Curve

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Curve Page 21

by Nicola Hudson


  “As much as I want this right now, Cass, we are going out.” He drew my hands to my sides and stepped away.

  “But Mum and Sylvie are out for a couple of hours and Mike won’t be back before eight,” I said in what I hoped was a flirtatious voice.

  Flynn gave me another of those endearing, yet hardly sexy, kisses on the forehead and opened the front door. “Come on, we have a table booked.” He walked out, leaving me no choice but to follow him, frustrated.

  We pulled up outside Frankie and Benny’s in town and I was relieved that we weren’t going anywhere fancy. Maybe he had listened, after all.

  “Table for Peters,” he told the host at the front desk.

  “Ah, yes Mr Peters. The rest of your party is here. Follow me please.” The rest of the party? As we turned the corner, I could see Mum, Mike, Sylvie, Neve and Jake all sat around one of the large tables.

  “Happy birthday, Cass!” squealed Sylvie, jumping down from the table and running over to me, grabbing my waist in a death-grip. My look up at Flynn was answered only with a shrug of his shoulders and a smile.

  It turned out I had a great time at the meal. Everyone was in a good mood, especially once I had told them about Flynn’s conversation with Matt as much as was possible in front of Sylvie. When our server asked if we wanted the dessert menu, Mum nodded at Flynn and said that we were ready for cake. And so I found myself sitting through the birthday ritual of the lights being dimmed and ‘Happy Birthday’ being sung along with by the entire restaurant. As corny as I had declared it to be when witnessing others experiencing the birthday package in the past, I enjoyed it. I blew out the eighteen candles on the chocolate cake that was brought out and choked back the tears that I could feel stinging the backs of my eyes. I kissed Mum and Flynn and hugged everyone else. It had turned out to be a better birthday than I could ever have imagined.

  As we all said our goodbyes outside the restaurant, Mum reminded Flynn that I had school the next day so needed to be back by eleven. As my family made their way to the car, Neve winked and put her arm round Jake, declaring that they were going for a drink and so she wouldn’t see me until tomorrow.

  Seemingly reluctant to leave the car park once we were sat in the car, Flynn asked “Do you want to go for a drink, Cass? It’s now legal, after all!”

  “I’m not fussed. Maybe. Just somewhere quiet would be nice.” I was already feeling a bit buzzed from the two ciders I had drunk with dinner.

  “OK. I know just the place,” Flynn replied and started the ignition. He held my hand for most of the journey, dragging it over whenever he needed to change gears. We turned into his road before I even registered where we were.

  “Oh, it’s your house!” I exclaimed.

  “Yeah, Mum and Dad are away for the night, well a long weekend, so it’s just us until Neve gets back.”

  “Ooh, are you intending to seduce me?” I asked.

  “Maybe a little,” he admitted before getting out of the car and walking around to my side. I smiled to myself, excited by where the evening was heading. He tugged on my hand and we just about made it inside the front door before I threw myself at him, all of the frustration I had felt at my house earlier resurfacing with a vengeance. After exploring every millimetre of my mouth and pulling me so tight to him that I felt every muscle of his imprinted on my own, he drew back.

  I pouted. “But it’s my birthday!”

  “I know, but I have a present for you.” He ran and picked up a couple of drinks from the kitchen before leading me upstairs.

  “Is my present up there? Will I have to unwrap it?” Yes, I was trying every innuendo-laden trick in the book to get a response from him.

  “Yes and yes. But only if you’re a good girl!” When we got to his room, he sat me down on the edge of the bed whilst he got a small box, tied with a ribbon, from his desk. “Happy birthday Cass,” he said, placing the box in my hands and kneeling in front of me.

  My shaking hands fumbled when trying to untie the ribbon until it finally fell away and I was able to open the box. Inside was a slim leather bracelet with a single charm threaded on it. Taking it out of the box, I looked at the charm; it was a silver antique-looking heart, with delicate swirls and scrolls engraved on it.

  “Let me,” Flynn offered, taking the bracelet and kissing the tender spot on the inside of my wrist before fastening the clasp. “I love you Cass. This is a reminder of that, that you have my heart. Whenever you’re feeling crap or unloved or just pissed off, it will remind you that there is someone who loves you. Just you.” He leant up and kissed me, gently at first, but becoming increasingly more intense. “Are you in the mood for another present?” he asked, with a playful look.

  I looked at him, our eyes level with each other, and tried to silently communicate how much I wanted another so-called present. “Really?”

  “Yeah, but same rules as before Cass. Not all the way. When I make love to you for the first time, I want to sleep with you afterwards. And Cinderella has to be back by eleven or she turns into a grapefruit or something,” he joked.

  I humphed slightly, before realising that it probably wasn’t a good look. “OK. But maybe a bit more than last time?” I counter-argued with a not-so-innocent grin.

  “OK, but remember I’m only human.”

  He pulled his shirt off, allowing me to admire the way his muscles flexed and moved as he stood and removed his boots, socks and jeans. My insides melted at the sight of him, naked but for his dark grey boxers. Kneeling back down, he took the hem of my top and pulled it over my head, laying it to one side. He leant forwards and kissed the curve of skin above my bra. When his arms reached around me to unclasp it, he paused and looked up at me, asking for permission. I gave it with a smile. As my bra fell away, he cupped my breasts in his hands. I had a momentary image of Rob’s hands on me but that was erased as Flynn lowered his head and rained kisses on each one. My fingers enmeshed in his hair, I gave in to the sensations that surged through me with every tender touch of his lips.

  “Oh God, Cass,” he moaned against my skin before kissing a path down my stomach and up again. After negotiating the button, he unzipped my jeans. I lifted my hips to help him pull them off, along with my socks and shoes, before removing his own.

  Flynn moved so that he was on top of me, balancing his weight on his palms that rested either side of my head. He dipped down and initiated a kiss that grew in intensity until there was no way of knowing where one mouth ended and the other began.

  The journey of my hands started on his back before smoothing round to his abs and back again, before lowering and gripping his bum through his boxers. Each movement of his hips created a friction between us that had us both gasping for breath. Flynn’s lips left my mouth and kissed my eyelids, my nose before descending to my neck. I angled my head to give him better access to the soft spot behind my ear whilst moving one of my hands and snaking it between us.

  The groan he emitted as I took him in my hand made me bold and, even though I didn’t really know what to do, I gripped him and mimicked the way he had touched himself that night downstairs.

  He stopped moving.

  He stopped kissing.

  I’m pretty sure he even stopped breathing for a while.

  “Cass, I want to stop for a minute,” he said in a tortured voice. What? I stilled my hand but didn’t let go. Flynn’s breathing slowed and he looked down at me. “That is too nice, Cass,” he groaned, “I won’t last if you carry on.”

  So I continued to touch him. When it became obvious that I had no intention of stopping, he moved his own hand in between us and started to reciprocate my touch.

  Somewhere on the perimeter of my own release, I heard him call my name.

  As our breathing returned to normal, I moved so that I was lay alongside him, amazed that I felt so comfortable being naked around him. I was about to put my arm across his stomach when he caught hold of my hand.

  “Hang on, Cass.” He leant away and picked up the box of ti
ssues that was on the floor next to the bed. “Let me clean up first,” he said with an endearingly embarrassed smile.

  After a while lay in each other’s arms, he disturbed the peaceful silence. “We had better go in a minute. It’s nearly eleven and I don’t want to piss your mum off.” The last thing I wanted was to leave, but I agreed that we needed to respect my curfew. After one final kiss, I reluctantly got up from his bed.

  When we pulled up outside my house at two minutes to eleven, Flynn got out with me and walked me to the door. “Cass, tonight has been the best night of my life. Thank you,” he said, brushing my lips with his.

  “Me too,” I admitted. “Thank you. For everything. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Cass Jones. Don’t you ever forget it.” Flynn raised my wrist and kissed it next to the heart charm. “‘Night, Cass.”

  LOCAL TEEN SEX ATTACKER SENTENCED

  A TEENAGER who attacked a fellow student has been sentenced to sixteen months in custody.

  Robert Meadows attacked the 17-year old girl whilst she was working alone in a shop on Morningvale Road in January this year. Meadows then shared semi-naked photos of the victim with his friends.

  Meadows, 18, a Sixth Form student at Low Hills High School, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charge. Sentencing Meadows, Judge Robert Hughes said that by pleading guilty and saving the victim the trauma of a court appearance, he had shown some remorse for his actions and the impact on his victim.

  Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Meadows was given a sentence of sixteen months custody. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register upon his release.

  “Mike’s just bringing the last box and then we’re done,” Mum says, stacking the box she is carrying neatly in the corner, whilst Sylvie dances around us both.

  “OK. I reckon it’s going to take a couple of hours to put this lot away. It didn’t seem that much in the car!” I look at the collection of boxes which hold my life, or at least the parts of my life I need to have with me at Uni: five boxes, a suitcase and a mini-fridge. Oh, and a huge frame to start a new collage that could move with me through university. That will help to liven up this bland box of a room. I’m the first to arrive in the flat I will be sharing with three strangers and have picked the upstairs room that overlooks the tree-lined street outside.

  “Do you want a hand? I could hang up your clothes?” Mum has been visibly struggling since we packed the car. I think she had been pretending that this day would never arrive. But it has.

  “No thanks, I can do it when you’ve gone.”

  “Oh, Cass. Are you sure about this? It’s not too late to change your mind,” she says, embracing me in a bear hug.

  “You don’t really mean that Mum! I’ll be fine.” And I will be. I’m glad that I made Birmingham my first choice offer back in May. Mum and I have become so much closer this last year, and I don’t think I could cope with being hundreds of miles away from her. Or Sylvie, whose hand I lift in mine so that she can pirouette beneath our outstretched arms.

  I’ve already made plans to visit Neve in Brighton later this month. We have scheduled the trips so that I don’t go at the same time as Jake; as lovely as he is, I don’t want to spend the time acting like a fifth wheel, let alone sharing her room with him as well! We said our goodbyes last night, hoping that this would just be a new phase in our friendship, and not the start of its demise.

  But I know that nothing stays the same and so, I guess, we’ll just have to see what happens.

  “Well, that’s it then,” Mike said, putting the box down. “Anything else you need, Cass?” His offer and smile were genuine; things had warmed between us in recent months.

  “No, I’m fine. You’d better get back.” I couldn’t believe that they had closed the shop for a few hours to drop me off. “Thanks for all of this,” I say, giving Mike an awkward hug before turning to a tearful Mum.

  “Come on Mum, I’m only half an hour away!” I remind her before quietly adding, “Don’t get upset - it’ll only set me and Sylvie off.” It does the trick and she puts on a smile and hugs me.

  “I know. We’re going to miss you though, aren’t we Sylvie?” she says, pulling her into the hug as well.

  “But she’s coming home next week!” Sylvie clearly wasn’t worried about my absence from her daily life.

  “I’ll walk you out to the car,” I offer, remembering to pick my new door keys up on the way.

  As Mike and Sylvie pile in, Mum hugs me one last time. “Look after yourself, Cass. And just ask if you need anything or if you’re short of money. You only have to ask.” The worry is still evident in her voice.

  “I know, Mum. Honestly, I’m going to be OK.”

  “I know you will. I’m so proud of you. You’re amazing. I love you so much.” The last few words were more of a sob and brought tears to my eyes.

  “I love you too, Mum. Now get in and go!” I close the door after her and wave as they drive down the road, Sylvie hanging out of the window and waving as they turn the corner.

  As I walk back to what will be my home for the next year, a black Range Rover pulls up and a red-haired girl jumps out before it has even stopped.

  “Hi! Are you at number twenty-two as well? I’m Amber. Isn’t this exciting? Has anyone else got here yet? What’s your name?” Although I’m a bit overwhelmed by the rapid-fire questions, I can tell straight away that Amber and I will be friends.

  “Hi, Amber. I’m Cass. Do you want a hand with anything?”

  “God, no, that’s what dads are for!” She laughs and waves at her dad who has been waiting patiently for her chatter to stop. “Come on, Cass, let’s go explore!” I take her arm and lead her in.

  Subject: ‘Mountains’ (Biffy Clyro)

  Rapunzel,

  I hope you’ve settled in and everything is unpacked. What are your flatmates like? Any signs of a psycho yet ;-)

  I can’t believe I’m not there for your first night – bloody field trips! At least we’ve got phone access this time. Jez has spent the whole time online…I don’t know what he’s going to do for data for his assignment!

  We get dropped off at about three tomorrow – so expect me to be knocking on your door at five past! How much easier is life going to be now that there are only two roads between us and no parents?!

  Seriously, I’m so looking forward to this next stage in our relationship Cass. Our love gets stronger with everything we experience together, good or bad.

  I wish I was there with you tonight…

  I love you.

  Flynn

  xx

  I lie in my new bed, half excited and half nervous about tomorrow. I’ve already planned what I’m going to wear and have filled my new bag with half the contents of Paperchase. One of the other girls in my flat, who is thankfully a little quieter than Amber, is on my course so we are going in together; at least I will be saved the embarrassment of being the only person sat by myself.

  I’ve read so many books about people starting university, I thought that I knew what to expect but, now that the reality is here, I feel like I know nothing, yet am worried about everything.

  But, when I think back to what has happened over the last year, I get a grip.

  I will be fine.

  As I smile to myself, my phone chirps.

  Flynn: Night Cass xx

  Me: Night Flynn xx

  The Home Office reported on sexual offending in England and Wales for the first time in January 2013:

  Over 400,000 women are sexually assaulted each year.

  1 in 5 women (aged 16 - 59) has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16.

  Approximately 85,000 women are raped on average in England and Wales every year.

  Only 15% of those women who experienced sexual offences reported the incident to the police.

  Women aged between 16 and 19 are at the highest risk of being a victim of a sexual offence.

  29% of male offenders of these crimes are aged between 16
and 19.

  I started writing as a way of coping after I lost my mum, and so it is appropriate that the first thanks go to her. She supported my love of reading as a small girl, my interest in the world of words as I got older and would have been so proud to tell people about this. Thank you Mum x

  When I got a few chapters into writing Curve, I started to believe that maybe I was writing something worth sharing. As the draft got longer, I told my close circle of friends about my secret venture and their support has been overwhelming. From taking me seriously the first time I told them about my writing, to being fantastic beta-readers, they have always been there for me. Curve would not be what it is without them. Thank you Becca, Hayley, Holly, Michael and Niki x

  Many people believe that writing is a solitary occupation and, yes, I have spent many hours by myself, writing. And writing. And writing. However, when I created my author page on Facebook, I had no idea about the wonderful writers’ world that would be opened up. Thanks to the early supporters who shared links to my page, I have become part of a friendly, welcoming community of writers, readers and bloggers. Over the last few months, I have been amazed by the constant support I have received from old and new friends, in both the real and online worlds…never under-estimate the value of Liking a status update or clicking on Retweet! Thank you to everyone who makes writing such an un-lonely experience x

  The final thanks must go to my wonderful husband. Even though I already have a job that eats up so much of our time together, he has never complained when I have shut myself away to write, edit or prepare for publication. On so many occasions, his faith and humour have kept me going when I have lost mine. I know how lucky I am that he was a curve in my path. Thank you xx

 

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