Loved But Broken

Chapter 8

Winter being almost here now. The weather started to turn becoming chilly. I always hated this time of year. You could wear three jumpers and still be cold. The only good thing about winter though was the smell of pine logs on an open fire and roasting marshmallow’s in the living room or fresh bread toasting on the open flames. I would always remember that smell of pine for as long as I live.

“Sophie...SOPHIE.” Pulled from my thoughts I realised Delores had been still chatting away. I hadn’t realised I had faded out on her. "I’m going to head now tell Mum I’ll see her tomorrow sometime before she heads into town.”

“Sure, they should be home in a couple hours I’m going to hit my books for a bit longer anyway. Got to study for Maths first thing tomorrow. Remembering all the formulas and the right calculations on the scientific calculus. I’ll be sure to tell Mum as soon as she is home. Goodnight Delores thank for calling in for a cuppa.”

“Good night, Sophie...oh by the way your secret is safe with me.” She winked as she left through door.

Crap. What was I going to do she know? She somehow knew about William. I knew she wasn’t calling in for no reason at all. Returning to the sitting room, picking up our cups, I headed back into the kitchen. My pocket started vibrating again thankfully it wasn’t too loud.

Unknown: You free on the weekend.

Me: Who’s this

Unknown: Phoebe sorry. A few of us are getting together on the weekend to celebrate end of the half yearlies.

Me: Oh. Yeah, I’ll ask Mum and Dad when they get home. Where’s it at.

Phoebe: Going camping out at Lake Alberta. All the girls in class.

Me: cool il ask Mum and Dad they might let me off grounding for a weekend.

Me: I’ll let you know tomorrow at school.

Phoebe: cool as talk to them. Good luck with revision. You’ll beat this exam.

Me: thanks, you too. Pi and trig be glad to see the end of both until end of year.

I sat my phone aside while I washed the two coffee cups up. My phone lit up again as I dried the two cups. Looking over I couldn’t see who it was.

William: babe is it safe

Walking down the hallway I stopped in front of a door. Knocking once the door opened. Entering, looking around for a small room William had made it homely. “Babe its safe they all still out and old hag has gone yet.” Silence met back. I looked around. “Sexy.” still nothing back. Must be in the shower still. Closing his door. I walked further down the hall. Silence came from the bathroom.

William: babe???? Is it safe now?

Me: yeah, where are you.

William: out the back having a beer in fresh air.

Me: oh, explains the silence in here

Before he could respond. I was out the back-door quiet as a mouse. I snuck up behind him. Wrapping my arms around him I covered his eyes with my hands. “Guess who?” I whispered in his ear. Brushing my lips to his lobe. He spun around wrapped his arms around me and we sat there looking up at the sky. “Look up there. Southern Cross can you see it babe?”

“Yes, babe I can see it. There can you see the seven sisters?”

“yes, what about those ones the cup and saucer?”

“There the milky way!” he exclaimed. My face lit up. I didn’t know he knew the stars as well as me. We'd gotten to know each other heaps over the last year and a half. I could sit here for hours like this. Unfortunately, though we didn’t have the luxury of time. Shivering slightly, he wrapped his jacket around me. “Let’s head back inside babe before anyone else gets home.” Reluctantly I let him lead us inside. Going back indoors felt like we were entering another world. He guided me towards his room. The only room in the house that had a lock on the inside and no-one entered unless he said so.

“Babe I might not be here on the weekend. The girls want to celebrate end of half yearlies.” I reached up kissing him and silencing a response for now. In that moment I just wanted him to be transported to a faraway land where we could be ourselves. In love and against the world. That night we made love until I had to sneak back into my own room before my parents got home. I was on cloud nine. Finding a pen and paper I scrawled a message for Mum when she got home to call Delores in the morning before going into town. Taping it to the television I knew either Mum or Dad would see it. Dad always turned the tv on late at night for Star Trek. Going to bed that night I slept better than I had in weeks. William was finally back to stay. Mum and Dad were slowly taking away my grounding restrictions. Just to get through the next two days of exams.

Waking up the next morning, Mum was awake. William left earlier for the farm. I hustled around the kitchen getting breakfast before getting ready school.

“Mum...um...Phoebe called last night. The girls want to know can I go camping this weekend with them. It’s out at Lake Alberta. They're all getting together to celebrate end of half yearlies and start of the holidays. I would like to go if I'm allowed.” Waiting for Mum to respond felt like an eternity. Part of me knew the answer and I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I was grounded after all.

“Soph, you know your grounded right?” she began to say, “but I guess you might be able to go. Let me discuss it with your father and I will let you know tonight.” Not what I was expecting but better than a straight out no, I guess.

“Ok Mum I’ll tell Phoebes you will have an answer for me after school.” I went to walk back into my room but stopped. Mum was looking at weirdly usually I wouldn’t think anything of it but today it gave me a creepy feeling. “Mum everything ok? You’re looking at me strangely.”

“yes Sophie, I... I just didn’t realise how much you’ve grown these last few years. Maybe grounding you over all this business was too harsh. Good luck today on your exams.” With that she left me to finish getting ready for school. Confused and not knowing what to do with that confession. I did what I do best brushed it aside in the file of Mum’s rare compliments and left it for another day to ponder.

Pulling out my uniform, my black school pants freshly ironed and white shirt. Dressed ready to head to school. Leaving the house this morning I couldn’t believe just how lucky we were. Other kids in our little school had to get up super early to catch the bus into school from their farms on the outskirts of our quaint country town. I felt so lucky to live in the area we didn’t have to worry about the crime that plagued the city an hour away. We truly were in our little patch of heaven out here.

Exams were all day finally at the end of them. We got to relax. I headed down to the agriculture yard to feed our pigs. They were off to the butcher next term so it was time to really fatten them up. The only area in our entire school we were able to have peace from other students and teachers. I pulled my phone out checking it the first time since I went to sleep last night.

William: good luck today babe

William: il be home earlier feel like sneaking into my room when you get home.

William: I love you babe

Me: finished exams for the day bae. Just checking on the animals then I can come home

Me: chickens, ducks’ man I hate this job. Rather sit through the maths exams again.

William: lol babe you can do it. Just remember get the eggs when the chick isn’t looking ;)

Me: thanks for that advice bae. 5 mins and il be out of here. Mum and Dad still out?

William: yeah, they called as I finished work something about seeing friends in town. Asked me to get stuff out for dinner.

Me: awesome they going to be forever I know which friend they gone to see. Dad will be stumbling back in the door tonight lol.

Me: Mum must have talked to him this morning

William: cool. Ok babe see you soon xxx

Me: see you soon locking the shed up now. Xxx

Leaving the yard, I returned our agriculture yard and shed key to the office. Marked the board with time and how many eggs collected from the chickens. Heading out of school I finally let out a sigh relief. One more exam tomorrow. I could get through this. Then end of term and two weeks of stuck at home doing nothing. Couldn’t get any better. Or could it. The walk home was short we lived so close to the school. Walking into the house, I seen Mum and Dad were definitely not home yet.