Do You Know Indigo?

Chapter Twenty Five

I was seven when my grandmother died. As I remember it, the clock had just struck midnight and I was seven and she was dead.

Last year I had turned sixteen in hospital and psychiatric ward was no place for cake and balloons and revelry.

A year on, mylife was happily different. I had friends who laughed with me, was in good health, had the best boyfriend in the world, an indigo eyed accomplice and relatively relaxed parents. To have an almost normal existence was present enough for me.

The sun shone through my curtains. I stretched off a pleasant dream I couldn't quite recall and attempted the same old morning routine.

But by he time I got to the kitchen it was clear I wasn’t leaving without a palava.

Mum, Ross and Jackson (half asleep in his cereal) were waiting for me.

“You didn’t honestly think you’d turn seventeen without a little fuss did you?” Mum said, enveloping me into a hug. I breathed in her powdery scent; forgotten childhood memories. This was where home should have been.  

I feasted on double chocolate cake with a cup of tea for breakfast before I left to catch the bus. Mum was tearful as I left. Today was difficult for her. Gran was on my mind too.

Beth tapped her foot impatiently as she awaited me.

“There you are! I was beginning to wonder whether I should leave for the bus without you.” She embraced me. I smiled as we made our way to the bus stop. Beth chattered away quite the thing before she stopped to ruffle about in her bag.

“Before I forget,” Beth said, before pulling out a parcel with a flourish. “Happy birthday!” I gladly took it, shaking it for a clue. Clueless, I tore away the paper with pincered, much to Beth’s delight.

Inside the box there were two charms. One with best friend inscribed on it and the other a treble clef. I turned one over in my hand, noting the insignia.

“Beth this is designer, I can’t take this." It struck me that I didn’t have anything to put them on nevermind the fact each charm was near enough a morgage.

“Of course you can, I enjoy spoiling my friends. But before I take all the credit the treble clef was from Nate. The dozy prat couldn’t help but buy you one too,” she explained. “Just as a thank you, something about a certain someone you introduced him too.” She posed.

“That’s why you took so long on the phone on Saturday wasn’t it,” I accused her. Beth grinned.

“Aren't we on the ball today?”

I tucked the paper and box into my bag as we climbed up onto the bus.

“I didn’t know Nate had such good taste in jewellery," I remarked. Beth elbowed me.

“I’ll have you know he picked his all on his own. He had a little trouble finding mine for some reason.” I belly laughed then, imagining Nate wandering clumsily around the store, Beth shrieking down the phone at him.

“Well with you shouting directions at him I’m amazed you’re still a couple,” I joked. She rolled her eyes and laughed.

“He can sure whine, I’ll tell you that. Honestly, you would think we were an old married couple.” she replied, twirling her ponytail around her finger.

“I wouldn’t go around shouting that at the top of your voice, you’ll scare him off!” I placed the lid back on the gift box as I sniggered.  Four days, that was all it had taken for Bethany Philips to fall in love. This thought was rudely disturbed however, by the arrival of Jude and Mandy.