Storm Clouds (Crimson Hills Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 5

The next day, Kathryn received a thorough talking-to from Nana about not running into danger. She yawned as she picked at her breakfast, not feeling hungry.

"Just because your friend is jumping off a bridge does not mean you should do the same!" Nana scolded. "Mange ton petit déjeuner, ma chérie. You will need your energy."

Kathryn waved her hand at Nana and continued picking at her pancakes.

"Are you sure you want to go to school?" Nana asked firmly, taking Kathryn's hand. She winced at the worry she saw in her grandmother's eyes – the kind of desperation to protect someone that only came from a parent's love for their child...or in that case, grandchild.

"I'm fine Nana." Kathryn assured her. "Je suis parfait!" She said with a flourish, putting on her best fake-smile.

Nana raised a silver eyebrow, then sighed. "Be careful, ma chérie."

"Oui, Nana." Kathryn mumbled around a mouthful of pancake as she tugged her school jumper over her head. She grabbed her rucksack, pressed a kiss into Nana's cheek, then headed out of the front door.

As she was approaching the alley, her phone lit up with a text from Aiden.

"Sorry babe, I was out all last night and my phone died. Are you okay now?" She read aloud, rolling her eyes.

Yeah. I'm fine now. On my way to school.

She slipped her phone back into her pocket, waiting for it to buzz again, which it didn't. She sighed. Aiden wasn't the best at texting back. In fact, to get a reply from him at all was a novelty. She knew it was just how boys were – they didn't reply quickly, and were too tied up in their own business to think about their girlfriends.

"Hey, Kathryn!" The familiar voice of Oliver called out from behind her. He grinned as he got close, pulling a lilac envelope from his rucksack. He held it out to her, still smiling. "I got you this."

"Th-thanks." She mumbled, taking the envelope and carefully unsealing it. Inside was a card with a picture of a golden retriever puppy with a thermometer in its mouth. Inside the card said 'Get well soon!'

"You got me a card?" She mumbled. Aiden hadn't even gotten her a card for her birthday.

"You seem a lot better today!" He chirped. "I'm glad. I was really worried."

She felt her heart pound in her chest. How could he say things like that so easily?

"I do feel better!" She stammered, ducking her head to hide her red cheeks. "It's weird, I slept really well for the first time in years, and I feel so much more awake today!" She paused, looking down at the puppy on the card. "I hope everyone else is okay."

To her dismay, quite the opposite was the case.

As they walked through the main hallway towards the canteen, Kat could hear people having hushed conversations about the storm, and who had been affected. Fingers were pointed in her direction. Eyes were widened. She felt herself turning red with anxiety.

"Molly McKnight and Valeria Woolfe had to go to hospital." One person said.

"Alexa McCarthy – that famous model in Year 13 – she put up posts on all her social media saying she'd been involved in an accident." Another added.

"Molly didn't even show up today." Another said. "Someone told me she nearly died on the way to hospital."

"A few boys from the rugby team were involved – and that kid who always sits in the library."

"The new boy was caught up in it too."

"Apparently Braeden managed to avoid it. Kasper wasn't so lucky. I think he's off today, too."