I don't own Night World.

Chapter 5

You know that moment when you're half awake, and it's just like you could be lying in bed for the rest of eternity? When you can't remember anything, apart from the dream you just had?

Yeah, well, I love that feeling. Because when I gain consciousness, I remember two things in particular. Number one, that I have a 'date' with Hugh today, two, that I kissed my English teacher yesterday.

Strangely (though I didn't believe it one bit), neither Val nor Pierce could make it, according to Hugh. Which meant I was lucky enough to be alone with him! (Note the sarcasm)

My phone rings, and I groan as I sit up and haphazardly grab it from the bedside table. "What?" I mumble.

"Oh, come on, Jez. It's nine in the morning!"

"Only nine?" I shriek. I swear at Val when he laughs at me.

"Calm down, love," he says, still chuckling. "Just wanted to call to say I've got a guy on the other line who wants us to do a gig in Felixstowe Saturday night. They'll pay us 700 for that."

"Pounds?" I say, still half asleep. Urgh. Nine 'o' clock on a weekend. This was criminal, it really was.

"No, pancakes."

"I like pancakes." He splutters with laughter. "That would mean 175 pancakes each," I mumble, pulling my covers up.

"So you're not awake enough to talk normally, but you can still do Maths in your head? Unless you have a calculator."

"I don't even own a calculator. But, back on track. Gig sounds good."

"Don't you have that date with Hugh today?"

I groan. "Just... don't. I want to die."

"Well you just might. I think he got his license from a cereal box."

"What?" I shout, but he's already hung up.

Oh well. If I did die, at least I wouldn't have to deal with the poop-storm that kissing my English teacher would no doubt stir up. I put my phone back down and take a deep breath before forcing myself to my feet and stumbling to the bathroom.

I don't actually pay attention to what I'm putting on or doing with my hair, so I'm annoyed and surprised when I actually turn out looking quite nice. Urgh, it would be just my luck to find out that we are actually meant for each other. That it was our fate to end up getting married. Stupid fate. I hate it.

I was ready about half-an-hour before he was due to come, and as my parents were out, I spent it curled up into a ball and almost whimpering as I tried to figure out what would happen.

It wasn't as if I hadn't enjoyed kissing him. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. But I was ready to bet the £168.75 I got from the gig last night that the aftermath would be a thoroughly unenjoyable experience.

Well, I should probably take my cues from him. He was an adult after all. A gorgeous, remarkably good at kissing, adult.

And whilst I was pondering Morgead Blackthorn's gorgeousness, the door knocked. I groan and almost stagger to the door. Where were parents when you needed them? This was child abuse. It really was.

"You look nice, Jez," he said, once I'd finally opened the door and resigned myself to my fate.

I decide to try the only thing left that would work (apart from pushing him in the path of a herd of trampling rhinos) and smile back, same as I always did. "You too, buddy."

Okay. Maybe I shouldn't have said 'buddy'. I've never said that word before in my life. And now he was looking strangely at me. I force myself to act naturally, instead of hitting my head repeatedly against the wall and saying 'stupid stupid' over and over again.

He puts a hand just behind the small of my back, you know, the way guys do when they're sending a message to the world saying 'see this? Belongs to me' I hate it when guys do that.

But, in order to make this afternoon move quicker, I walk (okay, more like march) to the gate.

The bike is actually quite nice. It's painted red and blue and is very shiny, which distracts me a little. What? I like things that are shiny.

The day isn't as bad as I'd anticipated. We just go for a ride (which is very enjoyable, though he almost crashes a couple of times), and I successfully turn it into two friends going out just for fun. He takes me to the park and we go on the swings like we used to when we were younger. I'm actually surprised how much fun I have; I consider myself much closer to Val than to Pierce and Hugh. And when he's escorting me back to my front door, I don't mind that he has his arm around my shoulder. I'd kind of given up on shrugging it off about an hour ago, and now I quite like the feeling.

"So," he says when we reach the front door.

I frown slightly. "That's such an awkward w–" I'm cut off as he kisses me suddenly. I jump back and watch him uncertainly. "What was that for?" I splutter.

He seemed surprised by my reaction, and it annoys me that he is. Last night non-inclusive, I tend not to let guys just kiss me. "What do you mean? We're on a date, Jez!"

I kick at the floor in exasperation. "And I spent the entire thing trying to change it to two friends, not a date!"

"But–"

"No, Hugh. You don't just kiss a girl without her permission." I open the door and stalk inside, slamming it behind me.

My phone lights up within a minute. It's obviously Hugh, texting to beg for my forgiveness, but I don't even check. Instead I act like a child and shove it into the bottom of my bag.

I'd actually forgotten my dilemma from yesterday when I was out with Hugh, but now the kiss just brought it to the fore-front of my mind. I had school tomorrow, and English was first lesson. I would actually have to face him, and that scared me more than anything.

Okay, half of me really wanted to see him again, but alone. Definitely not in a classroom full of people. Maybe if I got a detention we could talk. After all, our kiss had been cut short. I was kind of curious as to where it would lead. I smiled slightly and walked to the piano.

My parents came back about twenty minutes later and I stopped playing to twist round on the seat.

"How was your date with Hugh?" mum says with a grin.

I pull a face at her. "Horrible. Well, it started off well, but he kissed me."

Mum frowns. "But Jez, it was a date."

Urgh. My parents really are pathetic sometimes. I let my head fall into my hands. "I didn't give him permission, mum. You should be angry!"

"You're plenty talented enough to take care of yourself."

Well that was right. I had taken self-defence classes. Same as every sane girl in the world should. "And what about Monday? It'll be so awkward! Oh, and speaking of, there's another gig on Saturday, and I got £170 for the last one. And you said it wouldn't pay the bills!" I stick out my tongue at her, and she gives me a disparaging look.

Sorry, anon. Guess you'll have to wait one more week for the English lesson XD