Prologue: A surprise

Dear reader, you've followed my journeys and now I will take you on my most diverse one yet. It is not like my others, however, I am finding it a hard one to begin. I suppose the best place to start is Syd's birthday party. Yes it was there when I did a most insensitive – unladylike – thing, I am ashamed at myself, it was very uncaring of me. It felt terrible afterwards, but, the thrill was unimaginable – I couldn't stop myself. His eyes were a twinkling blue and he had that mischievous grin on his face, he looked so…adorable. Yes reader, I am describing Frank as adorable. Enough of my rambling, on with the story.

"Surprise!" We cried as Syd entered his. We all leapt out from behind the sofa – by we I mean, Frank, Pedro, Jenny, Nick, and Joe, some other boys from Syd's gang and me. Even Billy was there! He and Syd decided to call a truce, they were both older and thought it was childish having fights in the middle of the street for no apparent reason.

"You shouldn't have!" he said his face flushed with happiness.

Everyone started pushing present under his nose, I had bought him a tiny little cat silver plated key ring – I hope he liked it. Then Syd notice the table, it was completely covered in food.

"Let's eat!" he shouted.

There was a whoop of excitement as everyone rushed to get seats at the table. I was sandwiched between Frank and Pedro. Everyone grabbed food and piled it on to their plates. My eye caught a plate of sausage rolls – my favourite – I reached out to grab one.

Nearing the end of the party everyone was chatting happily about something or other, Pedro told me that Jenny had accepted Pedro's marriage proposal, he looked ecstatic, I felt really proud of him and glad he'd found love. Then it happened. Just a small thing, but it was enough. Frank's leg brushed mine slightly – it wasn't much but it sent shivers up my spine and a blush was creeping up my face.

"Alright Cat?" asked Billy obviously sensing my discomfort. "Want to get some air?"

"Yes." I said hurriedly leaving the table.

"I'll come too." I heard Syd say while I pushed the back door open.

I breathed in gulp after gulp of the cool night air as I ran down to the two-person swing at the bottom of the garden. I started swing as high as possible, the air rushed through my hair. Up, up and then down again. I spotted Syd walking down towards me. Without thinking, I jumped off the swing in mid-air without thinking and landed silently on my feet.

"Cat!" Syd exclaimed. "Don't ever do that again, you scared the living daylights out of me!"

"Cat's land on their feet, Syd," I said winking cheekily at me "no need to worry."

Syd rolled his eyes. "I know." He sighed.

We both sat down on the swing together.

"Me and my dad built this while you were in Jamaica." He said after a thoughtful pause patting the swing. "My dad said it would take my mind off you." He gave a forced laugh. "Trouble was," he said "all it made me do is think of you more, about how much you would love it.

He smiled sadly down at me, his blue eyes piercing my green ones.

"Have you…did you ever think about…well…us?" he asked suddenly.

I could feel my face go red for the second time that evening.

"I…um…no…I mean…it's just-"

Syd cut me off.

"It's ok, I understand." He said curtly, quietly staring at his feet.

"No Syd, it's not like that…I'm not…I'm not ready…"

"Not ready?" he said, you could the hurt in every syllable he spoke, he got up. "I understand."

"Syd." I put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm saying goodbye to everyone." He said stiffly, shrugging my hand off.

He walked back up to his house. I closed my eyes leaning against the back of the swing.

Why does everything go so wrong? I thought.

Believe me when I say this but I do love Syd, I really do, but I love him as a brother. Would you marry your brother? Didn't think so.

"Gone to sleep Cat?"

I looked up it was Frank.

"No, just thinking."

Frank sat down next to me and started to gently rock the swing with his feet.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked.

"Nothing much," I replied, "You know, about Syd."

"Oh." He said quietly suddenly finding interest in a stone on the ground.

"So how's Cambridge?" I asked lightening the mood. "Gotten into any trouble?"

"Well now that you mention it…" his eyes twinkled as he recounted the time he and Charlie had used the Bennington-Smythe manoeuvre on their Latin teacher.

It was around that time that I suddenly had an urge to kiss him. So I did. That's right I Catherine Royal kissed Lord Francis Avon, Earl of Arden. Frank went rigid with shock, I was about to pull away and mutter an apology then I felt him smile into my mouth and he kissed back!

I slowly put my hands around his neck and he tentatively put his arm around my waist and it was in that exact position that Syd found us.