Page 61 of Ask Another Day

‘What’s going on Sloane?’

‘I told Holly you were on your way and she said it’s better if you just don’t come at all. She said you’ve been giving off weird vibes lately and she didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.’

‘The wrong idea?’

‘That she likes you.’

‘Holly doesn’t like me? Have I upset her?’

‘No - shit - I’m not explaining myself properly,’ Sloane giggled to herself and then looked back up at him, ‘she likes you, but like a brother. She said the thought of anything else between you has been grossing her out. She nearly cancelled the party all together.’

The words hit him like Sloane had landed a punch. Each syllable felt like a blow. In his confusion, he didn’t realise she was pushing him against the walls of the pub and slipping her arms around his neck. He also didn’t realise she was kissing him until it was too late. When his brain registered what was happening, he pushed her away.

‘What the hell, Sloane?’

‘I don’t think of you like a brother.’

She went to kiss him again, but he ducked away.

‘She really said that?’

Sloane composed herself as she turned to face him again. ‘She said the thought of kissing you made her gag. Likened it to kissing Luke.’

Seb blinked, then looked towards the doors of The Dolphin. He’d been looking forward to spending Holly’s birthday with her. He’d been in love with her for years and was starting to think maybe, she liked him too. Now the end of Uni was in sight, and he was coming back to the Bay, he’d worked up the courage to tell her how he felt. But if she thought of him as a brother, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to move back home and not be with her.

‘I’d better go then. Wouldn’t want to gross her out on her birthday.’

*

As he walked up the narrow cobbled alleyway on his way home, his plans started to shift. He was grateful for the darkness that surrounded him as he used the comfort of the shadows to plot the next chapter of his life. It was something he would have to do alone, and quickly. If his parents had the chance, they’d try to convince him to return to the Bay. But he couldn’t now. Last month, he’d been offered a graduate position in Leeds. Leeds felt far enough away from Holly that he could move on.

His childhood home was thankfully quiet when he closed the door behind him. After checking the monitor and seeing the grainy footage of Danny asleep, he tried to ignore the pang of guilt that assaulted him. His plan to return to the Bay after Uni had also meant he’d have more time with Danny, but he knew in his heart it would be too hard to live here and see her loving someone else. Seb was never selfish. He rarely put himself first. But, how could he live here and not be in Holly’s life right now? Opening up his laptop, he emailed his acceptance to the graduate programme, and hoped Danny would understand his decision. Before turning in for the night, he dialed Holly’s number, hoping it would still go straight to voicemail. It did.

Chapter 20

29th March 2007

The Early Hours After the Party

Holly

Alone in her room, the vision of Seb and Sloane kissing in the street played out on repeat in her head. She’d been so stupid to think Seb could return her feelings. Not if it had been Sloane he’d wanted all along. Her phone, which had died early on in the evening, buzzed away as enough charge brought it back to life. The voicemail icon appeared and Holly held the button until an automated voice told her she had one new message.

‘Hey, it’s Seb. I know you probably don’t want to speak to me, but I wanted you to know I’ve been offered a job in Leeds after Uni finishes. So you won’t see me around much. If you need me, just let me know. I’ve always got you, Holly, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. After what happened with Sloane, I need some space too. Sorry if I ever made you feel, well made you feel like I expected anything from you. I love being your friend.’

Holly pushed the no.3 button down until the message was deleted. She was done listening to Seb’s voice. As she dropped her phone down onto her bedside table, his present caught her eye. She had opened it last night to find a grey plastic cube inside a garish box with the words ‘Fortune Teller’ in neon lettering across the front. She loved any fortune telling toy - always played with them if she spotted one in a shop. Noticing the try me arrow pointing to the round rubber button that sat beneath the LCD screen, she closed her eyes and asked, ‘Is my friendship with Seb over?’

She released her finger and the screen came to life, as a tear ran down her face. Ask Another Day stared back at her in glowing green pixelated text.

Chapter 21

Of This You Can Be Sure

‘Should I call Rose?’

It was 6am two days after Seb’s traffic jam confession. Pressing the button, with a little too much force, Holly released it and waited for the answer to flicker to life on the screen. It had started to take a little longer than usual lately, which meant the batteries needed changing. She was about to hunt down some AAAs, when the words Of This You Can Be Sure appeared, so she dialled Rose’s number.

‘Holly? It’s… it’s 6 in the morning,’ she groaned.