Page 31 of The Story Of Us

If only she knew that was all I wanted - the chance to try again, to make up for the way I hurt her.

“Why? Nothing has happened to make her change her mind about me.”

It’s easier to talk about her now with this half-truth out there, easier for me to try and get advice from my fifteen-year-old sister, who really shouldn’t be thinking about dating at all. I make a mental note to find out who else Izzy talks to at school and to ask them if she’s interested in anyone. I’m too protective of Izzy to let her heart get broken like I did to Violet.

“What’s the harm in trying? Maybe things have changed, and she could like you now. You’re just going to give up after only trying once?”

It’s like Izzy already knows everything that’s happened, her words hitting harder than I expected them to, and that’s why I decide to open up more.

“I already tried again.”

“And?”

“She didn’t want to talk to me.”

“Hmm… you probably did something to her for her to reject you twice.”

Now she’s scaring me. I open my mouth but close it again, trying to figure out what to say without giving away too much.

“Oh, yeah, you definitely did something to her. I can tell by the look on your face.”

Putting her in a headlock is starting to seem like a great idea.

“You know what, I’m not having this conversation with you.” I stand up, but Izzy does, too, and she pushes me back down. “Isabelle.”

“Don’t full name me. I’m trying to help you here.”

“Okay, so stop judging me, and just tell me what to do. How can I get her to give me another chance?”

“I don’t know what you did to her, and I know you’re not going to tell me either, so I can’t really give you any solid advice.”

I lift my hands in exasperation, wondering what the whole point of this was then.

“But I can talk to her when we get back to school. I’m seeing her tomorrow anyway.”

“Isabelle Evans, don’t you dare say a word to her about this conversation.”

I start panicking, trying to think of a way I can make sure Izzy doesn’t tell Violet. I’m worried that if she says anything, Violet will think I’ve told her everything about us, and that was never what we wanted.

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Relax, I won’t tell her everything. I’ll just put in a good word for you. Talk about what a great guy you are.”

It already sounds like that’s going to be the worst conversation in the world because I know Violet thinks the exact opposite of me right now.

“For some strange reason, I don’t trust you to do that.”

“You’re so annoying. I’m trying to help you. Do you want to go out with her or not?”

“I do.” It comes out too quickly. I can’t hide the desperate need I have for that, for her.

“Okay, so I’ll talk to her tomorrow, and then we can take it from there.”

I look at my sister and wonder how I missed her growing up so quickly. I think I spent so long trying to shield her from our parents, wanting her to have a childhood that was completely different from mine, that I missed the moment when she matured. I’m determined to have a better relationship with her from now on so that she knows I’ll always be here for her, just like she is for me, even if she doesn’t realise it.

“Thanks, Izzy.” I stand up again and this time I pull her into a hug. She pretends to try and wriggle away but she hugs me back, both of us knowing we can lean on each other whenever we need to.

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