Forbidden Love

Chapter 11

Mum asked me if I was ok when I got home but I ignored her and ran up the stairs straight to my bed.

I laid in my bed and let the tears run down my face.

Lying in my bed I couldn't help but think of just a few short hours ago when I was happy and in Joe's bed with him. More tears fell.

Mum pushed open my bedroom door, "what happened sweetheart?" She asked carrying in two cups of tea. She sat at the end of my bed and handed one to me.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Mum just sat with me and drank her tea in silence until eventually I told her everything. About how Joe's uncle had been killed in a pub bomb. How his mum hated the Irish. How she had met us in the park with his brother. Her reaction when she realised I was from Belfast. How Joe had barely looked at me as his mother dragged him away home.

"That can't be easy on him," mum sympathised, "you don't know what his mother has been filling his head with. And to spend time with and fall in love with someone you know your parents don't approve of, it's brave."

Love.

Mum had said love.

Had she fallen in love with Joe?

When she thought about it the answer was right there and it was easy to see.

Yes she had.

But had he fallen in love with her?

And even if he had would it be enough to keep them together now that his mother would be trying to keep them apart.

I didn't see Joe for the rest of the weekend. I had hoped he would sneak out of his house that night and come see me but there was no sign of him. I considered going to his house myself but thought better of it.

The next day I went with Ethan to the youth centre. I sat with Aaron and explained to him everything that had happened. He hadn't seen Joe either he told me. I sat talking with Aaron, hoping that Joe would turn up. When it became clear he wasn't coming, Aaron offered to go to his house and see what was going on.

"Will you?" I asked hopefully, sorry to put Aaron in this.

"Yeah," he shrugged, "unlike you Mrs Boyd loves me and anyway I can just play innocent say I didn't know anything had happened just wanted to know where he was."

Aaron returned half an hour later without Joe.

"So?" I said as soon as he sat down.

"He's not coming out."

"But is he ok?"

"he's fine."

Is that all Aaron was going to tell me. I looked at him waiting more.

"Look, you'll see him at school tomorrow, ok?" Aaron looked uncomfortable. What didn't he want to tell me?

Suddenly I didn't want to be there anymore. I wanted to be at home. Where I didn't have to talk to anyone and I could be alone with my thoughts.

How could he be fine if he wasn't allowed out to see me? I was going crazy over here.

The next day Ethan and I got into school early. I sat in registration and stared at the door willing Joe to come through.

Joe came through the door at the last minute. He didn't look at me and sat down away from me.

My heart sank.

I followed him to physics. When we stood outside I approached him.

"You can't just ignore me. Talk to me."