The Little Matchmaker | What Happens Next | Book 2

Chapter Four: The Rumours

"I'm telling you, Chloe. Tyler kissed Jody," Candi-Rose announced.

Chloe shuffled on her bed. "Why are you telling me this now? I was about to go to sleep!"

She rubbed her tired eyes as Candi-Rose perched on the end of her bed. It was about 9:00 pm and Candi-Rose had sincerely tried to keep this information to herself all day but had cracked just as they were settling down to sleep.

"Isn't this brilliant!" Candi-Rose beamed, waving her hands about in joy.

Chloe frowned. "How?"

"Jody assured me that she and Tyler are just friends, but now I know they aren't!"

"Well, you don't actually know that. Maybe they are just friends?"

"He. Kissed. Her," Candi-Rose said, rather put out that Chloe could deny such clear proof.

"Look why don't you just ask them?" Chloe said. She was desperate to get this conversation finished. All she wanted to do was go to sleep.

"She would never tell me, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask." 

And with that, Candi-Rose got into her bed and the girls went to sleep.

The following morning was very sunny, considering the time of year. The sun shone brightly through the window as everyone sat around the dinner table, eating their breakfast.

"Where's Isla?" May-Li asked Jody when she entered the kitchen.

"She's not feeling very well," Jody answered, taking her seat next to Tyler.

Somehow Jody noticed that something wasn't quite right. Maybe it was Candi-Rose's quiet snigger as she sat down or maybe it was the fact that Candi-Rose's eyes were staring directly at her and Tyler all the way through breakfast.

Either way, her suspicions were confirmed when Candi-Rose asked her if they could have a conversation in private.

"What's going on with you and Tyler?" she said.

Jody shrugged. "I don't know what you mean?"

Although she had an idea.

"Tyler kissed you on the cheek, yesterday after you pranked Isla. I saw him."

Jody suddenly joined all the dots. Candi-Rose's unusual behaviour at breakfast, this exceptionally awkward conversation, all because of Tyler. Jody was angry. So very angry with Tyler. The person she thought she could trust the most - had let her down. All this time she thought it would be Isla who would give away their secret, but it was actually Tyler.

No hang on! There's still time. Jody thought. If this works, then it can stay a secret.

"I don't think so Candi-Rose," Jody blurted out.

Then, still angry at Tyler, she marched off to find him.

"I'll put it right," she whispered to herself.

At last, she found him in the garden with Ryan. She quickly made an excuse and then, making sure no one noticed, they went into the garden shed. She didn't want to make anyone else suspicious.

"What wrong with you?" Tyler said, clearly noticing something was up.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU COULD BE SUCH AN IDIOT!" Jody shouted, letting all her anger out.

"What have I done?"

"YESTERDAY YOU... kissed me... AND CANDI-ROSE SAW!!"

"I don't understand? Why that is such a bad thing?"

"BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW!"

Jody took a deep breath and looked at Tyler. He looked somewhat upset.

"You know Jody, I am trying to understand. But I just don't. Why is it such a bad thing if people know? I love you. Don't you love me?"

Love him? Jody wasn't sure. Love was such a strong emotion. She was very fond of him and she fancied him, but love?

She gulped. "Love you?"

"Yeah. Love me? Well?"

Jody took a deep breath and there was a long moment of silence.

"Well if you don't love me then I don't know why we are doing this," Tyler said opening the door and beginning to leave.

Jody squeezed herself in front of the door to stop him from going.

"No! Tyler don't! Of course, I love you. You make me happier than anyone, it's just... I can't stand people whispering about us. Shouldn't my emotions be mine to keep private?"

"I guess so," Tyler mumbled. He looked up from the floor and directly into Jody's eyes. "I'm sorry. So, how do we put this right?"

Jody thought. She had an idea. A grin grew on her face. Somehow Tyler knew what she was thinking.

"Oh no, Jody! We can't do that!" he said, making it much more dramatic than it actually was.

"Yep. We are going to have to pretend that we hate each other!" Jody said.

*************************************************************************************
Do you think Jody's plan will work? I'm sorry if this chapter is a bit soppy, but that's the way it's got to be.

From writingrabbit6 xxx

751 Words

This part was first published in 2018