on my bout of anxiety because she frowned. ‘What’s wrong? You sound like you don’t trust me.’

  ‘It’s not that, it’s just –’

  ‘Sasha, have you ever brought Priti here?’ she suddenly asked.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, it feels like maybe you trust her more than me!’

  ‘Don’t be daft!’ I didn’t know what else to say. Lily sounded like she was jealous and yet how could she be? Lily is one of the most popular girls in our year. Priti is like … well … Priti had once joked that if she were a character in a Jane Austen novel she’d be the plain, shy girl standing at the edge of the ballroom while all the beautiful, confident girls were being asked to dance.

  ‘Well, you hang out with her all the time. You know, people at school are starting to think you’re going over to the dorky side,’ Lily said matter-of-factly.

  ‘I am not!’ I snapped back indignantly.

  ‘No? Well, sometimes it seems like you’re heading that way!’ Lily sighed. ‘Listen, Sasha, a party here would be so great. Don’t you want to do any fun stuff at all?’

  ‘I do do fun stuff, Lily!’ I protested.

  ‘Like what?’ she challenged me. ‘You never want to do anything fun with me and the girls. You never come shopping with us or go to the cinema with us or even come down the park with us in the evenings. You only ever hang out with the boring people at school. Priti is bad enough, but that Jillian is seriously uncool. And now your mum is actually getting married to the hottest teacher in our school … Well, I mean, having Leo in your house could totally get you in with all the popular people … but you won’t even let me tell anybody! It’s like you want to sink into the background!’

  I gaped at her. Where had all this come from? I knew she was miffed that I didn’t try harder to fit in with the popular crowd she hangs out with, but it wasn’t like I went out of my way to embarrass her, or like I minded if she hung out in a different group to me. Why did it have to be such a big deal all of a sudden?

  ‘Don’t look at me like that, Sasha! I’m saying this for your own good. The fact is you need to be more image conscious.’ She frowned. ‘Listen, I know Clara and Hanna can be a bit of a pain, but they’re only like that because they think you don’t rate them. If you start hanging out with us a bit more, they’ll be fine. And I’m not saying you have to totally stop being friends with Priti, but –’

  ‘You can’t tell me who to be friends with, Lily,’ I protested hotly.

  ‘I’m not telling you!’

  ‘Yes, you are!’

  That was when Sean came into the room and snapped at both of us. ‘HEY! I thought you were trying to find Monty!’ And he gave Lily a very unsurprised sort of look as he added, ‘I guess Raffy’s got better things to do, right?’

  The three of us searched the house for ages, targeting every nook and cranny we could find. Lily and I barely spoke, but I was glad that she’d still stuck around to help out. I almost asked her why she bothered hanging out with me if she thought I was so boring and dorky, but I stopped myself because I was a bit afraid of the answer. Maybe she was right to complain. Maybe I was cramping her style. After all, she’d invited me to a Year Ten party, whereas I’d invited her round to an empty house to search for a runaway snake!

  Despite our combined efforts, there was still no sign of Monty.

  Lily didn’t look me in the eye when she said goodbye. I watched her walk away, then went back to help Sean lock up.

  ‘I guess there’s no point in leaving this switched on,’ I said as I unplugged Monty’s heat mat and pushed the whole box inside the cupboard while Sean looked on miserably.

  We left the cupboard door open a little way, just in case he decided to return there while we were gone.

  ‘I’ll have to tell Zack,’ Sean murmured. ‘I’ll go round there tonight.’

  ‘Why not just tell him tomorrow? I mean, if they’ve got family visiting –’

  ‘I’d rather get it over with.’

  We had just locked the side gate and we were on our way out of the drive when Mum suddenly appeared from the street.

  I nearly had a heart attack on the spot, and by the look of it so did Mum.

  ‘What are you two doing here?’ she hissed.

  That’s when we saw that a well-dressed middle-aged couple were following in her wake, clutching the estate agents’ details for Blossom House. Mum hadn’t mentioned any more house showings this week. (The potential buyer Miranda had found had gone away on business and wasn’t due back for a fortnight.)

  ‘Oh, hi, Mum. We were just passing and we were … um … checking the side gate was locked,’ I said in a rush. It was amazing how quickly I could lie when it came to protecting our second home. I could tell Mum didn’t completely believe my explanation, but fortunately her attention was quickly diverted.

  Sean was pointing at the sales brochure Mum’s clients were holding. ‘You know, I took a lot of the photos in there,’ he informed them proudly. ‘Personally, I think they make the place look much bigger and a good bit lighter inside than it really is. And of course they don’t show all the damp and the woodworm and the dry rot and stuff like that.’ As he started to walk off, he added casually, ‘She has told you the house is way overpriced, right?’

  Poor Mum let out a sort of choking noise and as we scurried away we could hear her apologising profusely for her son’s ‘extremely dark’ sense of humour.

  We found Leo’s car parked outside our house when we got back. Sean gave a little huff of annoyance, which wasn’t like him, but I didn’t think much about it until we got inside. We were both on tenterhooks waiting for Mum to ring and tell us Monty had appeared while she was showing round her clients. I couldn’t imagine what Mum would do if she saw a snake. Though I suppose she might not blame us for it. I mean, why should she? She might open the cupboard and see the snake box, but there was so much other weird junk still left in Blossom House that hopefully the box alone wouldn’t stand out.

  ‘Hi, Leo. Nice smell,’ I greeted him. Something garlicky was cooking in the oven.

  ‘Hey, kids. You’re late home, aren’t you? Where have you been?’ Leo asked it lightly, but it was clear he expected an answer from us. That was taking a bit of getting used to. Mum almost never asked us to tell her what we’d been doing after school.

  ‘We’ve been with Lily,’ I answered truthfully. />
  ‘Yeah,’ Sean grunted. ‘And now I’m going round to Zack’s. I haven’t got time to stop for dinner. I’ll get a burger or something. In fact do you have any money and I’ll get Mum to pay you back?’

  Leo actually laughed.

  Sean scowled. ‘OK, so I’ll buy a bag of chips. I’ve got enough money for that.’

  ‘Sean, I’ve already got something in the oven for dinner,’ Leo said, beginning to sound irritated. ‘Your mum’s going to be late so we’ll go ahead and eat without her. Anyway, we need to talk about your behaviour at school today. And what about your homework?’

  ‘I haven’t got that much.’

  ‘Really? Well, I’ve heard that you’ve got a geography assignment still outstanding from the end of last term.’

  Sean instantly looked sulky. ‘You’ve heard a lot.’

  ‘Yeah, well … teachers talk. And since Rob Mann happens to be a mate of mine as well as your geography teacher …’

  Sean looked even sulkier. ‘Hasn’t Rob ever heard of pupil–teacher confidentiality?’

  ‘I’m sure he has, but he also knows I have a special interest in you,’ Leo said evenly.

  Sean glared at him. ‘If I want to go and see Zack, then I will – I don’t have to listen to you!’ my brother spat out.

  If Leo was hurt by Sean’s reaction he didn’t show it. But his voice got a lot firmer as he said, ‘Sean, when your mum’s not here I’m in charge and you do have to listen to me. So you can text Zack to say you’re not coming, then you can eat your dinner, do your homework, watch some TV and by then I reckon it’ll be time for you to go to bed. Though you can always skip the TV and go to bed a bit earlier if you carry on with the attitude.’

  Sean narrowed his eyes and even I found myself staring at Leo in disbelief. Was he really threatening to send my brother to bed early if he didn’t behave?

  ‘Unbelievable!’ Sean spat at him. ‘And I thought you were cool!’ And he stomped off angrily upstairs.

  Leo’s sternness seemed to evaporate the second my brother left the room. ‘Crikey, what’s got into him?’ He seemed more bemused than anything.

  ‘He’ll be all right in a bit,’ I attempted to reassure him. ‘It’s just that Mum doesn’t usually …’ I trailed off, not sure quite how to say it, and knowing that it was only half the problem in any case.

  ‘She doesn’t lay down the law like that?’ Leo suggested. As I nodded, he sighed. ‘Maybe I did sound a bit like a Victorian parent …’

  I shrugged. ‘It’s OK. I wouldn’t sweat about it. Though I do see his point about Mr Mann.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Well, when we’re at school you want us to treat you like any other teacher, right?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘But you’re not treating Sean like any other pupil if you’re discussing him like that with Mr Mann.’

  And I went upstairs, leaving him looking thoughtful.

  In my bedroom I closed the door behind me and went over to stand in front of the mirror. What Lily had said at Blossom House had really got me thinking. Was it true that I needed to be more image conscious? Was I actually starting to look dorky?

  Of course my shoes (which I’d left downstairs) were undisputedly high in dork factor, but when I stared critically at the rest of what I was wearing I didn’t think I looked too bad. OK, so my school skirt isn’t as short as some people’s and I suppose I do look a bit shapeless with my shirt so loosely tucked into the waistband of my skirt, but at least it hides the fact that I’m so flat chested. I don’t think my face looks dorky. I mean, I don’t wear glasses with thick lenses or have my hair scraped back off my face or look like some mini professor (the way Jillian does).

  But I suppose being a dork isn’t just about looking odd. It’s about how you behave as well. Being a chess champion is definitely dorky. Being uber-swotty at school is pretty dorky. I wasn’t so sure about writing poems all the time as a hobby, but I suppose some people might think that’s dorky. But what about just being friends with those people? Did that count as dorky too?

  I was still thinking about it when Leo called upstairs to tell us that dinner was ready. It smelt yummy. Sean, however, didn’t budge from his room.

  Not relishing another showdown between the two of them, and with no sign of Mum returning home any time soon, I decided to take charge of the situation. After all, it’s not just Lily who’s capable of telling people things for their own good that they really don’t want to hear.

  ‘Sean, just because you’re upset about Monty, you shouldn’t take it out on Leo,’ I told him as I stood in his doorway. When he still didn’t move off his bed, I added, ‘Listen, Sean, you were right about one thing …’ I paused to make sure I had his full attention. ‘You were right when you told Leo he’s not our dad!’

  Sean gave me a startled sort of look. ‘I didn’t say that!’

  ‘No, but he knew that’s what you meant when you told him you don’t have to listen to him! And anyway, you were right. He’s not our dad. He doesn’t actually owe us anything. So if you’re mean to him he can leave any time he likes!’

  We both knew what would happen if Leo left. Mum would shut the curtains and go to bed for weeks. It would be like when she found out the truth about Married Michael – home would be dark and cold and miserable. So even though it was hard having Leo telling us what to do, surely it was better than going back to how things were before?

  I don’t know for sure if it was my little intervention that did the trick, but in any case Sean joined us soon after Leo and I had started to eat.

  Sean was flushing a little as he stood awkwardly just inside the kitchen door. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered.

  ‘Come and eat your dinner before it gets cold,’ Leo told him calmly. As my brother sat he added, ‘Listen, you can’t expect me not to care how you’re doing at school, OK?’

  When Sean didn’t say anything I kicked him sharply under the table. If he didn’t want to lose Leo, then he was just going to have to suck it up when Leo went all parental on him.

  ‘Yes, Leo,’ Sean trotted out in reply, before shooting me a glare as if to say, Happy now?

  Leo looked curiously at both of us and I could tell he was wondering what he’d missed, but the only thing he said was, ‘Good boy,’ before launching into a funny story about school.

  The following afternoon I was walking out of school with Priti at the end of the day, when who should appear in front of us but Rafferty.

  ‘Hi, Sasha,’ he said with a grin.

  I think I went bright red from head to toe as soon as he spoke to me. And finally I understood what was going on. I was having my first proper crush on a boy – on my best friend’s older brother. Oh my God! I’ve known Raffy since I was tiny. Once, when I was five, he tickled me so much that I actually wet myself. How could this be happening? And how could I stop him – or Lily – from finding out?

  Raffy’s tie was pushed casually to one side and his top three shirt buttons were undone. I couldn’t help staring guiltily at the Union Jack vest he was sporting underneath his shirt. Then I had a horrible thought. I know Lily’s dad has a very hairy chest because I saw it once at a barbecue. What if that sort of thing runs in families? I wasn’t sure I could handle it if Raffy turned out to be that hairy too. Still, there was no hair poking out the top of his vest right now, thank goodness.

  ‘Oh … hi, Raffy,’ I just about got out without choking. ‘Nice chest … I mean vest!’

  ‘See you tomorrow, Sasha,’ Priti said with a little giggle as she left the two of us alone together.

  ‘Your face is really red, Sasha. Are you OK?’ Raffy sounded genuinely concerned, as if he honestly thought I might have a bad case of sunburn, or be running some weird fever or something.

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

  ‘Lily told me about your snake problem,’ he continued.

  That struck me as a bit odd, because Lily herself had barely spoken to me all day and had left me t
o hang out with Priti and Jillian. But if she’d told Raffy about Monty, maybe she still wanted to help me after all.

  I tried to sound casual as I murmured, ‘Er … yes …’

  ‘It’s a python, right?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Cool.’

  I just smiled stupidly and nodded again.

  ‘Lily said it got lost in this Blossom House place where you and Sean have been hanging out?’

  This time I glanced round quickly to check no one was listening and he seemed to get the hint.

  ‘Hey, I get it. It’s a secret, right? I should think what you’re doing is pretty illegal, huh?’

  ‘Um … maybe …’ I saw that he was taking his chewing gum out to offer me some – taking it out of the packet, I mean, not out of his mouth. ‘No, thanks,’ I said, then started worrying in case that sounded rude. Fortunately, before I could over-think the whole chewing gum thing, Rafferty spoke again.

  ‘So … if you like I’ll come to Blossom House with you now and help you look for your snake,’ he offered.

  ‘Really?’ I just about fainted on the spot.

  ‘Sure.’ Rafferty’s gaze was directed expectantly at me as he waited for an answer.

  ‘Well … OK,’ I said awkwardly. ‘Thanks.’ It was hard trying to sound casual. ‘I need to find Sean first though. He already went to have a look for Monty before school so he’s got the key with him. He’ll probably want to come with us.’

  I knew Sean would be in no rush to get home after the way Mum had torn into him when she’d got back from work the evening before. She’d been furious with him for showing her up in front of her clients and she’d shown no signs of forgiving him by breakfast.

  But when I found Sean in the playground he just handed over the keys and wished me luck. Zack had been off sick that day, so Sean was going round to his house straight after school to tell him about Monty.

  Before I knew what was happening, Raffy and I were walking to Blossom House together. Raffy was listening to music and every time I glanced sideways at him he looked perfectly at ease with the fact that he was totally ignoring me. At first I felt a bit alarmed by our lack of communication, but then I reminded myself that this could easily be the sort of ‘comfortable silence’ Mum always says is just as important in a relationship as stimulating conversation.