Nervous

The mud crackled stiffly, drying and falling off in little clumps. Phoebe looked down at her reflection in the pond, backlit by the dim light of the setting sun. The world seemed fresher after the brief downpour, clean smelling. Well, apart from the muddy scruff looking back out of the pond, she thought to herself as she pulled a twig from behind her ear. 

Her hand started to unbutton her shirt, and she shivered slightly at the thought of jumping in. 

Her vision of a quiet, relaxing soak was rudely interrupted 

‘Hey pebbles’

‘Don’t call me that’,she snapped. ‘my name is Phoebe’

‘Alright, tetchy. You don’t seem to mind when Lucas calls you that’

‘Don’t be a cobble Verge. That’s just Lucas’

‘Yeah right. You do know he’s mad about you, don’t you?’said Verge

‘Can we change the subject? It’s boring’

‘Okay sis, whatever you want’

‘Thank you.’ Said Phoebe. After a pause she asked ‘What would you like for dinner?’

‘Dunno,’ said Verge ‘Will you be inviting Lucas round?’ Expecting it, he ducked under her open palm, and skipped back, blowing loud kisses at her.

‘Cob’ she shouted at him, then mumbled ‘He’s your friend’

‘Who is who’s friend’ Lucas asked appearing from round the corner

‘Of course you have to be here right now’ she thought

‘It doesn’t matter’ she said ‘It’s just Verge being a cobble’

‘Same as ever then’ he said. ‘ I guess I’ll need to find a different best man’

‘You can forget that idea!’ said phoebe indignantly, pulling a face

‘Whatever you say Pebbles’ he laughed and ran off to catch up with his best mate. Smiling, she threw a Strawberry at his head. At the last second, he span and caught it, winking at her as he stuffed it in his mouth. ‘By the way, your shirt is unbuttoned’

‘Cobbles’, she muttered, grinding her teeth and turning back towards home, fumbling the buttons around a particularly annoying clump of mud.