Dirty deals

"Who said it was because of maths?"

"What's it about then - wait, why did she tell you?" Philip asked.

Michael smirked. "Why do you think?"

"Don't smirk," Phin said, glancing at Michael.

Philip frowned.
"Are you realted?"

Michael laughed. "She not tell you she had an older brother?"

"No! That reminds me, though," Philip said, turning to Phin. "How long till Eva gets here?"

"Two days."

"I'm dead," Phil sighed.

"Who's Eva?"

"Her sister," Philip said. Phin looked blank of emotion.

"she nice?"

"She's... feminine," Philip said. He had always got on best with Phin. His other second-cousins and cousins were too expectant.

"Oh."

Phin went back to reading, and Philip got back to his English homework.

Michael went back to shaving.

Phin was bored.

Michael liked shaving.

Phil and Phin were fine in the silence between them. They understood each other.

Michael understood shaving.

There was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a voice to say "come in", a boy in upper sixth came in.

"Philip," said the boy, "you got anything to trade?"

The boy looked nothing like Philip, but they had the same eyes.

"Piss off, Marshall," Philip said. "If you want it, you gotta pay."

Michael nodded at Marshall, they were in some classes together.

"Great. Oh - Philip, you wimp! You let a girl in your room!" Marshall moaned.

"I'm your second cousin too," Phin said, not taking her eyes off the book.

"Marshall...stop moaning..." complained Michael, wiping his face.

"I hate having a big brother," muttered Philip. Marshall was busy ranting.

Phin hit him round the head with her book.

"Ooh! Marshall! We might be related soon. Philip and my sister seem to be getting on well!"

Marshall was kind of woozy. It was a pretty thick hardback book that he had been whacked with.

"Shut it, Michael," Philip moaned.

Phin scowled - she had lost ehr place.

"Nah, you don't have a chance with her, Philip," Michael shrugged.