Chains

Chapter Two - Suspicions

-2-

Suspicions - Katie

Friday mornings at Northlake were always very loud. The school buzzed about the following days just sitting around the corner, the two days in the entire week where it was okay to party and drink to one’s heart’s content. Though I didn’t think drinking on a Sunday was such a good idea, some may disagree. The two heavenly days, more commonly known as the weekend, were party central among the students in our small little town.

So as I made my way to the school’s gates that morning, I was immediately surrounded by indistinct chatter and excitable shoves from here there and everywhere, as talk of several different parties surfaced and made their way around the frolicking crowd. It was a surprise I could even see Lacey’s perky smile from where I was, what with all the students milling between us.

“Hey, Kat!” I turned to see a tall, shaggy haired brunette come running my way. “Party at my place. Tomorrow!” Aaron shouted as he ran past me, almost knocking me over with his all too friendly shoulder shove.

I laughed without really giving him an answer, not like he gave me the option to anyway, and was quickly followed by a group of equally good looking lads, one of whom turned back to me as the others ran off. They were laughing and play fighting as they went, backpacks slung lazily over their shoulders and trousers hanging so low it was almost criminal.

“You’ll come, right Kat?” he asked suddenly.

“Um…”

“And bring Lacey?”

I saw him visibly blush and quickly caught on.

“Sure” I said with a knowing smile, “Sure”

The single word made him blush ten shades redder as he nodded briefly, before awkwardly strolling after the rest of them. I tried to suppress the huge grin creeping its way to my lips.

Zach had had a thing for Lacey for as long as I could remember. It was fairly obvious, but Lacey denied the fact every time I brought it up. I couldn’t understand why she refused to accept that he was utterly perfect for her! They were both so shy it was adorably adorable and they both liked ketchup – yes, ketchup. One of the most memorable moments of our childhood was in year five when Zach had mustered up the courage to finally have a proper conversation with Lace, and all he’d managed to utter at midday lunch queue was ‘I like ketchup’. To his surprise as well as Madelyn’s and mine, Lacey had replied with a quiet ‘me too’.

We had been in hysterics for at least three days after the incident – it was priceless. The poor guy was sweet, no doubt, so she really had nothing to lose in my opinion. They were honestly made for each other.

“Why are you smiling like that…?”Lacey asked, interrupting the little hypothesis forming in my head – that maybe we were all made for someone else, the other half to our half?

“Oh no reason” I said, the thoughts petering out.

“Kat, what happened?” she said slowly, narrowing her brown eyes at me cautiously.

“I just met your future boyfriend” I winked, biting my tongue playfully as she proceeded to whack me across the arm when I was close enough. “OW!” I protested, unable to stop the little giggle that escaped my lips.

“Would you just drop it already?” she said, doing everything she could to stop from mirroring my smirk.

She knew as well as I did – that was never going to happen. Though I probably should have known she would hit me – for such a small-framed girl she really could pack a punch!