Fifteen Going on Grown Up (35 page)

Hally dragged herself out of bed and quietly made her way downstairs. She had tried to go back to sleep but Wes’ face as she had last seen him kept swimming in front of her every time she closed her eyes; so she had given up. The house was quiet as she made her way to the kitchen. She knew it wouldn’t be that way for long, her parents would be up soon and so would Nathan who never seemed to sleep later than seven even at the weekend. She stood at the window waiting for the kettle to boil watching the birds pecking around the lawn. The sky was overcast and heavy looking like her heart felt. The click of the kettle switching off diverted her attention from the garden and she turned to pour water onto a teabag. Her phone which was in her dressing gown pocket chirped an incoming message making her jump. Hot water spilled onto her hand and she gave a squeal of pain. She quickly turned on the cold tap and let the water run over the angry red welt that had already appeared on the fleshy part of her hand near her thumb. The water eased the soreness a little and she left it to run as she took her phone out of her pocket with her other hand. Her heart began to race as she saw a message from Wes and quickly opened it.

i need to see you i need to explain xxx

Awkwardly and unsuccessfully Hally tried to tap a reply with one hand, so she laid her phone down and pulled her scalded hand from underneath the cold water. Almost immediately the soreness returned but she ignored it as she wrote a single word back.

when

She pressed send and waited. She heard a gently rushing noise and at first couldn’t determine its origin, then she realised she had left the tap running. As she turned it off she also realised that she hadn’t even asked about Ellie. Guiltily she quickly wrote another message.

how is ellie

And as she pressed send her phone beeped notifying her of an incoming message.

now

Was all the message said. Hally’s breath caught in her throat. She desperately wanted to see him, but was unsure of how she would react when she did. She wasn’t even sure how she felt at that moment.

“Are you going to drink that?”

Hally was so startled her phone jumped out of her hand and for a few seconds a comic act of weird juggling went on. Luckily she was able to stop the phone falling into the sink and holding it tightly turned to her mum who had just come into the kitchen.

“Umm…drink what?”

Hally managed to mumble as her heart began to settle to its normal rhythm.

“Your tea baby.”

Mum replied gently.

“Oh… I forgot…I spilt hot water on my hand and then Wes texted me.”

Hally replied in a flat voice. She still wasn’t quite with it.

“Oh darling let me see.”

Mum said as she came over and gently took Hally’s hand examining the burn.

“Mmm… doesn’t look like it’s going to blister. Did you run it under cold water?”

Hally nodded and looked up into her mum’s eyes.

“He wants to see me now.”

She stated.

“But?”

Mum replied.

“Mum, I don’t know what I’m going to say to him, or even how to react when I see him.”

Hally said tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. Mum pulled her into a hug and said.

“Baby, first you need to be sure that you do want to see him now. The rest you will discover when you do.”

Hally clung to her mum, quietly sobbing.

“Do…you… think I should see him?”

She asked hoping her mum would be able to tell her what to do as she was so unsure.

“Well, it might be best to get it all sorted out now. You know waiting could just make it harder.”

Hally nodded into her mum’s shoulder still holding on tightly. There was a bang from behind and both looked up to see Nathan rubbing his elbow.

“Ouch! Who put that chair there?”

He exclaimed sulkily. Hally stood back a little ready to let her mother tend to her brother, but mum didn’t let go immediately. Instead she turned her head and said to her son.

“It has always been there Nathan. You need to be a bit more careful or you’re going to really hurt yourself.”

Holding out his arm Nathan screwed up his face and looked at mum with wide eyes. Then in his sweetest voice he said.

“Mummy could you rub it please? It really hurts.”

Hally’s heart melted, her own problems pushed aside for a moment. Before mum could respond to Nathan Hally moved to her brother and knelt down.

“Come here Natty, let me rub it.”

Nathan wasn’t particular about whose attention he was getting so long as someone eased the bump on his elbow, so he leaned into Hally and let her look at the spot where it hurt. A small red mark had appeared that would most likely become a bruise later and Hally gently moved her thumb across it. It only took a few seconds before Nathan was happy again.

“Sbetter.”

He beamed hopping onto a chair to wait for his breakfast. Hally’s phone went off again and she saw another one word message.

well

Mum raised her eyebrows questioningly. Hally tapped in ‘ok’ and pressed send.

“I’ve said ok. Do you think that’s right?”

Mum nodded as she placed a glass of juice in front of Nathan who took no notice of his sister’s and mum’s conversation. Food was the only thing on his mind.

Wes arrived in record time. Hally was still in her nightwear and both her parents were now in the kitchen. Dad wasn’t too keen on Wes coming round but didn’t voice his opinion too strongly. In his heart he knew Hally had to get a full explanation, but he was very angry with Wes for hurting his daughter. He felt like Wes had betrayed his entire family as they were all very fond of him. It was like a slap in the face. Whilst Hally had gone to the bathroom, mum had told her husband that she felt the same, but that they had to try and stay out of it, that Hally would let them know if she wanted them to get more involved. Reluctantly dad agreed and so he sat quietly when Wes arrived.

As usual Wes came to the back door and mum let him in. He looked embarrassed and very nervous as he said hello. Mum tried a small smile but dad just nodded without speaking. Hally gave him a pained look and indicated he follow her to the lounge. As they entered the room, Wes tried to put his arms around her but she moved away from him and sat in an armchair. Never before had they sat in the room on separate seats. Wes lowered his arms and his head and dejectedly dropped onto the sofa.

“Would you sit with me?”

He asked in a voice that trembled. Hally felt her heart pound but resolved to keep her distance. She didn’t want his charm and strong loving arms to cloud what was inevitably going to be a difficult time, so she shook her head. Wes sighed deeply. Hally sat looking straight at him and was finally able to speak.

“So how is Ellie?”

Was all she could say. Wes looked up and replied, his voice still wobbly.

“She’s out of danger. It wasn’t meningitis, luckily, but she does have a serious virus, so they’re keeping her in. Her temperature has dropped a bit but it’s not back to normal yet. Mum and dad are still at the hospital.”

Hally felt a degree of strength begin inside and when she spoke her voice was clear and steady.

“So, shouldn’t you be there too then?”

Wes placed his hands over his face and then Hally noticed his shoulders were shaking. Then she heard him sobbing and suddenly his whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Hally couldn’t leave him by himself. All the times he had held her through so many painful times, been there to comfort and protect her. Now, whatever happened in their future, she still loved him and he needed her comfort. Quietly she moved to the sofa and sat next to him, pulling him to her. He came without resistance and leaned into her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She held him as he cried stroking his hair and letting it slide through her fingers.

Some time went by as they sat in silence, Wes crying in Hally’s arms. Gradually his sobs began to subside and his shaking steadied. He clung to Hally as though he were drowning at sea and she was his life preserver as his tears eased and lessened to occasional sobs. Finally Hally shifted her weight and Wes sat up a little straighter. Hally reached for the box of tissues that was on a nearby side table and handed them to him. Wes pulled a wad from the box and held them to his red and puffy face. He tried not to look at Hally, embarrassment evident in his eyes. She saw his discomfort and spoke for the first time in what seemed like hours.

“It’s ok to cry Wes.”

Wes could only nod, his breath coming in odd little gasps as his body recovered from the long spell of tears.

“I’ll get you some water.”

She told him standing. He held her hand and shook his head so she lowered herself back to the sofa.

“It’s..I’m..don’t…go”

He stuttered. He pressed more tissues to his face and then took a very deep breath.

“Hally you must hate me.”

He managed quite clearly. Hally shook her head but he still had his face covered and couldn’t see her. So she said

“I don’t hate you Wes. I’m hurt and confused and very angry and I don’t know what to say, but I don’t hate you.”

Wes screwed the tissues into a ball in his hand and looked at her with eyes still gleaming with unshed tears.

“I so wanted to tell you. A long time ago, but I just couldn’t. I just kept thinking one day soon. Stupidly imagining that you would just smile your beautiful smile and tell me it was fine, so what if I had a daughter? It wouldn’t affect our relationship. God how dumb could I be? I mean of course it would be a shock no matter when I told you. But I had hoped to break it to you in a way that perhaps wouldn’t freak you out and then you would get used to it.”

Wes was squeezing the ball of tissues in his hand. Hally placed her own hand over his and stilled the fidgeting.

“Tell me everything now please?”

She whispered gently. Wes took another deep breath, leaned back against the cushions and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he looked at her and began.

“I was just sixteen, so was my girlfriend. She was a bit older than me.”

Wes paused, already struggling to explain. Hally shifted on the sofa.

“Look, I’m going to get us some drinks and tell my parents that we are going to need some time, ok? So you stay here (she held out her hand) and give me those tissues, and work out how you are going to tell me.”

Without waiting for a reply Hally stood up and left the room. Mum and dad were still in the kitchen and looked up expectantly when she came in.

“I’m ok. I’m just getting us some coffee, I’ll tell you everything later. Wes is pretty upset and we have only just got started. I think it’s going to take quite a while.”

Hally told them busying herself with mugs and coffee. Dad frowned.

“Huh…he’s upset…”

“Colin, leave them to it.”

Mum told him gently and he didn’t say anymore. Hally gave her father a desperate look and seeing the strain on his daughter’s face he came over and kissed her cheek.

“Ok angel. I won’t say another word. We will just be here if you need us.”

Hally smiled gratefully at her dad and poured hot water into the mugs, then carrying them carefully she returned to the lounge.

Wes was again leaning back against the cushions with his eyes closed. He looked worn out, the puffiness around his eyes mixed with dark circles from lack of sleep made him look ill. Hally set the mugs down and he opened his eyes and gave her a little smile. Tucking her feet under her, Hally sat next to him waiting for him to begin what she knew was going to be long story. Wes reached for his coffee but changed his mind, not wanting even the simple act of drinking to delay what he had to tell her. So instead he turned to face her and began.

“We had been going out for a long time. I was only thirteen when we first met. She had moved and just started at my school. Like you said before, I was part of the popular crowd and this girl, Sophie, was gorgeous and slotted right in with the popular girls.”

Hally felt fear grip her heart. This girl was everything she despised in a girl, someone she just knew was vain, could get any boy she wanted and would dump when she’d had enough. She hated her without even knowing her for she had captured Wes’ heart, taken everything she could from him and left him. How could he ever feel like that about her? However she didn’t voice any of this as he continued.

“All the way through we had an on/off relationship. She kept getting all stroppy if I even spoke to another girl yet she was ok with flirting with any and all the guys. I broke up with her a few times but she would come crying back with how sorry she was and how much she loved me. I was a sucker and head over heels and couldn’t see how manipulative she was.”

Hally sighed, feeling a little sorry for the young Wes. She had seen the popular girls at school do exactly the same to boys. Dana and Penny and their crowd had especially been like that in years eight and nine, now things were very different. Wes continued.

“Of course at that age we couldn’t really go out. I mean we went to the cinema and cafés and hung out in the parks with our crowd. Mostly we spent time at either my house or hers. Her parents were a bit strange, they didn’t have a lot to do with her but they spoilt her. She had an older brother but he was out most of the time. When they had her they were over the moon at getting a girl but seemed to just ply her with stuff and not love.”