Chapter 13
I love Kieran Hawthorne
Mrs Persephone Hawthorne
Seph Hawthorne
I wrote the words over and over again in my journal at night.
Kieran had left me a new packet of beads outside my window this morning. I had been waiting all day to tell him thank you. But I hadn’t seen him.
I had been watching his window for a while. And it wasn’t until Sable came barrelling into my room that I noticed his light had switched on again.
I jumped up as Sable started rummaging through my piles of jewellery I had made.
“What are you doing?”
“Do you remember those earrings you made? The green and silver ones?”
“Yeah? They’re over there in my jewellery box.”
Sable pulled them free and grinned. “Amazing. You are so damn clever Seph.”
“Where are you going?” I asked her, once I noticed what she was wearing. A deep green T Shirt dress than clung to her curves and showed off her long legs. Her hair was up in a do and the earrings were the perfect accessory.
“Do you have a date?” I asked, trying to suppress my jealousy.
She cast me a quick look. “Um, yeah. I do.”
“With who? With Scott again?” I asked her.
She laughed, “No, Scott is old news! I dumped him a while ago. No, this one – I think it’s different.”
“Who is it?” I asked carefully.
Sable just smiled but didn’t meet my eyes.
Still, I felt her excitement.
“I’ll tell you all about it another day. I’m late.”
“Sable – “
“Be good, Ok? I’ll come back and say goodnight when I get home.”
She was out of my room before I knew it.
I watched her leave, feeling unsettled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kieran’s light was going out again. I ran to the window and peered out. I could see his front door from my room. He stepped out, wearing a nice silver shirt and slacks.
I saw him go towards his car.
And I saw Sable. She ran up to him and touched his arm. For a moment they got close. They put their heads together and took a breath.
My own hitched.
Then they got in the car and left.
For a moment I thought Kieran might look up.
Because he paused.
I held my breath.
Waited.
Hoped.
But he didn’t.
I backed away from the window before I could see anything else that might hurt.
The beads he’d left me—my favourite colours, purples and pinks—sat on my desk like some kind of cruel joke. I picked up the plastic container, fingers shaking.
For a second, I almost threw it out the window.
I wanted to.
I wanted to stop caring.
But my hands went slack and the beads slipped from my grip, hitting the floor with a soft clatter.
I curled up on my bed, tucking my knees to my chest, and I lay there.
Waiting.
For my sister to come home.
For something—anything—to change.
For my heart to stop hurting.
But nothing did.
He never told you he loved you.
The thought landed like a knife.
It was true.
He never had.
I just wished… he would.