Chapter 11

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The straightener burns to top of my ear and it goes a bright, angry red as I put the wand down and grunt a little in anger. At least I'm awake now. To be honest, it was sort of the first thing I'd registered all morning. I hardly even payed attention to Kat and simply answered all her questions on auto-pilot. That memory last night had slightly snapped me. Could I ever leave my past behind?

Her red hair flies past the bathroom door as she runs around, getting dressed for school. "Are you okay? Did you burn yourself?"

I can almost hear her laughter as I pick the straightener up again. "Yes, of course I did."

She laughs and continues to flit around. I straighten my tie and then proceed to do little plaits around my head, like a crown. I smile at it before applying a quick layer of makeup, mainly to hide the bags under my eyes.

"I'll meet you downstairs, Liv," I hear her run out of the room before I can reply.

I finish getting ready and grab my bag, shoving my laptop, notebooks and phone inside before walking downstairs with my blazer over my shoulder.

I walk into the dining room to find an empty chair between Kat and Nathan, which I quietly slip into without either of them noticing and start eating an omelette that Alison passes me.

He turns and smiles at me. "Good morning."

"Good morning," he seems just as nervous I as I do, but it doesn't do anything to calm my mood.

"How are you?" The tension is almost tangible, and he is clearly trying to break it.

"Honestly, I've been better," I avoid his gaze and glare at my omelette.

"Want to talk about it?" He talks quietly, so no one else can hear our conversation.

"It's nothing, really, I just didn't sleep well last night. I had a headache." I smile weakly, hoping he buys it. But I look up and instantly know he doesn't.

"Are you alright now?" Icy blue is all I can see.

"Yeah, yeah, my head doesn't hurt anymore," I put an effort into my next smile, and I'm rewarded with one of his.

"I'm glad to hear it," his eyes light up and cause mine to in return.

When breakfast is over, we walk to class together, but he stops before I enter and before he leaves.

"Can we talk later, tonight over dinner or something?" His eyes are looking down at me as they search mine.

"I'd love to do dinner, but I've already made plans with Kat. But we can go for a walk after school if you want?" I smile hopefully.

"Yeah, of course," he brushes my arm with his hand before he walks off, before calling over his shoulder. "I'll meet you in the living room at 4."

I smile to myself as I walk into class and Kat meets my eye with a cheeky and all-knowing grin on her face.

"What are you grinning at?" I smile at her as I take the seat next to her.

"Nothing," she smirks back just as the teacher begins to talk.

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The day passes without incident and I find my way back to my room with time to spare. So I get changed. Jeans and boots are a definite. But a t-shirt or a blouse? I'm honestly torn. Is it supposed to be formal or informal? I'm terrible at these situations. 

"Hey, are you busy this afternoon?" Kat's practically yelling as she walks in the door, slamming it behind her.

"Yeah, I'm meeting up with Nathan, why?" I pull a pale blue blouse over my singlet and slide my black jacket over the top.

"No reason, just as long as you're back for the meeting later." Her smile is mischievous, as usual.

"Yeah, I will be." I look down at the time on my phone before tucking it in my back pocket. "Anyway, I've got to go, so I'll see you later."

She smiles at me as I walk out the door and downstairs and I quickly take a seat in the living room, scrolling through the news feed on my phone. A blizzard warning. Oh joy. 

I turn at the sound of his voice. "Hey, Liv, I was thinking we could just walk along the tree line if you want?"

"Yeah, sounds great," I stand and quickly shove my phone in my pocket again and grab Kat's scarf from the coat rack, wrapping it around my neck. She won't mind.

Nathan holds the door for me and we walk outside, and then he turns left and I follow right beside him.

"So, how was class?" My voice snaps through the cold quiet.

"Yeah, yeah, it was alright," he smiles at me and when we get a little further along, he turns into the trees and stops a couple of metres in, just enough to hide us from anyone passing by.

"That is good then," I return his smile.

"Anyway, about the kiss," he seems so nervous, and I'm standing right in front of him, my head tilted back a little to see his face.

"Yeah, what about it?" I look down at the ground.

"Would you mind if I did it again sometime?" He's almost blushing, almost the only bit of colour around us.

"No, I wouldn't mind." When did I become so confident?

"Well, Olive Westlin, would you do me the pleasure of being my girlfriend?" He smiles again and those eyes light up like fireworks and I hear my own breath catch, and he is holding his.

That moment seems to last forever, staring at each other in complete still and silence.

"Yes, I would love to be you girlfriend."

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