Chapter 1

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” The pair of hands was removed from Alea’s eyes, revealing a rather lopsided cake.

“Marie! You didn’t…. you did?”

“Oh, Aly, it’s no big deal. Come on, it’s your birthday, you’d better enjoy it!” As those words were spoken, a loud bell rung three times over. All grins were immediately wiped off the previously grinning faces that surrounded her.

“Shit.”

“David!”

“Aly, do not go trying to tell me off. You’re six years younger than me, and on your bloody gap year, for Christ’s sake. Face it, I’m older, smarter and…” he tried to finish, rather smugly, but not unkindly. He had a bit of a God complex.

“Couldn’t think of another adjective? Okay, fine, fine. And I may be young, but stupid is one thing I am not,” Aly retorted, grabbing her hoodie from where it had been thrown on the sofa and pushed open the door, almost bumping into a girl on her way out.

“Oh! Sorry Miss Reese. Um, do you know if Mr Jones is in there?”

“Yeah sure…Nige!” she yelled backwards into the staffroom before departing. It was absolutely freezing outside and she pulled her hoodie over her head, trying to wiggle her way into it correctly, freezing when she felt two hands around her waist squeeze. Then she screamed.

“Argggh gerroff me!” She whirled around to come face to face with William Cox, her colleague and best male friend at the school. “You again!” She yelled at him in mock annoyance. “Nobody, but Nobody gets to poke my fat!”

“You don’t even have any fat. So no problems there,” he replied in a faint south African accent. She couldn’t find any response to that so instead ignored him, shouldering her basket of tennis balls, which had been left on the path, and heading off towards court three. He wouldn’t leave her alone however.

“Aly, you on 3 today?”

“Unfortunately. Why?”

“No reason. I’m on 4 though. But my lesson’s off games, she came and dropped off the off-games slip a few minutes again. Probably skiving. Not that I care really.” He stuck out his tongue at her.

“Well mine will probably be late – damn.” Her phone rang in her pocket, forcing her to remove her gloves to find it, and then answer.

William watched her silently, studying her face. She looked quite similar to a dumpling, in that she, like him and all the other tennis instructors were bundled up jackets, gloves, and hats amongst many other layers of clothing. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, the scattering of freckles standing out strangely on her white nose. It was most endearing.

“Hola? Si. Emilio, no tengo el tiempo por eso ahora!” William cursed mentally, not able to understand a word she was saying. French, he could speak but not Spanish. He did recognize the name ‘Emilio’. It was her boyfriend, one that she was not presently happy with, judging by her cold, frustrated tone of voice.

“Oye, que voy a hacer ahora? Si! Sabes que no tengo un coche, Emilio. Okay. Chau.” She pressed the hang-up button fiercely, seeming annoyed.

“What’s up?” ventured William, tentatively.

“Bloody man said he couldn’t pick me up today. He’s ‘going to the pub to watch the match with his friends’. Idiot. Now I have to take the stupid train, and it’s 15 minutes walk to the station and it’s freezing and I just want to go home and have a bath. Is it too much to ask? Mon dieu.” She stomped her feet in a frustrated manner whilst running a hand through her hair.

“You’ve reverted to French,” he observed. “If you like, I can take you home” he offered.

“Really? Oh, Will, thanks so much.” She threw her arms around him and he returned the hug, smiling, glad to be able to help for once.

“Miss Reese?” came a young voice from the edge of the court.

“Yes Cassie?”

“Hey! Wasn’t sure it was you – you’re so bundled up both of you!”

“Hiya Cassie” waved William. She eyed him, as if to say ‘I know you like her…it’s so obvious!”

“It’s Miss Reese’s birthday today…I forgot to get her a present so I had to improvise,” whispered William, conspiratorially to Cassie, who laughed, disbelievingly.

“Well, happy birthday anyway, Miss Reese.”

“Thanks Cassie…Shall we?” They proceeded to court three, leaving William standing alone. For a minute anyway. Then Aly called behind her. “Mr Cox, want to play American doubles, seeing as you have no lesson today?”

“Sure thing.” He jogged towards the duo, happy to have an opportunity keep active. It really was cold; the type where the air practically freezes as you breathe it out. Or at least, forms little clouds in front of your face. Luckily, it was lunchtime in one hour only.

Warm soup and an electric fireplace in the staff room sounded most appealing, he thought, as they began a game. Cassie and Aly were on one side and he was serving; the girls having their own little conversation down the other end of the court while he unyieldingly hit every single shot back to the pair.

For people who don’t know, (I know that Americans don’t tend to take these,) a gap year is a year off. You take them after you finish high school, yr 12 here or 13th grade in America. It’s taken before you go to university, either to do work experience, or reapply to a college you didn’t get into, or just to travel or stay at home. Generally, it’s for something productive.

Samantha Nicole: thank you so much for reading over this chapter and pointing out the various grammatical errors, and the gap year thing – I hope this helped!