Keeping Love

Chapter 3

I was woken in the morning by my mother calling for me.

"Joe!" She yelled up the stairs, "it's the phone!"

I ran down the stairs hopeful it was Olivia on the other end.

I was not disappointed.

"I didn't wake up did I?" She sounded worried.

"Don't worry about that." I was so glad that she did. Hearing her voice first thing when I woke up was all I wanted, "I get to hear your voice. Tell me something."

"I don't have anything to say." She said, "I just wanted to talk to you." She was probably blushing right now. I bet she looked cute.

I laughed, "I'm sure you have loads to say." I teased.

"What have you been up to?" She asked me.

"Went to the pub last night with some of the guys. I left early though."

"How come? No fun?"

I didn't want to tell her the real reason that I'd left early, "no fun without you there." I said.

She laughed. I loved her laugh. It made me smile.

"You can have plenty of fun without me there." She said, "who was there?"

I told her who I went out with.

"They are your best mates!"

"I know. I know." I said, "I just wasn't feeling it last night."

"Ok." She said, "but try and have some fun."

"What fun have you been up to then?" I changed the subject to her.

"Nothing much. Me and Grandpa played chess until late last night. He's gone back to the hospital for more treatment today but he'll be back after lunch time. I think I'm going to go out and see my friends today but I won't stay out late."

I was worried about her Grandpa. He was going to the hospital a lot. I didn't say anything. I knew she'd be worried too. "You should have some fun too." I teased back, "spend some time out of the house."

"I just said I was going to!"

"More than an hour." I countered back.

"I just want to make sure I'm here when my Grandpa gets back. In case he needs anything."

"He probably needs to rest."

"No actually, when he comes back he sits in the living room and he says he's thankful for my company."

"Joe do you want some breakfast?" Mum asked me coming down the stairs with Andy, interrupting my phone call.

I nodded to her. "I'm on the phone." I said.

"Who's that?" Olivia asked me.

"My mum." 

"Who's that?" My mum asked me straight after pausing next to me and watching Andy as he ran ahead into the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes at the repetition, "Olivia."

"Oh, how's she getting on?" Mum asked.

"Good. Mum I'll talk to you later." I raised me eyebrows and looked at the phone to tell her this wasn't the best time for a chat.

"Oh alright." She said and she walked into the kitchen.

Olivia giggled. "Do you have to go?" She asked me.

"No. Mum was just asking how you're doing."

"How's everyone doing? Besides being rubbish fun at the pub? Have you seen Joanne?"