As I walked through the school, it felt like I was floating, and when I got back to my dorm I was met with Kate, Josie, Kiki and Drippy sitting on the floor with popcorn.
"Um…hi?" I said.
"We've got the food, now we just need every detail. Tell us exactly what happened." Drippy said and I grinned before flopping down onto the nearest bed.
"Best. First date. Ever." I said, before rolling off the bed and joining them on the floor. I told them everything in great detailed and when I told them about our kiss they went mental, as Drippy would say.
"I don't want to burst your bubble, but Harriet knows you went into town with Freddy." Kate said.
"Charlotte and Jane must've overheard you at the social and they told Harriet, but she couldn't know what happened because they had a prefects meeting today."
"Thanks for letting me know, I'll keep my head down." I replied.
The next morning at breakfast I waited with the others for the prefects and teachers to take the head table. As Mrs Kingsley walked in, followed by Freddy I glanced over at him and he had a small smile on his face, which I returned before he joined the head table.
"Watch it. Harriet's watching." Drippy whispered as she nudged me and I looked over to see Harriet clenching her cereal spoon tightly in her fist, glaring at me.
The rest of the week seemed to drag on but the weekend eventually arrived and the girls and I were sitting on the bus, heading to St Paul's to watch their cricket game against Kent, their main rivals.
The morning was freezing and everyone was wrapped up in scarves, beanies, jackets and boots.
"I can't believe we have to sit out in this cold for four hours." Kiki grumbled, pulling her beany over her ears.
"And we already know who's going to win." Josie added.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"St Paul's always wins. It's been that way for the last decade." Kate explained and she was right. By the time they'd reached the three hour mark it was five for three-hundred-and-twenty-six, which as I'd explained to Drippy meant that five batters had clocked up three-hundred-and-twenty-six runs between them and the other team hadn't even batted yet. However, by the time St Paul's was out of batters they were on six-hundred-and-seventy-one and Kent only had half an hour to catch up. I cheered with the rest of Abbey Mount as St Paul's took to the field, with Freddy as Wicket Keeper.
The first out came from the bowler, who bowled the second batter out for a duck. The second came from a spectacular catch from the outfield. The player pretty much sprinted and launched himself into the air, somehow managing to catch the ball before it went over his head.
The next out came from our very own Freddy. As the batter went to hit the ball, it only nicked the side of his bat, and with a mix of instinct and pure reflexes, Freddy reached out and caught it with one hand as the siren sounded. The crowd erupted into cheers as the St Paul's team tackled each other to the ground. As they slowly made their way back to the stands I waved to Freddy and gave him a thumbs up as he grinned back at me.
"Well done, boys! Excellent catch Freddy! That was simply amazing!" I heard Harriet calling, but he either didn't hear her or chose to ignore her.
As the players headed off to their change rooms, everyone started making their way back to the buses, but I decided to congratulate Freddy before heading back. So after telling my friends that I'd meet them back at the dorm, I made my way down to the change rooms. I waited around the corner for ten minutes or so, feeling a little awkward as all the players trooped past me, but Freddy wasn't with them.
I decided to go and find him, so I rounded the corner and walked towards the change rooms. There were a few steps leading down to the entrance around a small corner, and when I rounded it, what I saw made my heart sink instantly. I'd found Freddy. With Harriet. Kissing her. I stood there for what felt like minutes, but was only for a few seconds before they felt someone's presence and when Freddy looked up and saw me, a look of horror spread across his face. I didn't know what else to do, but turn around and walk away.
"Charlie. Charlie!" Freddy called after me, and caught my arm. "I didn't kiss her. She kissed me. I came out of the change rooms and suddenly she was just there, right in front of me." He said as I turned around to face him. "You do believe me, don't you?"
"I-I don't know." I replied. "I mean. I want to believe you and I'm sure you are telling the truth. But I saw you, and you didn't back away."
"Charlie, I'm so sorry." He said, looking down at his feet. "I don't know what to say."
"Neither do I." I said, shaking my head. "But if you want to be with Harriet, then I won't get in the way." I said, before leaving him in the hallway as I walked back to the buses.
"Worst week after best first date ever." I said miserably as I walked back into the dorm.
"What do you mean?" Josie asked.
"I just saw Freddy kissing Harriet." I said glumly, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
"What?!" the others cried in surprise.
"No way!" Kiki said.
"Did he see you?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, and he said that Harriet kissed him, but I was watching for a few seconds and he didn't seem to be trying to get away." I said.
"Well how long was it?" Drippy asked. "Because it takes a person three seconds, on average, to register that they're being kissed. The first second is the surprise, the next second is oh my goodness, someone's lips are on mine and then the third is like, OMG, this person is kissing me."
"Um, it was about…" I said, counting on my fingers. "five or six."
"Oh dear. Freddy, you're in trouble." Drippy said, shaking her head.
"But I don't get it. I didn't think he had any feelings for Harriet." I said, trying to reason with it. "I mean, he could've just been overwhelmed by his win and wasn't thinking straight, or it could also be that Harriet knew about our trip into town and she wanted to get between us."
"No. You can't think like that." Kiki said. "Don't make excuses for him."
"What are you going to do?" Kate asked.
"Nothing." I replied.
"What do you mean nothing?" Josie cried. "You're going to make his life a misery, is what you're going to do."
"Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll pass." I said.
"Look, my advice is that if Freddy really wants to be with you, then he'll do whatever it takes to get you back." Kate said. "We've all seen the way he looks at you, and if Harriet's noticed too then it must mean it's genuine for her to go and do what she did. So, don't give up on him just yet, but don't make it easy for him either." She finished with a smile.
"Thanks guys. You're the best." I said sincerely.
The next morning at breakfast I stood with the others as the prefects and teachers filed in. As Freddy came in, I could see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye, but I refused to return the look, instead, I turned to Josie and struck up an interesting conversation about the dining table. I was curious to see how Harriet and he would interact, and as I ate breakfast I watched Harriet chatting away to him as he silently ate his cereal.
Before the school went to their first classes, Mrs Kingsley stood up to make an announcement.
"I'd just like to make a quick announcement about our school social." She began and the school pricked up their ears. "The last one at St Paul's was a wonderful success and you all conducted yourselves like the lovely, young ladies you all are. As you know, Abbey mount is to host the next one and isn't for another month. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we are brining the date forwards to this weekend." She announced and loud whispers spread throughout the hall.
"Now, as it's at such short notice, we need your help in organising the night, so if I could have a group of five girls volunteer to plan the wonderful night, I would be very grateful." She said and looked around the room.
"Why don't we do it?" Drippy suggested.
"Yeah, we can make it perfect and not worry about school work, boys or Harriet. Just have a wonderful night as great friends." Kate said and we all agreed before turning back to Mrs Kingsley, raising our hands eagerly.
"Well, thank you girls. You can choose the theme, decorations, music and snacks. Just nothing I wouldn't agree with." She said and I smiled back at her. This was going to be awesome.