Chapter 24

"So Cece, do you have any hobbies?" She asked me.

I shook my head.

"Okay...I wonder if you suit hats..."

"Eve what are you on about? I asked her, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

She resurfaced from her wardrobe holding a few pieces of clothing. She walked over to me and placed the whole pile at my feet.

"Find something you like and put it on. I'm going to get my camera. I left it in the shed."

"Why did you leave your camera in the shed?"

"We have two sheds. My dad converted the one into a darkroom for me to work." 

"What's a darkroom?"

"It's a room that is completely dark and allows processing of light sensitive photographic materials."

"O, okay..."

"That made no sense to you,did it?"

I shook my head." Absolutely none."

She giggled, "Look it up in the library or something."

"Or I could just use the internet..."

"Shut up, I'm so used to using the library as we don't really use the internet in this town."

I laughed.

"Anyhoo, get dressed and I'll be right back."

"Okay then."

I looked through the pile of clothes, finally picking out a white summer dress, a black vest and fishnet stockings. The shoes she lay on the bed for me wasn't my style, so I'll just put my combat boots back on.

Eve came back to her room, she was looking me up and down smiling. "It really suits you."

"Thanks."

"Anytime. Let's go outside, there is nice light."

"Okay."

"Hmm...Maybe lean against that tree." Eve offered as she held her camera in her hand.

"This one?" I asked pointing to a tree.

She shook her head. "The one two away from the log."

"Oh, this one."

"Perfect."

"I leaned against the tree and she took a picture.

She continued to direct me on where to stand, sit and how to pose. It was fun and yet confusing at times. At one point she told me to walk around and do what felt comfortable. Sometimes a pulled faces.

The sun had reached the middle of the sky, so we decided to go back inside.

"Eve, Cecelia, lunch is in the kitchen if you want some." Eve's mother said.

Eve nodded to her mum and walked into the kitchen.

We leaned against the bench, eating Eve's mum's homemade sausage rolls.

Eve set her camera down in her room, telling me to sit down while she went to put the photo's she had taken to the darkroom.

I left the next day at midday.

I walked slowly down the road to Oliver's house.

I knocked on the door and Oliver's grandmother opened it.

"Hello Cecelia, Oliver is in his room." She told me and opened the door for me to come in.

"Thank you."

I walked down the hall to Oliver's room and knocked on the door.

He opened the door and smiled evilly. "Enter earthling," he said in an evil voice.

I giggled and walked into his room.

He sat on his bed and patted a seat down next to him. I sat down next to him in silence.

"So?" Oliver prompted.

"So what?"

"How was the date?"

I bit my lip and blushed, "He kissed me."

"Oh how sweet."

"Shut up," I said flicking his arm.

"No really I mean it, I am glad that you are happy."

"Thanks."

"But Cece..."

"Yeah?"

"Be careful, don't get hurt."

"I won't."

"So dies this mean you two are a couple now?"

I shrugged, "I'm not sure. It could just have been a kiss..."

"Knowing Jordan, It wasn't just a kiss."

"You think so?" I asked him smiling.

"Yeah. He only kisses girls if he has the intentions on dating them."

"You make it sound like he does it a lot."

"He gets around..."

The conversation got awkward and I mumbled, "Am I just another fling to him?"

"Oh no, no. Jordan has never broken up with a girl."

"What?" I asked in shock.

"They all break up with him. He becomes hard to handle."

"Why is that?"

"Most girls are friends of mine. He get's controlling...most girls give up on him. He always gets heartbroken and lands up hating me more." He sighed.

"Well he will not be able to control me."

"Oh I know that. Everyone knows that you can't be controlled. But why lose a relationship over me?"

"Because you're my friend right?"

Oliver nodded. "Of course I am your friend." He smiled, "But still, every time a girl breaks up with Jordan, they try asking me out and I turn them down.Then they are left regretting it and Jordan never takes them back once they break his heart."

"I am not going to ask you out Oliver. Your my friend."

"Wow, hurt." He mocked.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't be a twat."

Oliver chuckled.

"Why do you turn them all down?"

"Because I don't want to hurt them when I leave."

"What do you mean?"

"Well everyone knows that I am out of here when I finish school. And I don't want to fall in love with a girl or have a girl fall in love with me, and then having to break her heart when I leave."

"Why can't they come with you?"

Oliver sighed."Cece, no one wants to get out of this town except for me."

"And me..."

"Exactly."

"Huh?"

"Cece...If you had asked me out once I had gotten to know you I would have said yes. Because you have no intention on staying here. I wouldn't object to falling in love with you."

I didn't have a reply.

"But everyone else here just wants to work on the farm, or a convenient store...It's not the life I want. No matter how much I love someone, I can't do it."

"Then what do I want with Jordan....He;s staying here. And I am going to hurt him and myself when I leave."

"You're with him for the experience. But you do need to remind him that you are leaving with or without him." 

"You're right....Did you really mean that you could fall in love with me?"

"I don't know...I could. You're a really nice and pretty girl Cece."

I rolled my eyes.

"You are," he insisted.

"Life is confusing," I sighed.

Oliver laughed, "I know right."

We fell back on his bed and stared ta the ceiling.

"Hey Cece.."

"Yeah?"

"I am glad that you are." 

"Why?"

"Because there is finally someone who understands me."

I turned my head to look at him, our eyes met and I smiled at him.

"I am glad there is someone here who gets me to."