Hunger in my Heart

Chapter 23

Kimberley sat at the quiet pub sipping a beer and waiting for Sarah and Nic to arrive for their lunch date. Kimberley felt nervous for some reason, should she tell the girls about her and Cheryl? Should she wait, she was wracked by totally uncharacteristic indecision. What didn't help is that Cheryl and her had only managed one brief phone conversion after she had landed which had been fraught with long awkward silences and waffling as neither of them seemed to know how to relate to the other anymore. Sure they were still friends, but the understanding and knowledge that they both wanted more was a very new development and had thrown their normally comfortable communication pattern into chaos. It was a little new and scary to both of them obviously. Kimberley chuckled to herself as she figured they had sounded like teenagers on the phone with each other the other night. It was really quite sad and pathetic, two grown women, best friends unable to have a conversation without getting all shy and tongue tied. So, should she really tell the girls something now, when she had no idea where they were going in the future? She was unsure.

Looking up at the distinctive clacking of high heels she watched as Sarah weaved her way between tables to find her in their usual booth. This was one pub that allowed them a certain amount of privacy as the management had no qualms whatsoever kicking out paps or anyone else that bothered their more famous clientele, it was one of the reasons the girls frequented this spot, besides the excellent pub fare and a fine selection of beer.

Kimberley was just about to smile and greet Sarah, when Sarah dropped a tabloid down on the table with a loud thud. "Well, all I can say is it's a good thing you two have a whole lot of hair," Sarah said drolly with an evil glimmer in her eye as she seated herself across from Kimberley.

Kimberley snatched up the tabloid which had a large photo of the back of her head with Cheryl's arms wrapped around her neck; you couldn't see either of their faces, which was really lucky she thought somewhat belatedly. She had been peripherally aware of the photographers at the airport but hadn't really considered the fact that they could have actually gotten a decent shot, damn flashes. The headline was total bollocks of course, as always, as it proclaimed in bold lettering 'Trouble in Paradise, Dez and Chez on the Outs?' The picture spread inside the tabloid had another couple of shots of their heads together and then a couple of snaps of Cheryl and Derek walking stony faced and five meters apart through the airport. Kimberley snorted out a laugh at the picture captions; 'Cheryl Cole is seen apparently being comforted by best mate Kimberley Walsh at Heathrow yesterday,' followed by 'Cheryl and rumoured boyfriend Derek Hough looked less than happy as they departed Heathrow for LA yesterday.'

"So?" Sarah asked finally tired of waiting for Kimberley to respond as she looked at the tabloid.

"So, what?" Kimberley looked up puzzled, still distracted by the pictures.

"So what's up with you and Chez?" Sarah replied while casting a meaningful glance at the tabloid, "Last I heard you weren't talking to her and she was freaking out, but it seems that you kissed and made up."

Kimberley really tried to look casual, but felt the blush rising up her face nonetheless, she wasn't even sure what to say really, should she say they were 'dating' or 'going to date' or 'seeing each other', it really was a little bizarre, she mused.

"Hiya girls," Nicola exclaimed as she arrived while giving Sarah a shove to make her move over before sitting down across from Kimberley, conveniently saving her from answering.

"Hey Nic, did you see the papers this morning?" Sarah asked before taking the tabloid back from where Kimberley had folded it and set it aside and opening it up to the photo spread once more. Nicola apparently hadn't seen the papers because she was promptly distracted by looking at the pictures.