Silence (Silence #1)(25)

“Morning, sweetheart,” she said warmly. “Hot chocolate?” I nodded and sat down at the table. “Croissants are in the oven, they shouldn’t be long.”

“I’m going to have a shower,” Dad informed us and walked out of the kitchen. He didn’t want to be around us. That was fine by me.

“How was your date last night?” How did she know it was a date? Did Cole tell her? Of course he didn’t, you idiot! Perhaps it was just obvious? I frowned and shook my head.

“It wasn’t a date?” Her face fell. “Oh. Well, did you have a nice time anyway?”

Jasper came downstairs, and Mum changed the subject, knowing how protective he could get. I idly wondered how he would react if he knew the truth about what happened to me. Out of everyone I thought Jasper was the most likely to believe me. Although there was a three-year age gap between us and he annoyed the hell out of me, we were close. That also meant that I didn’t ever want him to find out; I wouldn’t be able to cope if he didn’t believe me.

“So, what’s everyone doing today?” Jasper asked, and stuffed a hot croissant fresh from the oven into his mouth. I waited for him to react to the heat and spit it back on his plate but he didn’t. Was his mouth made of steel?

“I’m taking Oakley to gymnastics, and then going food shopping,” Mum replied, smiling at Jasper briefly while she busied herself buttering the croissants. “What about you?”

“Computer,” he mumbled and stuffed more food in his mouth.

“You could look for a part-time job?” Mum suggested.

Jasper scrunched his nose up.

“Or not.”

Lazy boy. It was my parents’ fault though; they had said they would support us while we were still in full-time education. Until Jasper finished college, he wouldn’t have to do anything.

Mum shook her head but didn’t say anything else to him. She turned to me.

“So I was thinking we could go clothes shopping on Thursday? I need some things for the holiday and thought it would be nice for us both to get our nails done.”

So the appointment was on Thursday. I nodded my head and picked at my food, no longer feeling hungry. How am I going to get myself out of this one?

“Great,” she beamed. “Now eat up, we’ve got to leave in half an hour.”

Once I had managed to force down half a croissant, I went to get ready for gymnastics. I couldn’t wait to get there and get lost in throwing my body around. Gymnastics was an escape that I longed for every day. I loved how all my thoughts disappeared, and all that was left was a normal, teen-aged me, a version of me that I wanted to be all the time.

We pulled up outside the front door of the gym and Mum kissed me on the cheek.

“Have a good time. I’ll see you when you get home.”

I smiled briefly and got out of the car, shutting the door behind me. Cole was going to pick me up after practice, and we were going somewhere.

Gymnastics was as great as usual. I spent a lot of time practising the beam routine, balancing in positions that had made my eyes water at the very thought of them when I first joined. I flipped off the beam, and flew though the air; a smile pulled at my lips. I could do this forever, I thought, landing gracefully on the floor.

“That was amazing, Oakley,” Marcus exclaimed. “You nailed it! Go again.” Nodding, I ran around to the other end of the beam to start again.

I was panting by the end of the class: my muscles ached, but I liked the feeling; it was the feeling of achievement.

“Alright guys, same time Monday,” Marcus shouted, dismissing us all.

I sprinted to the changing rooms and took a quick shower. I didn’t want to be all sweaty for whatever Cole had planned, so I changed into some fresh clothes and tried to tame my messy hair. Looking in the mirror, I groaned. My hair looked like a bird’s nest, sticking out in all different directions.

“Need a hairbrush?” Jade offered, handing hers out to me. I smiled gratefully and dragged it through the unruly blonde mass. When I finished, I placed it down in front of where she was applying her eyeliner and smiled again.

“You’re welcome,” she mumbled, looking in the mirror with an intense concentration. Giving her a quick wave, I ran out of the door, eager to meet up with Cole.

I saw him immediately. He was leaning up against the wall in the entrance.

“Hey,” he said happily and kissed my cheek. “I thought we could have lunch and go bowling now. Then I’ll take you home to get ready for tonight.”

I bit my lip to try to stop myself grinning too much and looking like a creep.

“I’m not telling you where we’re going tonight though,” he teased, bumping my shoulder with his. “Just wear something casual.”

Cole grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. I slammed against his chest and gasped in shock. Before I could think anything, his lips covered mine. I felt dizzy with happiness. He beamed as he abruptly pulled away.

“Come on, I’m starving!”

We drove to the bowling alley in comfortable silence and parked as close to the door as he could get so we wouldn’t have to walk too far. We were seated in the restaurant quickly at as barely anyone was eating at two in the afternoon.

“Oakley, your mum told me something yesterday. I’m not meant to say anything, but I don’t think I can do that,” he said nervously. Great, so she tells everyone about my appointment except me. I nodded once for him to continue.