“Tank you. I yam plized to be here,” Kayla said, with Sally working hard to stifle her grin.
Sally and Kayla left the office, making their way out into the spring sunshine.
They stood for a moment and looked at each other.
“This is heavy, Kayla!”
“Yeah. I know.”
“I mean, so much could go wrong. Someone might twig.”
“Shut up. We’ve just got to make sure that no one does.”
“Your eyes are amazing, how did you get them that blue?”
“Contact lenses. I went to the optician before coming to school.”
“You look so different. How do the boobs feel?”
“Wonderful. I just wish they were my own.”
“You look so different, even from that first time.”
“Keep telling me that. This is like a dream. I am terrified of waking up.”
“Come on. Let me pretend to show you round. Practice your Swedish on me. What is Swedish for school?”
The two girls went off, arm in arm.
Peter Groves was bored. He was sitting in a history lecture, watching the minute hand creep up towards twelve o’clock. He glanced out the window and saw Sally walking arm in arm with another girl across the main yard.
He was suddenly alert. He recognised the other girl, she was the Swedish girl he’d met the other day - Kayla something, and she was still gorgeous.
The girls were walking towards the cafeteria, so Pete became determined to get there as soon as possible. He wondered why she was here. He felt his heart quicken at the prospect of seeing her again. Ever since he had said goodbye to her, he had not been able to stop thinking about her.
Mr Cooper seemed to want to drag every last second from his session, but finally released them, but not without first setting their essay for the weekend.
Pete raced for the cafeteria, bursting through the swing doors like a gunfighter in an old Western saloon. He stood by the door, seeking with his eyes the girl of his dreams.
Kayla was sitting with Sally and a couple of other girls, Rachel and Kerry.
Both girls knew Kyle, but neither had the slightest suspicion that this very pretty Swedish girl could ever be the same person as the quiet boy who hid behind his round and faintly silly spectacles. Her singsong lilting accent fascinated them, and they giggled every time she made a mistake with her words.
Pete walked over to the little group. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. The very sound of her sexy voice made him smile. She looked up as he drew near and their eyes met.
A red flush rose in her face and yet she maintained eye contact with him. He stopped at the table.
“I thought it was you. Hi,” he said, uncharacteristically shy.
She smiled, and it warmed his heart.
“Hello, ve met at the film kinema, ja?”
“Cinema, yes, that’s right. I’m pleased you remembered me.”
“Your name is Peter, ja?”
“Right again, and you’re Kayla.”
“Ja, so you remember me too?”
“I couldn’t forget you. So, what are you doing here?”
“I com here as exchange student. I hav a cousin who goes to Sweden and my school. He comes normally here, to zis school. I sorry, my English is not yet good,” she said, grinning.
Peter felt weak at the knees.
“Your English is brilliant. So, who’s your cousin?”
“Kyle Manning, you know him, perhaps?”
Pete frowned.
“I know the name. I can’t picture the face. Isn’t he Ricky’s mate, and don’t you hang about with him sometimes?” he asked Sally.
“That’s the one,” she said, holding her breath.
“Cool. So he’s gone to Sweden, and we get you?” he said.
“Ja.”
“Then we have got by far the better deal!” he said, as Sally started coughing.
“Are you okay, Sal?” he asked.
She nodded, and Kayla started thumping her on the back. Sally’s eyes were watering and she appeared in some distress, but she soon got better. Pete pulled a chair over.
“Have you eaten?” he asked Kayla.
“Not yet, it is good, the food, yes?”
“It’s okay. Can I get you something?”
“How come you never asked me?” Sally asked.
“You’re not a guest of the school, Sal,” he said, without taking his eyes off the Swedish girl. She was utterly gorgeous. Her smile lit up his world and her eyes were of a blue that he’d never seen before.
“A salad vood be nice, tank you,” she said, smiling at him.
“Your wish is my command, ma’am,” he said and got up and went off on his quest.
Sally started to giggle, so Kayla elbowed her in the side.
“He is a nice boy. He has a girlfriend, ja?”
“I think he’s just found a new one!” giggled Kerry.
Kayla blushed again, and all the girls started to laugh. They were still laughing when Pete returned carrying Kayla’s chicken salad on a tray, with cutlery and a glass of water.
He delivered her food with a flourish and little bow. Then he left telling Sally he would find her an equally fine repast. Sally raced after him, and Kayla was alone at the table as the other girls all went to get their food.
Ricky chose that moment to enter to cafeteria. He saw Pete first, and then he glanced around to see where he could sit. His eyes flitted past the seated blonde girl, and then clicked back. He frowned, as there was something familiar about her.
Then he watched Pete approach her table and sit next to her. Kayla smiled at him and then saw Ricky over his shoulder. For a moment, her heart lurched and she just blanked him. After all, she didn’t know him, as Kayla, that is.
Ricky stared at her, realising why she was familiar, she reminded him of Kyle. This must be his Swedish cousin, and she was fit! More that fit, she was a real babe! He wanted to go and speak to her, but the presence of Pete put him off. He looked round for Kyle, and when he couldn’t find him, he rang his mobile number.
Kayla was startled as the mobile in her bag started to ring. She knew who it was going to be.
“Hullo?” she said, trying to alter her voice as much as she could.
“Hey Kyle, your cousin is already here and she is way fit!” Ricky said.
Kayla looked at Pete, and smiled.
“I yam sorry. Kyle has gone to Sweden, and he gives me his phone. My name is Kayla.”
“No shit? Really, cool! I’m Ricky, his best mate. I saw you in the cafeteria a few minutes ago. You were sitting with Sally and Pete Groves.”
“Ja, that is me. Vy didn’t you com and say to me something?”
Ricky laughed nervously.
“Um, well, Pete and I aren’t exactly best mates. Perhaps I could see you later?”
“Ja. I stay with my great aunt.”
“Your great aunt?”
“Ja, Kyle’s grandmother.”
Ricky knew Kyle’s grandmother, so he grinned as he spoke to this sexy voice.
“Can I come round later?” he asked.
“Ja, perhaps,” Kayla said, feeling worried that Ricky was a potential danger.
“Great. So, Kayla, how come this happened so quick?”
“I tink it was a, how you say? A last minute plan?”
“Yeah, I see. Shit, I wish he had told me when he was going. Okay. I’ll see you later, if that’s okay?”
“Ja, if nothing else is planned.”
“Bye.”
Kayla shut the phone off and caught Sally’s eye.
“Who was that?”
“Someone called Ricky. I tink he is Kyle’s friend, no?”
Peter snorted.
“That little creep! He is a real tosspot, that one. Be very careful of him, he is just plain nasty,” he said.
“Oh, why?” Kayla asked.
“Never mind, just take it from me; he is a sneaky little sod.”
“Oh, come on Pete, you can’t leave it there, what did he do?” Sally asked.
“Well, he had his eye on a young lady I was thinking of asking to the Ball, and in order to try to make her change her mind, he started spreading a rumour that me and a mate were gay. Little sod!”