Us, Colliding

CHAPTER NINETEEN

My bed is a cocoon, the light, fluffy duvet is impossibly comfortable, my pillow perfectly plumped to rest my head – I wake with a smile.

I feel so different, that kiss – everything about the previous evening felt so right, so perfect and I understand so much more now.

I don't even feel confused about it, because I know now why I've always felt so different.

It's not like I don't find guys attractive, because I do but they make me feel uneasy and I hate the way they leer and stare at a girl's body - this being said I know that if I found the right guy I could have a relationship, but kissing Neri? That felt so right to me. So wonderful and so safe. No judgement.

I guess this means I'm bisexual?

It hadn't really occurred to me before, I just assumed that being bi was something you'd know about yourself, like, it would be as obvious as knowing your favourite colour or animal.

I stretch luxuriously, kicking the duvet from my legs and I reach for my phone before remembering that I left it in the kitchen last night.

As I exit my room and traipse down the hall I hear my dad speaking loudly, he doesn't sound very happy.

"It's been 5 days, Tiffany," he says, he's pacing, "You know how much that plane ticket cost?"

Dad spies me and gives me a weird sort of nod, his lips are pursed and his expression dark, his frown creating extra lines on his forehead. Uh oh.

I shuffled onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar and reach for my phone, I have 4 missed calls – they're all from my mother.

"I'll talk to her," my dad says with a sigh, "But I know how the conversation will go and I honestly think you're being unfair and selfish."

He doesn't give my mother time to reply before he's hung up, he slams the phone onto the kitchen worktop and sighs once more, rubbing his face in frustration.

"My," he turns to me, "I'm sorry honey, but your mother wants you back home."

I look up from my Instagram feed, my stomach lurches.

"What?"

"There's been an accident and Tony broke his ankle, they've had to leave early and Tony is spending a few days in hospital."

"He's OK though?"

"As far as I can tell, but your mother wants you back in Oasis Springs with her while he recovers."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he folds his arms across his chest, "Honestly I think she's being selfish and just wants you home so she's not by herself."

I nod slowly, he's right, that's exactly what my mum wants. I love her but she hates being alone and will do anything to stop herself being in that situation.

This being said, my heart is hammering. I don't want to go home yet.

"I'm not ready," I say, "I haven't seen everything."

"I know, I'm sorry honey, I really don't want you to go, truly. I feel like we've not even begun to get to know one another yet, but I don't feel like I have much of a choice. I'm lucky I got to spend even this time with you, even though it's not much. I took next week off so we could go hiking and see more of the island. I was really looking forward to sharing my life with you."

I sigh, letting my breath slowly release, I know my mother, I know what she's like, she doesn't need me back home, not at all. I can't believe she's letting her fear of being alone wreck my time away.