Just A Boy (ON HOLD)

Chapter 16

***Chapter 16***

Annie and I were sitting in the lounge with Chase watching a movie. Emma was absent as she claimed she was ill, but we had a sneaky suspicion it might have something to do with the date Adrian mentioned he was going to ask her on.

It was barely two weeks ago Adrian and I had gone on a date, but with our fail-proof three phase plan everything seemed to be looking up in Emma's direction.

Claire bustled in carrying a plate of her infamous cookies in one hand and a phone in the other hand.

"Thanks mom." Annie said taking the cookies and offering the plate to Chase, while I took the phone off her.

"Hello?" I asked while I stood up and walked out into the kitchen for some quiet.

"Katie dear? It's me." The familiar voice of my mom seemed so weird to hear.

"Mom? How are you? How's Paris?" I asked excitedly while I perched on the edge of one of the stools. Finn walked in and walked over to the fridge. He saw me on the phone and began trying to make a sandwich as silently as possible. I smiled at his efforts and tuned back into what my mom was saying.

"It's so lovely here. All the chefs are so professional and I've learnt loads. The city is beautiful as well, dear. I wish you could come out and see it. Unfortunately I'm still going to be here for a while, definitely until next semester so I'm not going to see you over Christmas, but I'll send a present over to you." She continued her little speech for a few minutes as she told me about the food, cooking and about Paris itself while I listened patiently. "And have you spoken to Claire about winter break?" she finished.

"What? Um no, I haven't, why?" I asked paying full attention to her again.

"Oh well speak to her now and I'm sure she'll ring me back later. Love you lots dear. Bye!" My mom said cheerily.

"Love you too." I barely managed to get the words out before she hung up and the call ended.

"How was that? I know it's been a while since you had a chance to talk to your mom." Claire said as she came into the kitchen with the empty plate.

"It was lovely, thank you. She said something about winter break though?" I asked as she bustled round tidying up further. Claire stopped instantly and slapped her forehead.

"Oh I completely forgot. Every winter we go out to our chalet in Austria and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us this year while Gill is away." She said casually as if it were nothing. My jaw grazed the ground and I looked at her expecting her to burst out laughing any moment.

"Seriously?" I asked disbelievingly.

"Well of course, unless you have somewhere else to go." Claire confirmed kindly.

"I'd love too, but are you sure?" I still couldn't believe this was for real. Now my family wasn't poor or anything, so it wasn't like it was the first holiday I had been on, but it had been a long time since I had been able to go skiing.

"Of course silly. And we'd love to have you along with us." Claire laughed at my expression and I nodded my agreement quickly. "Well that's settled, you can come with us."

I handed her back the phone and ran back into the lounge unable to contain the smile that had broken out on my face. As I settled on the plush sofa I couldn't think of any way my life could get better.

Not long afterwards the doorbell rang and Chase and I chorused 'dibs not getting it'. Annie got up grumpily and went to open the door. She reappeared a moment later looking confused.

"Katie can you come with me?" she asked. I frowned in confusion, but stood up anyway and made my way through the hallway to the open door. I could barely see the figure that was standing in the doorway. Their face was silhouetted by the darkness outside, but as I came closer they took a step inside.

"Katie? Katie Underwood?" the man asked. He looked middle-aged with dark hair that was flecked with grey. He frowned at me when I didn't reply and looked like he was wondering if he had the wrong person.

Oh god, what if it was a kidnapper coming to take me away? What if he was a murderer? I mentally slapped myself, why would a murderer coming up to the front door and knock? Obviously he would break in though the back.

My train of thought worried me sometimes...

Finally I nodded to prove it was me and a small smile broke out on his face. His eyes crinkled slightly at the edges and I could see it was a real smile.

Who was this man?

"Don't you recognise me?" he asked as if he could read my mind. I shook my head slightly, though when I squinted the face did seem slightly familiar. It was like a line of a song that you couldn't place to the title.

"It's me. I'm your dad."

* * * * * * * *

So how's that for a cliffhanger?

Guess who's back at school and working hard? Ding ding you guessed right it's me.

I finally have a day free to myself so I'm updating, I know how nice am I.

I'm still super super sorry about not updating in so long, I've been on half term and had my sister's 18th birthday party and also I've been pretty lazy but you know what they say? Better late than never.

Thank for reading it means a lot

xoxo