Melting Ice

Chapter 20

Kayla

Around midday, Carla arrives with bags packed full of what looks like presents. She hugs me tightly, squeezing me so much I struggle to breath.

"Awh, sorry", she laughs, "You look so much like Clove!".

"Well I am her sister!", I gasp until she lets me go, "Listen", I whisper, "Cato and Clove are arguing and we need to sort it all out. What are you doing tomorrow?".

"Helping you now", she says.

"Thank you, we need you to keep Clove out the house all evening".

"No problem. What about Cato?", Carla asks, frowning.

"Xander is gonna keep him out", I say, "Probably taking him down to the beach. Could you please get Finnick and Annie to help, I could use some help cooking".

"Consider it done", says Carla, "Now, where is the birthday girl?".

"Kitchen. Just down the hall", I say and point, following her in where finger food has been laid out beautifully.

"Carla!", yells Clove from the garden, "Out here!".

Outside, Clove and Brianna are playing with the dolls and house she got for her birthday.

"Happy birthday!", exclaims Carla pulling Brianna in for a hug, "I have presents", she says slyly. Carla reaches into a big pink bag and pulls out a smaller pink bag and hands it to Brianna. I help her unwrap the blue foil to reveal a set of mermaid dolls and a plush seahorse.

"Awh", I laugh, "It's so cute!".

"Thank you Carla, I love it", says Brianna, hugging Carla's legs together before running down the garden to where Xander and Cato are playing frisbee.

"Clove, Kayla I got you a little something too", she says pulling out two small bags.

"You didn't have to", says Clove, "Just seeing you was amazing enough".

"I have missed like 10 of your birthdays, and pretty much all of Kayla's. Open them!", she insists. Inside the bag, wrapped up in blue tissue paper is a small silver box, and inside the box is earrings. Not just any earrings; beautiful, silver dove shaped earrings.

"The meaning of Kayla is purity, and doves symbolise purity", Carla explains blushing,"Do you like them?".

"I love them Carla! Although I don't really think I'm that pure...", I giggle as I hug her.

"Purer than most people", she whispers through gritted teeth, "How about you Clove, do you like yours?".

I step back so I'm horizontal to Clove and her small box. Clove gasps as she pulls it out and reads, "Clove, my best friend. Who has always been there even though we are 1000 miles apart; I'm always with you", which is graved on the back of a necklace saying, "Clover", I watch as tears form in her tear duct and spill down her face, "Oh Clara, it's so beautiful", she cries hugging Carla tightly, "Thank you".

"Anything for you Clove, I have missed you so so much! Tomorrow, us two are having a girly shopping trip!".

"Yay!", Cloves yells like a little girl.

"I will get it!", I announce as the doorbell goes.

Annie and Finnick arrive with more bags and smiles.

"Hey Kayla", greets Finnick, "How are you?".

"I'm good thank you. How are you two?".

"Oh I'm grand", says Finnick before joining the others.

Carla, Annie and Clove all make a triangle and whisper to one another whilst Finnick attempts to make conversation with Cato.

"Our plan better work tomorrow", I whisper to Xander.