45

Jamie slapped the shirt onto the counter with a casual confidence that belied his growing impatience. Leaning on one elbow, he flashed a lazy smile at the young shop assistant.

“I need to return this,” he said flatly.

The girl, probably no older than Jamie himself, blinked nervously at the shirt before meeting his gaze. “Um, I’m sorry, but… you can’t return it if it’s been worn—”

Jamie cut her off with an exaggerated sigh, the kind that could make a toddler’s tantrum seem mild. “The stitching is coming undone. I wore it once. It's defective,” he said, his tone dripping with mock annoyance.

He left out the part about painstakingly unpicking the stitching with a needle in his room last night, cursing the garment’s quality under his breath. It had been worth the effort, though—if it worked.

The girl hesitated, flipping the shirt over in her hands as she examined the supposed defect. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and Jamie could tell she was wavering.

Behind him, Zoe tapped her foot, arms crossed. “We don’t have all day,” she drawled, her voice carrying the sharp edge of impatience.

Jamie cast a sideways glance at her, grateful for the backup. Zoe’s ‘death stare’ was legendary, and the girl behind the counter was clearly feeling its heat.

“Erm… I can offer a credit note or send it for repairs,” the girl stammered.

“I don’t want a credit note,” Jamie replied coolly. “I want my money back.”

The girl fidgeted, rolling a hanger topper between her fingers. “I… I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to do refunds yet. It’s my first week. Maybe if you could come back later—”

Jamie’s eyes narrowed. He’d chosen this moment deliberately, knowing the owner wouldn’t be around to intervene. “I don’t think you get it,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that still managed to sound menacing. “I’ve got three million followers who’d love to hear about how shoddy your customer service is. This place will be trending for all the wrong reasons by tomorrow.”

The girl paled. “Three million?” she echoed weakly.

Jamie fought back a smirk. The number was closer to 300k, but she didn’t need to know that. The lie hung in the air like a loaded threat, and the girl looked ready to crumble under its weight.

Before she could respond, Jamie rolled his eyes and turned to Zoe. “Stuff this,” he said, grabbing the shirt from the counter. “Let’s go.”

The pair strode out of the store, Zoe tossing a final glare over her shoulder at the girl, whose wide-eyed expression was frozen in helpless confusion.

“What now?” Zoe asked as they stepped into the crisp afternoon air.

Jamie considered his options. The shirt scheme had been a bust, but he still needed cash for the piercing he wanted. He glanced at Zoe, her fiery energy still crackling around her, and an idea began to form.

“We could make Ste pay,” Jamie suggested, testing the waters.

Zoe snorted, her disdain for Ste practically dripping from her voice. “Oh, please. He’s broke as hell. The only time he’s ever had money was when he was stealing it off you and the other sad saps.”

Jamie clenched his jaw at her choice of words but let it slide. He needed her cooperation, and picking a fight now wouldn’t help.

“So what I’m hearing,” he said carefully, “is that Ste owes me. And I’m sure he’s got something he can sell.”

Zoe waved him off. “I can’t be dealing with Ste today. Let’s just hang out at your place. Your house is way less depressing than mine.”

Jamie hesitated but eventually nodded. “Fine.”

Truthfully, he didn’t mind having Zoe over. Her biting humor and endless gossip kept things interesting. Lately, though, she’d been acting… different. Sitting too close, brushing her hand against his, sharing bites of her dessert in a way that felt overly intimate. Even Reece, her boyfriend and Jamie’s longtime nemesis, had started to notice.

Back in Jamie’s room, Zoe sprawled on the bed and put on a Netflix series. To Jamie’s surprise, it wasn’t her usual brand of reality trash—it had a solid plot and decent acting.

He soon noticed, however, that her attention was laser-focused on one actor: Harrison Vinnell. She practically swooned every time he appeared on screen, cutting herself off mid-sentence to watch him.

“You know he’s gay, right?” Jamie pointed out, smirking.

Zoe sighed dramatically, her face scrunching up in mock despair. “Why are all the guys I like gay? It’s not fair.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow. “What about your boyfriend?”

Zoe pulled a face, miming a gag. “Reece? Please. He’s obviously hooking up with Bella. I don’t even know why I bother with him anymore.”

“Ugh. Bella is so bland,” Jamie said, shaking his head. “She’s nothing compared to you. You’re the prettiest girl in school by a long shot. Reece is lucky—”

Before he could finish, Zoe leaned forward and kissed him, her hands gripping his shoulders as her tongue pressed against his lips.

Jamie recoiled, pushing her away. “What are you doing?” he exclaimed.

“I—uh…” Zoe stammered, her cheeks flushing. “I like you, Jamie. I like you so much. You’re perfect.”

Jamie frowned, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. “Zoe, I’m gay.”

“Well… maybe you’re bi,” she said, her voice rising in desperation. “You’re sixteen! Who knows what they are at sixteen?”

Jamie sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to think of the right thing to say. “Zoe, I care about you. But not like that. You’re one of my best friends, and I love you—as a friend. That’s it.”

For a moment, Zoe looked as though she might argue, but then her shoulders slumped. “You’re right,” she said softly. “If we dated, we’d just end up like me and Reece. Friends are better than lovers.”

Jamie smiled, relieved. “Friends forever,” he said, hooking his pinky with hers.

Later, Jamie slipped downstairs to grab some snacks, leaving Zoe engrossed in her show. The house was eerily quiet, and he called out, “Mum? Did you get my text?”

“She’s not here,” came a voice from the kitchen.

Jamie flipped on the light and saw Alice sitting at the table, staring into the dark.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Alice murmured, not looking up.

Jamie frowned, sensing something was off. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, though her voice trembled.

Jamie hesitated, then gave her a small smile. “Okay.” He turned to leave but stopped when Alice grabbed his hand.

“You’re happy, right?” she asked, her wide eyes searching his face.

Jamie’s smile faltered. “Yeah,” he said softly. “Never been better.”

Alice let go, her hand falling limply to the table. Jamie lingered for a moment, then headed back upstairs, the unease from her question lingering long after he’d left the room.