Hey :) thank you for sticking with me even though i haven't updated in forever. I've been overloaded with work at college and i've got a part time job now but anyway, excuses, excuses. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review!

Chapter 7

I was having one of those days, the type were all you want to do is eat. I was sitting in our living room with Smithy, Callum, Hollie, Nate, Beth and Sally while mum and Jack were in the kitchen. We were having a little Christmas party since Christmas day was only three days away. My dad wasn't back from Germany or France or wherever he was this week yet, but he was due to fly in tonight so that I could spend the next day with him. He apparently had a surprise for me. Hopefully it would be a good one, maybe Swiss chocolate or French bread. I was getting hungry just thinking about it.

I was six months pregnant and looking like a small house. Everything was going well with the baby, we'd had the chance to find out whether the baby would be a boy or a girl but Nate and I wanted it to be a surprise. I was slumped on the couch, humming to Christmas songs. Hollie sat next to me on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, Sally sat on my other side with a big bar of chocolate. Smithy, Nate and Callum were all sitting on the other sofa at the opposite side of the room, chatting amongst themselves.

"I need the toilet again" I groaned, pushing myself to my feet.

"Isn't this the third time in the last hour?" Nate joked.

Nate was sniggering in the corner with Smithy. I glared at them, grabbing a handful of popcorn and throwing it their way.

"You did this to me, Nate Roberts!" I told him "I'll get my revenge on you if you laugh at me again"

"Don't mind them, Case" Sally grinned, winking at Nate, "here, have some more chocolate"

"Like she hasn't had some already" Nate chuckled.

They all started laughing at me which made me want to hurl something at them.

"God you guys are bullies!" I said before turning on my heel to visit the toilet.

When I'd finished on the toilet, I stood outside the bathroom looking in the mirror. I was wearing thick grey tights and a red dress. My bump was no longer just a bump but instead a mountain. Just three months to go, I reminded myself. I turned away to walk back into the living room but banged straight into Smithy.

"Sorry, Smithy, I wasn't watching where I was going" I apologised, moving out of his way.

"Nate's just joking, you know?" Smithy said.

"I know he is, it's just these damn hormones making me a total stress head; honestly I can't wait till I've gave birth and I can finally stop being so crazy" I laughed.

"Hah!" Smithy chuckled "like that's ever going to happen".

I slapped his arm playfully and walked into the kitchen to see if mum and Jack needed a hand with anything. As I got nearer the doorway I could hear them laughing and joking. I caught a glimpse of my mum reflected in the window. She was smiling and looked like she was blushing a little. I smiled to myself and crept away. Of course it would be nice if my parents were living under one roof, but at the end of the day they were divorced. It was about time that they moved on with their lives and found someone else. If my mum and Jack got together then I'd be more than happy for them.

The Christmas tunes were blasting out from the living room, I walked in to find people up and dancing. I laughed. It seemed like everyone was having a good time. Hollie pounced at me and grabbed my hands.

"Dance with me" she grinned.

"Oh, sure, that will be a pretty sight" I giggled.

Hollie ignored me and pulled me further into the room, dancing and wiggling away. No matter how much of an idiot I looked, I still had fun. We spun each other around and danced like idiots, but who cares? Everyone was doing it. Exhausted, I flumped down on the sofa and was soon joined by Nate.

"How're you feeling?" he asked me.

"A little tired but I'm having fun" I smiled.

"Good" he grinned.

We were quiet for a few minutes.

"Listen, Case. Can we talk somewhere?" Nate asked me.

"Yeah, come on, we'll go upstairs" I said.

Nate raised an eyebrow mischievously at me and smirked.

"Get your mind out of the gutter PC Roberts" I laughed, as he pulled me to my feet.

We slipped past Beth and Callum's dancing bodies and I couldn't help but feel jealous of Beth. She smiled at me as we passed and I returned it meekly. Nate and I climbed the stairs and into my room. I sat down on my bed and gestured for him to sit too.

"Spit it out, Nate" I chuckled as he struggled to speak.

"Would you be mad if I asked Hollie out?" Nate finally babbled, he looked so worried.

I giggled and slapped his arm.

"Why would I be mad? You're both single, and I reckon she's into you, so why not? I say ask her" I told him.

"Really? I thought with her being your cousin and you and I are having a baby…I just thought you might have thought that it would be too awkward" Nate sighed with relief.

"What? Of course not" I laughed at the idea, "just don't hurt her or Sam, ok?"

"I promise" he grinned.

Just as we were hugging, my bedroom door opened and Callum stood in the doorway. I sprang apart from Nate even though I knew that we weren't doing anything wrong. We were just friends, that was all either of us wanted to be.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you two were…um…busy" Callum apologised, turning on his heel and walking away. He had a dark look on his face.

"Crap" I muttered "now he thinks that you and I are…well…you know". I raised my eyebrows suggestively.

"What does it matter? If he asks about it…wait a minute…do you like Callum?" Nate said incredulously.

"Sure" I squeaked "he's my friend"

"You know that's not what I mean"

"No I don't" I lied, I blushed like a beetroot.

"Yes you do! I can see it on your face!" Nate whooped, grinning from ear to ear.

"Shhh!" I chastised.

"Well go set him straight" Nate said "tell him that we're not into each other but you're into him".

"Hah, Nate, I don't think so. I'm eighteen, pregnant and the daughter of the Inspector. How do you think the conversation will go?" I snorted.

"You won't know till you try"

"Oh shut up" I snapped "I'm going downstairs".

I stood up and plodded down the stairs like an elephant. People were still dancing in the living room, and my mum and Jack were sitting down on the couch talking.

"Have you seen Callum?" I asked them.

"I think he went out into the garden" mum said.

"Thanks" I smiled before slipping on my shoes.

I opened the back door and walked outside. Callum was sitting on the patio bench, looking out across the garden. He had a beer in his hand. Slowly, I walked across and sat down beside him. He took a swig of his beer.

"It wasn't what it looked like" I said quietly.

"It's really not any of my business, Casey" he replied, he sounded a little bitter.

"Me and Nate…well there is not me and Nate, there hasn't been since I got pregnant and there isn't going to be a me and Nate. I don't want there to be" I explained, shaking my head, "Nate's my friend, ok so he's the father of my child too, but he is just my friend. I don't have feelings for him"

Callum looked at me and I felt my belly go funny under his gaze.

"He was asking me if I'd be mad if he asked Hollie out on a date, because she's my cousin and I'm having his baby. I told him to go for it" I said, I met his eyes, "I'm not interested in Nate, Callum"

He was quiet for a moment and he looked back down the garden. He eventually turned back to look at me, he had a strange look in his eyes.

"Who do you like, Casey?" he said so quietly it was almost a whisper.

I gulped and looked away for a second before I looked him directly in the eyes.

"You, Callum, I like you" I whispered.

Before I could take back what I said, Callum kissed me, and I mean really kissed me. My belly did flip flops and my heart raced. It was like everything around us disappeared, it was just him and me, just me and Callum. I couldn't help but let a small giggle slip. He pulled away and looked at me curiously. I just smiled and kissed him again.