Winter's Bite

Chapter 21 Cait

In school the next day my head felt heavy, like it had been stuffed with cotton-wool, from all the tears I'd cried the day before. I still felt terrible about my Dad. But Owen had helped me feel better. I could tell my friends about it without breaking down.

'I'd hate to find out my Dad wasn't my real dad,' Cherie said.

Shauna nudged her.

'Oh, sorry, Cait. I didn't mean to make you feel worse,' Cherie apologised.

'It's alright,' I said, although it wasn't.

'So, tell us again about Owen outside your window last night,' Rosie urged.

I smiled, grateful she'd changed the subject.

'That's so romantic. Like Romeo and Juliette,' Cherie said.

We stared at her.

'What? I saw that movie three times.'

'Yeah, it is pretty cool.' Shauna sighed. 'I wish Callum would do stuff like that.'

We avoided her eyes. She had problems with Callum. He'd broken some dates and wasn't being attentive. Cherie said he'd been seen with another girl. But Shauna refused to heed our warnings. She grumbled about him, but still insisted things would work out.

'We're going through a rough patch,' she insisted.

'So, Rosie, Liam asked you out?' Cherie asked.

Rosie blushed and looked at the ground.

'I didn't want to say while he liked you, Cait, but I always kinda liked him.'

Looking back, I could see that. But I'd been too wrapped up with my own affairs to notice. I felt guilty.

'That's great, Rosie. I'm happy for you.'

'Really?' She sounded anxious.

'Yeah.'

I hugged her. We smiled at each other. My friend glowed with happiness. I hoped Liam was serious about her and not on the rebound.

Any worries I had about that were despelled at break-time. Liam's face lit up when he saw Rosie. I could see from the way he looked at her he really liked her.

I smiled at them both. They made a great couple. Besides, it meant I got to keep Liam as a friend.

Shauna pouted. Once again Callum failed to turn up.

'He said to tell you he had football practice.' Felix looked shifty.

'Since when?'

Shauna caught our glances.

'Oh, yeah, I think he did say something about that. I must have forgotten.'

Felix looked releived to be off the hook.

By the time break ended my head had cleared up. Good thing too. We had double maths after break. I didn't mind algebra. It was better than geometry, but I did need to be able to concentrate. As we headed to Subway for lunch I pulled on my hat and gloves. A heavy drizzle soaked through my school blazer. I shivered and pulled my scarf tighter before turning on my phone to see a text from Owen

Can you meet in the woods after school?

Why the woods? Why not the park? I texted back.