Running Through Rivers

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen - Cassidy's POV

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It was several weeks later before I got the call.

I continued to stay at Alfie's, but it didn't feel as if I was their guest anymore; it was like I had lived there all my life.

I sat in the kitchen watching Alfie attempt to cook, his previous cooking experiences consisting of toast and two-minute noodles. As he burnt yet another pancake, I began to understand why they had been ordering take away every night.

"You need any help?" I asked, as he gripped the pan with both hands and tried to successfully flip a pancake. It sailed through the air, landing with a splat by his feet.

"No, it's okay, I've got it." He bit his lip in concentration as he poured more mixture onto the pan.

"I know you've got it; all over the floor."

I gasped in surprise as Alfie flicked flour at my face. "Hey!" I dipped my fingers into the packet and threw some at him in return.

"Hey!" he mimicked me, starting to laugh as I smeared the flour across my face in an attempt to wipe it off.

"Come here." He leant over and ran his thumb across my cheek. "There, all gone."

I felt my face flush as Alfie's hand remained on my cheek, and he took a step closer so that we were now only inches apart. I stared at him as he grinned down at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I smiled, reaching up on my tippy-toes and grabbing his face between my hands.

"Alfie?"

"Yeah, Cat?"

"You're pancakes are burning."

"Wha-shit." Alfie turned back to the stove where wisps of smoke were beginning to escape from the pan.

I laughed pushed him out of the way as I heard a phone start to ring. "That's your's. Don't worry, I'll clean up here."

I turned off the stove and threw the charred remains into the bin as Alfie grabbed his phone off the counter.

"Hello? Oh, hello. Yes, that's me."

Alfie motioned for me to be quiet, putting a finger to his lips. I stopped scraping off the burnt pan and tried to hear what the person on the other end was saying.

"Wow. Yes. That would be fantastic. Oh. Okay. No, uhhm, that's fine. No, I'm sure we can sort it out. Okay. Okay, thank you."

Alfie hung up and ran a hand through his hair.

"That sounded important," I commented, hoping he would tell me who had phoned, even though it was probably none of my business.

"Yeah. Yeah, it kinda was." He looked slightly uncomfortable, like he was torn.

"You okay, Alfie? Who was that?"

"Yeah, uhh, that was the music school. We, um, we've been selected as one of the five auditions to get a scholarship."

"What?! Seriously? That's fantastic, Alfie! What's wrong with that?!" I was practically jumping up and down with excitement. I couldn't believe, out of everyone, we had been chosen.

"Yeah, except, there's just one thing, Cat.....they can only offer us one scholarship."

Oh.

"Oh." I sat down on the sofa and stared at him. Suddenly everything seemed a little less exciting.

"If either of us should get the scholarship, it should be you Alfie. It was you're idea in the first place! You go and spend a year there, and I'll be here when you get back." I knew there was no way I could afford a term, yet alone a year at the school. I'd just have to accept that I couldn't go with him.

"I can't do that, that's not fair. And anyway," Alfie added, sitting down next to me, "I'd miss you too much."

I leant against him as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I tilted my head so I could still see him properly. "So, what? Neither of us take it? That's just a waste."

Alfie shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll think of something."

We sat there quietly for a while, trying to come up with a solution, until Alfie broke the silence.

"I just need to go and talk to Blake, I'll be right back, okay?" He kissed the top of my head and walked towards the hall, shutting the kitchen door softly behind him.

I sighed. If only I hadn't agreed to auditioning with Alfie. Then it would have just been him to get the scholarship. Why did I always mess things up for him?

I frowned as my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. Surely the school wouldn't ring me too? I dug my phone out and answered the call. "Hello, Cassidy speaking."

"Cass, it's me."

I froze as the familiar voice spoke.

"Austin? Austin! Oh my god, Austin! Where are you? Why haven't you been at school? Where are you staying? Are you okay? Wh-"

"Cassidy! Stop rambling!"

I frowned as he cut me off. He seemed tense. "Austin, what's wrong?"

"Cassidy, listen to me. You need to get to the hospital now."

Shit.

I started freaking out. "What? Why?! Austin what the hell is going on?!"

There was a pause on the other end before he spoke up.

Two words.

That's all it took for a million different emotions to explode inside of me.

That's all it took to make the world around me come crashing down, and my heart rate to fly through the roof.

That's all it took to knock the breath out of me, and my legs to give way.

"It's Sophie."