“Fine,” she snapped, shoving past a group of girls with the longest fake eyelashes I had ever seen. They looked like spiders had died on their eyelids.
I sat as still as a statue in the front of Ben’s car. Movement made me want to hurl. I could tell already that I would feel like shit tomorrow. The alcohol hadn’t even done what it was supposed to do; I still had a bloody Oakley conversation!
“Ben, for fuck’s sake!” I hissed. It seemed like he was hitting every bump on the road on purpose.
“I can’t help it! Stop being such a pussy!”
Groaning, I pressed my forehead to the cold window. Kill me. Ben pulled into my drive and walked around to my door. I leant against him as we walked to the front door.
“Tomorrow I’m going to Australia,” I announced as Ben turned the key for me and shoved me inside.
He snorted and closed the door, saying, “Enjoy.”
Mum, Dad, and Mia gaped at me. Dad opened his mouth, but I held my hand up.
“I’m not going right now, don’t worry. I need to sleep first,” I mumbled, staggering towards the stairs. The journey to my room took longer. The hallway had stretched.
Collapsing on my bed, I squeezed my eyes shut, effectively stopping the room from spinning. I felt something dip on the bed and knew it was one of them come to ask me what the hell.
“Good night?” Mia asked.
“Australia’s really far away, isn’t it?”
Sighing, she placed her hand on my shoulder. “Yes. Are you serious about going or is the alcohol talking? I don’t think it’s a very good idea just to turn up there.”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “She left me. She wouldn’t let me go with her. It hurts,” I admitted.
“I know it does, but you need to make a choice, Cole. You have to either try getting back together or move on.”
“That’s what Ben said.”
“It’s been too long. This isn’t healthy. Whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you, but you have to decide soon. I hate seeing you like this. I’ll leave you to sleep.”
She left my room, closing the door behind her. I thought about her words. ‘Get her back or move on’. I tried the second option, but it was too hard. She didn’t break up with me because she didn’t love me any more. If she had, at least I would know we had no chance, and I could move on.
Oakley left because she couldn’t be here, and knowing that made me unable to move on.
Chapter Three
Oakley
We approached our old neighbourhood and so many memories flashed through my mind. Most of them included Cole and things we had done together. My heart skipped. I was so close to him. We turned the corner and his house came into view. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach. My old house was just past his, but I refused to look at the place I grew up in.
“Oakley, you can say no if you want to,” Mum started. She lifted her foot off the accelerator and the car slowed. My eyes widened as I realised what she was asking.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying not to show the panic in my voice.
“We’ve not seen them in almost four years. I’ve missed Jenna,” she whispered. “Honey, if you don’t want to, we can do it another time. I will understand.”
I knew she didn’t mean to make me feel guilty, but that was exactly what she had done. It was my fault that she missed them. My fault that she hadn’t seen her best friend for four years. Gulping, I tried to push my fears away.
“No, it’s fine. I miss them too.” I could suck it up and let her see her friend again. Cole’s probably not even in. “Jenna wouldn’t be happy if we were in the area and didn’t call in, anyway.”
Mum smiled at me in the mirror as she stopped outside their house. “Thank you.”
Jasper knocked on their door, enthusiastically. He was obviously as excited as Mum to see them all again. I was terrified and felt like running as I heard someone on the other side of the door.
Thankfully, it was Jenna. She gasped in surprise and threw the door wide open. “Oh my God!” she shouted. Mum stepped forward and they hugged, laughing like teenage girls. It was nice to hear Mum laugh like that again.
“When did you get back? How long are you here for?” Jenna asked, ushering us inside. She hugged me and then Jasper with as much enthusiasm as she had Mum. Why was she asking that? They knew. My heart dropped as I realised she hadn’t received Mum’s email.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mum frown.
“Didn’t you get my email?”
Jenna huffed. “No, our internet’s been down for a while now. I’ve told David to fix it, but you know what he’s like! It’s so good to see you again.” Oh God, this isn’t good. “You look great, Oakley. You’re so grown up,” she said, pulling me into another hug.
I smiled, trying to hide the panic rising inside. Cole couldn’t see me for the first time like this. A surprise visit was the last thing he needed.
Jasper laughed humourlessly. “She’s still just as immature.”