Cheryl wrinkled her nose as she took my bag.
"Pooh- did you go swimming when you arrived?"
"Well, my luggage did and now my clothes are ruined!" I protest.
"Well, apart from those on your back at least!" Edward chipped in, trying to be cheerful and sympathetic.
"Shut it, you old timer." Cheryl replied.
To my horror, Edward took on an offended expression.
"If you'll all excuse me," he said his voice as polite as it was when I first heard it; "I have to get going."
He steamed from the station.
"How could you?" I ask her crossly. "He was telling me all about Sodor! Plus he's really nice!"
"Come on coz- we all know that engines can't go any further than the two rails they're travelling on. Besides they're just steam powered servants really."
I was fuming. Edward will never be seen as a servant in my eyes. We may not have gone off on the right foot, but I do know one thing- I've grown to like him, and had hoped to see him again.
"So who's taking us to Aunt Dorothy's then?" I ask her, forcing the words from my throat.
"My boyfriend is!" She simpered. "He's waiting for us outside the station. Come on!"
...
Mark Small- clearly his mum married into the wrong family, as he is tall and well-built- and he's only two years older than Cheryl. He is blonde, has green eyes and is much tanned. I suspect it's fake.
"So, Mark, what is there to do on Sodor?" I ask.
"There are shops and there are also a lot of events here- maybe you could catch a fair or something." He replies, keeping casual.
"Sounds cool-Mark?" I ask him.
"Yeah, shrimp?"
"Do you like steam engines?"
"Face it Haley- they're not cool." Cheryl says.
"They're okay, I suppose." Mark counters.
I end up speaking to Mark about Sodor. I haven't forgiven Cheryl for offending Edward at all. I need to catch him and try to patch things up. Soon.