You Promised

Chapter Eight

We sit in the cafe, Hazel, Jayne and myself. We are waiting for Anna to join us, but she has been delayed before going into Oxford, which is where we are now.  Hazel and Jayne sit and chat about something that means nothing to me. I stare listlessly at my coffee. Nothing means anything anymore. I haven't heard from Adam in two weeks. He'd been gone for one month but every week I got a letter from him in France. He has told me about his training, how everyone around him is now an inspired poet and how much he misses me. My fingers trace my lips in memory of when I last saw him.
   Suddenly I'm drawn back to the present. The door of the cafe bangs open and in flies a young woman. Her blonde hair is flying about her face like a halo, which is oddly fitting. Her blue eyes seem to spring from her face as she rushes to our table and starts apologising.
   Hazel starts laughing at her as she starts fixing her hair. 'Cows alright Anna?' She asks teasingly.
     Anna hits her in the arm, then smiles at our waiter asking for a hot chocolate with lots of cream. She yanks out a chair then sits down. Jayne looks amused but says nothing. Hazel has no such qualms.
   'Looking a bit crazed there Annie.' She says sipping her tea.
      Anna glares at her but turns to me instead. 'How are you feeling Ami?'
      Hazel and Jayne both turn to look at me and I shrug my shoulders. It's all I'm able to do at the moment.
     'Why are you late anyway?' I ask indifferently.
     Anna winces at me. 'The cows escaped.'
    Hazel howls in laughter, and Jayne puts a perfectly manicured hand to her lips to stop her laughing. I smile numbly.
     'Thank you.' Anna scowls while getting her drink from the waiter. Hazel is still giggling to herself while Jayne sips her coffee politely.
     Hazel and Anna go to talking quietly together and Jayne turns to me. 'How are you? Really?'
     I just look at her.  'Super. How do you think I'm doing?!' I snap at her. That draws Hazel's and Anna's attention to me again. Hazel stands up.
     'I think it's time for Ami and I to be going.' She gives me a look that I don't argue with and pick up my bag. Jayne and Anna also get up. They head to the counter to pay for their drinks. Hazel takes my hand and leads me to the counter to join them. I lean against the counter after paying, listening to the girls chatting. Anna was saying how some unfortunate looking boy from her neighbourhood had invited her to a dance that weekend and she was asking us to give her an alibi. We all agreed to go walking together that night so she could politely refuse.
   Outside the cafe, the weather is sunny but chilly and we walk quickly together to keep warm.
    We walk to the train station and say goodbye to Jayne who is going to stay with her wealthy aunt in Manchester. We hug her goodbye then to find our train. Our train grumbles into the station.
   The three of us board our train. Soon, Anna has to get off because her father's farm is quite remote. Soon, it's just Hazel and I sitting on the train. Hazel turns to me.
     'Erm.... Ami? Can I ask you something?' She asks sounding somewhat uncomfortable.
      'Always.' I say, plastering a smile on my face.
      'Is....um..... John.....well is he.....eh.....well I'm sure he's mentioned some girl to you, right?'
       I turn to her, a genuine grin on my face. 'Well yes he has. Why?'
      She turns scarlet. 'Well, em...no reason. Who?? Who did he mention?'
      I laugh, enjoying my moment of power. 'Why do you care?'
       Hazel pouted. Her full lips indicating that I'd better answer quick. I laughed again. 'Well you'll never guess Hazel.'
     'Why not? Who is she?!'
       I turn to look at her properly.  I smile at her before saying 'Well...you.'
     She does her best not to look happy. 'Oh. Well. That's....um.....'
    That sentence fades away. I do not pursue it. She looks away to give the impression of indifference but her eyes shine as she surveys the countryside whizz by.
     'You know what Hazel?' I ask her, my smile audible in my voice.
     'No what? She replies.
     'I wouldn't mind you for a sister-in-law.'
She hits me lightly in my arm and I chuckle, resuming my glowering out the window.
'Ami?' Hazel asks eventually. I have felt her eyes on me since we last spoke a few minutes ago. When I don't answer immediately she pokes my shoulder. 'I know you heard me.' She accuses.
'Yes Hazel?' I sigh turning away from the blurring view out of the window.
'Do you think you need to talk to someone?' She asks, not daring to look me in the eye.
I laugh harshly. 'Why would I need that? I'm perfectly fine.'
Hazel nods, her eyes telling me this
conversation is anything but finished. I groan a little and turn to fully face her.
'Hazel thank you for caring but I'm fine. I really am. I'm just...' I struggle to describe how I am. 'Just...' I bit my lip roughly to stop a sob escaping.
Her hand goes to my face and cups my cheek. 'We're all here for you, but we can only help you if you'll actually let us okay?'
I sniff and nod, and for the first time in weeks a genuine smile breaks through.
Hazel sits back in her own seat and grins at me. 'I'm a wonderful friend.' She teases as the train pulls into our station.
'I'm a lucky friend.' I reply, hugging her tightly before starting our own short journeys home.