When Summer Ends by Katy Wormald (the speed reading book txt) 📕

was staring at him.

I snapped my head up and could feel the blood running to my face. She dropped the conversation therem which I was glad of. We chatted idely until our food came, along with more drinks for us. Although Marissa had let me drink in the house, I didn't ask her if I could in public, and besides I was quite happy with my glass of coke. I noticed Marissa had a few more glasses of wine even before our meals came, and I prayed to go that I wouldn't be having to carry her home.

Declan returned shortly with our food and this time there were no awkward conversations. We thanked him for the food and had a little chat with him, but as the place was getting busier by the second he had to go pretty quickly.

I ate some of my salad, but the stuff tastes like crap! I watched Marissa devour a huge steak withextreme jealous. I pushed my food around on the plate and sipped my coke as me and Marissa conversed lightly. After our plates had been taken away Marissa suggested we stay for dessert,which I didn't pass up on as I'd hardly eaten and the food smelled so good!

Declan came over a little bit later and took our orders, I decided not to act all healthy and ordered a slice of chocolate fudge cake with vanilla ice cream, while Marissa just asked for more wine. Me and Declan exchanged a sly look, I'm pretty sure he had picked up on the fact that she'd had too much to drink as well, but neither of us felt it was our place to say anything so we kept quiet.

While waiting for our food, and trying to keep an obviously drunk Marissa for asking the restauronte owners to put some better music on, I caught Declans motioning me over from the corner of my eye. I begged Marissa to stay there and wait for me while I go to the toilet. I knew she would stay there because she seemed quite happy looking out of the window- kinda like a drunk dog I guess...

I walked over to Declan who was stood next to a large plant near the toilets. The camouflage of the plant wasn't working at all, although I hoped hoped he wasn't actually trying to camouflage himself as a tree.

"Hey, whats up?" I asked him quietly, assuming we were trying to hide from someone.

"Oh, nothing I just wanted to give you my number seen as though I couldn't earlier" He said passing me a folded piece of paper. There were no awkwardness hanging between us now and we were both smiling away at each other. I had butterflies in my stomach and was so glad that he really did want to see me tomorrow.

"Oh, thanks, I cant realy talk for long though, Marissa's had a bit too much to drink and pretty much needs to be supervised." I said and we both broke out laughing.

"Well, I finish in twenty minutes so I can hang around and make sure you two get home okay if you want? Besides, it looks like she may need some help." He said nodding in the direction of my table. I looked over to see Marissa trying to what I assume was sprinkle pepper onto the vertical window. We both bursed out laughing again.

"That'd be brilliant, I don't really want to carry her home!"I said and we both laughed again, even though I'm pretty sure she would need some serious help getting home. I thank Declan for waiting for us and he said he's be outside by the time we'd finished our desserts. Declan had to go back to work and I had to go back to a dunked aunt, so we both left saying we'd meet up after we were finished. I walked back to my table smiling.

The dessert came and I ate my slice of chocolate fudge cake in record time, Marissa on the other hand decided she wanted some as she only ordered wine. I passed her a spare fork and we both shared the ice cream happily. When we finished, I told her I would get the bill but she insisted on paying- so I figured I may as well let her. She left a huge tip, which I wasn't even sure she was aware of doing so, and we set off outside. Declan was leaning on a black car in the parking lot and jogged over when he saw us.

Im pretty sure the warm air had gotten to Marissa because she was not looking pale and ill. Declantook one of her arms, and I took the other. He lead us over to his car and I strapped Marissa in and wound her window down a bit, hoping she wouldn't puke in Declans car.

"Thank you so much for the lift home, I really appreciate it." I told him as he pulled up outside our house.

"Its no problem, don't worry about it. So, I'll text you in morning? If our still up for hanging out?"Declan asked me smiling, and looking a little nervous again.

"You don't have my number, do you?" I replied, already looking for my phone so I could give him it.

"Your aunt gave me it earlier." He said with a cheeky smile on his face.

"Well, yeah text me tomorrow then, I'm still up for meeting.". With that we said our goodbyes, and I told him I could manage to get Marissa inside when he asked if I needed any help. I got a very sick looking Marissa from the back seat and walked with her inside the house. Luckily she had given me a key earlier so I didn't need to ask her for one.

When we got it Marissa said she wanted to sleep it off on the sofa, so I fetched a blanket and pillow from the spare room and covered her up. I decided that I'd go to bed too, seen as though there was nothing better to do. I changed into my pajamas and removed all of my make-up.

I laid in bed thinking about how I had hardly though about my friends today, and was surprised to see that I wasn't actually missing them yet. I think most of it was due to Declan. Im so glad that, hopefully, I wont have to spend the whole summer alone. I plugged my phone on to charge and tried to sleep.

*BEEP* *BEEP*

I checked my phone as it had just gone off.

Message from Declan:

Can't wait until tomorrow, hope Marissa's okay & bet she has a mad hangover! See you in morning Jodie. Night, Declan xx

P.S You looked beautiful tonight x

Wow, I can't believe he called me beautiful! There had only every been one man to call me that, and it was my dad! I had extreme butterflies flapping around in my stomach. I text him back saying thank you and I can't either. A few minutes later I fell asleep with a smile plastered on my face.


Chapter Four

Chapter Four


I woke up early the next morning. I was so excited about seeing Decaln today, and properly this time not just running into each other by chance. I practically jumped out of bed and got a nice long shower. I washed my hair and body, once I got out and dried i looked around in the bathroom cabinets. Not looking for anything in particular, just being nosey. I came across a bottle of fake tan and contemplated putting some on...but them decided it was pointless seen as though it was yet again another hot summer day.

As it was warmer than yesterday I dressed in a short black pleated skirt, a baggy one shoulder grey top and a pair of black tie up shoes. I sat at the dressing table that I unpacked all of my products for my hair and skin into. I blow dried my hair and them added some curling moose so that my hair would stay in long ringlets all day. I then added a light layer of foundation and put on a tick layer of eye liner, accompanied with black mascara. I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. I was pleased with my light, natural tan but wanted to catch some more sum on my skin so that I would be a little darker.

I grabbed my phone from under my pillow and text Declan.

Message to Declan:

Hey, we still meeting today? Jodie x

I put the phone back onto the bed and eagerly awaited for a reply. While I waited for his reply I decided to accessorise, so I grabbed my white leather bag, some dark blue beads and my silver watch. I glanced down at my watch, which showed 11:15AM, wow I really am up early! usually I would sleep in past noon if no one woke me, but hey, I'm just lazy like that! I packed my handbag with make-up, a mirror and some cash, then raced down the stairs singing 'Go outside' by Cults. I reached the bottom of the stairs and assuming that because I couldn't hear Marissa, she must still be sleeping.

I decided to make us both some pancakes so I made the mixture and and started cooking them. I grabbed some blueberry's and syrup from the fridge waiting for them to cook. I flipped them expertly in the pan while dancing around the kitchen, still singing. I pulled my phone from my bag and checked to see if Declan had text back yet. Still no reply, so I popped it back into my bag. Maybe I was being a too eager to get his reply so, even though I wanted to I still didn't text back.

I placed the pancakes onto a large plate and put it on a tray with the blueberry's and syrup, taking it into the living room to give to Marissa. The sofa was bare though, and the cover and pillow I had given her last night had gone, I checked in her bedroom to see if maybe she had woken up in the night and gone to her own bed, but still no sign of her. I put the pancakes on the coffee table and walked into the garden hoping she would be out there.

She was. She was sat on the deck chairs on the veranda chatting away-to Declan! I walked over to them with a puzzled look on my face. Why the hell would Declan be out here with Marissa? They were drinking lemonade and as I got closer could hear them talking about flowers and what was the best time of year for certain ones.

"Hey guys..." I said after a minute or