Hawthorn by Jamie Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page B

and stare at the huge crack in the mirror.
     
    The mirror is gone. Jules took it away. She asked me how it broke and I told her I just touched it. I don’t think she believed me. I’m not sure I believe me. I mean, how the hell? It doesn’t make any sense. So, I stop worrying about it.
    The dresser looks strange, bare without the mirror, but I can’t help but feel as if it makes the room feel lighter somehow.
    I finish uploading pictures of my latest creations onto my blog and then pick up my mobile phone and plug it in. I’m ready to speak to Liam now. I need to hear his voice, to hear the truth or lies in his tone.
    He picks up on the third ring.
    “Hey, Gemma.”
    For a moment I am speechless, hearing his voice after all these weeks. It’s like a blow to my heart.
    “Gemma? You there?”
    “Yeah, yeah. I’m here.”
    “I’m so glad you called. I wanted to speak to you about something.”
    And here it is, but I find I don’t want him to say it, that I need to get in there first. “I know. Beth told me.”
    “Beth? Beth told you? I don’t understand.”
    “Yeah, she saw you. In Costa, with Jessica.”
    There is a long silence in which I can almost hear the cogs in his brain turning.
    “She told you I was with Jessica and you thought it was a date?”
    He sounds so incredulous that hope blooms in my chest.
    “Well, I… Wasn’t it?”
    “Shit, no! I went in to get a cappuccino and she was there. She asked me to sit with her, so I did, that’s all. It was fifteen minutes, maybe half hour. I can’t believe you’d think that I would… After you told me that you liked me!”
    I feel really stupid now. “I’m sorry.”
    “Yeah, you should be, especially since I spent that time in Costa telling Jessica I couldn’t tutor her anymore because I was going to visit my girlfriend in Learmonth.”
    Girlfriend? Me? I want to jump up and down squealing with joy, but instead I catch my lower lip between my teeth and take a moment to do an internal jig.
    “Girlfriend, eh?”
    “Is that okay?” He sounds suddenly insecure.
    “It’s okay.”
    “So see you on Saturday?”
    In the excitement of being suddenly promoted to girlfriend, I’d almost missed the fact that he’d said he was coming to see me.
    “Gemma? Is that okay? Can I come see you?”
    “Yes! Yes please!”
    He laughs and so do I.
    “So, see you then. Call me when you get to the village and I’ll come down and meet you.”
    “No need. I’m sure I can find the house on the hill. If not, I’ll call you.”
    “Okay. See ya.”
    I press the end call button and stare at my phone.
    Mum is going to be pissed. She knows Liam’s my best friend, but she doesn’t like it too much. I know this and I don’t care. Once Liam is here she can hardly tell him to get lost, can she? There’s also the added bonus of Saturday being the twins’ birthday. Hopefully Liam will arrive when they’re out so I’ll get some time alone with him. Excitement bubbles in my chest and there is no way I can sit still now. Two sleeps to go. I feel like a kid leading up to Christmas.
    I am heading out the door, eager to get rid of all this pent up energy, when Danny appears out of nowhere and rugby tackles my legs.
    “Whoa!” I grab hold of his shoulders and push him back slightly. “What’s the matter?”
    He looks up with tear-filled eyes. “Heather’s being mean.”
    I sigh. This has become common place of late and, to be honest, I don’t understand it. Mum and Jules say it’s a phase. I hope it passes quickly because I miss the twins the way they used to be, together, happy, each other’s best friend. I resolve to have a sit down with Heather as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have a miserable little boy in desperate need of cheering up. I glance out the window. The sky is clear blue, not a cloud in sight. It’s a beautiful day.
    “Go have a wee and then get your trainers and coat on. We’re going for a walk.”
    His face brightens. “Yay!” He