Cloudy with a chance of heartbreak

Target practice

Present Day

Katie's POV

Chelsea bombarded me with questions the second I walked through the door.

I felt a little flat after my D&M with Liam and just couldn't stomach any more questions.

"I'll divulge everything later Chels, right now my bed is calling my name," I yawned and made my way towards my room.

"Actually you're not going anywhere because Lucas will be here in about half an hour," she grimaced, waiting for the inevitable explosion.

"What?!? Oh my God, why is he coming here?" I shrieked, suddenly feeling wide awake.

"Ummm Garrett invited us to a pool party and given this whole new persona you're trying on for size, I thought you'd be up for it," she said defensively.

"Who is Garrett and what does he have to do with Lucas," I was so confused, the hangover wasn't helping.

"He is Lucas's best friend and we spent the whole night chatting after you left," she sighed.

She led me to her room and insisted the pool party was the best cure for my hangover. After gushing about Garrett for a solid five minutes, I couldn't help but agree to come. She had done so much for me over the years, one lousy pool party paled in comparison.

As she carefully inspected her wardrobe for clothes for us to wear today, she told me about how Garrett seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her. Usually guys were so swept away by her looks, they didn't delve much deeper. I had never heard Chelsea sound so smitten and wrapped up in a guy and I gave her a warm smile. She deserved it but why oh why did it have to be the best friend of my first ever disastrous attempt at a one night stand?

I flopped back on the bed after telling Chelsea all about my abysmal seduction efforts and she gave me an amused grin.

"I don't think it was that diabolical if he hasn't stopped talking about you," she said slyly as she brushed her locks up into a stylish top knot.

I sat up then and eyed her quizzically.

"When Garrett called to invite me to the pool party today he asked what you had done with his friend," she explained, giggling.

"Apparently he has been harassing Garrett to make sure you come too," she turned back to her wardrobe and pulled out a floral summer dress with thin straps and held it up against me.

"It's perfect, go put it on and don't forget to wear your bathers underneath," she ordered bossily.

The butterflies were out of control as I changed into my swimsuit and stared in the mirror. I tied my hair into a messy high ponytail and checked that my one piece concealed the hideous scar on my right breast.

I was really nervous about seeing Lucas again especially when I thought back to Liam's words at breakfast. He really didn't want Lucas to be the one I tried having a casual fling with. But that didn't mean I couldn't spend time with him, I decided. I slid the beautiful summery dress over my swimsuit and gave my reflection one final appraisal before joining Chelsea in the living area.

I was wringing my hands in my lap on the sofa, paying no attention to the reality show playing on TV.

Chelsea smiled at me as if she was in on some secret I wasn't aware of. She put her hands over mine to calm my fidgeting.

"Relax Kat, it's just a casual day by the pool. Heaps of people are going so it's not like it's a date or anything," she reassured me.

I startled when there was a knock at the door and had the urge to run into my room and hide under the covers. Chelsea went to answer with her enviable self-confidence and when Lucas walked in, the butterflies returned with a vengeance.