A Hope Christmas Love Story Read Online Free Page B

and Lizzie sidles up beside me and says, “I thought there was something going on!” But I don’t care. Because this is my evening; my one little slice of normal teenage life and I am going to have fun.
    ***
    I think for a horrible moment when Melanie arrives she is still going to blow me out. But then she starts gabbling nonsense at me, and it suddenly dawns on me, she is as nervous as I am. And then everything is ok.
    The evening goes by in a blur. There is the usual crush at these things, and around midnight, people start playing stupid drinking games, which isn’t really my thing. It’s hot and sweaty inside, so I say, “Fancy some fresh air?” and we wander out in the garden. Karen’s garden is massive and it’s been decked out with fairy lights.
    It’s a cold evening, so I give Melanie my coat. She looks gorgeous in a pretty flouncy dress, but she doesn’t look very warm.
    We wander down the garden holding hands, and I can honestly say I have never felt happier. It’s a clear starry night and we find a bank at the bottom of the garden, and lie down on my coat and look at the stars together. It is so peaceful and I feel utterly content.
    We lie quietly, side by side. It’s weird this feeling of not needing to talk. I’ve never had that with a girl before. But I like it. In fact I like everything about being with Melanie. Being with her is totally restful. And she accepts me for who I am. I just can’t get enough of her.

Chapter Nine
    I suddenly realise it’s midnight. I feel terrible. Normally when I’m out, I ring Mum at some point to check on Lou Lou. But tonight I’ve completely forgotten. And it’s too late now. I jerk upright, and grab my phone. One text from Mum:
Everything fine. Lou Lou settled. Have a great evening. Love Mumxxx
    I text back:
Thanks Mum, you’re a star. Sorry I forgot to callxxx.
    Mum comes right back.
Don’t worry about it. HAVE FUNxxx
    I take a deep breath. I’m so lucky to have a mum like her. And I feel lousy that I have dumped on her.
    “Everything ok?” Will looks at me with concern.
    “Yes, fine,” I say. “Just forgot to check something with my mum.”
    And that weaselly guilty feeling rises in my gullet. “Something”, Lou Lou was more than something. Why can’t I just tell him the truth? But where do I begin?
    “Only I thought you were about to rush off again,” he says “Like you always do.”
    “Do I?” I say nonchalantly. I hadn’t realised he’d noticed. But it makes me feel quite squirmy inside to know that he has.
    “Yes,” he says. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were going to turn into a pumpkin.”
    “Nothing like that,” I say, but I feel at war with myself. I love spending time with Will, but just how long can I go on keeping Lou Lou a secret?
    ***
    She does it again. We’re having a great time, or so I think, and suddenly she leaps up as if she’s been shot and frantically starts texting someone. She says it’s nothing, just family stuff, but again there’s that guarded look. And I wonder what she’s hiding and why.
    I make a feeble joke about her turning into a pumpkin, as she’s always rushing away from me, then wish I hadn’t because she says, “Do I really?” She looks so stricken, that I feel bad. Whatever it is she’s keeping secret, she must have her reasons.
    But then she suddenly says she’s cold and we go inside, and the magic is lost.
    The party is in full swing but now: the drinking game people are beyond the point of no repair: a couple of them are throwing up. Mel looks at me, and I look at her. This isn’t really our idea of fun.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I say, “But I really do live round the corner. Do you want to crash there instead?”
    Melanie looks at the bodies on the floor in various stages of comatoseness. I can see she’s weighing up what I’ve said. But she also looks nervous. Damn. I’ve spooked her.
    “Look, I really don’t expect anything,” I say. “I’m