Perri and Him-the fifth book to series 'Perri and Me' about Perri Kiely

Chapter 3 Part 9

I stood up with Reid, looking from Freddie to Pel.

"Pel..." Freddie says. "I just came back with Amber from the stu-"

"He dropped by. He wanted to see you." I interrupt, not wanting to mention Freddie taking Pel's place.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry about your....umm-"

"Leg." I mutter.

"Leg. Sorry about your leg. I hope you get better soon-"

Pel says something that rhymes with 'poolpit.'

"He's not lying!" I shout at first, but drop my voice to a whisper, not wanting to wake Reid up who is now sleeping.

"Whatever, just get out Freddie." Perri mutters.

Freddie stands up, in the awkward manner I expected him to. Anger rises up inside me. If I wasn't carrying Reid I would hit Pel.

He walks to the door and nods his head slightly. His blue eyes shine like diamonds and his light brown curls make him look fourteen.

"Have a good recovery, Pel." He says, almost hitting his head on the wall as he tries to leave swiftly.

Immediately the door closes, I turn round to go and put Reid down. It's also an excuse not to talk to Perri and gather myself for a few seconds. I try to make a quick transition from Reid's room to mine but I forgot my phone on the couch. I sigh and walk back to the living room.

I bend to pick my phone off the coffee table, trying to block out the awkward silence all around me.

"Amber.." Perri says, in a way that feels like hewas almost trying to say my name for the first time.

"Yeah?" I say, trying to prevent myself from rolling my eyes.

"Ummm..." He says. "I went to my Mum's house. She got me a-"

"Therapist?" I guess, gripping my phone then tossing it from palm to palm. "I overhead the conversation."

"Okay." He says slowly. "What did you do? So Freddie just walked in."

I can't lie to him.

"No- he was in the studio..." I say.

"Danceworks?" Pel says, the surprise in his voice unexpected.

"Yes..." I say. "Pel, he was dancing."

"Trying to suck up to Ashley, I expect. He'll never get a job there. He's probably looking for one. Trying to get close to you, that's it. Let's face it - he loves you like hell-"

"He wasn't there to see me!" I shout.

Perri looks taken aback.

"For once, just stop! You're always telling me to stop! You shut up about Freddie- for once!"

I find myself breathing heavily again. Blood rushes to my head and I feel like collapsing. Pel looks at me, worryingly.

"Amber you're pregnant."

"So?" I exclaim, angrily.

"Don't get yourself worked up." Pel says.

I sit down on the chair and he wheels himself next to me. He uses the arm of the chair to lean on and gets himself sitting next to me.

For a moment he's just staring at me. In a way that doesn't make me fell uncomfortable but annoyed. As if he's assessing me. Is this the same girl he fell in love with five years ago?

I look up at him. I can't bring myself to tell him. Freddie took your place. Yes- he's the new Perri. He's dancing instead of you.

Pel puts his arms around me, kissing my neck then my lips so I forget about my situation for three seconds. Just those three second.