CHAPTER 39

04/07/91

I haven’t written in this diary for three months. The overwhelming feeling of a mother has been successfully distracting me. How could I have gotten so lucky? Dave has taken Kaiden for a little walk in the park in his push chair, leaving me a little time to for myself, so I thought why not start writing in my diary again?

I can't even describe my happiness and the joy that Kaiden has brought me. My life cannot get any more perfect than it already is. 

I can hear the door knocking. Dave has returned with Kaiden so I must stop writing. I have no idea when I will get a chance to start writing again but I hope it will be soon.

I trace my mother's handwriting with my fingers as I try to take in the information that I have just read. 

I check the watch on my wrist which reads noon. I take a deep breath before closing the diary, putting it under my pillow and leaving my room. 

I walk down the stairs and walk towards the main door. 'Are you going out?' Dan asks curiously with a water bottle in his hand.

 'Yeah, I don’t know when I'll be back.'

'Okay, have fun.'

'I doubt it,' I negatively state before walking out of the house. 

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I allow my legs to take me wherever they please. 'Kiera.' I stop in my traces as I come face to face with Lucy.

'Lucy,' I reply faking a sweet tone. She sighs before saying 'I'm sorry for how I acted last week.'

'Why should you be sorry? You were only voicing your opinions.' She runs her hand through her hair.

 'You're making this really hard for me Kiera.'

'No, you're doing that all on your own.' Before she can reply, Jaimie appears as he protectively wraps his arms around Lucy's waist. I roll my eyes at the sight in front of me as I begin to walk away but Lucy pulls my wrist turning my back around. 'What Lucy?'

'I need to talk to you.'

'No, you want to talk to me, there is a difference,' I correct her and she scoffs.

 'Can you meet me here when I text you?' She asks as she turns to Jaimie.

 'Are you sure?'

'Yeah.' He looks at her before kissing her cheek as he walks away from us. 'We are going to Caramels,' she states as we're practically standing outside the café.

 'You can go on your own.'

'Kiera seriously,' she warns and I roll my eyes bluntly before following her inside. 

We sit at the back and silence creeps up on us. 'Are we going to sit in silence all day?'

'Kiera I'm sorry, I was out of order last week,' she says quietly.

'Well if that's all you're going to say then I'm going to be off now.'

'I haven’t finished.'

'So take your time then,' I sarcastically reply waving my hands in the air to prove my point.

 'Did Jaimie really spike your drink or are you just saying it?' I scoff loudly and before I have a chance to answer her question, a waitress walks to our tables.

 'What would you like to order?'

'Two coffees, black and two sugars,' Lucy replies instantly and the waitress writes it down before nodding her head as she walks away. 'Well?' Lucy asks gaining my attention.

 'Yes, he did but why shall I bother convincing you? You obviously don’t believe me.'

'I didn't believe you then but I believe you now. You better not be lying to me Kiera,' she says through gritted teeth.

 'I'm not lying to you Lucy, I thought you knew me better than that.'

'Kiera I'm sorry, it’s nothing personal. I just wanted to make sure for definite,' she replies trying to assure me.

 'It doesn't really matter, I mean you're dating him for crying out loud!'

‘I’m dumping him this afternoon.'

'Lucy-' she cuts me off instantly.

 'It’s fine, why would I want to be someone who stirs trouble between me and my friends?'

'It’s in your nature,' I shrug my shoulders as I smirk. She rolls her eyes but manages to smile a little. The waitress returns with our coffees and she walks away.

 'Kiera are we okay?'

'I don't know Lucy, you dumping your boyfriend isn’t going to change what you said last week.' Her facial expression falls slightly. 'Don't get all upset Lucy,' I say I put my hand on top of hers.

 'I can't help it, I'm so sorry for what I said.'

'You've already said that Lucy,' I reply stating the fact and she smiles. I stand up to sit next to her and wrap my arms around her neck and she wraps her arms around my waist.

 'What was that for?'

'Do I need a reason?' I ask raising my eyebrows. Lucy shakes her head and sips her coffee.

 'Are you not going to drink your coffee?' She asks as she studies my facial expression.

 'No, not really.'

'Do you want another drink?'

'No, Lucy its fine,' I reply almost immediately.

 'What happened at the hospital?' She asks as she puts her drink down.

 'Nothing important.'

'Kiera,' she whines and I sigh loudly. My phone vibrates in my pocket and she dramatically sighs. A text pops up on my home screen.

You have an appointment on Wednesday at 11:30 at the hospital with Doctor Jonathan. -Kim.

(To Kimberly) What the hell? How did you even know that? ~K~

'Well?' Lucy impatiently asks.

 'Speaking of the hospital, I have an appointment in two days.' She intertwines our fingers and smiles.

'Can I come with you?'

'You don't have to-'

'I want to,' she insists cutting me off.

 'Okay but if you say you’re going to come I don’t want you breaking your promise Luce.' She tightens her grip on my hand.

 'Don't worry I won’t do that. When have I ever done that to you?'

'There is always a first for everything Lucy,' I reply trying to argue with her.

 'Kiera, I'm coming with you to that appointment whether you like it or not and I'm sorry I haven’t been there for you as much, since the bowling place.' She avoids my gaze as she repeatedly apologises.

 'I'm over it.'

'You shouldn't have to be.'

'Seriously Lucy, its fine,' she nods her head but keeps quiet and it’s obvious that something is on her mind. 'What?'

'Nothing,' she replies as she takes a sip of her coffee.

 'What Lucy?' I ask impatiently as I look at my nails, waiting for her to speak.

 'I just don't understand how forgiving you can be.'

'Well, I don’t really want to lose my friends over pathetic things, besides I'll be seeing much of you guys anyway.'

'What?' She asks as she sits up in her chair.

 'I'm considering accepting the offer I got at the University of London.'

'Oh my God, that is awesome.'

'I know,' I reply smirking and she grins widely.

'You have to accept it.'

'I don't know yet,' I sigh and she nods, the smile never leaving her face.

 'Look who we have here,' we turn around to face Joe who is standing there with a drink in his hand.

 'What are you doing here Joe?' Lucy asks, the hint of irritation is present in her voice.

 'Shut up Luce, don't talk to me like that and in case you have forgotten, I do live here you know!'

'Charming,' she sarcastically replies. He shakes his head as he sits opposite us.

 'So what have you ladies been talking about? From what I have heard you two aren’t even talking.'

'Where have you heard that?' I ask curiously as I look at him.

 'Here and there,' he vaguely replies as he shrugs his shoulders.

 'Joe,' Lucy warns and he sighs dramatically.

 'Everyone knows, okay so you can close your mouth now before you start mouthing off at me,' Joe replies pointing his index finger at Lucy. She rolls her eyes and slouches in her chair. 'So Kiera, how have you been?'

'I've been fine I guess,' I reply not wanting to dwell on my answer.

'Are you sure? No one has been annoying you right? Because if they have, they will have to answer to me.'

'The answer is no Joe,' I reply as I smile as his protectiveness.

 'Good, it will stay that way,' he replies confidently. The conversation runs smoothly but we are met with silence when we notice Jaimie's appearance. He sits opposite Lucy as he says 'You didn't call Luce.'

'Maybe because I didn't want you to come just yet,' she replies coldly and things suddenly become awkward.

 'Am I missing something here Lucy?'

'Just go,' she demands and Jaimie stares at her in shock, confusion is displayed on his face.

 'What? But-'

'I think you should leave,' Joe says as he turns to face Jaimie.

 'No one is talking to you so how about you shut your mouth?' Jaimie replies before turning to face Lucy.

 'Excuse me? What the hell did you just say to me? Say it again, I dare you,' Joe growls.

 'This isn't any of your business.'

'Yes it is, my best friend just told you to leave so go.'

'I'm not leaving until you answer me Lucy,' he replies. She laughs coldly before saying 'You're nothing but a liar and I'm pathetic because I thought you were different.' It takes a moment for him to realise exactly what Lucy is taking about. He looks at me before looking at Lucy.

'Luce, I'm sorry I was planning to tell you the truth.'

'You're sorry?' She asks loudly. He tries holding her hand but she moves it away. He sighs sadly as he reaches for her hand again.

 'Don't you dare touch her.' Joe demands as he glares at Jaimie.

'Joe, its fine,' Lucy assures.

 'It’s not fine, I don't want him touching you Lucy.'

'I can do whatever I want,' Jaimie responds and Joe glares at him again.

'I will kill you if you even try anything.'

'Joe, stop making threats,' I say looking at him and he doesn't bother responding.

 'Lucy, we need to talk,' Jaimie says.

 'Fine, talk.'

'We need to go Joe,' I say standing up.

 'No, we don’t.'

'Joe, get up,' I reply annoyed at his tactics.

 'Will you be okay Luce?' He asks as he gives her a hug.

 'I'll be fine,' she replies and I roll my eyes at the lie. I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her neck so it looks as if I'm strangling her.

 'You're not fine,' I subtly whisper into her hair. I feel her whole body tense and I smirk before pulling away. 'I'll text you later,' I say as I pat her head. She looks at me before nodding. 

I walk towards Joe, linking my arm with his as we walk away. 

We walk outside the cafe and he asks 'where have you been hiding?'

'I haven’t been hiding anywhere Joe.'

'I don’t believe you.'

'Then that's your problem,' I say shaking my head at his behaviour. The wind blows my hair all over my face and Joe steps closer so he's standing in front of me. He reaches out, softly pulling my hair behind my ear. His turquoise eyes search my blue ones for answers. The tension becomes too much and I forget how to breathe. I break the eye contact as I say 'I have to go.'

'Kiera.'

'I'll see you later Joe,' I reply before walking away from him. My legs walking faster each minute. What would have happened if I didn't break the eye contact?

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I return home to an empty house but with a clear mind. 

I walk upstairs to the guest bedrooms and get my mother's diary from under my pillow and resume reading and the first fragment sentence captures my attention within a second. 

05/07/91

Today is the day my perfect life turned upside down.