Page 13 of Luna Ascending

In the end, the whole school's electronics are buggered and it's way beyond the capabilities of the caretaker to fix. The headteacher sends the school home early – the students' excitement is beyond being controlled, and without any electricity it's probably dangerous to keep them here. Bliss!

Just as I'm slipping out of the building, I see the caretaker muttering to himself about hoity-toity electricians who don't know shit about power surges. He spots me earwigging and lets out another outburst.

“It's bloody unnatural. This ain't no fricking power surge!” He spits on the ground in frustration.

I turn to hide my grin and mutter a quick goodbye, already planning to meet Liz for a cheeky afternoon coffee.

Chapter Nine

Freya's POV

Curled up in the window seat, with my hands wrapped around a steaming winter-spice hot chocolate I peer over the top of the mug at a radiant Liz. I see a chance to get a word in edgeways and go for it.

“So, it's going well with Tavey then?”

“It issssss. Sorry, have I been talking about him all this time? It's just, he's so different, it's different with him...” Liz tries to explain pausing “I'm happy” she plumps for in the end.

“Good! That's fucking awesome” I break into a genuine smile for my friend “I was worried you might turn into an old spinster like me”

Liz tuts. Looking past me her eyes widen “Someone here might be keen to persuade you out of your spinsterhood”

Looking up quickly I see Marc gliding towards our table. I was really hoping not to run into him again. I've categorically ignored his text messages. He's a bit 'much'. I don't understand why someone like him is trying so hard with someone like me. That's what he's doing – trying too hard, way too hard, it's a complete turn off. Not to mention his behaviour in the bistro.

Marc slips into the seat beside us, offering his apologies for the last time we met. Just as he sits down, Liz's phone goes off.

“Sorry Freya, Tavey's a bit lost, I think he's nearby though” Liz glances between me and Marc apologetically “I'll be right back after I track him down. I promise!”

I immediately groan to myself. So much for staying as backup! I'm already feeling my migraine worsening at the very thought of having to deal with Marc. I glare at Liz's departing back before turning to Marc “Apology accepted, but... I can't stay long – I have another thumping migraine” I touch my temples as it ramps up.

Without asking Marc reaches towards me and massages my head. There's nowhere for me to move to and I'm immediately annoyed. What is it with this guy and invading my personal space?!

I'm about to tear strips off him for disrespecting my boundaries again when it hits me- the migraine that's been grumbling for days has vanished. Completely and utterly vanished.

“What?... How did you do that?” I splutter “The pain, it's completely gone, completely and utterly gone, it's like magic!”

Marc grins and I can't help but smile back – the relief from the constant pain of the past few days is amazing. I glance up to see Liz grinning in the window with Tavey hooked on her arm. Seeing me looking smiley and relaxed Liz waves a cheeky goodbye in the window and drags a frowning Tavey off towards the shops.

Marc and I sit for a while longer over another hot chocolate. Grudgingly I have to admit his attention isn't exactly unpleasant. I've been unbearable and in a hideously bad mood with everyone because of the pain. He's probably not a bad man, just pushy.

Marc insists on driving me home, via an entirely unnecessary bunch of flowers from an expensive florist as an apology for his behaviour. It's a bit overwhelming – I sneak a look at the price, they cost twice as much as my weekly grocery shopping!

As we drive closer to home, I feel a bit uncomfortable; I can see Marc looking around in shock.

“Isn't it a little rough around here for a single woman like you?”

His condescension prickles, “It does me just fine thank you!”

He has the good grace to look abashed, “I'd just hate to think of anything happening to you” he amends quickly.

Immediately I feel I've been harsh. He's just looking out for me, I'm sure he's imagining the neighbourhood to be far worse than it actually is, and ithasdefinitely gone downhill since I moved in too.

I hear myself confessing I'd thought about moving but didn't know of anywhere much better, that was affordable. Marc immediately offers to go flat hunting with me – part of his family business is in property rentals, and he has friends who have other properties if I wasn't comfortable with renting from someone I was dating, he slides in quietly.

By the time I finally shut my front door I'm exhausted. More to get him to go than anything, I've agreed to letting him look for some 'suitable' apartments. Whatever the hell that might mean. Urgh. I hate people meddling in my business, especially a pushy rich man who probably has no idea of what affordable might mean to me, AND who just tried to refer to us as dating. He didn't even have the good grace to look ashamed when I set him right.

Looking around my flat my beautiful plants are in desperate need of some attention. I haven't been in the mood to look after them recently- the migraines have been all consuming.

Pain-free for the moment I make the most of it, yanking on my comfiest hoody, disposing of my tight bra and pulling up some very loose granny pants, while I wander around crooning to my babies. I'm in my element, feeling very Bridget-Jones-esque in my moment of self-care.

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