Through the Tunnel

Chapter 17: Old Friends

For the first time in ages, when I woke to the sun coming through my window, I smiled and rolled over to find Steven lying there asleep still.

I sat up and looked at him. His hair, untidy and his eyes resting. I couldn't help but smile at him. I got up and decided that pyjamas were my best option for today, seeing as I had nothing to do all day. Also, since I didn't exactly sleep in them (or anything) last night, they were clean on.

I went to the bathroom and pulled my hair up in a loose bun, just to get it out of the way so I could wash my face with cold water. It felt so nice and refreshing, like the cool air that hits you when you put your head out of a car window.

I left Steven to sleep, it was only five to ten so I thought I'd let him sleep in some more.

Walking down in the kitchen I was greeted by a pink note stuck to the fridge.

I took it down and read it.

Dad's at work all day and I've had to go in as well. I'll be back at around 1 though, so I'll see you then x

I smiled at my mums hand writing and pinned it back on the fridge.

Then something made me jump, seeing his reflection in the fridge was enough to make me spin around as fast as I could, my heart pounding.

"You made me jump!" I said, catching my breath.

"Sorry" he said, laughing as he walked over to me and put his hands around my waist, pulling me closer.

"So we're home alone" he said, reading the note behind me.

"Yes" I said, a little more seductively than I intended to.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"This" I said kissing him softly letting my hands find their way into his hair, pulling him closer to me.

"What? All day?" he asked, holding me back to look into my eyes.

I tugged at his T-shirt that he had put back on before coming downstairs and went up on my toes to kiss him.

Just as I was getting into it, the doorbell rang.

"Who the hell is that?" I asked, walking over to open it. Maybe my dad ordered something online.

I pull open the door to see a girl with red hair and freckles, she looked about my age and awfully familiar.

"Hi" I said. She stared at me for a moment before responding.

"Hi, Charlie. Erm... I'm sorry. My name is Ashley Gibbons. We were friends at camp when we were like eleven I think" she explained, seeing my lost expression as I tried to figure out where I recognised her from.

"Oh, yeah!" I said, remembering my only friend from that hell of a camp that my mum sent me to years ago.

I hugged her, I don't think she was expecting that.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. What about you? I haven't seen you in years" I said, smiling.

"Yeah I'm fine, but I erm...." She looked at me, as if trying to figure out how to say something.

"What?"

"I saw your photo in a newspaper and what happened in France" she explained. "Oh" she added, looking over my shoulder where Steven had just appeared.

"Sorry, this is Steven" I said "Steven, this is Ashley, a friend from when I was younger".

"Hi" they both said, almost in sync.