The Boy Next Door

Chapter Fifteen

"It was nice of Olly to come round last night,"Mum said as she placed a cup of tea and slices of toast in front of me on thekitchen table. "What time did he leave?"

Raking my hand through my knotted hair, I gave a little shrug. "I don't know. I fell asleep. He was gone when I woke up."

"Oh," is all Mum replied.

I furrowed my brows, "Oh?"

Mum placed a glass of water with fizzing aspirin on the table beside my tea and gave a small smile. "I'm not used to you having a boy in your bedroom, and he's been here every day." Her cheeks flushed a little.

"It's not like that, Mum. I wish it were, though," I joked, and her reaction pulled a quiet and painful laugh from me. "We talk all night, that's all. You wanted me to confide in someone, and he is that someone. Besides, he was only here because of you."

"What? Me? No, no, I never," she tried.

"He told me," I said with a bit of a giggle.

"Oh, well, he's crap at keeping secrets," she grinned. "Drink up; it will help with the pain."

I looked at the now settled cloudy water and heaved, "You know I hate it."

"Just drink it, please." And I did, gagging on every mouthful.

"Thank you," she said, taking the glass. I quickly washed its vile sour flavour with my tea, grimacing at how they didn't combine well together.

Mum sat beside me, brushed her hand down the back of my hair, and sighed deeply.

"What is it now?" I warily asked.

She rested her hand on her fist. "This isn't the end of the school year I had expected for you, no prom, no friends, no goodbye. It doesn't seem like you have had any closure."

Breaking the toast into smaller pieces, I fiddled with it. "I know, and that's why I'm going to go to school today."

Her posture straightened, and her anxieties sketched over her face, "You are? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I am. As you said, it's the last day. I need to put it behind me by facing it head-on and not running from it like I have for the past week and a half." I rose to my feet, binned my remaining breakfast and put my plate in the dishwasher.

Stepping back toward Mum, whose eyes hadn't left me, I placed my hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I'll be fine, Mum. I love you. Stop worrying about me."

"That's easier said than done," she muttered as I walked out of the kitchen.

A knock at the front door came as I approached the stairs. I could see Olly's perfectly shaped silhouette through the frosted glass and his scarlet top beamed across the carpet as the sun caught it.

I lowered the handle and beamed as my gaze fell on him. "Morning, Olly, I won't be a minute. Come in." He stepped in the doorway, placing his bag down before saying hello to my mum and Zoe.

"Hi, Olly," Mum said, flashing a quick smile, "Make yourself at home. Ashley, go and get dressed."

"I'll be back," I said before going up the stairs.

*

I ran a brush through my hair, thankful it was naturally straight and that the length covered my stitches. Being the last day of term, it was dress as you please, so I could keep my hair down and wear what I wanted—no more unflattering uniform.

Opening the sliding doors of my wardrobe, the image of clothes I had forgotten I had brought greeted me. I hadn't gotten dressed all week and was used to lounging around in my pyjamas. I was a little nervous about stepping into any of it after the last time I wore an outfit of my choosing.