‘You simply have to make my day by sitting next to me so I can gaze at that fabulous red hair.’
I self-consciously grasped at my auburn curls as I looked into a pair of pleading eyes.
‘We gingers must stick together,’ he whispered, leading me to an empty pair of desks and indicating for me to sit down.
‘But your hair’s purple.’
‘I know. I’m a traitor to our kind. I could prove I’m ginger, but I’m hoping you won’t make me. It would embarrass the hell out of you and it wouldn’t do much for me. Girls aren’t exactly my thing. The purple’s temporary. I felt I needed to make a bold statement for my first week in a new college, new town, and new country.’
‘You’ve just moved here?’
‘At the weekend. Traumatic parental divorce and I’ve been dragged over the border so my mum can seek solace with her parents who retired here.’
‘Welcome to Whitsborough Bay,’ I said. ‘And welcome to the divorced parents club.’
‘You too?’
‘Last year and not a moment too soon, although my parents still live in the same house – just separate bedrooms – so it’s still like living in a war zone.’
He frowned. ‘Very strange. Clearly we have loads in common. Might as well do the formal intro thing before the lesson starts. Curtis Duncan McBride,’ he said, offering his hand. ‘I’m ginger and proud so don’t let the purple deceive you. I’m Scottish, but I think the accent gives it away. I’m gay, but you’ve probably guessed that. I’m a Virgo,’ he winked, ‘by star sign only… and I’m a vegetarian although I do eat fish and chicken. Oh, and I’m the biggest drama queen you’ll ever meet. What about you?’
I smiled. I’d play him at his game. ‘Elise Karen Morgan. I’m ginger and also proud, although I prefer to think of it as auburn or red. I’m local, but I think the accent gives it away. I’ve got a boyfriend called Gary who I’ve been with since I was fourteen. I’m a Pisces… by star sign only… and a vegetarian too, except I’m a real vegetarian because I don’t eat fish or chicken. Oh, and I want to be an English and Drama teacher so I’m all for a bit of drama in my life.’
Curtis giggled and clapped his hands. ‘Feisty with a sense of humour. I love it. You and I are going to be such good friends, Elise Karen Morgan.’
‘I’m still not convinced about this gaydar thing.’ I stabbed a cherry tomato with my fork and pointed it at Curtis. ‘How about you prove it to me?’
‘Okay, you’ve laid down the gauntlet, Red, and I accept. Let’s do it now.’
‘In the canteen?’
‘It’s the perfect place for people-watching. Lots of interactions to observe.’
I worked on my salad as Curtis gazed around the canteen in silence for about five minutes. ‘My work is done,’ he said, closing his eyes momentarily.
‘How many?’
‘Four so far.’
‘Really? Who?’
Curtis guided me through his choices. He admitted that the ‘gay and proud’ T-shirt one of them was wearing was a slight clue, but the others were purely on observing chemistry alone and, when I watched, I could see exactly what he meant.
‘I’ll admit your gaydar seems pretty impressive, but I don’t know any of those boys so I’ll probably never find out if you’re right or not. I’m not going to wander over and ask them outright if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘You don’t need to, Red. Believe me, I am right,’ Curtis insisted. ‘Oh, and I’ve just spotted another one. And we’ve saved the best till last by a mile. Hello, young man! Please be single and looking for a bit of drama in your life.’
‘Who?’
‘Picking up a tray over there. Jeans, Doc Martens, black shirt, dark hair, smouldering good looks.’
I stared across the canteen, and when I spotted whom he meant, I had to bite my lip to keep the smirk off my face.
‘So what is it about Doc Martens that makes you think he’s gay?’ I asked.
‘Three things straight off.’ Curtis counted them on his fingers. ‘The leather bracelets, the way he walks, and the way he can’t take his eyes off the wee fella in the denim jacket four ahead of him in the queue.’
I couldn’t help giggling. ‘What if I told you he’s wearing leather bracelets because his girlfriend brought them back for him from her holidays, he might be walking a little differently because he got injured in a bad hockey tackle last night, and the “wee fella in the denim jacket” is his best mate, Dean.’
‘You know him?’ Curtis looked surprised. ‘And he’s got a girlfriend?
‘Yes to both questions.’
‘Is the girlfriend a recent thing?’
‘We’ve been together for nearly two years.’
His face fell. ‘He’s your boyfriend?’
I nodded and patted his arm gently. ‘I think your gaydar may need some fine-tuning now that you’ve crossed the border. I think it’s still in Scottish frequency. Sorry to disappoint, but I saw him first and, believe me, Gary is definitely not gay. I think I’d know if he was.’
‘Of course you would.’ Curtis laughed awkwardly. ‘I hope I haven’t embarrassed you by lusting after your fella. My gaydar is only right about half the time. I was trying to be too clever. I think I’m just going to get a yogurt. You want anything? No? Back in a mo.’
Curtis nearly over-turned his chair in an effort to escape. Poor lad was obviously very embarrassed, but I was quite flattered. Gary was a catch and Curtis definitely wouldn’t be the first or last male to fall for those ‘smouldering good looks’.
I watched as Gary made his way over to our table, his dark eyes fixed on mine. He crinkled his nose and smiled his sexy smile.
‘Hi Li.’ He bent over and kissed me softly on the lips then sat down opposite me. Hmmm. Definitely not gay. Very gorgeous and very mine. ‘How was your first history class? Make any friends?’
I smiled. ‘One so far. A very interesting purple-haired gay Scot called Curtis.’
Gary frowned. ‘Gay? How do you know he’s gay?’
‘He just came out with it. And you’re not going to believe what else he came out with.’
Gary shrugged. ‘No idea. What?’ He opened his can of cola and took a swig.
‘He’s been using his gaydar to tell me who he thinks is gay and he singled you out. Can you believe that?’
Gary coughed and spat his drink on the table. ‘He did what?’
‘He picked you out as being gay.’ The colour drained from his cheeks. ‘Hey, don’t look so worried,’ I said, handing him a couple of napkins. ‘I told him you weren’t gay and that you were with me. Not that being gay is anything to be embarrassed about.’
‘Do you think he believed you?’
‘Of course he did! He admitted his gaydar isn’t always right.’
Gary looked around the canteen. ‘Where is he now?’
‘Gone to get a yogurt. He’ll be back any second. I can introduce you.’
‘Sorry, Li.’ He stood up. ‘I can’t stop. I’ve just remembered a meeting with the hockey coach.’