Page 23 of Meant to Be

Shit.

Me: Hey babe. Why seven or eight months? This is my fault I’m sorry. Xx

Pulling myself up in the bed, I scrub my hands over my face. I move from the bed and pull on my jeans from last night, then use the toilet, swilling my face with some cold water and head back to my bedroom.

I look at the lit-up screen on my phone and see she’s sent another.

Shelby: It’s not your fault. She’s just being a bitch, she hasn’t got a life and doesn’t want me to have one either. She wants me to be miserable like her. She said I’m grounded until I’ve done my exams. I won’t be able to get out all weekend now so I’ll have to see you Monday after school if you want to that is?

Me: Of course I want to. At least she can’t stop us texting.

As soon as I send the message, I’m waiting for the bubbles to pop up onto the screen.

Another message appears on the screen.

Shelby: Not unless she takes my phone... she can’t stop me seeing you after school either unless she doesn’t go to work and she won’t do that. Her job means more to her than I do. She’s making me do a load of chores then I have homework to do so I have to go. TTYL xx

Me: Text me later. Xx

She doesn’t send another message, so I slide my phone into my back pocket and head downstairs to find breakfast. Once I’m in the kitchen I look in the cupboards, but there’s nothing to eat at all - not even stale cornflakes, which is what I usually end up with. I haven’t heard mum this morning, maybe last night was a heavy one, and she’s not come round yet. I take a tenner from the jar and head to the cafe for an all-day breakfast. I think I deserve a fry up.

After a big breakfast and a cup of tea, I go home, happy and with a full stomach. Both of those things don’t happen to me often.

Chapter Seven

Shelby

It’s killing me not seeing Jax all the time. It’s been three weeks already, but he’s done everything I’ve asked and stayed away from the house. Of course, we’ve still managed to sneak around a little bit. He’s walked me home a couple of times from school, but not right up to the door, just in case any of the neighbours blab to mum. They do love a good gossip, and I know she’s probably asked them to keep an eye on me. I need mum to think I’m abiding by her rules, so she’ll let me out again.

I doubt it though...

My phone lights up with a text. I’ve been trying to concentrate on revision, but I can’t seem to. My head is all over the place, and I’m tired - maybe it’s being cooped up in this house. Getting up from my desk in my bedroom, I open up the windows letting some air into the room to see if that helps.

Sitting back at my desk, I look across at my phone, seeing Jaxon’s name on the screen. Instantly, I feel a smile pull at my lips and open the text.

Can you meet me? I really need to see you… I miss you, babe.

The smile doesn’t shift as I click reply…

I’ll try and sneak out in a bit if that’s any good? Give me half an hour?

I press send and wait.

He sends a message straight back.

I’ll be waiting on the end of your street, but out of sight, I have mums car.

I don’t message him back. Instead, I change my bed shorts for denim ones and pair it with a strappy vest top. This heat is bloody killing me at the moment. I brush out my hair and tidy it up putting it back in a ponytail. Sliding my phone into my back pocket, my key in my other, I put my trainers on. I leave my bedroom the way it is and run towards the corner of the street as fast as I can.

I reach the corner but don’t see Jax. Headlights flash from the road opposite me, and I look over. Smiling wide I run across the road to him, pull open the door and jump in. As soon as my butt hits the seat, Jax is grabbing me by the face and planting his lips to mine in a hard kiss until he softens and pulls away an inch.

“I’ve waited three weeks for that,” Jax says as his deep voice rumbles through me.

“I’ve missed you.” My teeth graze my bottom lip nervously.

“I’ve missed you too.” Covering my cheek fully with his palm, he softly runs his thumb over my skin, “You look, tired babe, are you not sleeping?”

“I’m fine. Revision is kicking my arse though. I wish the mocks were over already.”

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