I did manage to escape my Mother-only after pretending to be asleep, locking my door after she left, turning some music up just a little, and spending a good fifteen minutes navigating the tree outside my window-for some reason that seems harder than it did not so many years ago.
The air was dry as I bolted down the street, and across the main part of town, heading across the railway tracks, and pounding along the dusty dirt road.
Becky's house-yellowed, two-storey.
Certainly not new, certainly didn't scream "luxury".
But it did spell "home away from home".
So many memories...Us as children, playing in the orchard, eating apples 'til we were both ill. Exploring the attic, both of us convincing the other it was haunted. Riding creaking, clanking bikes along the gravel road. Playing in the hay-shed. Riding the two ancient shetland ponies, Butternut and Chips. Sleep-overs, movie nights, card games. Talking about boys. Tears and laughter. Seemingly endless summers.
Yes, this was my second home.
I breathed in deep as I pounded on the rickety screen door, inhaling the familiar apple and cinnamon scent.
Becky's Mum answered the door, looking tired, but smiling. She raised a finger to her lips. Ssh.
"I'm so, so, so sorry I'm so late!" I whispered.
She smiled at me again.
"She's out the back," she whispered. "She thinks you're ill. I knew you'd be coming, though. Despite what your Mother said." She hugged me, and I gripped her hard, cheek against the slight coarse fabric of her apron.
I crept over the worn rugs, and through the kitchen. I heard music, and peered out the window. Fairy lights, and lamps. Deck chairs under the apple trees, a small table with what looked like soft-drink and plates of food...Becky, dancing insanely. And Matt.
And Trevor!
And...a couple of the cheerleaders from school.
Some of their boyfriends, people I recognised from the football team.
My heart plummeted to my chest.
Life goes on without you, a voice whispered in my head. See? Those memories aren't all about you, anymore. Becky's making new ones.
Replacing me?
A stab of fear shot through my heart. A wave of insecurity crashed over my head.
Tears threatened to spill over my cheeks.
"Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, your mascara isn't waterproof." I whispered to myself.
Matt went over to Becky, put an arm around her shoulder. She leant into him.
I half-turned, blinking my eyes furiously.
Then I turned back, squared my shoulders, and stepped out through the door.
"Happy Birthday, Becky!" I hollered.