Summer Love

Chapter 11

Kirsten's P.O.V

I shut the front door of my grandparent's house quietly, then made my way down the front steps to my waiting family. I walked silently next to Tom down the long path that led to the road. I could feel the sweat on my palms, and tried to wipe it off on my jeans without anyone noticing. Unfortunately, that didn't go as planned.

"Kirsten," I heard Tom speak next to me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I replied hastily. I then felt a hand gently grab my wrist, stopping me from walking. I turned to face Tom, who had a knowing look on his face.

"Kirsten, everything is going to be fine," he said, his tone reassuring. Unfortunately, my brain didn't buy it.

"You sure?" I asked him, obvious traces of doubt in my voice.

Tom smiled reassuringly, and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged back, letting myself sink into my brother's warm embrace.

When he pulled back, he kept his hands on my shoulders. "Yes, I'm sure. Now let's catch up to our parents," he said with a smile, which I returned. We started to catch up to our parents, walking slowly as they looked like they were having their own consoling session. Tom's arm was resting on my shoulders, and mine around his waist, as we approached our parents, who by the looks of things seemed to have calmed down.

As we reached them, they both smiled at us. "Come on kids, let's go," Dad said, turning to cross the road before mum pulled him back gently. "I think we should let the kids go first. They've met them before, it only makes sense," she said, before smiling at us and nodding. Tom smiled back and took my hand, pulling me across the road and up the Hemmings' front path, mum and dad following closely behind.

As we neared the front door, I stopped suddenly. Tom noticed, and turned to me, a confused look on his face.

"Tom... I... I'm nervous," I whispered, rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans once again. Tom didn't say anything, just hugged me again. "Don't worry," he said, pulling away and turning to the door. "They love us," he said before knocking on the door.

We didn't have to wait for very long before Liz answered the door,  a huge smile on her face. "Tom!" she said, pulling him into a warm embrace. "Hi Liz," he said once he had pulled away. She smiled at him, and turned to me. "Kirsten!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a long hug. "Luke can't wait to see you," she whispered in my ear, before letting go of me and smiling. I smiled shyly back and looked at the ground, already starting to feel a red blush come onto my cheeks.

Liz turned to our parents. "You must me Tom and Kirsten's parents. I'm Liz Hemmings, and my husband, Andrew is inside. It's so lovely to me you." She introduced herself with a big smile, then turned to us. "You kids run along inside, Luke and Jack are waiting," she said with a smile. We nodded and smiled back, and made our way inside the house, down the hallway and to the living room, where we were greeted by Luke, Jack, and another boy who I assumed to be their brother, as he looked very much like them.

Jack saw us first, and greeted us with a "Hey guys!", then walked over to Tom and pulled him into a bro-style-hug. I shyly walked over to Luke, the blush on my cheeks growing with every step.

When I reached him, I gave him a small smile. "Hey Luke," I said, my voice sounding surprisingly more confident than I expected. "Hey," he said, returning the smile. I couldn't help but notice that his cheeks had turned slightly pink. "Do you umm... Wanna go up to my room?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah, sure!" I replied with a grin. Luke grinned back, and turned to walk up the stairs. "Don't do anything naughty up there!" Jack called as we started to leave, making Luke blush and me giggle as we walked away.