Summer Lovin' - Started - Closed :)

Katrina Anderson

Being alone got kind of lonely. I couldnt help myself tonight with being mad at Verine. Techniquely she is at fault, along with Keith. I hated him the most as of now. He knew how I felt about him trying to be with my sister.

I was one of the first people to leave that hell hole of a birthday dinner. I bet no one will even know mine. Luckily I got to drive moms car to thr dinner since her and Verine rode with other people.

Pulling into the driveway I sat in the car. This summer vacation brought me misery and I doubt I will come back next summer. Everyone being couples here, was weird, I thought we all were just friends who sometimes got weird.

A smile came to my face and I finally got out of the car. It was time for a swim.

Getting into my bathing suit and covering up with a towel, I walked out to the beach. It was beautiful. The wafer felt great. This was very much needed swim.

Not even ten minutes later, I heard steps coming from the house. "Oh lord." I say to myself.

Hayden


I held Ira's hand as he led me through the house and out the door.

"Can you tell me where we're going now?" I moaned desperate for an answer.

"N-nope!" He replied smiling like an idiot.

I sighed and kept walking spinning around on my cowboy boot heels. Ira stopped me at a small ice cream shop and gave me a kiss.

"We're here," He smiled walking inside.

We sat down at the booth we used to sit at as kids and I almost started crying. This is the place where we grew up, we used to go here on rainy days and on bad days. Now everyday was a bad day at the beach. With drama and boyfriends and school. I wish we could go back to when we were eleven and stupid.

"Thanks," I said to Ira before giving him a huge hug.

We ordered our ice cream, me getting strawberry and Ira getting vanilla. We ate our ice cream telling jokes and giggling like the ten year olds we were inside.

After we finished the ice cream we kept walking to the dock.

"Race?" I asked him as we took our first steps onto the dock.

"O-oh yeah," Ira replied with a wink.

"Ready, set go!" I screamed running as fast as I could.

Ira soon caught up to me and surprised me by picking me up and placing me behind him. I laughed and started running faster as I passed him just before the end of the dock.

"D-damn it, Hayden!" He laughed hugging me from behind.

I twisted around and kissed him long and sweet. My fingers threaded through his hair and his in mine. He kissed knowing that we just had the best time on this island of drama.

When we got back to the summer house, I ran out the car and went inside to my room. I slammed the door hard, then I grabbed my pillow as I sat on my bed, crying to myself. Keith kissed me out of nowhere, and Katrina seemed to be upset at me, and I don't know why.

I heard a knock on my door as the door opened slowly, seeing Christian coming in. "V...Verine? Are you...are you okay?" I just sat there, ignoring his question as I kept sobbing to myself while hiding my face from him.

"Verine, what's wrong?" Christian sat down next to me, grabbing my hands gently. I turned my face away from him, but moments later, I looked up at him, tears rolling down my cheeks. I looked down on the ground, crying even more. Christian pulled me into a tight hold, holding me close to him as he placed his head on top of mine.

Suddenly, I heard a click on the door, and the lights turned on. "Chris? What...what're you doing in here? You scared me." My eyes widened as I recognized the voice. Katrina. I looked up at her, seeing her glare at me. Katrina then turned off the lights and left the room, closing the door.

"..Verine.." Christian whispered my name as he lifted my face up with his hand, looking into my eyes. "Whatever happened back there...whatever got you down, or sad..or anything...just, push it away."

I looked down again, laying my head against his chest. I closed my eyes slowly, sniffling and letting the tears flow down on my face. I fell in a deep sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning came.

I opened my eyes slowly, feeling something warm against me. As I turned to look, I see Christian holding me tightly to his body. "A-Ah..."

I screamed loudly, waking everyone else up in the house.

"What the hell..." Christian groaned as he opened one of his eyes, seeing me in front of him. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Why did you scream, V?"

"W-W-W-What are you doing in here?" My face flushed as I stood up from the bed, holding my pillow close to my chest. Christian chuckled, smiling at me. "Well... you seemed upset yesterday, I got worried, came in here to comfort you, then I guess we both fell asleep. My face flushed even more as I started to hit his head with a pillow. "Y-You dummy!"

"Hahaha... you seem better. I'm glad." Christian grinned at me, taking one of my hands in his. My heart jumped for an instant after grabbing my hand. W-What was that?

"Will you tell me what happened now?" I frowned as he asked me that question. I looked down at the ground, explaining what happened last night at the restaurant. How Keith kissed me out of nowhere when I went to look for Katrina. I looked at Christian, who had an evil aura around him, which made me jump a little. "E-Eh?!"

"That sneaky bastard..." Christian got up from the bed, holding my hand tightly.

What's his problem?

Christian

A scream pierced my ears, making me wake up instantly.

I opened one of my eyes, trying to find the source of the sound. "What in the hell..?"

Verine?

She was still in my arms, but now awake, and screaming.

I sat up, and rubbed the back of my head. Man, it hurt. That wall's hard. "Why did you scream, V?"

"W-w-w-what are you doing in here?" Her face turned crimson, and she stood up, leaving my arms cold.

Verine held her pillow to her chest.

I chucked, and smiled up at her. "Well...you seemed upset yesterday. I got worried, came in here to comfort you, then I guess we both fell asleep."

Her cheeks were bright red. "Y-you dummy!"

She pulled her pillow off of her chest, and hit me with it.

"Haha, you seem better! I'm glad." I grinned, and took one of her hands.

Warmth traveled back to me in an instant.

Remembering last night, my face got serious. "...would you tell me what happened now?"

While she told me, I felt my face getting red from frustration. Why couldn't he just keep to himself? Dammit. Agh, dammit!

I felt her staring at me, "..e-eh?"

"That sneaky bastard.." I said loudly, and stood up.

She cringed a bit, and I looked down at her hand. I'd been squeezing it a bit too hard.

My face softened, my grip loosened, and I entwined my fingers with hers.

Her face relaxed, and she looked down at our hands. A little bit of the red returned.

"Verine?" I whispered, using me free hand to lift her face up.

"H-hm?" V whispered back.

Somebody had opened her door, and was just standing there. I ignored them.

"If something like that happens ever again, you tell me. Promise you'll tell me."

She blushed a bit more, and nodded slowly. "..a-alright, Chris."

I leaned forward a bit, sighed, then closed the gap between us. I didn't care about the person standing in the doorway.

All I cared about what the girl standing in front of me, probably thinking that I was crazy.

As our lips moved against each other, I heard a squeal coming from the door.

A girl.

I slipped my arms around Verine's small waist, and pulled her closer.

It was crazy, what she did to me. I could feel my heart thumping in my chest.

This is what I wanted. Her. I wanted everything to do with her. To be with her. To hold her whenever. I wanted a relationship with this girl.

I pulled away, and gazed at her.

How come I never realized before this summer that I liked her? Like that?

I remembered seeing someone earlier, and turned towards the door. Sure enough, there was someone. Actually, more than someone. A crowd. Excluding Katrina. I wondered where she was.

Casey pushed herself through the people, and grinned when she made it to the front. "Brother! Oh, how adorable!"

Verine blushed from the attention, and buried her face in my shirt.

So far, this was one of the best days I'd ever had.

Katrina Anderson

"Mmnaaa na nan mmmmm" I hummed to myself. It was a weird hum but it came to my head. I had been swimming for the longest time. It felt soothing. I smiled to myself as I laid in the water looking at the sky.

Maybe it is a good thing to be single. Christian still came to my mind at times through today but not as much, I felt happy today and nothing would ruin it. "Today is my day to be happy." I say.

I guess I would hide out today away from everyone. Getting out of the water, I went up to the house to change. I knew Verine and Christian would be there in the room but who cares. It was freezing on the short walk to the beach house.

Into the room I went. "Oh hey guys." I say with a smile as I looked at Verine and Christian. "Too cute." I say enough for them to hear me as I get some clothes to go take a hot shower. "Kat we need to talk." Verine said to me.

"Actually no we don't." I say before walking to the bathroom beside my bed. "Please don't ignore me." She pleaded. I felt no sorrow for her so I continued to step in the hot steamy water.

Next thing I hear is Verine huff and then she pulls open my bathroom door and steps inside, locking the door. "Uhh what the hell are you doing?" I demand. "Please just hear me out." She said.

Finally giving in I listen as I take a shower. She tells me of how she was coming to check on me and then Keith stood in her way and kissed her but she pushed him away.

"I don't care Verine!" I yell as I step out the shower to dry off and get dressed. "Tell mom I took the car when she wakes up." I tell her as I pull on my dress and walk out to take a quick brush to my long hair.

Sighing I rush out the room and fall to the floor with tears In my eyes. "How could you Verine!!!" I say and run out the house with moms keys.

Quickly I started the car and zoomed out the driveway.

Liz

We got back and I was going to talk to Lakeland, I just could not right now. I was really upset. I did not like that he lied to be, but I hated it when he did not talk to be. It was so dreadful.

I sat down at the piano with the surrounding doors closed. I played a few noted on the piano and then I began to sing. Ed Sheeran was what I played when I was upset. I don't know, his songs could just help me think.

" I'm gonna pick up the pieces,
And build a Lego house
If things go wrong we can knock it down

My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now, now

I'm gonna paint you by numbers
And colour you in
If things go right we can frame it and put you on a wall

And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
Now I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

Don't hold me down
I think my braces are breaking, and it's more than I can take

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now." I sang.

When I was ready, I got up and went to find Lakeland. He was sitting out on the beach. I walked through the sand and sat next to him. "You don't have to tell me anything, but I don't want you to feel like you cannot talk to me." I say. "I also don't want you to stop talking to me. It kills me when I feel distant from you." I say taking his hand. "I need you, Lakeland." I mumble, so quiet I don't even know if he could hear me.

Lakeland

I watched from the corner of my eye as Liz sat down in the sand beside me, but I never looked over. If I looked at her, she would see my eyes. Then she would see my pain, she would see my sadness. Instead, I watched as Lola ran towards then away from the water as it came up, playing some sort of game only she and the two little kids playing with her understood.

"You don't have to tell me anything, but I don't want you to feel like you cannot talk to me." Liz said, finally breaking the silence between us. "I also don't want you to stop talking to me. It kills me when I feel distant from you."

She took a breathe and touched the top of my hand lightly before holding it in her own and saying in a barely audible whisper, "I need you, Lakeland."

I took a shaking breathe, trying really hard not to look at her and focusing my eyes on the little blonde kids playing with Lola and screaming with delight. Why couldn't I be them, having fun at the beach without a single worry?

"It's from my accident, though I'm sure you guessed that," I explained, curling my fingers around hers, "Besides being cut on my face and arms and burned on my legs, I was bleeding internally, unconscious, and my heart was giving up on me...I was dying. I don't really know the specifics...but I had to have open heart surgery. Recovery took a little while...I'm still not even cleared 100% to do everything, but I have another appointment when I get back home to check up on it."

Taking another breathe, I continued, "It's not that I didn't feel like I could tell you...it's that I didn't want anyone to know, I didn't want anyone here to know...you know? Back home everything changed afterward. Everyone looked at me different, everyone treated my different. They all tiptoed around me like I was about to break or collapse or die or something. And I hated it. I didn't want you guys to do that, too."

We sat quietly for a moment and I waited for her to take it all in, waited for her response.

"Is that everything?" She asked quietly, and I could feel her looking over at me.

"No." I whispered. I couldn't hide anything from her anymore. I just couldn't do it. "There's one other thing."

After explaining Katrina what happened at the restaurant and storming out, I looked out the ground, my eyes filled with tears. "Katrina..." I walked out the bathroom, seeing Christian standing across from the door.

"Guess she didn't believe you?" Christian grabbed my hands gently, putting his forehead against mine.

"No..." I sighed softly, then my eyes widened as I remembered about the group of people cheering me and Christian on. A-Are we a couple now?

"Hmm..." I thought to myself, wondering about my relationship between me and Christian.

"Is something wrong, V?" Christian leaned down, facing towards me. I blushed lightly as he looked at me. My heart started to pound faster and faster as I kept looking into his eyes.

"I-I'll be right back!" I ran outside, trying to find Tyler. Where is he?"

I noticed Tyler walking with Opal. I ran to them, panting softly, trying to catch my breath. "I... I need borrow Tyler for a second, Opal." I grabbed Tyler's wrist tightly, dragging him inside the house.

"W-What the heck, Verine." Tyler glared down at me, pulling my hair from both sides of my head.

"Ow, ow, ow... I need your help." I flinched in pain as I looked up at him.

"What do you mean?" Tyler tilted his head to the side.

"Help me get a gift for Christian!" I blushed deeply, trying to hide my face from Tyler. "A gift? Why would you get him a gi-... aww! You like him!"

"S-Shhh! It's also because he has been there for me when I was feeling down for the past couple of days. I want to repay him somehow..." I blushed even more, rubbing the back of my head.

"Repay him with your bo-"

I pinched Tyler's cheeks hard, feeling irritated. "Don't say such nasty things!"

Tyler looked down at me. "Hmm... then let's go to the store later today and shop. Maybe you can help me get something for Opal too."

"Alright, let's do it!" We both smiled as we went our separate ways.

As I walked back outside, Christian ran up to me. "Hey, V!"

"A-Ah, hi."

"I was wondering if um... you want to do something together later." Christian smiled at me as I blushed deeply again.

"I... I can't. I... I have plans already."

Christian's smile went away. "What kind of plans?"

"I... I can't tell you." I walked past him, heading to where everyone else was. It has to be a secret from him...

Opal

I watched as Christian and Verine went off to the side, whispering to each other about something. After she pinched his cheek and a few more words were exchanged, he came back over.

Playing with the straw in the smoothie he and I had made, I asked, "What was that all about? She looks a little...frantic."

"Oh...uh...nothing." He said, picking up his own smoothie and gulping it down.

Raising an eyebrow at him, I watched him for just a moment before shrugging it off and turning back to my own smoothie.

"So, do you want to go out swimming later?" I asked.

"Oh...I can't." He said, looking at the floor.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I teased, "What, did you just plan a big date with Verine or something?"

"I can't tell you...wait! No, I didn't! I just can't tell you!" He rushed out, stumbling over his words.

"Uhm...okay...do you want to go swimming now then?" I asked, hopping off of the bar stool and taking a step towards him to close the gap between us.

"Just us." I said with a smile, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, "We can get away from the craziness for a bit, what do you say?"

Michelle

Why are these guys all idiot and all dramatic! Katrina and Verine are fighting, Liz and Lakeland are dating as far as I know, then there are so many more new couples! Ah! It's so annoying! At least I'm not at that stage yet. The only thing is I'm left out. There's no one around for me to spend time with like when we were younger. Now it sucks to be the youngest. A couple years ago I was the baby and they would live to play with me and chase me around in the water.

"Why does no one have time for me anymore!!!!" I complain to myself. I know everyone's busy so I know there not gonna have time to just stop and hang around with me. "

Ok, so let's go interrupt the person closest to me. And that is, oh Liz and Lakeland." I walk over to them as quiet as I can and sneak behind them

"Boo! Look at the love birds! So what are we talking about?"

"Nothing just leave us alone Ella." I just walk away. It most have been something private or she wouldn't have shooed me away.

"Ok next in line. Opal and Tyler!" I do the same to them. There swimming so they can't really shoo me away again.

"Hello!" Opal says to me. I always thought of her as a sister. I thought of almost everyone as a sibling.

"Mind if I join you two?"

"Sorry. Were on a date." Tyler said to me.

"Fine big bro. I'll leave you two. I have no one to hang with!" I storm away tripping while I do.

"God..." My dress is soaked! Urg!!!

Ira

I threaded my fingers through Hayden's hair as we watched a movie, nestled on the couch together. Her head was resting in my lap and I was paying more attention to her than the movie...I honestly had no idea what the movie was about or even what it was called. I just knew it had Jennifer Aniston in it.

I leaned down and placed a kiss on Hayden's jaw for the umpteenth time, only to have her swat away at me.

"Ira, I'm trying to watch this!" She complained, but I could tell she really didn't mean it. "Just watch the movie!"

"M-movie?" I asked, pushing her hair away from her face and giving her a kiss on her temple, "Hmmm...I'd mu-much r-rather do th-this."

"Ira!" She blushed, her entire face growing warm, "My mom could walk down any second!"

"W-what? Y-you don't th-think sh-she's k-kissed before? D-don't y-you kn-know ah-where babies c-come from? B-because I-I can assure y-you she's d-done worse..."

"Ira!" She gasped, slapping hands over her ears, "Gross!"

Pushing her hands away from her face, I placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth, then her jaw, then just below her ear and whispered, "Y-you know I-I'm j-just teasing y-you."

Katrina suddenly stormed through the room, grabbing the keys to a car and slamming the door behind her.

"What's wrong with Katrina?" Hayden asked, suddenly worried.

"N-nothing." I said, trying to get Hayden to finally just kiss me back, "B-but I f-for one am f-feeling a l-little un-unloved right n-now."

She looked up at me with an evil grin, her eyes dancing as she teased, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sending her an evil grin right back, I leaned down close to her ear and whispered softly, "T-two can pl-play at that g-game, love."

I laced my hand through her hair and swooped down towards her neck, nuzzling my face against her for a moment before moving to kiss the crook of her neck. Instead, I forced myself to just barely brush her with my mouth before pulling away and rolling her away from me and on to the floor gently, laughing so much my stomach hurt when she looked up at me with wide surprised eyes.

Christian

Verine walked out of the bathroom, a few tears escaping her eyes.

"Guess she didn't believe you?" I asked, and grabbed her hands gently.

I rested my forehead against hers.

"..no.." She sighed.

There was silence, then, "Hmm.."

"Is something wrong, V?" I leaned down, and looked into her eyes.

"I-I'll be right back!" She said suddenly, and ran out.

"Wai- where are you going?!" I called, but there was no reply.

That's strange.

I walked out of the room, and went outside. My nostrils filled with the smell of salt water, woods, nature. I loved it.

I'd find Verine in a minute. Right now, I just wanted to stand here. Soak in the summer sun.

I inhaled deeply, and exhaled a few seconds later.

This is what I look forward to, every single year.

I turned back towards the house, and caught Verine walking out.

"Hey, V!" I greeted, running up to her.

She clasped her hands together, and smiled a bit. "A-Ah, hi."

"I was wondering if, um...you'd want to do something together later." I asked, smiling up at her.

Her smile went away, "I... I can't. I... I have plans already."

My smile faded. "What kind of plans?"

"I... I can't tell you." She whispered, and walked away.

I frowned. Where could she possibly be going?

"Verine?" I caught her wrist gently.

She bit her lip, and faced me fully.

"Verine, I wanna be with you. I don't know of you feel the same way...but, I just want you to know." I told her, studying her face the whole time.

A small smile danced across her face, and she looked down at the ground.

I lifted her face, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"That...that's all." I whispered, and released her wrist.

I glanced at her face, and turned back around, heading towards the beach.

Man, I hoped she wanted to be with me.

When I reached the shore, I looked to see who all was here. Tyler and Opal, whom were swimming together, and another one of the girls. Man, what was her name? Melissa? Marissa?

I watched as she said something to them, then turn around, and storm away.

After a few steps, though, she tripped, and fell into the water.

"God!" I heard her say. "My dress is soaked!"

I quickly ran over to her, and held out my hand. "Clumsy much?"

She shot me a glare, then took my hand.

I pulled her up, then let go of her hand.

"What's your name again?" I asked. How could I forget her name? Gah.

She scoffed, and rolled her eyes. "Michelle."

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "You're the youngest, right?"

Michelle sighed, and nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"Right, right. Well, you should go change. You're clothes are a little..wet." I said, and shoved my hands in my pockets.

She shrugged a bit, "Eh. Guess I'll see you later!"

She ran off towards the house, and I looked down at the sand.

It amazed me how much we'd all changed during the year.

My mind drifted off to Verine. How she looked. The way she acted around me. Everything about her.

I felt my stomach rumble, and looked up at the house. Time to go get something to eat.

With my hands still in my pockets, I walked up to the house, and into the kitchen.

Hayden



I looked up at Ira who was now hovering over my small figure smiling. I was honestly surprised, Ira had never done anything like this before, and I think I liked it. I laced my fingers around his collar an pulled him even closer to me.

"You wanna play dirty," I whispered into his neck and giving him a kiss biting down slightly, "Then we can play dirty."

I smirked at him before running a hand into his gorgeous hair and kissed him. He kissed me back much more eagerly than I expected. I pulled away and rolled out from under him. I sat up inches from him and pushed him so he was sitting up against the couch.

I felt Ira's eyes on my every move as he leaned against the couch. I moved over so I was sitting in front of him.

"You only move when I say so," I smirked at him looking at my lips moving as I talked, "If you move without my instruction, then we go back to the movie."

Ira nodded and I smiled at him. I knew I was being cocky, but that's what I was going for. I winked at him before pulling my tank top over my head in one swift motion leaving me in just a bikini top. Ira started to move towards me and I immediately backed away since he didn't follow my very simple instruction. He sighed and sat back receiving a smile from me.

I leaned forward slowly and kissed his jaw, cheek, and then his lips softly. I felt him tensing under me as I pulled away.

"You have the freedom to move," I said sitting back down on my butt.

Ira immediately swooped me up and sat me on the couch. He sat down next to me and sat me on his lap so I faced him. I smiled just before his lips crashed into mine his hands wondering around my back.

"Hayden," I heard my mother say sternly from the kitchen.

I pulled away from Ira and smiled at her. I slid off his lap and received a glare from my mom as she unpacked the groceries. I sighed and pulled my tank top back on and turned to face the movie.

I saw Ira trying not laugh out of the corner of my eye. I did tell him this would happen. I placed my hand on his as we intertwined our fingers back together. Mom's could be such a drag.

Katrina

Taking a long drive felt great. I was happy again, I never realized how far out from town we really were. Finally I decided to drive back.

When I got there I seen Tyler and Verine running at me. "Kat I know your mad at me but please do us a favor." Verine asked. "Bring us to a store please." Tyler chimed in. "We have to hurry and leave before Opal or Christian see us." Tyler said, still being out of breath. I nodded and got back in the car. I saw mom in the window but she didn't seem to mind. She nodded at me so I took it as approval.

Tyler jumped in the back seat and Verine got in the passenger side. Immediately I sped off before anyone noticed I came back, well besides mom. "So where to?" I ask looking into the mirror at Tyler and then to Verine.

"Somewhere good to buy gifts." Verine replied. I smiled, "must be for Opal and Christian?" I asked. They both nodded with smiles. "I'm not mad anymore, V. At least not as of now. I know what happened with you and Keith. It shouldn't matter to me what he does. We aren't a couple." I tell her.

Tyler looked at us weird. "Long story." I say to him and keep my eyes glued to the road. Verine was filled with smiles and I could tell she is actually happy.

"I'm at a point in my life to be happy too." I say. Finally about forty minutes passed and we made it to a store. We all got out.

Tyler Conners

Verine, Katrina and I all rushed out onto the street, blinking at the stark daylight. I looked over at Verine, and grinned;

"So where to now, Cinderella?" I laugh, looking around at all the shops, the windows sparkling in their reflection of the crystal blue sky.

"Well I guess, split up?" Verine said, biting her lip. Katrina nodded;

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. I'll go with Verine. Where do you want to meet up?" She asked. I thought for a minute, shielding my eyes from the sun.

"How 'bout the fountain?" I said. Waving bye, I headed over to the jewelry shops. I felt incredible self-conscious in the fancy, pristine shop only wearing an Artic Monkeys shirt and boardshirts.

Looking around I felt so lost, browsing the cases and cases of necklaces and earrings, feeling a growing pit of hopelessness in my stomach. But then suddenly something caught my eye. It was a necklace, with a thin silver chain and on the end was a flying bird, studded with turquoise emerald.

It reminded me so much of Opal, that I almost said it out loud. I went over to the shop assistant and pointed to the necklace.

"Ahh, sorry, but do you know how much that necklace is?" I said, getting my wallet out of my pocket.

"Yes sir. It's 1700 at the moment." She said, her expression barely moving. I gaped, my mind scrambling.

"Alright, fine." I said, getting out the checkbook my mum had given me. I'd pay her back someday.