Hi! Hope you're all well. I've had the next couple of chapters part written for a while... Hopefully I'll finish the next one soon! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think :)

7.

Kim Conweller

I bumped into my friend Hannah at the store while getting some pasta to cook for dinner with my mum. We had a surprisingly not awkward conversation - probably because she knew lots about what had been going on with me so wasn't at all cold about how off-grid I had been.

The conversation ended in Hannah reminding me it was her birthday party this weekend and saying that she'd really love it if I went.

As we walked away my mum turned to me "Hannah's party sounds fun - you should go".

I sighed, I knew as soon as it had been brought up that my mum would make me go, even though I had been planning on just giving her a card and making an excuse.

"You'll have a good time. It'll be nice to see your friends" my mum said, in a voice that let me know I didn't have a choice in this. "Besides, maybe you could invite that boy Jared you like" she said, winking at me.

"Oh my god mum!" I groaned, hoping no one had heard what she said.


It was pouring with rain so I ran to Jared's truck and climbed in. He was already sat in the driver's seat and waved as he saw me coming.

"Hey Kim" he smiled at me, taking my backpack from my hands while I pulled the hood of my hoodie down and sorted myself.

"Hey" I replied.

I shivered as the damp material of my hoodie made me feel cold and notice that Jared was, as usual, just in a t-shirt. Jared seemed to notice me shiver and turned the hot air fan on.

"How on earth are you not cold Jared?" I laughed.

"This weather is no match for me!" he winked, causing me to blush.

Spending time with Jared just felt so natural. I didn't have to put any effort into it, and I always felt comfortable with him. I still can't believe that just a few months ago we didn't speak like this and I had some crazy crush going on.

I was still crushing hard on Jared, but it didn't feel like it was crazy anymore.

As Jared started driving home I decided to pluck up the courage to ask him about Hannah's party. It's not like him coming would be a date… he knew Hannah as well and I'm sure he already knew about the party. However Jared now never went to these kinds of things, so if he went it would feel a bit like he was going with me… so a bit like a date… sort of…?

"Jared, um.." I started, and he turned to look at me. "There's this party this weekend for Hannah's birthday.. I, um, I wondered if you wanted to go?" I asked. "Or maybe you're already planning to go with other people… or not even go at all! Both are fine, I just- I.. I've told Hannah I'm gonna go, so like, if you were also going that would be cool". I was telling my mouth to shut up but the word vomit just kept coming out.

"That sounds great Kim. What night is it?" He smiled back at me, and I released a big breath I didn't even realise I was holding.

"It's on Saturday. Her parents are going to go out for the evening, and I think she's invited most of our school" I reply.

"Sounds good!" Jared said, " I um, I might have to be a little late if that's ok… I'm working Saturday and won't finish until about 9pm-ish. Would that be alright?" He asked.

I nodded. That would be ok. That's just a couple of awkward hours and then he would arrive and it would be ok. Jeez Kim, you can't just rely on one guy coming to a party for you to have an ok night. Get a grip. I told myself.


When Jared left my house just before dinner I felt totally wiped out. I went straight to my room and lay on my bed. I wished I didn't have to go to school tomorrow - I wished I could just lie on my bed for the rest of the week and not have to do anything.

The next thing I knew I was crying. I snorted to myself at how ridiculous this was. There was absolutely nothing wrong and no reason to cry… I'd had a good day. I had English with Jared this morning and we'd been watching Romeo and Juliet so Jared and I had just been passing notes to each other the whole lesson. I'd also had a Math test that I aced. Paul had sat next to me in Biology and told me jokes the whole way through (well, until someone accidentally kicked his foot when they walked past… he'd shouted at them and had gotten kicked out of the end of the lesson). And of course Jared had driven me home, so I didn't have to walk in the rain and I also had some more Jared time. It had been a great day.

I picked my pillow up and shoved it over my face with a groan. I wish I could just get it together.

Outside, somewhere in the forest a wolf howled. It pulled me out of my thoughts and I grabbed a tissue to wipe my tears, and then rolled myself out of bed. My mum would be concerned if she came home from work and found me lying here crying.