CHAPTER 7

A week later and I still don't feel like I have settled in. I sigh and look at the phone in my hands. I notice a few text messages, so I open them.

Kiera, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I thought that you'd hook up with Joe behind my back but it's not like it matters now because you probably hate me. xoK

Are you going to apologise yet? Because Kara is still waiting. James.

Hey, how are you settling back in? We haven't spoken properly since our interaction with Katie. ¬Joe¬

I reply to all of them but can't help but frown at James' text because he hasn't singed it with "love James" like he always does so I know he is angry. Who cares? Certainly not me.

(To Katie) It's forgotten, but God you were such a cow, I was so shocked :P ~K~

(To James) She will be waiting for an eternity then because I will never apologise. Tell her to have fun waiting! ~K~

(To Joe) Yeah, I know. I don't even think I am settling in. ~K~

I play with my phone in my hands, waiting for someone to reply to my text. 

I heard you and Katie are talking again. You must be ecstatic. xo-Luce.

I roll my eyes at the text message Lucy has sent me because I can see the sarcasm right in it.

(To Lucy) Why would I when you're still ignoring me? ~K~

Before I can put my phone away, I receive replies from James, Katie and Joe.

Fine Kiera; don't bother talking to me then! James.

I scoff and I'm definitely not going to reply to that so I ignore it and open the next text.

I know and I'm sorry! Like so so so so sorry! xoK

It'll be fine! Don't worry, you just need to get used to it again. :) ¬Joe¬

(To Katie) Katie, stop apologising! :) ~K~

(To Joe) Yeah, I hope so. ~K~

I switch my phone off and slip it into my pocket before starring out of the window.

Ten minutes later, I snap out of my gaze and feel like I need fresh air. I grab my jacket and walk down the stairs. 'Hey Kiera, are you going out?'

'Yes Anna, is that okay?'

'Of course it is. Lily is in the living room with a friend, would you like her to go with you?'

'No thanks, I want to go alone.'

'Okay, have fun,' she replies walking past me and up the stairs. I walk out of the door, admiring the soft breeze that greets me as soon as I walk outside. The sun beams upon my face and my gaze locks onto the cloudless sky. 

I consider where to go as I don't want to go back to Lily's house. I begin walking, without a destination in mind. I allow my legs to keep walking, eyeing my surroundings.

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Five minutes later, I find myself outside the park. The park I spent all my childhood at. I stop walking for a moment and get my phone out of my pocket. 'Kiera!' I turn around to see Chris and Lucy walking towards me. He wraps his arms around my neck and I return the embrace. 'When did you get back?'

'A week ago.' I truthfully say.

'So how come I didn't know that you were back in town?'

'I'm not sure to be honest, maybe you’re just oblivious when it comes to your surroundings,' I tease. He sarcastically laughs before asking 'who else knows you're back?'

'I'm not really sure, I might not have seen them but they might be aware of my return,' he smiles before replying 'well who have you seen then?'

'Pretty much everyone except Max and Tom.'

'That's lucky; Lucy and I were actually going to meet them at Starbucks. Do you want to come? I'm sure they'd love to see you,' I raise my eyebrows, considering his offer.

'I'm sure Kiera already has plans Chris.' Lucy replies instantly as she looks at Chris

'Nonsense Luce,' replies Chris while starring at me, waiting for me to reply. Lucy sighs loudly and I check the time on my phone which reads 13:30. 'Okay then.'

'Great,' he smiles cheerfully but Lucy doesn't look pleased. 

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We arrive at Starbucks five minutes later. 'Finally,' say Max and Tom but when they see me they both pull me into an embrace. 'Hello to you too.'

'What are you doing here?'

'I came here to visit; do you have a problem with that Max?' I question jokingly.

'Shut up Kiera, of course I don't.'

'Why didn't you tell us you were coming?' I shrug my shoulders at Tom's question.

'Right, I'll just go and order the drinks then shall I?' Lucy asks sarcastically, talking to no-one in particular.

'You just do that,' replies Chris and I smirk. She rolls her eyes before going to the till and requesting our drinks. Chris and I sit besides Max and Tom.

'So how have you been Kiera?' Chris asks.

'I've been good. What about you guys?'

'I think it is fair to say that we have all been good.' Tom replies and I can't help but smile at his reply. Lucy returns and sits opposite me, handing Chris and I our drinks.

'What did you get for me?' I ask.

'Your favourite' she replies bringing a smile to my face as I sip my drink. 

The conversation goes smoothly as I catch up with my old friends. 'I'm going to the toilets,' announces Lucy.

'Ew too much info Luce,' replies Tom immaturely. She slaps the back of his head gently before walking into the toilets. I can't help but follow her as I excuse myself. 

I sit near the sink as I patiently wait for her to come out. I softly swing my legs back and forth, hitting the wall quietly. I hear the toilet flush and I mime 'finally.' She comes out seconds later and raises her eyebrows at me.

'Why are you here? You obviously don't need the toilet.'

'We need to talk.'

'No we don't.'

'Shut up Lucy, we do and you know it,' she rolls her eyes washing her hands.

'We can't exactly talk here,' she replies.

'I think I'm aware of that.'

'We can talk at Lily's house, I was planning to go there anyway,' she states before drying her hands.

'Whatever floats your boat,' I tell her causing her to scoff. She doesn't bother replying to my comment and I walk out of the toilets, joining the boys. I stand up, grabbing my jacket, 'I'm going to go now.'

'What? Things were only getting interesting,' mutters Max and I smirk.

'You will hang out with us again won't you?' Chris asks.

'Of course I will.'

'Good,' he replies. Lucy comes out and asks 'are you going now?' I nod my head and she grabs her belongings before saying 'bye' and walking out with me. 

We walk in silence as neither of us know what to say. It's lucky for us that Lily's house is a few minutes away from Starbucks and we get there in no time.

I open the door as it is already unlocked and we both step inside. Kara walks out of the living room and looks at Lucy. 'Lucy, get in here now,' she states before she walking back inside.

'You can find me whenever you feel like it, I'm sure I'll be around,' I tell her before walking upstairs. 

I walk into the guest room and I see Anna cleaning it up. 'You're back Kiera' she states, looking up at me.

'Yes, I am. I'm sorry I didn't get time to clean up my mess.'

'Don't worry about it Kiera,' she insists and I nod my head, sitting on the bed. 'So what did you get up to?'

'I went to the park at first and then I went to Starbucks with Lucy and Chris, meeting Max and Tom there.'

'That sounds like fun,' she smiles and I mirror her smile. 'I'm glad you're fitting in well Kiera.'

'Me too.'

'So how is living with your grandma?' She asks, folding some clean blankets.

'I'm sure Lily told you already so there is no need to ask.' She has confusion written all over her face. She puts the blankets down, as she asks 'Lily has told me what?'

'That my grandma is dead.' She gasps loudly and puts her hand over her mouth. It's obvious that Lily didn't tell her which is a surprise.

'When did that happen and why didn't you tell me sooner?'

'It happened a while ago and now I'm staying with one of my Aunts.'

'Oh Kiera,' she sighs softly as she hugs me.

'I'm fine.' I keep repeating over and over again.

'Honey, you are far from fine,' she says stroking my hair softly. When we pull apart, she looks into my eyes, analysing them in depth. 'Something else is wrong Kiera, I can feel it.'

'It's nothing Anna, I can assure you.'

'Kiera, I wasn't born yesterday,' she replies immediately. I sigh loudly as I admit 'my grandma died of a brain tumour.'

'What?' Anna panics.

'The same kind of tumour that my mother had died of.' She stares at me in shock, not knowing what to say.

'The doctor carried out some tests because he thought it was genetic and as a result it is genetic. I have the faulty gene.' Glistening tears form in my eyes and hover for a moment, before they fall down my cheeks. She pulls me into another embrace and says 'it's going to be okay Kiera, you are going to survive this.' She begins to repeat this as she massages my scalp. 

After I calm down, I look at her and ask 'how am I supposed to tell the others?'

'I thought you already told Lily.'

'I only told her about my grandma being dead; she doesn't know what she died from.'

'Do whatever you feel is right, if you want to tell them then only you can make that decision but you will know in here,' she puts her hand over my heart and continues 'if you should tell them or not. Just know that whatever you choose, I will always support you and you will always have a home here,' she hugs me again and I can't help but melt into the touch. 

A knock on the door ends our embrace to our disappointment and Lucy comes in looking between us. 'I'm going to go and leave you girls to it,' she says looking at me. She greets Lucy before she leaves. Lucy sits down opposite me and states 'you're crying.'

'Can we not talk?' I whisper and she nods her head. I wrap my arms around my legs, burying my face into them, hiding my tears. She sighs before moving closer and wraps her arm around my neck, making me cry harder.