Can You Keep A Secret?

OK. Never mind. So I broke one tiny mug, too. It doesn't matter. Just keep typing.

'Hey Jack,' says Nick, in a matey, lads-together voice. 'Just in case you don't think we have

any fun, look up there!' He nods towards the picture of a photocopied, G-stringed bottom

which has been up on the noticeboard since Christmas. 'We still don't know who it is…'

'… I had a few too many drinks at the last Christmas party …'

OK, now I want to die. Someone please kill me.

'Hi, Emma!' comes Katie's voice, and I look up to see her hurrying into the office, her face

pink with excitement. When she sees Jack Harper, she stops dead. 'Oh!'

'It's all right. I'm simply a fly on the wall.' He waves a friendly hand at her. 'Go ahead. Say

whatever you were going to say.'

'Hi Katie!' I manage. 'What is it?'

As soon as I say her name, Jack Harper looks up again, a riveted expression on his face.

I do not like the look of that riveted expression.

What did I tell him about Katie? What? My mind spools furiously back. What did I say? What

did I-

I feel an internal lurch. Oh God.

'… we have this secret code where she comes in and says, 'Can I go through some numbers

with you, Emma?' and it really means 'Shall we nip out to Starbucks …''

I told him our skiving code.

I stare desperately at Katie's eager face, trying somehow to convey the message to her.

Do not say it. Do not say you want to go over some numbers with me.

But she's completely oblivious.

'I just… erm…' She clears her throat in a businesslike way and glances self-consciously at

Jack Harper. 'Could I possibly go over some numbers with you, Emma?'

Fuck.

My face floods with colour. My whole body is prickling.

'You know,' I say, in a bright, artificial voice, 'I'm not sure that'll be possible today.'

Katie stares at me in surprise.

'But I have to… I really need you to go over some numbers with me.' She nods in excitement.

'I'm quite tied up here with my work, Katie!' I force a smile, simultaneously trying to

telegraph 'Shut up!'

'It won't take long! Just quickly.'

'I really don't think so.'

Katie is practically hopping from foot to foot.

'But Emma, they're very… important numbers. I really need to… to tell you about them…'

'Emma.' At Jack Harper's voice I jump as though I've been stung. He leans towards me

confidentially. 'Maybe you should go over the numbers.'

I stare back at him for a few moments, unable to speak, blood pounding in my ears.

'Right,' I manage after a long pause. 'OK. I'll do that.'

SEVEN

As I walk along the street with Katie, half of me is numb with horror, and half almost wants to

burst into hysterical laughter. Everyone else is in the office, trying as hard as they can to

impress Jack Harper. And here I am, strolling off nonchalantly under his nose for a

cappuccino.

'I'm sorry I interrupted you,' says Katie brightly, as we push our way through the doors of

Starbucks. 'With Jack Harper there and everything. I had no idea he'd be just sitting there! But

you know, I was really subtle,' she adds reassuringly. 'He'll never know what we're up to.'

'I'm sure you're right,' I manage. 'He'll never guess in a million years.'

'Are you OK, Emma?' Katie looks at me curiously.

'I'm fine!' I say with a kind of shrill hilarity. 'I'm absolutely fine! So… why the emergency

summit?'

'I had to tell you. Two cappuccinos, please.' Katie beams at me excitedly. 'You won't believe

it!'

'What is it?'

'I've got a date. I met a new guy!'

'No!' I say, staring at her. 'Really? That was quick.'

'Yes, it happened yesterday, just like you said! I deliberately walked further than usual in my

lunch hour, and I found this really nice place where they were serving lunch. And there was

this nice man in the line next to me — and he struck up a conversation with me. Then we

shared a table and chatted some more… and I was just leaving, when he said did I fancy

having a drink some time?' She takes the cappuccinos with a beam. 'So we're going out this

evening.'

'That's fantastic!' I say in delight. 'So come on, what's he like?'

'He's lovely. He's called Phillip! He's got these lovely twinkly eyes, and he's really charming

and polite, and he's got a great sense of humour…'

'He sounds amazing!'

'I know. I have a really good feeling about him.' Katie's face glows as we sit down. 'I really do.

He just seems different. And I know this sounds really stupid, Emma…' she hesitates. 'But I

feel you somehow brought him to me.'

'Me?' I gape at her.

'You gave me the confidence to speak to him.'

'But all I said was-'

'You said you knew I'd meet someone. You had faith in me. And I did!' Her eyes begin to

shine. 'I'm sorry,' she whispers, and dabs her eyes with a napkin. 'I'm just a bit overcome.'

'Oh Katie.'

'I just really think my life is going to turn around. I think everything's going to get better. And

it's all down to you, Emma!'

'Really, Katie,' I say awkwardly. 'It was nothing.'

'It wasn't nothing!' she gulps. 'And I wanted to do something for you in return.' She rummages

in her bag and pulls out a large piece of orange crochet. 'So I made you this last night.' She

looks at me expectantly. 'It's a headscarf.'

For a few moments, I can't move. A crochet headscarf.

'Katie,' I manage at last, turning it over in my fingers. 'Really, you… you shouldn't have!'

'I wanted to! To say thank you.' She looks at me earnestly. 'Especially after you lost that

crochet belt I made for you for Christmas.'

'Oh!' I say, feeling a pang of guilt. 'Er, yes. That was… such a shame.' I swallow. 'It was a

lovely belt. I was really upset to lose it.'

'Oh what the hell!' Her eyes well up again. 'I'll make you a new belt, too.'