“Whatever. Back me up, Oakley. That’s weird right?” I nodded. He was right, but it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a deal breaker.
“Thank you! At least she doesn’t live that close,” he quickly whispered, as the room door opened. “We need more coke,” Jasper announced, getting off the bed. “Come help me, Oakley.” He almost made it sound like a question but was already pulling my arm, almost making me fall off the bed.
We left the B&B to go to the corner shop opposite.
“You know Mum didn’t mean it, don’t you?” So that’s why you wanted me to come along. I nodded and smiled. “You don’t seem that convinced.” I rolled my eyes and nodded again. She did kind of mean it. I knew she would change me in an instant if she could, and part of me wished she could do it too. I would give anything to not be locked inside myself any more, anything but Mum and Jasper’s happiness.
“Good. Look, none of us really care if you never talk again. Well, obviously, we do but you get what I mean. You’re fine just as you are,” he said, scratching the back of his neck a little uncomfortably.
“You know I’ll always be there for you, and so will Cole,” he added. Maybe I didn’t have the most understanding parents, but I did have the best brother and boyfriend anyone could ever want.
As we walked back to the B&B with two bottles of coke, Jasper changed the subject to Casey and how he was going to ditch her. I really didn’t think that would be an issue after tonight though. I couldn’t believe she was still with us! I felt tired after my conversation with Jasper and everything that had happened already today. I just wanted to sleep.
Jasper slammed one of the bottles down on the side and unscrewed the lid of the other. Pour it into glasses, don’t drink from the bottle! I almost fell over as he separated the plastic cups and started to pour coke in each one. Was he becoming civilised? Mark this date on a calendar, I joked to myself.
I climbed back on the bed and snuggled into Cole’s side, laying my head on his shoulder.
The rest of the evening passed in the same way. Jasper would be an idiot, and we would laugh at him. At ten o’clock Casey began yawning. Well done for sticking it out for that long! “I should get home,” she said, hiding another yawn behind her hand.
Jasper nodded and stood up. “Sure. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, right?”
“We’ll be back in the morning.”
“Look after her,” he demanded, nodding his head at me. Cole nodded and started gathering the empty pizza boxes up. We had managed to eat five of them, and the rest were going to be Jasper’s breakfast.
The second they closed the door; I peeled my clothes off and dived under the soft, puffy quilt. “You don’t have to be shy in front of me.” I can’t help it. “I’ll just take the boxes out, won’t be a minute.” I nodded, curling up underneath the cover and closing my eyes. I briefly woke up when I felt the bed dip. Cole’s arm flopped over my ribs, and he kissed the side of my head.
“Oakley, wake up, babe,” Cole whispered, and softly pressed his lips to my forehead. I frowned and shook my head. I didn’t want to get up. Whatever time it was it was too early. The events from yesterday came flooding back, and I didn’t have the energy to deal with it all again. He pulled the cover off me. I gasped and covered up my naked belly where my top had ridden up. Cole frowned.
“Don’t hide from me. You’re beautiful, and I’ve seen it all before.” He winked and walked off out of the room, probably to use the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, we had paid the room bill and were making our way to a café for breakfast. Cole’s phone rang. He had taken it off silent first thing, deciding we couldn’t ignore everyone forever. He pulled his phone out of his pocket as we sat down on a white, plastic looking table. He mouthed ‘your dad’ before answering.
“Hello. She’s fine,” he said, his voice short and snippy. “In an hour, we’re just having breakfast. Yep… Bye.”
His frown faded as he looked up at me.
“He just wanted to know when we’ll be home. I think they just want to sort it all out now.”
I looked at him carefully to see if he was just saying that to make me feel better. His face remained straight, and I knew he wasn’t lying to make it seem better.
“Pancakes?” he asked, looking up at me over the tatty menu. I nodded, feeling my empty stomach begging for food.
Throughout breakfast I couldn’t help thinking how this was probably the last time we would be properly alone for a while. Why couldn’t I be eighteen already?
Breakfast ended too soon and we got our things together and checked out. Cole opened the car door for me, with a little bow. I smiled at how stupidly cute he was.
“Oakley?” He paused and took a deep breath. I didn’t like where this was going already. He was all serious again.