Chapter 22

I wake up the next day with a headache, stomach ache, and I feel weak. I check the time. 12:30pm already. I walk into the living room and see my Mum sat in there with a cup of tea, biscuits and a remote in her hands.

“I didn’t want to wake you up, sorry” she apologises and turns off the TV.

“It’s fine” I mumble and sit down. She hands me a cup of tea she made for me and signals me to eat a biscuit but I’m too ill to even eat.

“Do you still want to talk?” she asks. I sigh and nod. “Ok, what’s been going on?”

I take a deep breath. Time to come clean...

“I met this group of boys before I started school and when I went to school, I found out that they went to the same one as me. I didn’t really like them but there was one of them that was so nice. He’s called Jack” I say and she nods at the mention of his name. “Well he’s a year younger than me but we’re like best friends now and I always go to his house. I tell you that I go to Lois’s house because I thought you’d freak out if I told you I sleep at a boys house although I always sleep in a different bed and stuff”

“So Lois doesn’t exist?”

“Yeah she does but we’re not as close as me and Jack are” I say and she nods. “Anyway, Jack has a brother called Conor and he’s sort of... bad? He gets into moods easily and is always fighting and stuff but we clicked. He’s in all my classes and I kind of like him. We always kiss and stuff-“

“What do you mean by ‘and stuff’” she interrupts strictly.

“I didn’t mean it like that. We kiss but it’s awkward telling you this so I just said ‘and stuff’. I don’t know. Stop interrupting” I say and she just laughs. I tell her everything about me and Conor and what situation I’m in and to my surprise, she’s so understanding about all this. I expected her to freak out and ground me or something but she’s taken it so well.

“Well I can’t say I’m not mad about you drinking and stuff but I know how left out you could feel if you didn’t drink. Please just don’t get too drunk again, I don’t want to be picking you up from hospital early hours” she says and I just nod. “I think this Conor guy likes you but his ego gets in the way. He says all these things without thinking but he definitely doesn’t mean it. I used to have a relationship like that but I gave up on him eventually” she laughs and I cringe at the thought.

“But I don’t know if I want to continue being like this with him” I sigh.

“I don’t think he does either but you said he’s never dated before?” she asks and I nod. “Don’t you think he’s too scared to? He knows how much of a prick he is so maybe he’s scared he’ll break your heart or something”

“He’s already done that and we’re not even dating”

“You’re the one that slept with his best friend” she raises her hands in defence, referring to Ben.

“Mum!” I screech but start laughing.

“Well just saying, I’d be pretty pissed off at you if I was him. Just give it some time Lucy and things will get better. Don’t doubt yourself” she smiles. “But I don’t want any more boys sneaking through your bedroom window. If they want to come in, they can use the front door rather than risking their lives just to see you. I don't mind your friends coming over, Lucy. I just can’t believe I didn’t realise people were in your room. I remember hearing you falling off the bed and I heard you talking to people but it never clicked. I assumed you were on the phone or something” she laughs and I just roll my eyes. “I need to meet all these boys sometime soon though”

“Ok”

“Lucy, I’m being serious. Invite everyone round this weekend or something while your Dad’s away on business”

“I’ll let them know. I’d doubt Conor will turn up though”

“I’m pretty sure he will” she smiles. “Just don’t beat yourself up about the situation. Conor will come around eventually, just give it some time”

“I will. But please don’t start acting weird about all this now. Like, don’t start watching my every move and stuff”

“Well if you tell me the truth I won’t have to will I?”

“I never lie”

“Lucy... You’ve been telling me you’ve been going to some girl's house every weekend and I haven’t heard a word about Jack” she laughs.

“Ok, ok. whatever” I laugh. "I'm just surprised you're not grounding me for weeks or something"

"I was in high school once, Lucy. The only reason I ground you is because you have bad attitude, you don't tell me stuff and you lie to me. Just be more open with me, I understand everything you're going through" she smiles sympathetically.

"Thanks"

I’m so glad I’ve opened up to my Mum about everything. I feel so much better about the situation and I feel like I have so much weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m so glad that she’s laughed about the situation I’m in as well and just acted like my best friend rather than my Mum.

We talk for another few hours and we watch some films and talk a little bit more about Jack and Conor. I swear, I’m taking more time off school in future.

“I think I’m gonna get a shower now” I say, getting out of my seat.

“Ok” she smiles. I’m so much happier now and I don’t even feel sick anymore. I’m in the best mood I’ve been in in a while.

When I get out of the shower, I change into some fresh pyjamas. I check my phone and see loads of missed calls and texts from people but I decide to ignore them because I feel like they’ll ruin my mood. I put my phone in my pocket and go back downstairs to my Mum in the kitchen making tea.

“All we have is pizza. Is that ok?” she asks.

“Yeah, that’s fine” I smile.

“Do you still feel ill?”

“No, I’m fine now”

“Good” she smiles and taps my nose to annoy me. I roll my eyes and my phone starts ringing. Conor...

I hit the end call button and watch my Mum make some chips. I don’t think she noticed I ended the-

“Why didn’t you answer it?” she asks. Ok, maybe she did notice.

“Don’t feel like it” I shrug and it rings again. I click end call again.

“It could be important though. They could be dying for all you know and they want to say their last words to you but you put-“

“It’s Conor” I say interrupting her mad speech. “I’d doubt it’s important” I laugh.

“Maybe you should answer it. He might be trying” she says and I shrug. It rings again and before I can end the call, she picks the phone up and looks at me. “Answer it” she moans so I roll my eyes and answer it.

“Lucy?” he says when I answer the phone without a response.

“What do you want?”

“Just checking on you. Why weren’t you at school?” he asks and I look at my Mum miming ‘speaker’. I roll my eyes for the 10th time today and put him on speaker.

“I was ill” I say biting my fingernails.

“Are you ok now?”

“Yup” I sigh, trying to sound uninterested in our conversation.

“Luce, I’m only trying” he sighs. Why did he have to call me Luce? I’m practically melting now and my Mum’s not helping by standing there miming ‘AW!’.

“I know” I mumble.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asks.

“Conor, I’ve been sick. I’m not dying” I snap and my Mum gives me a death glare.

“I know. Fuck, I’m only trying to help”

“Well you’re not”

“Don’t start, Lucy” he moans.

“Now you know how I feel with you” I frown.

“I’m just gonna go before this escalates. Sorry for trying to help” he says, ending the call.

“You know what Lucy, sometimes I feel like just... I don’t know” Mum sighs.

“What?” I laugh.

“The poor boy’s only trying to be nice and you’re acting five!” she says and I roll my eyes. I check my texts from Jack.

From - Jack: are you ok? Where was you today?x

To - Jack: I’ve been ill, I’m fine now though x

From - Jack: oh good, do you fancy coming round? I’m bored... x

“Mum, can I go to Jack’s house?” I ask.

“What? Now?”

“Yes”

“I’ve just made you tea though”

“Well, after my tea then”

“Why doesn’t he come here?” she asks.

“No”

“Why?”

“You’ll embarrass me” I sigh.

“So now you fancy Conor’s brother?”

“Ew, no. But I still get embarrassed”

“Well you’re not going to his house then” she says in a singing tone.

I moan, “Fine. But can you like, not do anything to embarrass me?”

“I’m never embarrassing!”

“Mum...”

“Fine, I won’t” she smiles. “Tell him to come now so he can have some pizza”

To - Jack: come to mine instead. Mum insists on meeting you and she’s made pizza x

From - Jack: SHE FINALLY KNOWS I EXIST! i’ll be there in 2 minutes;) x

I just laugh and put my phone away.

“Ok, he’ll be here in a second so let me get changed” I say and run upstairs.

I quickly put some joggers on and an oversized jumper. I never make effort in seeing Jack but I don’t want to be in my pyjamas with him. I’d feel rude. I quickly tie my hair into a pony tail and decide against putting make-up on. Too much effort.

I run downstairs and see Jack sat on a chair in the kitchen, laughing with my Mum.

“When did you get here?” I ask. He turns around and practically rugby tackles me to the floor for a hug.

“Missed you” he says and kisses my cheek.

“Missed you too” I laugh. “But can you get off me? I’m suffocating”

He gets off me and I stand up.

“Lucy is this Conor or Jack?” Mum frowns in confusion.

“Jack”

“You confuse me” she pulls a face, confused about what me and Jack just did. We just start laughing as she hands us our pizza.

“Thank you” Jack smiles.

“So how old are you Jack?” Mum asks him as she joins us at the table to eat her pizza.

“I’m fifteen in November”

“Oh right” she smiles. “Lucy’s been talking to me about Conor” she says, and I mentally moan. I stare at her as if to say ‘don’t you dare’ so she shuts up. Jack’s just smirking.

“What’s she been saying?” he says but bursts out laughing after it.

“Jack it’s not funny” I moan but he keeps laughing. “Jack!” I shout and slap his arm.

“What was that for?”

“Being a dick”

“Language Lucy” Mum gasps so I just roll my eyes. “Lucy was wondering if you and your friends wanted to come over this weekend”

“What? I was not! You came up with the-“

“Yeah that’ll be great” Jack smirks just to get me mad.

“Really?” Mum asks.

“No” I say.

“Why not? I’d love to!” he smiles to my Mum. He’s doing this just to irritate me. I don’t want anyone coming round because I can’t be bothered and it’ll be boring. I don’t want to bore people.

“Well shall we make it Saturday at six o’clock?” she asks.

“Perfect” he smiles.

-

“Come on Lucy, it’ll be fun” he laughs. I’ve been ignoring him since we finally got away from my Mum after hour of planning this ‘get together’. “Well ignoring me isn’t going to help, just talk to me. Come on baby” he smirks, knowing it’ll make me laugh. I try my best to hold it in but I laugh, covering it up with a cough. “That was definitely a laugh, wasn’t it?” he smiles, leaning in to tickle me.

“Stop it” I moan.

“It speaks then” he jokes, making me moan. “Why don’t you want it? It’ll be fun!”

“No it won’t. It’ll be boring” I sigh.

“Course it won’t.  We’ll just have to make our own fun”

“Whatever”

“Are you mad at me?” he smirks.

“Yep” I say, not making eye contact with him.

“But baby, I love you” he moans and I just burst out laughing.

“Shut up” I smirk.

“I’m glad you told your Mum about me” he says.

“I know”

“Does she like me?”

“Did you see her before? Of course she likes you” I laugh.

“True. Does she like Conor?”

“Well she hasn’t met him yet but when I was talking about him, I think she was willing to give him a chance. She was on his side about this argument” I say making him laugh.

“Does your Mum know about Portsmouth?” he asks.

“No I’ve not brought it up yet. Are you definitely going?”

“Yeah”

“Ok, I’ll see what I can do” I nod.

“Conor has been worried sick about you all day” he laughs.

“Really?”

“Yeah, he kept asking me to call you because he knew that you wouldn’t pick up if he called. But I said no because I thought you would’ve been asleep or something”

“Well I’m glad you didn’t. Thanks” I say and he just nods.

“Lucy? Come down here a second” Mum shouts from downstairs. I get off my bed and walk downstairs, Jack following me down. I walk into the living room and it is a tip. The sofas have been moved about and there are newspapers all over the floor with the table tipped over.

“What the hell happened in here?”

“I don’t know. I’m thinking of moving the room around a bit but I need your help”

“What’s wrong with it now?” I ask.

“I’m bored with it” she mumbles. And this is why she shouldn’t take days off work. She gets bored so easily.

“Dad’s going to go mental”

“Well that’s why we need to clean up now. Jack, give me a hand with this sofa will you love?” she asks and Jack nods. She moves the sofa so many times across the room and I just sit there and watch them.

“Mum it looks awful. You can’t even watch TV if you’re sat here” I say, sitting on the sofa that doesn’t face the TV.

“Well let’s move it over here”

“No Mum. You moved it there earlier and it looked bad. Jack’s worn out!” I say and look at Jack rubbing his red hands.

“I’m fine” he smiles.

“No you’re not. Mum, just put it back the way it was. Dad will be home in an hour” I say and start pushing one of the sofas back. We finish in five minutes and it’s back to the way it was but Mum insists that she starts cleaning up a little bit although the house is spotless. We hear a knock at the door.

“It’ll probably be your Dad” Mum smiles and walks over to the door.

“I’d doubt it, why would he come back an hour early? Or knock on the door?” I say before she opens the door.

“I um, is Lucy in?” I hear him ask. My head shoots to the door. I recognise that voice from anywhere.

“Yeah, she’s through there” Mum says. I look at Jack and we give each other a worried expression.

“Does he know you’re here?” I whisper to Jack.

“I don’t think so. He might’ve worked it out” he shrugs.

“I thought you might be here” Conor says to Jack as he walks into the room.

“Yep” Jack nods.

“I um, just came to talk... To Lucy” he stutters.

“Come on Marie, we’ll um, clean the house a little bit” Jack says putting his arm around my Mum’s shoulder.

“Oh is that Conor?” she whispers to Jack as she walks out of the room but me and Conor can clearly hear. “She’s picked a good'n” she says in the kitchen, thinking we can’t hear her conversation. I cover my face with my hands in embarrassment and Conor lets out a small laugh.

I stare into his bright blue eyes. I’ve missed them so much and I just feel like collapsing on him and forgetting everything that happened but I can’t. I need to stand my ground. We actually have to sort out our problems. And preferably before Dad gets home.