If Only

Chapter 11

A/N
🎶Valerie by Amy Winehouse🎶

The next morning I wake at about 11am and saunter out to make some coffee to start the day. Olivia texted me 30 minutes ago and said that Rachel and David would be coming over for brunch if I would be so kind as to make some extra waffle batter. I don't mind, I enjoy cooking and they have been over a few times.

Ivy and George are in the kitchen when I walk in they bid me good morning. I resist the urge to snigger when I see George, he looks quite hungover.

"Please tell me it's a brunch morning Al" George says in a pained voice.

Most of us are all students in some way so we can't afford to go out for brunch. The closest thing we have is cooking it at home, everyone chips in on the ingredients and it's a fraction of the price. I'm the best cook in the house, I make a mean waffle with chocolate and fruit with bacon or hash browns on the side. Delicious.

I can't help the snigger this time. "I've got you brother. Sort out the cutlery when you can muster the courage, would you?". He nods into his mug of tea.

Ivy claps her hands and gets up. "Right, let's get this day on the road. Positive vibes only my friends".

She starts playing music on the radio and we are off. I start making the batter as I put Ivy to work chopping the fruit. We did invest in a large waffle iron and it's been very useful.

As we work we start to sing (badly) along to the music. It's a practised rhythm that we fall into. After a few more minutes I hear the door buzzer go and Olivia gets up to let Rachel and David in.

I'm a little bit nervous to see Rachel again after last night but really all we had done was a bit of flirting. I'm sure everything between us will be fine.

My mind shifts back to Blake, as it has been all morning and it adds a layer of lightness to my mood. I decided to text her at 2pm regarding dinner in case she was sleeping in. I don't know what time she got home last night.

I hear muffled voices over the extractor fan and sizzle of the waffle iron near us.

Valerie by Amy Winehouse is playing on now and we are belting out the lyrics.

"Yer shit singers!!" George shouts from the living room. We just laugh and continue on.

I can hear the skids and thumps on the floor that signals David skipping into the kitchen "I have come to make a bid for thys waffles!".

I don't turn as I reply "we'll good sir you should know thou doest not get any waffles without thys offering" I reply in a singsong voice.

I take another batch of waffles out of the iron and place them in the oven.

"Fear not fair queen, I have brought thys favourite coffee from the shop near the bookstore".

I laugh and turn "thank y-" the word died in my throat as I saw Blake standing beside him in my kitchen.

I'm not sure what my face was doing but David looked at me funny and handed me the coffee.

"Thanks David" I replied a little breathlessly. I glanced at him but my eyes drifted back to Blake quickly.

After a second David replied. "Well I'm just gonna join the others in the living room because yeah...". He quickly retreats into the living room followed by a giggling Ivy.

"Hi Alison," Blake said, her eyes filled with warm invitations.

"Hi" I replied simply, a smile making its way to my lips.