Kate checked her phone every few seconds for the next hour, but when Caroline didn't call back, she assumed that either the emergency was on-going and she was blasting some poor creature on the phone, or she was freaking out about having admitted what she did to Kate.

Finally, Kate got ready to go out with her mother and texted Caroline "Going to the theatre tonight, so I'll call in the morning. I hope the power is sorted out, if not you could always go to my place." She then considered whether to mention their discussion. Finally, she decided on "And I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me about your past, Caroline. I still think you're the best thing since sliced bread."

She was surprised to feel her phone vibrate with a reply as she went downstairs. "With your mum?"

Kate frowned for a moment, then realised what she was being asked. "Just with my mum."

Kate paused as she watched the 3 dots appearing.

"Text me when you get home. If I'm still awake, I will call you."

"Ok." Kate replied with relief. she wasn't shutting her out. "Any freaking out happening there?"

"Freaking out? I'm sorry, I don't understand your young person's vernacular."

Kate smiled.

A moment later, Caroline sent another reply. "I'm ok. Have a good time at the theatre. It obviously won't be as good as British theatre, but remember they're trying their best."

"Snob."

"You know, I'm glad you've gone there. It's nice to be away from your cheekiness for a while."

"I'll text you when I get in. Has Lawrence cleaned his room yet?"

"LOL."

"You're 46, Caroline."

"Cheeky."


When Caroline was with Kate, or talking to Kate, or thinking about Kate, she felt calm. She felt like she could breathe in fully. She had felt like that since the moment she had met her, when Kate arrived at Sulgrave. Caroline had been deputy head then, but everyone knew she did all the work. Kate was the only teacher to seek her out, to invite her places when the staff went as a group. She never pushed the boundaries Caroline put up, but she skirted them. She tested them. She never overstepped them, but slowly those boundaries had changed. Not for everyone. Just for Kate.

It was friendship. That she was sure of now. But did friends miss one another like this? Did friends feel like part of themselves were missing when they were apart?

Did Kate feel it?

Did it terrify Kate, too?


When Kate got in from the theatre her mum wanted to watch the movie version of the play, and despite making her excuses, Kate soon found herself curled up on the couch with a mug of tea to keep her mum happy.

"Caroline? Are you still awake?" She texted hopefully. She had spent the whole play barely able to sit still due to excitement. Caroline had been in a relationship with a woman. Caroline might actually reciprocate her feelings. Caroline-

"Stop it."

Kate turned to look at her mother.

"I can hear you thinking about her."

Kate smiled ruefully. "I can't help it."

"From what you've told me, sweetheart, she blows hot and cold. That's not good for you."

"Because she panics, mum. I know it upset me at first, but I think I understand it now. She doesn't have any around her to support her, and-"

"And that's what you're going to do? What if she doesn't feel the same? Will you stay then, if she just wants to be friends? Will you still support her, or will you leave and show her that people leave if they don't get what they want?"

Kate sighed, sagging into the couch. "You're supposed to be on my side." She watched her phone, willing Caroline to reply. "I don't know. All I know is I've never felt this way before, and I need to..see it through. I need to know where it goes, or I'll never forgive myself." Kate replied earnestly.

"Kate-"

"Mum. I love her. I have never loved anyone as fiercely, as desperately, as whole heartedly, as I love Caroline Elliot."


Nothing. When Kate woke up there was no message from Caroline. She texted a hopeful "have a good sleep?"

By 10am, already out for the day with her mother, Kate tried to call. It didn't even ring. Caroline never turned her phone off, in case the boys needed her.

"It's fine. It's ok. She's fine." Kate reassured herself, even as her heart sank.


Kate grabbed hopefully at her phone when it lit up, only to be disappointed when she saw who was calling. "Lawrence, is everything okay? Is your mum okay?"

"Mum? She's fine."

"..okay. And you?"

Lawrence studied the ceiling. "..I think I'm going to jail."

"Your mum is just upset about the couch, but it's just a couch, she will get over it."

"No, real jail. Adult jail."

"Why?"

"..can anyone else hear us?"

"No. I'm alone in my mum's garden. What's happened, Lawrence?" Kate sat up. Maybe this was why Caroline had gone MIA.

"I just.. I've.. you know Martha at school? The new girl."

"No, I don't think so."

"I've..she.. I overheard her on the bus telling someone her Snapchat. And I think she's funny, so I added her. And I sent her a picture."

Kate shut her eyes in dismay. "Of your..of what?"

"Just of me making a face, same as I sent to Angus."

Kate breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what..why do you think you'll go to jail?"

Lawrence sniffled. "I just found out she's just turned 14. She's underage!"

Kate smiled now, trying to suppress her laugh. "Lawrence. You're 14, too."

"But 14 and a half! Almost 14 and 7 months!"

"You..it..you won't go to jail. I swear on your Xbox. Sending a 14 year old a photo of your face will not get you arrested when you're 14 and almost 7 months."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief. "Angus said I'd definitely get in trouble."

"From your mum, maybe. You know she doesn't like you adding random people on social media."

"You won't tell her, will you?"

"..I will tell her that we have discussed something you were worried about, but we sorted it out, and I'll tell her if I ever think it's necessary. Does that sound okay?"

"She'll trust you like that?"

"I think so." Kate wasn't so sure any longer.

"Ok, then."

"Good." Kate rested back In her seat and reached for her cup of tea. "Everything else okay?"

"Popsicles coming to stay over while mums's away, so that's good."

"Away? Where's she going?" Kate worried. Caroline hadn't mentioned anything to her, and it had to be urgent if she was leaving John alone in her home with the boys. And turn her phone off.

"Don't know." Lawrence shrugged. "She left after the lights came back on yesterday. Gran had to stay the night, and she was furious because she had a date. With Alan. He came over, and he seems pretty cool."

"..but your mum. Did she say anything? Why she was going? Where? How? Does your gran know? Your dad?"

"John! Why would John know?!"

"Because he-" Kate stopped when she realised it wasn't Lawrence who had spoken. And it wasn't said over the phone.

Kate's eyes flew up to find a nervous Caroline stood in front of her wringing her hands.

"Hi."

"Hi."