Matchmaker

Matchmaker: Chapter Two

I glanced once more around my small room, eyes falling on my mobile charger I’d left hanging off the wall, almost left behind. Stuffing it in my suitcase I gave the room one last cursory glance, before nodding in satisfaction and zipping up my packed single suitcase.

My entire summer in one bag.

“Kate!” My Dad yelled from downstairs and I sighed, flicking the lights off in my room and rushing down the stairs, my suitcase banging down behind me. He stood by the door, keys in hand, familiar passive emotion on his face. It wasn’t a smile, it wasn’t a frown, but it was the same look he’d been giving me since Mum died. I wouldn’t miss it while I was gone.

The ride to London was filled with silence, my Dad’s mouth shut and the radio silent. It wasn’t until the city began to appear, that my Dad apparently had something to say.

“Be careful,” he said quietly, startling me out of the daze I’d fallen into during the long, dull, car ride. I turned to face him questioningly, “The boys,” he explained, “It’s just, it’s a weird world out there Kate.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, turning to glare out the window, “Dad, I’m sixteen, plenty old enough to deal on my own. Thank you very much.”

“Oh yes, so mature at sixteen,” my Dad muttered sarcastically, “You’ve really displayed that lately.”

I shrugged silently, pulling a face as I sulked in my seat for the rest of the drive up to Liam’s apartment. Security was thick, just to get through the posh gate that surrounded the posh apartment, where the posh young and rich of London lived. Liam, ever the favourite, was waiting in the driveway, sitting on the hood of a random black range rover.

He pushed himself off of the car, squinting in the rare bright sun that had decided to shine on this monumental day, where my Summer was being thrown away to a non-paid internship, playing house wife for my cousin and his four friends.

Charming.

“Good drive?” Liam asked my Dad, reaching out to shake his hand.

“Long,” I answered for my father, crossing my arms around my white blouse and glaring down at the ground, while my father struggled to pull my heavy suitcase out of the trunk. He finally set it down, wiping off his hands and turning with the same passive look to me.

He opened his arms wide, “So this is it huh?”

I fought off the urge to roll my eyes, though just barely. Instead I tentatively reciprocated the hug, pulling back as quickly as I could without looking like a total bitch-of-a-daughter.

“You sure you won’t stay the night Uncle Peter?” Liam asked and I held my breath hesitantly, waiting for my Dad’s response, which was nothing more than a polite decline.

“Long drive back, I have work tomorrow,” He muttered gruffly, before turning to me and pulling me into another side hug, kissing my forehead. “Remember what I said Kate, be careful,” he whispered and I nodded, squirming out of his grip and turning impatiently to him.

Finally my Dad shook Liam’s hand once more, thanking him again, and then turning right back to the car. I took a step back, standing directly next to Liam, and watched the car pull away.

“You alright?” Liam asked, watching me stare blankly at the gate the car had just disappeared behind. I swallowed and nodded quickly, pulling my gaze away.

“Of course,” I muttered hurriedly, shrugging my shoulders. I reached for my suitcase and turned expectantly to Liam, who was still watching me thoughtfully. “What? Stop staring Liam, it’s weird. Where do I put this?”