I'm sorry that I'm really bad at uploading, I thought I'd upload way more often over the summer but evidently not, it's been busier than I thought! Anyway, here's the new chapter! ;)
Nicki's Point Of View
"Come on, girls, you have to be downstairs... now, actually!" I say, knocking on door after door. It seems that the kids are finding it hard to wake up early, especially after they no doubt stayed up way after lights out. Plus the girls all take ages to get ready, they have make-up, hair and clothes to worry about... whereas the boys can just chuck on some random outfit, brush their teeth and put some gel or whatever in their hair and be done in five minutes. Lucky them...
"Looks like you'd better go down to the boys' floor on your own, we'll come down as soon as this lot are ready." I say to the group of girls who are waiting in our small recreation room (the boys got the bigger one with the pool table). They file downstairs obediently. I sit on the red sofa, sighing, as I wait for the rest of the group to be ready...
Quarter of an hour later, after I've checked that everyone is out of the rooms, I am rushing down the stairs and into the boy's recreation room. Surprisingly, it's empty, apart from Tom.
"Michael decided to take them downstairs five minutes ago, but I thought I'd wait for you." He smiles, and I smile back.
"Thanks, I wouldn't want to go downstairs on my own."
We walk down the stairs together. They are so narrow that our arms brush against each other, and I feel the rush of energy that is familiar whenever Tom and I make physical contact (which, when we are sitting next to each other on a coach for a long period of time, happens quite frequently). Our hands are touching and suddenly, our fingers are intertwined. It's weird that such a small action can feel so amazing. I glance at Tom. "Are you sure you want the kids to find out like this? So soon? Isn't it better to tell Josh first?"
"We haven't really had the chance to tell Josh, and I think he expected it to happen anyway. Anyway, there's no time like the present."
We arrive at the doors of the dining room. Michael and Ben are talking with the bus driver, and the kids are stuffing food into their mouths. Only one person sees us- and that is Lauren Andrews. Her mouth falls open in shock as we walk through the door, and after she's gotten over it, she turns straight to the girl next to her and starts gabbling madly. In a few seconds time, all four girls on her table are staring at us, food forgotten, but we have dropped our hands by our sides and we are acting normally, chatting to each other, choosing breakfast and also getting food for lunch. Then we join Michael and Ben at the staff table, trying to ignore the stares that are boring into our backs...
Josh's Point Of View
"Right guys, go and get what you need for today. We'll be out until the evening, remember? Bring your camera, phones, money, food, drink..." Mr Byrne's voice trails off as we all start chattering and surging out of the dining room.
"Hey, Josh, guess what?!" Lauren says, almost jumping up and down with excitement.
"What?" I ask curiously.
"Your dad, and Miss Boston..." She pauses for effect. "Were holding hands!"
"Oh please, give it a rest, Lauren." I sigh. "They were not."
"But they were, I swear!" She insists. "I would have taken a photo if I could have got my phone out quick enough!"
"Hmm." I say. "Did anyone else see?"
"Not that I know of, they were all too busy eating." She says. "But Josh, please believe me, they were holding hands! I promise you!"
"Alright, fine, I believe you." I say. There is a pause.
"Maybe it didn't mean anything." Trudi says, reasonably.
"Come on, Trudi! Why would they hold hands if they weren't going out?!"
"I don't know, I just thought I'd ask... I mean, how did they get together between yesterday evening and this morning?"
"Maybe they... oh, God!" Lauren dissolves into giggles. I feel my face flush.
"Stop it, Lauren!" Trudi says.
"Why, it's just a bit of fun! Ewww, imagine them getting it on!"
"Lauren, just shut up, alright?! It's not even your business whether they're together or not! It's not anybody's business but theirs, and mine! I don't even see you keeping your voice down, anybody could hear!" I snap, Lauren looks a little worried.
"Well, about that... I might have, um, told the girls, and they might possibly have told... everyone else who's here?"
"Oh, thanks, Lauren! Why don't you just announce it on the local radio?" I sigh, stalking off ahead. I would have liked some time to process and get used to that fact that Dad was with Miss Boston (even though I suspected that it would happen), and now, thanks to Lauren, it's over practically the whole school?! Great.