Chapter 4

Since Wednesday, every moment has been consumed thinking about that night. I have replayed it countless numbers of times; the way her breath felt against my neck, her words whispered for only my ears to hear, everything about her. It’s gone past being a cute summer fling, I’m falling and hard.

I don’t know how to stop it. Do I want to? I’ve always struggled to grapple with the idea of completely entrusting someone with your heart when in a snap of your fingers they could crush it to pieces. Several times I have pieced my heart back together and that was only with friendships no love was involved at least that’s what I think this feeling is.

It must be obvious that I’m in a daze as mum asked me for the second time in two days if I was alright at breakfast. I lied and just said I was tired from staying up doing homework. Which isn’t exactly a lie, I feel like I’m drowning in it. Me and Cassandra got paired together to do a research project in history something about “The origins of Halloween and it’s meaning across cultures.” Okay, I may have already done a deep dive; ready for Sunday but I couldn’t stop myself. I love being prepared and I want to impress Cassandra when we study. It also helps that I have a deep passion for anything that involves writing, reading, or learning new things.

It may be boring to others or at least the people I’ve had the incredible pleasure of wasting years of my life with but to me the greatest thing is to not even be the smartest, prettiest, most confident it’s to be able to know what you’re talking about. As well as to be able to start a conversation with a random fact that you have found in the depths of the internet. That is what intrigues me the most it’s not looks though I am no better than anyone else cough, cough Rosalie.

Ray tugs at the lead.

“Right, Alright, I’m coming.”

I slip my shoes on and make my way down the stairs, which is more like an obstacle course, with shoes and bits bobs that needing taking up.

Once I’m out onto the street, I fish my phone out of my pocket and call the one person that I know will answer.

Eleanor

“You better have good gossip; I’ve just paused the finale of the best k-drama.” That’s my Nora. While I became obsessed with every book, I could get my hands on she fell for K-pop, k-drama, simply anything that began with a k.

We’ve known each other since we were nine when I went to see my grandpa, on my mum’s side, in Spain. Where he has lived since my grandma passed. On his complex there’s a pool and on a scorching day I managed to drag him there. Though that was all I could do he refused to put in even a toe, so I was sulking on my float, this is where Nora comes along. She came over and told me in her broken English how cool she thought my flamingo float was. I taught her more English and in return she taught me Spanish becoming partners in crime. Now I see her multiple times a year during breaks and summers when I go out there to see grandpa.

If there was anyone’s opinion whose I valued and trusted the most, it was Eleanor’s.

“When have I ever disappointed you?”

“Well, there was that one time with whe- “

I interrupt; I’m not in the mood to be reminded of some embarrassing tween memory. “It has to do with my love life.”

“OoOoooOooh tell me more.” Completely invested with that one line.

I catch her up to speed, “I can’t stop thinking about her maybe she was just trying to be nice.” I wonder aloud.

“Serena.” She moans. “There is a difference between being nice and telling somone they are hot!”

“Maybe.”

“What about this Cassie girl is she alright?”

“Yeah, she likes Aurelia Bennet and is really nice.”

Cassie is nice, day by day we are getting closer maybe one day we’ll be as close as me and Nora. Though I can never tell what she’s thinking; her face is unreadable.

“Is she good looking?” Nora asks with a cheeky tone to her voice. I don’t know why but heat rises to my cheeks.

It’s not like I haven’t noticed her beauty; you would have to be blind not to, but we have only known each other for barely two months. Plus, Rosa is the only girl I have my eyes on.

Theres no way I’m going to tell Nora that though. “Dude!”

“What it’s always good to have your options open.” She says with a chuckle.

Why does everyone always laugh at my embarrassment?

“Says the one who has a boyfriend that’s practically walked out of book.”

“Javier is pretty good, isn’t he?” She mumbles as she enters a daydream.

A notification pops up on my phone from mum “Be home soon, dinner is nearly ready. It’s one of your favourites: IKEA meatballs and chips. Xx”

My mouth waters.

“I shall leave you to have your finale; I have meatballs to devour.”

“Oh yeah.” I was right she was definitely thinking about Javier only he could make her forget about a K-Drama finale. “Keep me updated, girly. I know where you live.”

I chuckle. Of course, Nora would pull a threat over gossip.

“Bye, Nora.”

“Adios, Serena.”

The line disconnects and I practically run all the way home with ray at my side. I wasn’t joking about devouring the meatballs; I never joke about food.