That Summer (Part Two) (10 page)

Three
years earlier…

Twenty-one.

That’s
how old I am today. Twenty-one years old and I couldn’t be happier.

Ok,
maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.

Ok,
maybe that’s a complete lie.

I’ve
tried to ignore the truth about today but now that it’s actually here… I don’t
think I can pretend anymore. A few of the girls from work want to take me out
after we’ve left the office for a meal and a few drinks but I can’t think of
anything worse.

I
know that might sound odd but the idea of having to sit there with a fake smile
on my face all night is enough to drive me insane. I don’t think I have the
endurance to pretend for that amount of time. The best I can normally do is a
few minutes.

“Serena,
you have to celebrate your twenty-first birthday. You just have to!” My work
college Corrine wails, sitting on my desk so she can swing her legs back and
forth.

“Corrine,
I’m really not in the mood, ok?”

“How
can you not be in the mood to have fun on your birthday? Besides, you have no
excuses seeing as its Friday
and
you’re twenty-one. That’s still a big
deal, Serena. You deserve to do something special.”

“All
I want to do is go home and relax.” I argue, feigning a yawn as I glance at the
clock behind her.

“You
can spend the rest of your weekend at home relaxing but tonight we’re going to
party and I won’t take no for an answer.”

She
jumps off my desk and shoots me a look which warns me not to challenge her
about this anymore. She’s made her mind up and Corrine is not the type of person
you say no to. I sigh heavily, raking my fingers through my hair as I check my
phone for a new message.

I
got a birthday text from Lisa this morning and another one from Natalie which I
thought was incredibly thoughtful of her. She still takes the time to check up
on me each year and I know I’m lucky to have someone in my life like her.

They’re
the only two people I will hear from today and I don’t know why I’m so
surprised. It’s not like anyone else even has my phone number so it’s not
possible that I would hear from someone else … it’s impossible.

And
yet I still check my phone.

God,
I’m such a mess, an absolute mess and I don’t know how to change that. It’s
been three years since I last saw him, three years since I was sent home and
had to move in with Lisa, three years since Cole went to prison.

The
police promised they would notify me once he was nearing the end of his
sentence and that’s exactly what they did three months ago. Natalie called me
one Saturday morning and asked if she could meet me in town for coffee, I was
quite surprised to hear from her because I knew she had been so busy with work
but went to meet her as soon as I hung up the phone.

Natalie
told me that Cole was not allowed to make contact with me and if he did I was
to notify the police immediately. She made me promise that I would call her if
I saw him and I felt compelled to listen to her advice. Natalie made a point of
keeping herself up to date with Cole’s custodial sentence and although she
didn’t tell me anything of real significance, she did mention the fact that he
was being made to serve his three years. I guess that means he must have been
in some trouble or involved himself in some fights or something, otherwise he
would have been released much sooner.

I
guess he still hates me and I guess he still wants to come looking for me.
That’s the only reason why Natalie would demand that I let her know anything
about him and I can’t help myself from wondering if Cole’s time in prison has
changed him into someone or something I won’t recognise. He always had that
dark side to him and I can only hope and pray that he hasn’t become more
dangerous, or that he would want to hurt me.

“Serena,
we’re ready to go!” Corrine squeals excitedly as soon as I exit the building.

There’s
six of them waiting for me outside and I inwardly groan, realising that I
really stand no chance of getting out of this.

“I
think I should go and get changed, don’t you? I don’t want to go out in my work
clothes.” I say, hoping it might give me a chance to sneak away quietly.

“I
guess I should change my outfit as well but don’t even
think
about
making any excuses when you get home. You’re coming out with us and we’re going
to have an amazing time, ok?”

“I
guess I really don’t have a choice in the matter.” I say, smiling weakly.

“That’s
right! We’ll you soon.”

We
arrange to meet outside my apartment in a couple of hours which will be enough
time for me to take a bath and get changed. I’ve been dreading the thought of
going out all day but now that I’m faced with the prospect, I’m actually
looking forward to it.

I’d
love to invite Lisa but I know she’s going away for the weekend with Stewart.
They’ve been dating for about a year now and she’s head over heels in love with
him. I’m sure she’s convinced herself that he’s going to propose to her this
weekend and a part of me hopes that her instincts are right. However, there’s
another part of me which misses my best friend. I understand that she’s not
going to stay single forever and one day she will get married and start a
family of her own but I also wonder where that will leave me.

I
open my closet in search of something to wear and decide on the little black
dress I bought a year ago and haven’t even worn yet. I’d made the purchase with
the intention of wearing it to go out on a date with a guy Lisa tried to set me
up with but I cancelled at the last minute and the dress stayed inside my
wardrobe.

I’ve
found it impossible to get close to anyone since Cole and I don’t see that
changing anytime soon. Sure, I talk to guys and flirt with them outrageously
but never take it any further. I’ve not slept with anyone since Cole and can’t
even kiss someone without feeling nauseous. It’s as though that part of me is
reserved for one person and one person alone.

The
one I can’t have.

Submerging
myself in the water, I breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve had a stressful week at
work because of my looming birthday and the memories I’m plagued by on a daily
basis. Maybe Corrine was right about going out tonight, I might end up having a
good time if I decide to loosen up a little and have some fun.

Corrine
and a couple of the others girls from the office meet me outside my apartment
just after eight. They’ve already got a taxi waiting and the four of us hop in
and head into town and I’m informed that we’ll be meeting the others at a
restaurant they’ve already picked out before going onto some new bar which has
opened in the centre of town.

I
consider making up an excuse as to why I can’t go onto the bar with them afterwards
but I’m pretty certain that Corrine and her posse won’t hear of me leaving
early. Deciding to go with the flow and forget about all of my problems, I sit
back and try to engage myself with their excitement.

“Serena,
I think you should know that Corrine has invited Kevin tonight.” Charlotte
whispers as soon as I step into restaurant.

I
barely know Charlotte but she’s a lot quieter than Corrine and the others. She
makes a point of taking me to one side and away from the group so she can speak
to me in private and I’m grateful she’s taken the time to do so.

“Are
you serious?” I ask, preparing myself for the worst.

“I
think she’s still fixated on the idea of setting the two of you up together.”
She replies, glancing at Corrine who isn’t even aware that we haven’t followed
her inside.

“It’s
never going to happen.” I retort firmly, folding my arms across my chest.

“Try
telling Corrine that.”

“Believe
me, I will.”

We
walk into the restaurant which is packed and find the others who have somehow
managed to grab the centre table. I groan when I see Kevin sitting beside
Corrine and realise that the empty seat next to him is meant for me.

She
tried to fix me up with Kevin several months ago when I first started working
with them at the office. I could tell he would interested but made sure I did
absolutely nothing to encourage his advances. However, this only seemed to
enhance his enthusiasm and it wasn’t until I took him aside at the Christmas
party and told him it was never going to happen that he finally listened to me.

I
have no idea why he came along tonight seeing as he’s the only man here and I’m
also furious with Corrine for putting me in this situation on my birthday.

“Hi,
Serena.”

He
greets me with uncertainty, moistening his lips as though he’s afraid of my
response.

“Hi,
Kevin. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

I
make a point of shooting a scathing look to Corrinne, furious with her for
playing with Kevin and embarrassing me in front of everyone.

“Corrine
invited me.” He says, smiling weakly.

“I
figured.”

Taking
my seat next to him, I prepare myself for a horrendous evening. Little did I
know it was about to get worse…

“So
how does it feel to be twenty-one?” Kevin asks, opening the door for me as we
all leave the restaurant.

“No
different to being twenty.” I quip sharply, shivering now that I’m outside in
the cold night air.

“Sorry,
that was a stupid question.” He apologises, avoiding eye contact with me.

“No,
it wasn’t. It’s just that I really didn’t want to come out tonight. I was
pretty much forced by a certain someone who won’t take no for an answer.”

“I
know exactly who you mean. She pretty much pressurised me into coming out with
you guys.” He admits, rolling his eyes in Corrine’s direction.

“You
must think I’m so rude. My manners have been appalling tonight.”

“No,
I don’t think that at all.” He assures me. “I think you’re amazing.”

“Kevin…”
I warn him, taking a step back from him.

“Serena,
I know you don’t feel that way about me. It took me a long time to accept that
but I now know that it’s pointless hoping you will change your mind. All I want
to do now is be your friend… if you will let me.”

“And
you swear that’s all you want?”

“I
promise you. It’s clear to see that you’re in love with someone else and I’m
not foolish enough to convince myself that I can replace whoever he or she is.”

I
chuckle softly, amused by his insinuation that I might be a secret lesbian or
something equally absurd.

“Thank
you for being so kind to me.” I say gently. “I know I haven’t been as kind to
you as I should have been.”

“Don’t
worry about it. I’m used to beautiful women rejecting me, it’s sort of like my
hobby now.”

He
grins at me in a playful manner and I find myself smiling for the first time
tonight.

“I’m
definitely not beautiful but you’re very sweet”

“Serena,
you are.”

His
eyes lock with my own, holding my gaze for a fraction of a moment too soon
before he turns away.

“I
guess I better head home. It’s pretty late.”

“Why
don’t you come out with us for a little while? I won’t be staying too long and
we can share a taxi home together.”

He
notices the expression on my face and quickly assures me that he didn’t mean
anything by it. He promises he won’t try anything with me and will simply make
sure I get home ok on our way back. I finally acquiesce and agree to go on with
the others to the bar they’ve all been talking about and step into the taxi
behind Kevin.

I
wrap my arms around myself, unable to shake off the disconcerting feeling I
have of being watched. I felt it ever since I left my apartment earlier on and
now it’s overwhelming. I glance out the window and scan the busy crowds which
are gathered on the main high street. I can’t spot anyone or anything
suspicious but my instincts are still in tune with something that my eyes can’t
see and my rationalisation disputes.

Someone’s
out there and they’re watching…

The
bar has a really great atmosphere and now that I’m feeling more relaxed with
Kevin, I actually end up having a great time. The two of us have more in common
than I first thought and it’s clear that I underestimated him before and
dismissed him unfairly.

He’s
really good looking and I’ve always known that but I still can’t see myself
developing romantic feelings for him. My heart belongs to someone else and I
have no interest in anything with anyone but the man who owns it.

“Are
you having a good time?” Kevin asks, leaning forward in his seat so I can hear
him over the loud music.

“I
actually am!” I yell enthusiastically. “I never thought I would be able to say
that.”

“I’ve
noticed how sad you look at work.” He admits, sounding sympathetic. “It’s not
nice to witness someone so unhappy when you know you can’t do anything about
it.”