CHAPTER 49

I untangle myself away from Lucy, being careful not to wake her. I leave the room and walk to the bathroom.

After I walk back to my room I slip on a new hoodie and put my hair in a messy bun. 'You're awake,' Lucy states breaking the silence, causing me to turn around to face her.

'Afraid so.'

'How are you even awake? You never wake up early,' she replies as she covers the duvet with her body.

'It’s never too late for a change.' She scoffs, not replying as she lies back down. 'Lucy get up, you do know that the open day is today right?' 

'Yeah, I already know and I have quite a while yet.'

'When is it?' I ask because I have no clue.

'Oh so you know it’s today but you don't know the time?' She mocks causing me to roll my eyes.

'Shut up Lucy.'

'It’s at twelve which is in two hours in case you couldn't tell the time,' she replies smiling sweetly causing me to scoff and say 'Funny.' She chuckles and says 'Get out Kiera, I really want to go to sleep and you're preventing me from doing so.'

'Fine,' I reply, leaving the room. 

I walk inside the kitchen and find Lily and Katie already present. 'Good morning,' Katie says when she notices my presence.

'Morning,' I utter quietly and turn away from them putting the kettle on.

'What is going on with you and Lucy?' Lily asks.

'Nothing,' I say, my back still facing them.

'I think it’s safe to say that it’s not nothing,' Katie replies. I turn around and ask 'Why are you even asking me?'

'You never came downstairs, Lucy came up though,' Lily recalls as she states the fact.

'Talking about me are you?' Lucy asks as she walks into the kitchen, sitting beside Lily and Katie.

'They want to know why I never came downstairs and you came upstairs,' I inform her and she bites her lip.

'Well?' Katie asks impatiently and they turn to face Lucy who says 'You should really be asking Kiera not me.'

'I don't know what to say,' I admit once they all look at me. 'Lucy will tell you when I'm not around.' They nod their heads, accepting the answer. 'Do you want me to tell them everything?' Lucy asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

'I guess,' I reply and she nods. The kettle boils causing me to turn around again as I make a cup of tea. 'Lily where are your parents?'

'They stayed at a hotel for the night because I sort of kicked them out but they'll be back this morning.' I smile at the thought of Lily kicking her parents out of their own house.

'You still haven't opened your presents,' Katie reminds me.

'I know Katie,' I reply ungrateful at the reminder.

'Well you should do it right now,' she replies as she drags me into the living room not waiting to hear my reply. 

I look at the corner of the room which has presents of different sizes, wrapped in different wrapping paper. 'Open my one first,' she says as she hands me a present. I raise my eyebrows at her before opening it. I gasp as I realise it’s a photo album of when we were younger. I open it, going pat the numerous pictures and I soon realise they're of me, Katie, Lucy, Lily, Joe, Chris and James.

'Oh my God!' I say shocked and she chuckles.

'Do you like it?'

'I love it, it’s amazing,' I reply and she gives me a hug. 'Thanks,' I say quietly.

'You're welcome,' she replies as we pull apart. 'This Rosabella's present.'

'She actually got me one?'

'Yeah, no need to act surprised,' she smirks and I roll my eyes. I unwrap the bubbling paper and find a brown teddy bear with a red heart in the middle. Inside the heart it reads "Kiera Hayden rocks." I smirk and look at Katie who mirrors it.

'Now for Liz's present.' The smirk doesn't leave her face and I give her a curious look before taking it. I feel the bubbling paper and realise it has to be a big book as it's big and thin. 'Open it then,' Katie encourages and I do. It's a calendar but I gasp when I see a baby photo of me on the front cover besides the heading Calendar of 2014."

'Look at the months,' Katie says grinning. I open the calendar and see another picture of myself but this time I'm two years old in the picture. I keep looking at all the different months, looking mortified and each time the pictures of me increase in age. I look at the picture of me for the last month and notice it’s the picture I took with everyone on my last day. 'Wow.'

'I know right.'

'Where did she get these photo? They're horrifying.' She chuckles as she shakes her head.

'No they're not so stop exaggerating and she had a little help as we all had different pictures.' Before I can say anything else, she says 'this is Lily's present.' she hands me another present which is in a small bag that says "happy birthday." I look inside and see perfume.

'Does it even smell nice?' I ask and she shrugs while smirking.

'I have no idea.' I open it up and spray it in the air and it has a great smell. 'I don't even think "nice" covers it.'

'I know,' I agree and put it back in the gift box. I sit on the sofa and she hands me Lucy's present. It's wrapped in glittery pink paper and I smile because I love the colour.

'Open it then,' Katie's voice snaps me back into reality and I open the present. I gasp once I realise it’s the picture that her biological dad broke.

'Crap.'

'What are you thinking?' Katie asks as she sits next to me.

'How did she do this?'

'I have no idea,' she replies honestly. 'The others want to give you their presents by hand,' she says and I nod my head. 'I'm going to get changed we have the induction soon,' she says as she leaves the room. I trace my fingers outlining my parent's smile. It's apparent that they're genuinely happy and I'm guessing this was before Kaiden went missing. 

I walk into the kitchen and Lucy has her back to me. I walk up to her, tightly wrapping my arms around her waist. 'Get off of me Katie,' she replies.

'My name is Kiera,' I reply smirking and she looks up to face me.

'And what do you want?' She asks smirking.

'Lucy, you know what.'

'Do I?' I roll my eyes and she grins.

'Thanks for the present,' she stands up to hug me and says 'You're welcome.'

'How did you even get it? It got smashed remember?' I ask once I pull away.

'That's not relevant, just take good care of it,' she replies and I scoff.

'Thanks for perfume Lily,' I say acknowledging her present.

'You're welcome,' she replies with a smile on her face.

'I told her,' Lucy says getting my attention and I instantly know what she's talking about.

'Everything?' I ask turning to face Lucy who nods.

'Kiera, you could've told me,' Lily says, looking at me.

'And why would I tell you? I told you my drink was spiked but you didn't believe that did you?' She sighs as she toys with the ends of her hair.

'Kiera I'm sorry.'

'Aren't you always?' I mutter loud enough for her to me.

'How did your appointment go?' Lucy asks, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

'Fine.'

'Who went with you?''

'I went alone because I wanted to.' Lucy sighs as her hand tightens around me.

'You can't keep doing this alone Kiera. I mean, how are we supposed to be there for you if you don't even tell us anything?'

'I'm not going to tell you anything only to get rejected.' Lily stands up and stands in front of us.

'We wouldn't do that,' Lily says quietly and I scoff. 'Okay, you have to forget about what happened in the past and focus on the present. Don't shut us out Kiera,' Lily says, pulling a lose strand behind my ear. I consider if for a while before nodding. 'Are you still..?' Lily hesitates and I roll my eyes. 'It's called being "anorexic" Lily, you won't get it just by saying it. And no, I'm cured from a mental disease that took over my life. Everything is all buttercups and daisies now.'

'Kiera,' Lucy nudges me, putting an end to my rants.

'I'm sorry,' I apologise looking at Lily.

'It’s okay, I get it.'

'You don't get it Lily so don't say that you do,' I say through gritted teeth and she sighs. 'And to answer your question, I guess I am,' she sighs again and I continue 'but I have started eating more.'

'You didn't eat once yesterday,' Lily recalls.

'That's because the hospital overfilled me with food,' she smiles but it quickly fades when Lucy removes her arm and asks 'You didn't vomit it out did you? And don't reply sarcastically.'

'No, I didn't,' I reply rolling my eyes and she smiles.

'Good.' Lily wraps her arms around my neck and I return the hug. She, then pulls Lucy into the hug who giggles. When we pull apart, Katie is dressed in a black mini skirt and a grey top; and is leaning on the door frame.

'That was cute,' she breaks silence and we look at her.

'Shut up Katie,' I reply.

'What? All I said was that it was cute.'

'Don't say anything else,' I warn and she smirks.

'I hate to bring this little gathering to an end but it's already half eleven, we need to go.'

'Already?' Lily questions and she nods. I grab a water bottle and say 'Well then let's go.'

'Kiera, you haven't had breakfast,' Lucy replies.

'I can just get something on the way there.' She looks at me unconvinced so I say 'Lucy its fine.'

'Fine,' she replies dropping the subject and we leave the house. 

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We arrive at the University and stand outside it to meet James, Chris, Rosabella and Jaimie. 

Jamie appears first and puts his arm on Lucy's shoulder. She tries to untangle herself away from him but he says 'relax Luce, she's probably okay with is.' I roll my eyes scoffing at him.

'Stop it Jamie,' Lucy says a she pushes him away.

'Don't stop on my account,' I tell them sarcastically.

'Kiera-'

'Its fine Lucy,' I insist and Katie breaks the silence by saying 'Shall we go in?' I nod and she looks at Lily, Lucy and Jaimie saying 'you guys can wait for the others.' They don't bother arguing and we go inside. 

A few volunteers hand us leaflets and Katie thanks them and sits at the back. I sit beside her and say 'Katie why did you choose to sit here?'

'I don't know, I like the back.' She shrugs her shoulders and I smile.

A while later, Lily, Lucy, Jamie return with Chris, James and Rosabella. They sit beside us and a few minutes later, the small assembly begins.

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My phone begins ringing in my pocket getting everyone's attention. Multiple eyes turn to look back at me and I quickly exit the hall. I walk outside and answer the call.

'Hello?'

'Hi is this Kiera Hayden?' A voice that I don't recognise asks. 

'Yeah, who is asking?'

'I'm a police officer at the station where your dad is being held. I'm sorry but there is no easy way to say this. I'm afraid to tell you that your father is dead.' I scoff, rolling my eyes, thinking this is a prank call.

'No, I saw him a couple of days ago, he's perfectly healthy.'

'I'm sorry to tell you that he passed away an hour ago. He had a myocardial infarction and it was too late when the ambulance arrived. I'm so sorry-' I stop listening as I drop my phone which shatters on the ground. My body sinks to the floor as broken sobs escape my throat.