You're the One That I Want(17)

As we walked around the bus we spotted Robert’s mum, Carol, Ben and his mum, June, huddled together in a small group and headed towards them.

Like Robert, Ben had also changed a lot over the years – he’d grown a good couple of feet as well, but he wasn’t quite as tall. Instead, his body had stayed in proportion as it did manage to grow outwards at the same time, giving him a much sturdier appearance. Much to Ben’s annoyance, though, he’d also kept hold of some of his puppy fat – that’s not to say he was fat, there was just a little more of him. Yes, I would have described Robert as a long stick and Ben as a round ball that you just want to squidge. He was soft and cuddly. And his dark facial features had maintained the cuteness that they’d always had. He might not have got the same sort of attention from the ladies as Robert did, but he was well loved by them all nonetheless … they were more likely to go to him for advice (or a squeeze – he was the best hugger, he really held you tight) than to flirt. I don’t think that bothered Ben as he never really seemed into any of the girls that he talked to. My dad had actually asked me at dinner one night if he ‘batted for the other team’. I almost choked on my cottage pie. I told Ben what Dad had said on our way to school the next morning and he’d almost choked on the sweet he’d been sucking … Choking was obviously the standard reaction when questioning Ben’s sexuality. It put an end to that little query, anyway. He was straight, he liked girls, but seemed too laid-back to want to do anything about it.

As we were nearing our group, Ben let out a huge yawn – one that he didn’t bother to cover up with his hands. It seemed to go on forever, highlighting just how tired he was.

‘Bit early for you, love?’ Mum laughed.

‘Just a tad.’

‘Well, you should’ve seen him jump out of bed this morning,’ said June, pointing her thumb sideways in Ben’s direction. ‘I’ve not seen him like that in a while. Anyone would think he couldn’t wait to get away.’

Ben shrugged in innocence with a sheepish grin, wrapped his arm around her and rested his head on hers – he was at least a foot taller than her. I always loved seeing little moments like that pass between Ben and June. Unlike Robert and me, who both went through stages of being embarrassed by our mums (or declaring we hated them), Ben hadn’t. He worshipped her and gladly showed that in public.

‘You would not believe how hard it was to get her up today,’ tutted Mum, giving me a gentle poke in the ribs and making me yelp in shock.

‘Ooh, quick photo of our leaving party before we go?’ I pleaded, pulling one of the cardboard-covered cameras from my coat pocket and winding the film along.

‘Do we have to?’ moaned Mum.

‘Yes.’

‘But I haven’t even got my face on yet … here, give me the ruddy thing. I’ll get one of you and Ben instead,’ she demanded, grabbing the camera off me before I managed to get a quick picture of her make-up free.

I wrapped my arms around Ben’s neck and smiled, but just before Mum captured our pose Robert jumped on us from behind – turning it into a laughing picture of the three of us.

‘I see she’s started already then?’ Rob jokingly asked Ben while frowning at my camera.

‘Only just,’ Ben laughed. ‘Hope you’ve been practising your fake smiles.’

‘Yes, my speciality. Well, now that’s done … Miss James is about to let everyone on the bus. Quick!’ Robert whispered. ‘Bye, Mum,’ he added with a cheeky grin and a wave before turning on his heels and running back around to the door of the bus.

Ben and I instantly sprang to life, the race for the back seat was on. Yes, the downside to being a threesome was that, on coaches, one of us had to sit on our own unless we managed to bagsy the back seat. It wasn’t an easy task when there were so many other groups of friends wanting to get it too – it took some cleverly planned timing and for one of your team to be as quick as a bullet! With Robert first in line, he made the prospect of us getting our desired seats highly likely.

Robert’s mum was close on his heels.

‘If he thinks he’s going to get away with saying a crappy goodbye like that without giving me a proper kiss, when he’s leaving me for a bloody week, he’s got another think coming,’ tutted Carol, as she shook her head and wandered off after him, causing us all to laugh.

‘Bye, Mum,’ Ben said, leaning down and hugging June tightly before giving her a peck on the cheek.

‘Oh, come here,’ said Mum as she took me in her arms for my own cuddle goodbye, which I happily entered into. Despite my huffy appearance, I was nervous about the week away and I knew I’d miss my mum and her crazy ways.