CHAPTER 43

I walk back to Lucy's car a while later. I notice Joe is occupying the back seats so I sit at the front. 'Where the hell have you been?'

'I went to the toilets,' I reply as I close the car door shut and put on my seatbelt.

 'Do you want me to drive to Lily's house?'

'Yeah, you are coming aren’t you?' I ask and she nods.

 'Joe are you coming?' She asks as she makes eye contact with him through the mirrors.

 'Yeah, I just texted Jess and she's coming as well. I bite my lip hard enough to draw blood as I look at him through the mirrors. He looks back at me and I break the eye contact. 'I also texted Lily and told her that everyone should come and she agreed.'

'How very fascinating?' I sarcastically ask.

 'No one asked you for your opinion Kiera.'

'So? I'll still voice my opinions whether t they’ve been asked for or not.'

'Because the world always has to revolve around you doesn't it?' Joe asks and I scoff loudly.

 'Shut the hell up Joe.'

'Make me.'

'Okay, how about we appreciate the radio that is playing in the background?' Lucy suggests as she turns up the volume. I slouch in my chair as I can feel the awkward tension in the car.

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Lucy parks outside Lily's house and we notice Liz and Rosabella standing at Lily's doorstep. Jess appears from the corner and Joe walks out of the car and approaches her. I sigh loudly as Lucy and I walk out of the car. Lucy locks the car and we walk to Liz and Rosabella. 'Oh my God, where the hell have you been hiding?' Rosabella asks as she gives me a hug and I return it.

 'I haven't been hiding anywhere.'

'Yes you have, where are you staying right now?'

'That's not relevant,' I reply and Lily opens the door. We walk inside and Lily gives me a smile but I look away. We walk into the living room and I sit in the corner. Lucy sits next to me, with Liz and Rosabella opposite us.

I stand up and Lucy grabs my hand. ‘Where are you going?’ She asks curiously.

‘To get water,' I reply and she nods. 

I walk into the kitchen and see Lily and James talking. They stop talking once they notice me and I can't help but feel like a third wheel. 'Don't stop on my account, I just came to get a glass of water,' I say breaking the silence.

'You know you can get it yourself don't you?' Lily asks.

'Oh, I know that but I don't know if that rule still applies, you know after you kicked me out.'

'Kiera, I've apologised for that,' Lily replies as she gets a glass and fills it with water.

'I don't want your apologies Lily, I was simply reminding you,' I reply coldly and she sighs as she hands me the glass of water. I'm about to leave but James puts his hand on my arm. 'What?'

'Did you actually take heroin when you were on chemotherapy?' He asks, narrowing his eyes at me as he waits for an answer.

 'Who told you that?'

'None of your business, so answer my question.'

'Are you being serious? Are you actually telling me that it is none of my business?' I rhetorically ask and he scoffs.

'Just answer it, it isn’t that hard.'

'Was that what you two were discussing when I came in?' I receive no answer and I can tell just by looking at their face that it is in fact true.

 'Is it true?' Lily asks as she raises her eyebrows at me.

 'That is none of your business.'

'So it is true?' James asks and I roll my eyes.

 'I'm not going to deny it.'

'Please tell me that I didn’t hear you correctly,' Lily sighs. I scoff loudly as I sip the glass of water before pouring it down the drain. Lucy walks into the kitchen and stands by me.

 'Are you okay?' She asks and I nod.

 'You knew she was taking heroin didn’t you?' James asks as he looks at Lucy.

'James it has nothing to do with you.'

'You are actually pathetic Lucy.'

'Grow up James,' she replies instantly before dragging me out of the kitchen.

 'What was all that about?' She asks as we stand in the hallway.

 'I have no idea, someone told them about the heroin.'

'Who did?'

'I have no idea,' I sigh. She gives me a quick hug, in attempt to try and cheer me up.

 'Hey,' Katie says as we pull apart.

 'Hi,' replies Lucy.

'Kiera, are you still taking heroin?' She asks as she looks at me and I gasp.

'No, I've stopped.'

'Are you sure?'

'Of course I'm sure!’ I reply and she nods her head after a while. 'Why are you even asking me that?' I ask folding my arms.

 'Everyone is sort of talking about it and I thought I'd ask you, that way I'd get answers.'

'Who told everyone?' Lucy questions suspiciously.

 'No one important,' Katie replies as she tries to walk away.

 'Katie seriously,' Lucy says as she grabs her hand. Katie sighs before saying 'Joe did, I honestly thought you guys knew.'

'Well clearly we didn’t,' Lucy replies and I sigh loudly as the boy himself walks past us. 'Joe!' Lucy calls out loudly causing him to turn around to face her.

 'Yes?' Lucy is about to reply but Jess appears by his side, cuddling into him as Joe whispers something and Jess giggles.

 'Forget it,' I mutter and Lucy looks at me before saying 'Nothing.'

'People these days,' Joe mumbles loud enough for us to hear him as he and Jess walk hand in hand to the living room.

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'I want to show you something,' Lily says happily as I walk out of the bathroom on the third floor.

 'Erm... Okay,' I reply unsure of what to expect.

 'Relax, no need to look like that.'

'Whatever Lily just show me what you need to show me,' I reply impatiently and she rolls her eyes.

 'Hey Kiera,' says Max with Chris by his side who says nothing.

 'Hey,' I reply not bothering to acknowledge Chris' presence. 'I'll catch up with you later,' I say and he nods.

I follow Lily to my favourite guestroom and I'm surprised when I walk inside. Photos of Lily and me are all over the walls. I stare at each one, capturing the moment. I realise the background of the walls and notice that it says "Kiera Hayden" on all walls. The walls are painted pink which is my favourite colour and the furniture is also pink. 'Why would you do all of this?'

'Kiera, this is your room, it has been ever since we were young.'

'You didn’t need to do this. Is this because you felt guilty about kicking me out?' I ask defensively.

'No, it’s because you'll be staying here if you end up going to university here in London.'

'No, I'm not going to be staying here-'

'Yes you are, it has already been cleared up with your aunt and she thinks you’re staying here. Where are you staying?' She asks as she folds her arms, waiting for my answer.

 'That has nothing to do with you, it is none of your business.'

'It is my business Kiera.'

'No, it stopped being your business after you kicked me out, remember?' I ask harshly and she sighs like I'm the bad guy in the current situation.

 'I'll leave you to take this all in,' she replies after a long moment before leaving the room.

I sit down on the bed and put my hands in my hair, collecting my thoughts. A knock on the door brings me back to reality as Joe walks inside. 'Do you like your new room? I think it totally suits you,' he says as he walks inside.

'Oh, so are you talking to me now?' I ask, raising my eyebrows at him.

 'I was always talking to you Kiera, you know that.'

'I'm not sure about that but I do know that you have been talking about me behind my back, telling everyone about my drug use.' He closes his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. 'Do you not think I feel bad enough as it? Do you think I want everyone knowing about that? Why the hell would you even tell anyone that Joe?' I ask as I stand up to face him.

 'Kiera.'

'No, don’t even say my name' I reply angrily.

 'I'm sorry I was bang out of order.'  I scoff and say 'You're telling me.' 

'Kiera, I really am sorry.'

'Whatever, just go back to your girlfriend and leave me in peace,' I reply as I turn around. He grabs my wrist as he turns me around to face him. 'Joe get lost.'

'You know you could be my girlfriend if you wanted to Kiera,' he says softly as his eyes meet mine. I scoff loudly as I shake my head.

'Why would I want to be your girlfriend? I don’t even want to be your friend right now!'

'You don’t mean that,' he replies confidently.

 'This is why we will never work. You do things to upset me and then you apologise like it’s no big deal afterwards. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.'

'Hey, that's not true.'

'Get lost Joe. We're not friends, we never have been and we never will be.' I sigh loudly as I pull my wrist out of his grasp.

 'Are you telling me that you don’t want to be with me?' He asks as he raises his eyebrows.

 'No, I don’t want to be with you Joe. I mean who the hell would want to be with you?' I ask rhetorically ask and he gasps before leaving the room.

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After getting sick and tired of hearing my own breath, I go downstairs to see where everyone is. I walk into the living room and see Joe and Jess talking but no one else is in the room. I'm about to leave but Joe's eyes meet mine for a few seconds before he breaks eye contact and pulls Jess in for a long French kiss. 

I bite my tongue, clenching my fists by side as I quickly exit the room.