SECRETS | D.S

fifteen

"Is it wrong to want to murder them?"

"Just tell me when and I'll help you move the bodies."

Katie laughed, rolling onto her back, phone pressed to her ear as she stared up at the ceiling.

"It's a deal."

"I'll buy the shovel, then," Dan added, and Katie smiled.

"Sounds like a plan."

It was Thursday and Katie had been up since sunrise chatting to Dan. Having her cousins there had been rather exhausting as expected and she'd not had much time to herself.

Today, however, she intended for that to change. She had a morning session with her personal trainer - Howard had hired him to help her with her leg and physiotherapy - and she could hardly wait to break away from the house for a few hours at best.

Katie: so, how are things with the collab and band?

She rolled out of bed, eyes still on the open conversation between her and Dan.

Dan: good, thanks (: they're moving to our studio this afternoon, and then Alex and I are probably going to have some time to start writing. I've been playing around with ideas but they're all rubbish...

Katie: you're way too hard on yourself, Dan (: I'm sure it's great x

Dan: nah 🙈 but thanks. Gotta head to studio now, though. I hope your day turns out better than mine x

Katie: doubt it ;) x

She got dressed, tying her long dark hair into a tight bun before slipping her trainers on, careful not to put too much weight onto her leg.

She'd been working with Drew for a year - Howard had flown him in from London - and his sessions had helped, she'd admit to that. He knew what he was doing and he allowed her to work at her own pace, never pushing her beyond what she could handle.

She made her way downstairs, greeting James who was reading the morning paper before taking the car down to the private gym.

It was a good break to be away from everyone, even just for a few hours, and Drew stood waiting at the pool, smile welcoming.

"How're feeling today, then?"

"A little sore," she admitted, "but nothing a good session can't fix."

"Always the optimist," he smirked, leaning in to hug her in greeting.

He had her swim a few laps as warm up and then focused on her leg so that the right muscle groups could be worked, releasing tension.

Her leg had been stiff at first, unable to walk properly or even climb the stairs - her accident had nearly cost her everything - but after some months with Drew, she'd felt better, more like herself again, able to swim and run and even, occasionally on the sly, go skiing up the smaller slopes.

This, however, was kept between her and Drew and they both knew her family would disapprove, and James would never let it go.

As long as she was physically able to do it, Drew had said, then why not.

"Why take away your passion for sport if you're able to do it?"

And with that, she wholeheartedly agreed.

He handed her a towel as she emerged from the heated salt pool and her eyes were shining too.

"I went a bit further today," she said, "it feels fine."

"Proud of you, but don't push yourself," he reminded her, "we've still got work to do before you can go too crazy on your training sessions."

"Think I'll be able to get back into it?" she asked, hope clinging to her voice.

Since they'd started training, she'd been hopeful that after all this, she might be able to get back into rowing or, perhaps, skating. Drew had told her it would be a long road but that it was a possibility, albeit not a huge one at the time; but she was showing promise now.

Of course her parents would never know that discussion had happened, and she'd like it to stay that way.

When she was strong enough to get back in the game, they'd tell them... together.

"I've missed it," she said, pulling a dry shirt over her head, "rowing, skiing, skating... if I could just so much as get a taste of that life... the life I left behind..."

"You will," Drew set a hand on her shoulder, "it's going to take work, and I'm only here for a few more weeks... but I'm sure you'll find a way to get yourself there, you always do."

She nodded with a smile.

Breakfast had been prepared back at the house and Katie was greeted by her cousins' usual morning drama, complaining about the pancakes as always.

Katie simply ignored them and headed up to shower, finding a seat beside James when she returned.

"If I were you," Aunt Marg was saying, pointing a sharp finger towards the trophy cabinet, "I'd get rid of that junk and put in another window, might make this place look a bit better."

"That junk happens to be Katherine's sport achievements," her mum informed Marg, "but I see what you're saying..."

"She can't do any of that anymore with her... disability," Marg interrupted, "what's the use of keeping things for sentiment if they just collect dust?"

I worked hard to get those, and it's not a disability, Katie thought, but arguing with her aunt would spark an entirely different type of conversation, so, she left it.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she reached for it; no harm really as her cousins were glued to Instagram at the moment, despite never being allowed to use her phone in the kitchen, and her stomach turned when she saw that she had an email from the job she'd applied for back in London.

We are delighted to inform you ...

She didn't have to read any further.

She'd applied for a job as a coach back in London, training the junior team, same team she'd been on as a kid, and she'd gotten in!

Of course, she hadn't told anyone, not until she knew what was happening, and she quickly scanned through the email, her heart racing.

She had to give them an answer by Sunday and if she took it, they'd fly her out on Monday morning.

She had a decision to make.