Author's note: sorry for the delay. Was on hols plus the Olympics have been very distracting!
Meant to say thanks for the feedback. They tell you the number of visitors on this site but you never know if people start reading and then think that it's a really dull story and just leg it.
Anyway, good to know what you like and dislike!
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In College Coffee, a girl with long, dark, glossy hair sits and stares unhappily at nothing in particular. A coffee cup sits in front of her, but the contents have long since gone cold. She has a paper, open at the 'Situations vacant' section, but this also lies neglected on the sofa cushion next to her. Suddenly, she stirs, as someone she recognizes wanders into the café. Jen doesn't move but watches as Maddie and George meander towards the counter, gossiping intently.
Jen is dying to know how Tilly is faring, who - she imagines - must still be recovering in the hospital in Porthmadog. She has been unable to call Tilly directly, because Tilly's phone had been lost in the fire. Jen had tried calling the hospital, but very little detail would be provided over the 'phone especially to someone not related to the patient. Tilly had revealed to Jen that Maddie knew about Jen and Tilly's relationship just before the trip to Abersoch.
Jen watches as George and Maddie retire to a sofa in the far corner of the room and wonders how she can get Maddie on her own so that she can quiz her about Tilly's condition. The opportunity occurs sooner than she hopes as George receives a call and wanders outside miming to Maddie that he is unable to hear properly in the busy café. Jen immediately jumps up and heads to Maddie's sofa. Maddie looks up from a magazine as she approaches.
"Hi Maddie!" says Jen not certain whether to sit down or not, deciding not to after a moment's hesitation.
"Hi" replies Maddie, cautiously.
Jen looks around before saying quietly. "Do you know how Tilly is doing?"
"Well, she had the operation. She's got some metal in her leg - looks pretty impressive actually... And she's coming home on Wednesday. I guess she'll be on crutches for quite a while though." says Maddie matter-of-factly.
"Have you been to see her then?" asks Jen
"Yes...my Dad took me down there yesterday. He was pretty gutted about the house and obviously worried about Tilly... and you..." adds Maddie.
"Me?.. Oh christ... you didn't tell him I was there did you?" panics Jen.
"Well, not by your name, no... I just said Tilly was there with a friend, and Tilly didn't give you away even under interrogation." smirks Maddie.
"Interrogation?" enquires Jen
"By my Dad." replies Maddie. "He's quite keen to know if Tilly saw anything or anyone. He's completely weirded-out about the arson. Though why he can't leave all that to the police - I don't know. I guess it's just another feature of his mid-life crisis." Maddie pauses, then asks "Why are you asking me all this anyhow? Are you telling me you haven't been back to see Tilly?"
Jen looks around again, keen that no-one but Maddie hear "Tilly's Mum recognized me from the school just after we got there. I kind of ran away. I can't risk her seeing me there again. I've got no idea how Tilly explained why I was there in the first place." says Jen, her face showing her frustration.
"Hmm" says Maddie, with sympathy this time.
"Look, the thing is Maddie. I kind of promised Tilly I'd stay with her for the operation and I'm feeling really bad about running away... I don't suppose you could get a message to her for me could you? Are you going back again to visit her?"
Just then, George opens the door of the cafe.
Maddie says "Let me have a think about it... I'll be in touch". Jen nods and backs away before George arrives.
"What was all that about?" says George to Maddie, inquisitively.
"She was asking about Tilly." says Maddie, picking up her magazine again nonchalantly.
"Oh, that's nice!" says George.
"Yeah. I guess she's alright" agrees Maddie.
The next day, in a hospital in Wales, an auburn-haired teenager lies in her bed. Her leg is raised in the air. It is surrounded by a scary-looking contraption consisting of four concentric circles with a series of pins holding it in place. It is mainly covered by a hospital blanket and Tilly spends most of her time wanting to scratch in and around it.
She has been lying this way for two days now and is feeling bored and frustrated and generally pretty miserable. Her mother has been with her almost constantly. She has also been visited by the police, Maddie and her Dad and various other members of Tilly's family.
Although she welcomed all of these people, the person she really wants to see has, so far, stayed away. And, although Tilly understands the reason for the absence, her growing disappointment cannot be suppressed. She finds herself looking up anxiously when ever someone enters the ward. Only an hour ago, her stomach had done somersaults as a tallish girl with long, black hair had pushed through the swing doors. Her disappointment was renewed tenfold when she quickly realised that the target of her attention was, in fact, a complete stranger, who on more detailed examination, bore little resemblance to the woman that Tilly loves.
Tilly closes her eyes and, as she has done many times over the last day or two, she relives the night she spent with Jen before the fire. The memories of Jen's gentle caresses and whispered declarations becoming more precious to her each time she recalls them.
Tilly is disturbed from her reverie by her mother's entry into Tilly's ward. She noisily drags a nearby chair up to Tilly's bed and plops into it with a sigh. She drops a carrier bag onto the tray that is suspended over the bed.
"I brought you some more reading materials" she declares tiredly. Tilly smiles her thanks.
"How are you feeling darling?" she asks Tilly gently.
"Alright." says Tilly trying to look more cheery. Feeling sorry for her parent who has been driving two hours here and back to the hospital each day to visit Tilly.
"Tilly. Do you think I should send Miss Gilmore some flowers or a gift of something? It's so lucky that she was passing the cottage like that. I still can't get over the coincidence!" Tilly smiles uncomfortably and wishes for the umpteenth time that she had come up with a more convincing story to explain Jen's presence when her mother had first arrived at the hospital. Luckily, her mother had not been present when the police had questioned Tilly. The policeman, of course, already knew that both Jen and Tilly had been staying at the house but he, thankfully, assumed that they were just two friends staying in a friend's cottage rather than two lovers forced to keep their new relationship a secret for fear that it will be viewed by others as inappropriate.
"Urm, actually, I'd like to thank her myself... when I get back on my feet maybe?" hoping desperately that her mother will not pursue the matter.
"Yes, OK then sweetheart" says Lynda. Tilly is only relieved slightly. Her mother wears an inscrutable expression as she makes her response and Tilly is not certain that Lynda is convinced by the story. 'If only I could get a message to Jen' thinks Tilly in frustration.
"Oh, by the way!" remembers Lynda suddenly. "Maddie gave me a package to give you and sends her love. Such a nice girl!" she says handing over a mid-sized jiffy envelope to Tilly.
"Cool!" says Tilly tearing opening the envelope. Inside she finds an card and an old-fashioned Nokia mobile phone. She opens the card which says "Missing you Tills! Hope you feel better soon. A little bird told me you lost your phone in the fire. Here's an old one of mine that I found. I put a £10 card in it and stored some numbers you might find useful. Give me a call when you can! Lots of love, Mads xxx". Tilly picks up the phone and scrolls through the contact list. Bart, George, Jono, LovZombie2, Maddie, Neil, Sinead...
Tilly can't help the grin that appears on her face as she reads the 4th entry in the list, which can only be Maddie's comedy coded reference for Jen. At last, she has a means of contacting her lover. She can't wait!
"Actually Mum. I'm pretty tired, I might go to sleep now. You can go if you like." says Tilly, pretending to yawn.
"OK, then love." says her Mum, her brow creasing slightly in worry. "You sure you'll be OK?"
"I just fancy a nap. If I wake up, I can do some reading can't I?" replies Tilly, patting the carrier bag of books that Lynda had placed on her tray table earlier.
"Alright sweetheart. Have a good sleep. I'll be back to see you tomorrow then" she says bending down to kiss Tilly's forehead, pushing her hair out of her eyes affectionately. She leaves slowly and Tilly feels suddenly guilty for yet another deception. She pushes it out of her mind quickly and dials 'Lovzombie2'.
"Hello?" says Jen immediately.
"It's me. Tilly."says Tilly her voice quivering, suddenly feeling close to tears.
"Tilly! I'm so pleased to hear your voice... I've been so worried about you... How are you? How is your poor leg? I'm so, so sorry I can't be there for you..." Jen says full of sympathy.
"I'm fine really. My leg's pretty bad, but they reckon I'll be right as rain in a few months." says Tilly. She adds forlornly "I'm really missing you though. I wish I could see you."
"I know! Me too! I'm totally miserable here without you and I felt awful leaving you like that...What did your Mum say?"
"She thinks it's all a coincidence that you were there in Abersoch and you were just passing and saw the fire..." says Tilly knowing it doesn't sound very convincing.
"Right, OK" says Jen uncertainly.
"I know. It's a terrible lie, but I just couldn't think of anything else..Sorry!" says Tilly shrugging her shoulders.
"It's fine" soothes Jen. "I shouldn't have left you to handle the situation by yourself...I feel terrible... Do you... Do you think she believed you?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest..." replies Tilly. The line goes quiet as the two women, separately, wonder whether or not Lynda will have bought the story or whether they have been, or are soon to be found out.
"Tilly, everything is going to be OK" whispers Jen trying to muster a confidence she doesn't really feel.
"I love you Jen" says Tilly. A single tear falls down her cheek belying her concern about the safety of her treasured secret.
"I love you too" replies Jen wistfully.