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Chapter Ten

By the time I rolled out of bed on Saturday morning, Charlotte still wasn't home. After pouring myself a coffee, I curled up on the same sofa that Noah had been sat on just hours before, pulled out my phone and dialled the one person I could always rely on to make me feel normal.

"Abi!" my mum answered, "I was waiting for you to ring this week, how's it all going? I've missed having you back home with me. Are you eating okay, doing alright for money?"

"It's all good, mum," I laughed, "Just been busy getting back into the swing of things this week. How are you doing? Anything new?"

"I'm doing good, nothing exciting going on here, just ticking by as usual. Oh, I saw George yesterday..."

Her reply knocked me sideways. Mum was never one to beat around the bush, but she could have at least thrown a bit more small talk in there before bringing up his name.

"He looks sad, Abi. He told me to tell you he misses you."

"Bullshit," was the only reply I could think of.

"Abigail! Language!"

"Sorry, I'm still just angry about it, that's all."

"I know sweetheart, but people can change you know? You two might have had your differences but you never know what might happen in future, he clearly still holds a flame for you."

If only she knew what life with George had been like, maybe she wouldn't still be so keen on him. On the surface, a sporty guy from a nice family, in his first year of a law degree, might seem like the perfect man. But, as close as mum and I had always been, she never knew the whole truth about what an asshole he'd been to me.

"Mum, please can we change the subject?" I asked wearily.

Sensing the tone of my voice, she began to go off on a tangent about how one of her regular clients at the salon was about to undergo her third boob job. My mind slowly drifted away from thoughts of George, as the comforting sound of her voice relaxed me in a way only a mother's can.

Maybe one day I'd tell her the full story about why I'd finally decided to call it a day with George. But, especially after everything that we'd been through with dad over the previous couple of years, hearing about my problems was probably the last thing she needed right now.

After talking to her for another fifteen minutes or so, my stomach began to growl louder by the second. As we said our goodbyes and I promised to call her again next week, Charlotte's key sounded in the lock.

Raising an eyebrow towards her, I smirked, "And where have you been, you dirty stop-out?"

Smiling back at me she tapped the side of her nose. "Let's just say, the boys in that new band have got rhythm inside the bedroom too..."

I gaped at her with my eyes wide. Had Noah somehow ended up with her last night? Realising the look on my face, she quickly rushed over to the sofa and plonked herself down next to me.

"Don't worry Abs, I'm not talking about your blonde boy," she reassured me. "Anyway, don't think I didn't notice you and him leaving within about one minute of each other last night. Care to explain?"

"Nothing happened," I whispered. "He's just your usual scumbag who can't keep it in his pants."

"Wasn't that one of your songs he sang though? I've heard you writing it at your piano since we got back from break. How the hell does he know it?"

"He was stood in the back of my class last week like a freak and he recorded it. I had no idea he was going to do that last night."

"Well, if you want my opinion then you should write more songs for him. That voice of his is fucking beautiful. As is that face..." she added with a wink.

I didn't want to be reminded of Noah's face right now so, gently swatting her on the arm, I got up and headed to the kitchen.

"I'm making breakfast," I shouted, "Want some?"

"Yes please, you absolute superstar," she yelled back "I'm just going to go wash off my sins then let's just have a nice, girly Netflix and laundry day, yeah?"

"Sounds perfect," I called in response, smiling to myself as I heard her flounce off towards the bathroom. I didn't need any boy hassle in my life right now. I was lucky to have met Charlotte and Kris and I'd be just fine with my friends, thank you very much.

Thirty minutes later I was dishing up bacon and my 'famous' scrambled eggs when Charlotte reappeared, her hair still wet and her pyjamas already on, even though it was only midday. Stepping behind me she wrapped her arms around my waist and snuggled her face into my back.

"God, what did I do to deserve a housemate like you?" she joked, as we carried our plates to the sofa to begin our series binge.

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you," she said through a mouthful of food. "As I was leaving Alex's this morning..."

"Alex?"

"You know, The Ambition's drummer?"

"Charlotte, for goodness sake!"

"Yeah yeah, save the lecture for someone with any shame," she replied, laughing.

"Anyway, as I was leaving his place I bumped into your guitar guy going in. He looked knackered. How late did you keep him up last night?"

"Fuck off," I snapped. "You know I'm not like that. My legs are closed for business to boys right now. Unlike yours, you absolute fangirl."

Laughing as she flicked her wet hair dramatically, Charlotte slid backwards on her seat, opening her pyjama-clad legs wide open in the air while balancing her plate of food in one hand and gripping the sofa with the other. With her mouth still full of eggs and bacon, she yelled loud enough that I'm sure everyone in our building must have heard. 

"Oh Alex! Bang me like you bang those drums!" she cried, before collapsing into a fit of giggles and causing me to laugh along at her melodramatic performance.

"Such a dick!" I said, shaking my head at her.

"Yeah... it sure was!" she cackled.

Swatting my hand over at her once more with a feigned look of shock, I stood up to clear the breakfast things into the kitchen, hearing her still laughing as I walked out of the room. I would never want to be as promiscuous and dirty-minded as Charlotte, but sometimes I did envy her confidence and the ease with which she owned her sexuality.

I sometimes wondered whether I'd be more like that if I'd had more experience. Experience with guys other than George, guys that hadn't convinced me that my own needs were something to be ashamed of.

I quickly brushed the thought out of my head. I'd always wanted it to be special - my first time - so no, I would never be like Charlotte. And, even more importantly, I'd dodged a bullet by not giving myself thoughtlessly to a cheating asshole like Noah.

I'd just need to avoid him from then on, that shouldn't be too hard. Even though he always seemed to just turn up wherever I was. Even though he now knew where I lived. Even though my best friend was now sleeping with his bandmate.

Even though every time I closed my eyes since the first day I'd met him, all I could think of was the way his eyes bore into my soul every time he spoke. All I could imagine was how his lips would taste on my tongue, how his fingers would feel as they lightly brushed my skin.

The thought alone was enough to quicken my pulse as I stared out of the window, waiting for the sink to fill with warm, soapy water. I must have washed the same plate at least three times as I imagined Noah's naked chest pressed against my own, his hot breath on my face as he whispered unimaginable things.

This was going to be harder than I'd first thought.