You + Me = Us (now published so sample only)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Forgiveness? Maybe...

Shanay

I had organised our whole last week of holidays for Link and I to do stuff and have heaps of fun. Instead, I stayed home for the whole week and moped around the house. I know my parents were worried because they kept trying to get me to do things. Not chores or anything but fun stuff.

Instead, I did the cleaning, I methodically reorganised my room a few thousand times and I even cleaned the oven when I was getting truly desperate. On the Sunday before heading back to school, mum told me we were going out for dinner and that I should dress up.

I wanted to mention that there were only two restaurants in our town and one of them was in the local pub but didn't. The truth was I kind of felt bad that my parents were so concerned, so I went along with it. I should've known that they were up to no good; after all, they were best friends with Margie.

When we walked into the only pizza place in town, and I saw Link and Margie sitting there, I cursed under my breath. He looked so tired and sad but still as wonderful as ever. His face had almost healed from where I had hit him so I didn't feel quite so guilty about that.

He looked up at me with his gorgeous blue eyes and his shiny raven black hair that I knew would slip through my fingers like silk. Focus Shanay! I forced myself to walk over and sit down opposite him. The three parents looked sternly at us and I sighed, this wasn't going to be easy.

"You guys need to sort this out before school tomorrow." Mum said pointing between us.

"You're not leaving here until you do." Margie piped up while dad nodded in agreement.

We all sat down and looked at the same menu the shop had produced for the last twenty years or so. I dared a quick glance towards Link only to find him staring at me with the saddest expression. I looked away not quite ready to face him.

"I'm so sorry, Shay. You know I didn't mean it." He whispered as he reached for my hand but I pulled away and said nothing.

We all ordered but I chose a salad, which I was pretty sure that I still wouldn't eat. I had lost my normal voracious hunger and had trouble consuming anything. The parents talked animatedly about this and that while our end of the table remained silent.

I had at least a hundred things I wanted to say to him but I would prefer to do so in private. That way, I could yell at him if necessary. I couldn't look at him and refused to speak to him. My hurt and upset jumbled inside of me and I wasn't sure how to overcome that.

"Shay, you need to forgive me, please. I can't live like this. I can't live without you. Crap, I had the worst time with my dad only to come back here and screw things up with you. You're the last person I would ever deliberately hurt and you know that or at least I hope you know that." He finished on a whisper as I pushed the salad around on the plate.

I had noticed our parents had all subtly left us alone to have our little chat, so I felt I had to say something. I looked up at him and I knew I would forgive him. He was one of the most important people in my life and the last week had been hell without him.

That would have been everything back to normal, except for Cara bloody Pinshki! She walked determinedly over to us with a jealous look in her eye and I sighed. I still hadn't said a single word to him and he awaited my answer.

"Hi, boyfriend, it looks like you're taking out a girl to dinner who isn't me." Cara's spiteful glare landed on me.

"I'm not going out with you, Cara." He firmed his voice but she pouted.