Chapter 52
Tilly tried to think of any other place Jen might have gone to. They only other place she had taken Tilly that wasn't far too away was Crosby Beach, it was a forty five minute journey away but it was the only place she could think of that she hadn't checked for Jen. Tilly got a taxi down to the train station and got on the next train to the nearest station to the beach. She'd tried calling Jen but her phone was switched off.
When she got off the train it began to rain, Tilly hadn't anticipated the rain so she had come un-prepared. Tilly walked to the beach in the pouring rain. She saw a car similar to Jen's on the way down to the beach and thought that maybe she was in luck. Tilly looked around the beach for any sign of Jen, when she came across a woman. She had long dark hair and looked about the same height as Jen. Tilly ran over to her.
When she got over to the woman, she turned around. Jen was stood in front of Tilly soaking wet. "What the hell are you doing out here Jen?" asked Tilly. "Well, it looks like I've lost my job, so I've got nothing else to lose." answered Jen. Jen had turned her phone off so she hadn't got the call from Keeler telling her the good news. Tilly held Jen's hand. "Jen, you haven't lost your job. Mr Keeler came and told me, you're in the clear. He's probably tried to phone you." said Tilly. Jen had left her phone in the car; she just wanted some space to clear her head. "You need to get inside now or you're going to get ill." Jen was over the moon, she thought it was all going to be over, her career, her relationship with Tilly, everything. The rain started to pour heavier and Tilly had also become soaking wet. "Yeah we should." said Jen, holding on to Tilly's hand to lead her back to the car.
When they reached the car Tilly went to open the door but Jen stopped her. "Wait." said Jen, putting her arms around Tilly's neck. Jen looked at Tilly; she was the girl she was risking it all for. Even after today she knew Tilly was worth it. Jen leant in and kissed Tilly. As much as Tilly was enjoying Jen's touch she knew they had to get inside fast. It would be no use having an ill girlfriend as it would mean more time apart. Tilly pulled away and opened the car door. "Get in." said Tilly. Jen did as she was told and got in the car.
Now the decision came. Jen couldn't take Tilly back to her house soaking wet, there was no way she could explain that to her parents or that she was out of college early and she couldn't take her back to college as that would raise questions and Jen had only just been cleared of Sinead's allegation, she didn't need to make another one. The only option left was take her back to the flat. The only problem was Liam. She knew he'd probably be there and she needed to get him out of the way. Then Jen had an idea, she could ring the gym and pay for a session on her credit card and call up Liam and tell him to take it as she couldn't make it. It would get him out of the house long enough for them to come in and get changed as Jen still had Tilly's clothes she'd left there before Liam arrived unannounced.
Jen put her plan into action, and with Liam being the 'king of the idiots' he fell for it. Jen knew he'd be a couple of hours so they could slip in and out without him knowing Tilly had been there. Jen drove back to the village parking her car in the dog car park and walking to the flat. Jen went up first to make sure Liam was gone and then she would come back for Tilly. Tilly waited in the corridor on the floor below and it wasn't long before Jen came back for her.
Jen let Tilly into the flat and went into her room to get Tilly's clothes and a towel. She came back into the living room with a small pile of Tilly's clothes and a towel. "I was going to give them back, but I didn't know that we'd be getting back together and I wanted to give you some space." said Jen. "It's cool, should probably keep a set here with this unpredictable weather." said Tilly with a cheeky smile. Jen laughed; of course Tilly wasn't referring to the weather. "You need to behave yourself Miss Evans." said Jen. "I thought you didn't like good girls Miss Gilmore." replied Tilly. "Your right, I don't." said Jen, kissing Tilly. "You'd better go, before Liam comes back. College will be over soon, besides you have a free period so I'm sure you can get home." Tilly knew Jen was right; she'd have to go before Liam got back. She gave Jen one last kiss and left.
Maybe things would start to get better now Sinead's allegation had been exposed as a lie.
