AllFreeNovel
Share Us
34
‘Holly, come on, tell me what’s going on?’ Jen asked, out of breath from keeping pace.
Holly shook her head, getting faster.
Jen’s calves burned as she fought to overtake. With a final burst of energy she pulled Holly into the park, away from the bustle on the pavement.
‘Holly. Speak to me.’
Had she seen? It was the only explanation.
Jen felt sick. She swallowed the feeling, trying to focus on Holly’s face, find answers. Tears welled in her eyes at the sight of Holly’s sodden face.
‘I’m not doing this again, Jen.’
‘Doing what?’
Holly’s face creased with exasperation. ‘I saw you and Alison.’
The sentence hung in the air and every part of Jen froze before her heart sped up to a dizzying thunder.
‘I—.’
Holly’s chest rose and fell, the tears heavier than ever. She sucked on her top lip, her eyes fixed on the treetops above.
Fuck, where were the words?Jen’s breathing was ragged, her vision closing in.
‘I pushed her away,’ she finally managed.
Holly scoffed. ‘Didn’t look that way when I saw you.’
Jen shook her head. This couldn’t be reality. This was a cruel joke. Had she hit her head? Dizziness muddled her brain.
‘She kissed me,’ she pleaded, a tear escaping.
A couple passed, arms linked as they took up the whole path. Jen and Holly moved aside.
‘Holly,’ Jen said, her voice verging on pathetic. She reached for Holly’s hand only for it to be snatched away.
Holly’s eyes were now fixed over Jen’s shoulder as she wiped her cheeks. Jen turned, wondering what she was looking at, but only found the crowd. The party showed no sign of letting up. She should be with Chloe celebrating. That wasn’t going to happen now.
‘Come back to mine, let’s chat,’ Jen said, attempting to make a connection with Holly’s hand again.
Holly shook her head, tucking her hands under her arms. ‘No. I’ve seen enough. If this is how you act at the start of a relationship, how am I meant to trust you later on?’
Jen’s heart shattered. A rug hadn’t just been pulled out from under her feet; it felt like the entire world had.
‘Holly.’ Her name was all Jen could manage right now. Every other word was either lodged in her throat or deemed not good enough.
‘I thought you were different,’ Holly said, her bottom lip wobbling. ‘And you were. You were worse.’
Jen’s brow creased, not knowing what that meant.
Holly continued. ‘I fell so fast for you. I felt like we had this connection, you made me feel so good about myself, and—’ She paused, her shoulders slumping as she sucked on her top lip again. She raised a trembling hand to her mouth, resting her fingers there. ‘None of it was real. I see that now.’
‘Holly,’ Jen said, her voice firm. But still nothing more would come.Jesus fuck.If she didn’t find words fast she was a goner.
Blood roared in Jen’s ears as she watched a group of young lads walk into the park. They were drunk and carrying on, having a good time. She made awkward eye contact with one before focusing back on Holly.
