"I'm okay," she lies through chattering teeth as I flatten out my dark blue scarf and lock it in place with an extra loop.

"Come on." I place my hand between her shoulders and guide her to my car. The pavement is frosty, but I'm not certain that that's my reason for touching her. It's inappropriate. I know I shouldn't, but my mind just doesn't seem to care. I feel like I owe her for tonight, the way she handled my mum and her illness like it was nothing new. She didn't break down or get frustrated like Dad and I; she just dealt with whatever my mum was suffering with, be it the remote control or holding her knife and fork in the wrong hands.

I think that's the woman's touch. Women have great instincts when it comes to sickness. They just do what they have to do, without sharing their panic over the situation.

I hold the pa.s.senger side door open and don't close it until Eloise is in the seat and strapped in safely.

"Thank you for tonight. I'm sorry we all kept you for so long." I say to her, after putting the car into gear.

"It's fine; I enjoyed myself." I have a strong feeling she's not lying either.

"You should visit my mother again. Lord knows she could use the company." I shake my head and mentally kick myself. "That's if you'd like to. I know you're young, you work and have cla.s.ses to attend. n.o.body would blame you if you..."

Her hand closes over mine. I don't expect it, nor do I expect the warm shock it sends along the surface of my skin. "I had a great time. I'd like to come again. Mrs Price has been my teacher since year seven. I owe her that much."

A strange feeling erupts in my stomach. I try to ignore it by mentally pressing it down, but fail and it becomes my main focus. I'm not sure if it's her hand on mine or the sweet rhubarb scent that has filled the car, but I find myself lost with a strange feeling of hunger in the pit of my stomach.

A wave of longing spreads through me, longing to turn my hand over and lace her fingers with mine. I need to feel the touch of another being, one who smells as good and feels as warm as she does.

I realise her hand still remains and wonder if she feels the same.

Loneliness has overcome me of late. I know that this feeling is stemming from that. It has to be a small desperation I didn't realise I held deep inside, now rearing its ugly head.

"Good, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." I try to say, clearing my throat as I slowly slide my hand away, not denying my skin one last lingering touch of hers.

She quickly puts her hands on her lap and twists her fingers together. I hear her release a breath and watch as she turns to look out of the window. "Your mum was right, by the way. You can cook."

At this I smile and the feeling that I seemed to struggle so hard with vanishes. "Why thank you, Miss Blackburn."

"It's a shame you're terrible at chess."

My mouth drops open and a laugh escapes me. "I was winning until you arrived."

"Your dad was three moves away from owning you."

"And suddenly little Miss 'I haven't played in ages' is a master of chess."

She turns to me and, with arrogant eyes and a c.o.c.ky smile, she says, "I could teach you if you like?"

"I was going to split my winnings, but now I'm keeping them for when we have a match."

"You're on, double or nothing." She wraps the end of the scarf around her hands and sinks into her seat.

"Deal."

"Good."

And then another thought comes to mind. "It would probably be a good idea if you were to tell me where you live."

Her mouth opens in surprise when she realises that I've been driving now for five minutes with no clear direction in mind. When her laughter begins, mine follows and it doesn't stop for a while.

Chapter Twelve.

Eloise Cla.s.ses continue as normal. Everybody seems hyper and ready for the half term break that starts next week. I don't blame them. I'm as hyper as they are. Even though I have so many things planned, I can't help but feel excited to begin.

I practically prance through Tuesday, only stopping to chat with friends and giggle with Hayley over internet videos of cats stealing their dog's beds. Miss Hart rea.s.sures me that everything on her list of things to buy is going to be dealt with on time for Halloween. She seems to have warmed towards me significantly and I think I actually might like her now.

When the final bell rings, signifying the end of my day, I immediately head to work with that very same spring in my step that I woke up with this morning. Crystal tells me my mood is addictive and for some reason we both find ourselves dancing and singing along to the radio as we serve customers.

When work is over I bag a bunch of sweets and pastries and direct myself to Mr and Mrs Price's home, not for a long visit, but to drop off some treats and keep Mrs Price company for a while.

I let Mr Price know that I won't be offended if he asks me to leave. He doesn't and I end up beating him again at chess. This time he hands Mrs Price forty pounds, seeing as that was the starting bet, and then proceeds to threaten me with forty days of detention.

It's when Isaac shows up that I really feel giddy. I don't know why, but being around him just makes me forget the world outside. The best part is, he seems just as happy to see me too.

I know he's probably just grateful for my being there, but still... I can't help secretly hoping that it's my company he enjoys.

The week seems to fly by, but time does fly when you're busy so I'm not surprised.

"Your work has improved," Isaac tells me during my visit. It's Friday night and, seeing as this is my fourth visit to his parent's, I decide it's time for me to at least help him with the dishes. "Immensely, in fact."

"Oh, yeah. If I get into a decent University and finish the year with good grades, my parents are helping me to pay for a trip to France with Hayley in the summer."

"Well if that isn't a good thing to get you motivated then I don't know what is," he chuckles as I hand him a plate to dry. "Why France? I thought girls your age wanted hot beaches and c.o.c.ktails?"

"I'm not into that. I want to see Paris." I sigh happily. "I want to eat pastries in quiet little cafes on the busy streets of the city. I want to try wine like the professionals do. I want to visit vineyards and climb the Eiffel Tower." I close my mouth and feel my cheeks heat. "I umm... I like culture and life and in particular I suppose I love old buildings that hold character."

"Why's that?" He c.o.c.ks his head out of interest and my face heats further. "Don't be embarra.s.sed; I'm not poking fun. It's a genuine question."

"I suppose I'm like my dad in that sense. I see an old tatty building and in my mind I start rebuilding it, painting it, adding accents and flourishes of flowers."

"You're old before your time." He smiles softly and taps me on the nose. "That's not a bad thing. If you keep hold of that pa.s.sion, you'll go further than you could ever imagine."

My embarra.s.sment leaves me and my hands still in the bowl of foamy, hot water. "You think so?"

"Don't doubt yourself. Don't ever doubt something you love so much."

Isaac clears his throat and turns abruptly to put the plate in the cupboard above the sink. It's time for me to go and this time I have my mum's car. I've never felt so disappointed in my life.

Isaac The energy in the room seem unrealistic. Every single one of my students in our sixth form cla.s.s seems to be bursting at the seams with untold amounts of excitement and energy. It's Wednesday and the last day of term. They break up for ten days for the Halloween holidays, so I allow them an hour to plan where they're meeting tomorrow and who is decorating which room.

Eloise sits closest to the centre of the group with a large map of the school. Red crosses sit over certain cla.s.srooms, signifying that these are to be blocked and locked on the night in question.

She directs people with ease, playing on her friend's strengths and weaknesses, a.s.signing them the jobs that she knows they can do efficiently.

I sit back and mark work, only giving my input when asked, but keeping one ear on them at all times.

By lunch hour the cla.s.sroom is full of students that aren't even my students. I'm surprised by how many people want in on the event and want to help.

Eloise seems relieved and I don't blame her.

"Groups will travel through together, no more than seven per group, otherwise n.o.body will see anything and it won't be scary." Hayley explains as Eloise moves towards me with something in her hand. She places it on my desk totally unnoticed and moves back to her seat.

I look at the foil wrapped sandwich and my hand immediately goes to the note attached which reads, 'Eat!'

She's cheeky, I'll give her that, and I can't resist obeying her order. This time it isn't a ham baguette, but a salmon and cream cheese bagel. I'm not normally a fan of salmon, but this bagel is just divine.

I watch as she pulls at her own, popping small pieces into her mouth in between laughter and chatter. I devour mine, finishing it in just a few bites.

"Mr Price," a student I've forgotten the name of calls. I nod for him to continue. "When are you getting the costumes?"

I pull my eyes away from the red haired girl and look at the boy speaking to me. "Tomorrow. I'll pick them up tomorrow afternoon and bring them into the school."

"I'll be in charge of tagging them." He grins, raising his hand and s.n.a.t.c.hing the list Eloise holds out. "I'll guard this with my...." His brow furrows. "And Miss Hart is totally okay with that?"

Eloise grins wickedly. "Nope."

"What? What's Miss Hart doing?" Another student calls, but the boy quickly pockets the list and shakes his head. "Oh come on, I won't say anything!"

"Nope, I'll take it to the grave." He picks up his bag and practically skips from the room and the questions quickly shift to Eloise, who brushes them off with ease and tackles the next problem. I really hope she isn't exhausting herself, what with her current condition. Maybe I should mention to her that I know.

I'll have to think about it.

I can't help but feel bad when the bell rings once more, signifying the end of their lunch break. They all shuffle out of the cla.s.sroom with new friends, still talking excitedly about the scare school fest.

I find myself smiling with them all.

They all call goodbye and it's not until I turn to the empty cla.s.sroom that a wave of disappointment strikes through me. It takes me a while to figure out what it is, but then I realise it's because Eloise didn't hang back to say goodbye herself.

I straighten the chairs ready for my next cla.s.s to come in. The group was good enough to push everything back without me having to ask and I'm grateful for that.

Eloise I've never felt so exhausted in my life. I barely make it home from work without crashing on the pavement and sleeping where I land.

When I do finally make it home, I grunt at my parents, who seem cosy and snuggled on the couch in the living room, before traipsing to bed and crashing onto the covers. Tomorrow is going to be such a busy day for me. I have no idea how the h.e.l.l I'm going to cope.

"I genuinely didn't think anyone would turn up." I gulp down my coffee and smile at the large group waiting in the entrance hall of the school.

"Me too," she hisses, smiling and waving politely at everyone as we pa.s.s. "We should get started then."

I yawn and nod at the same time as Hayley begins calling for people on the list. Everybody races to their designated areas as I gather the things we need.

Bin bags are stripped and pinned to the walls, row after row. Creepy glowing faces are stuck to different spots and cotton wool is stretched until it resembles cobwebs before Mr Diplock, who I can't stand, pins it to the ceiling so it dangles down and hits you in the face on the way in.

Everybody helps and we get loads done in the first few hours, but then people start to leave with promises to return the next day. I actually believe they'll come back.

"Break time," I say to Hayley and pull her to the canteen where the coffee machine... isn't running. "No!" I give it a kick and pretend to sob. "No, no, no. That's so unfair."

"Okay, let's not break the love of your life. They probably emptied it before the holidays."

After managing to pry me away from the machine, we sit at a random table and I slurp on my last carton of apple juice. "I need a nap."

"I need to get laid," Hayley unnecessarily adds as I bury my face in my arms. "Well, I totally do. What's going on with you and Garrett anyway?"

"Nothing really, I've been too busy. I've hardly seen him at all."

"You should call him."

"I will, when I'm not too busy."

Hayley flicks my temple until I bat her hand away and glare at her. "You're going to lose him."

"I never had him to lose him. Besides, I'm trying to focus."

She rolls her eyes and sits back, no longer flicking my head. "If you say so."

"Come on, I barely have time for you and you're my favourite person in the world."

Her sulk turns quickly into joy. "Yeah, I know. Movies at mine tonight?"

Ugh... "I'm too tired. If you let me sleep, I'll agree to come."

"Are we going out on your birthday next week? I feel like we should go out."

"I haven't decided yet. I have a feeling I'll be too busy."

Hayley flicks me once more, this time on my forehead. "It's your eighteenth! We should be partying and getting drunk and meeting boys!"

"Party where? We've done all of that."

"Then let's go to Leeds or something, go somewhere amazing. Let's go to a gay bar! I've always wanted to go to a gay bar."

I yawn again, stretching my body at the same time. I am so freaking tired. "Can't we do that on your birthday? I'd rather stay close to home."

"You're so boring."

"I just don't see the..." A loud clatter sounds from the hall, which immediately jolts me to my feet. What the h.e.l.l has happened now?

Isaac I wince at the sight of the fallen stepladders and shift the bags further up my arms. "Oops."