Opposites Attract

Chapter 23

"SARA!" a voice called from downstairs as she stirred in her bed. Pushing the covers off with her legs, she grabbed a hair band from the bedside table and stuffed her hair into a messy ponytail.

"Clara? Yeah, I'll be down in a minute!" she yelled as she hobbled into the bathroom. Her head was spinning slightly and she grabbed onto the door handle before leaning against the bathroom wall. The cool tiles against her back was like a wake up call. "Ahh," she squealed as she splashed cold water onto her face and dried off with a towel. She didn't have to look glamourous, but still, she didn't want to look like a train wreck either.

As she made her way downstairs, Casey popped his head out from his bedroom and whispered out to her: "Hey, you alright?"

She scrunched up her nose and nodded quickly. "I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"You slept late."

"I didn't," she threw him a puzzled look. "I'm fine Case."

"And you're sure? You can tell me y'know, promise I won't lose my head. I'm doing better now... Y'know with Bree. I haven't really lashed out or anything. You might aswell gimme' an icecream and call me icecube, 'cos I'm as cool as you like."

They both laughed and Sara slapped his arm gently. "In that case, I'm proud of you - you're doing good! And me, I'm fine, I'm good, honestly."

Casey nodded and then looked straight at her. "Bree told me Jasper's leaving..."

She almost held her breath for a second before nodding. "Yeah, his mum got a promotion somewhere."

"Where?"

"I dunno' really."

"When are they leaving then?"

"Erm, I'm not really sure. Soon, I think."

"Yeah... It sucks."

Sara nodded and then turned away, heading downstairs. "It sucks balls," she said over her shoulder.

As she entered the kitchen, Clara ushered her away towards the living room. "Hey!" Sara began protesting as she reached her arms out towards the kitchen. "But I'm starving Clara!"

"Yes, I know! But... I have a surprise for you. Surprise first, eat later."

"What? But it's not even my birthd..." Sara stopped in her tracks as she peered into the living room. "DAD?" she yelled. "Oh my god! DAD!" she screamed and ran over to her dad who was slumped on the couch in front of the tv. "DAD!"

Her dad laughed and then held out his arms before Sara jumped onto the sofa beside him and threw her arms around him. "Hey, hey! Careful, I'm not 100% repaired yet," her dad joked as he held her close. "I missed you Cherry Blossom," he whispered into her hair.

"Dad," Sara blushed. "Not in front of Clara," she smiled as she got up and sat on a chair opposite her dad.

"No, no, it's fine. I'm off anyway," Clara said as she grabbed her handbag from the table.

"But I haven't eaten yet..." Sara whined and Clara laughed.

"There's pancake batter in the jug and I've boiled some eggs in case you fancied a change."

"Ahh! You're so fab!" Sara hugged Clara before beckoning her dad off the sofa and into the kitchen. "Hungry?"

"I'm starving! Hospital food is..."

"Rubbish?" Clara stepped in before Sara could swear and threw her a quick smile. "I'll see you later this afternoon. Help yourself to anything, I'll be doing some shopping on my way back anyway."