The house loomed before me. The place I would have to face everyone and tell them what had happened today.

They would know that I'd found 'the One', there was no hiding that, but how I was going to tell them she was... well, a she, was another matter. Could I face it? Could I tell them that she wouldn't listen to me and I had no way of convincing her? Would they judge me because of it or would they accept me? I wouldn't know until I had the guts to tell them.

Drawing in a deep breath I entered the house, my heart racing. The door closed behind me with a loud thump and I felt strangely trapped.

"Baby!" My mum shouted, "is that you?" I stood in the entrance uncertainly until I realised there was no point trying to avoid the inevitable.

"Yes mum, it's me." I replied, hurrying through to the kitchen.

"So?" She grabbed me and pulled me to her, "You were in a hurry weren't you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, a little muffled as I was pressed against her shoulder.

"The first day and you found him." Dad explained, "no one has done that before, in the entire history of our family." He was looking at me proudly and smiling more than I'd seen since Harry's death.

"Oh." My stomach twisted.

"So where is he? Who is he?" Mum asked.

"Someone from school," I said not ready to pop their bubble of happiness.

"What does he look like? You should have invited him over so we could meet him." Mum sounded so pleased it made me irritated. All the 'he's' were bugging me.

I just shrugged.

"Is he nice? Handsome?" Tara asked running into the room. That was the last straw. Miss Hart, handsome. The comparison would have made me smile if I wasn't so worked up.

"No! For god's sake leave me alone!" I screamed and ran from the room.

I pounded up the stairs and ran into Eric, Anne's fiance.

"Hey buddy," He grabbed my shoulders, "what's the rush?"

"Let go of me!" I shrieked twisting in his grip. Surprised, he let me go and I raced into my room, locking the door behind me.

I flung myself onto my bed and sobbed into the pillow. The image of Miss Hart's face pulled into a cold sneer as she called me a freak filled my head, causing me to sob harder.

The phone rang loudly as I was washing my hair.

Leaping from the shower and quickly drying my hands I answered it.

"Hello."

"Hey, Laura," Courtney, my best friend, trilled.

"Hey Court, what is it?"

"Are you busy tonight?" She asked immediately arousing suspicion.

"No," I admitted and I could almost picture her smug grin.

"You are now!" She announced, "I've got you a date." I groaned, "Don't be like that, this one's different. I promise."

"I know you Courtney, your taste in women is terrible."

"I'm not cut from that cloth so you can't expect it to be." She laughed but when I didn't join in she became serious again, "I promise she's nice."

"No, Courtney, I've told you no more dates!"

"But," I could tell she was pouting, "I already told her you'd meet her and she seemed really excited to see you."

"You're just going to have to tell her I can't make it."

"What else are you going to be doing tonight? You'll just be sitting in the house feeling sorry for yourself, and you know it!"

She'd got me there. I sighed in defeat.

"Where am I meeting her?"

"Seven at that new restaurant next to the really old church they want to do up."

"I'll be there."

"Great!" She exclaimed. "Have a nice time!"

"Bye," I replied then hastily added, "and Courtney."

"Yes?"

"Never again, okay?"

Laughter filled my ear before the phone went dead. Smiling I put it down and got back under the warm water.

A pounding started far off and gradually got louder, pulling me from the comforting depths of sleep.

I sat up and stretched like a cat.

"Lilly!"

"Lilly! Let us in!" The voices of Antony and Sophie sneaked under the door and flung themselves at me.

Yawning widely, I padded over to the door and unlocked it.

"Babe!" Antony squealed launching himself at me. "Happy birthday!"

"Antony!" Sophie dragged him off me and grinned down at me. "So, spill!"

"What?" I asked rubbing my head.

""You're mum showed us your crystal babe, it's green!" Antony yelled.

"Jesus," I groaned covering my ears. Antony settled down on my bed, watching me with an expectant expression. He looked liked a kid waiting for his presents on Christmas morning.

"Come on!" Antony wheedled, "Tell us!"

"No!" I resisted.

Sophie approached me, a sympathetic look on her face.

"Lilly," I grimaced as I could almost predict what was coming next, "I know it's been hard for you since Harry's death and believe me I understand what you're going through. I may not have been in his family but, as his best friend, I loved him as much as any of you. So I know that you don't want to-"

"Sophie!" I interrupted, "Stop, please."

"I think you need to hear this." She said, "I know you don't want to have strong feelings for any other boy because it would betray him."

"It's hardly similar." Antony scoffed. Sophie turned on him.

"It is! She doesn't want to love another boy because it would feel like she would have to abandon Harry's memory to do that."

"No-" I protested but she cut me off.

"Don't bother denying it! I know what I'm talking about!"

"Just because your training to be a psychologist doesn't make you one!" Antony retorted.

"Especially if you don't know all the facts." I muttered.

"At least I can get a job! What do you do? Sit around and watch movies!" Sophie yelled.

"Stop it! Both of you! You barge in here and start yelling at each other! I thought you came here to see me yet neither of you have listened to a word I said! You don't know what it's like for me so don't act like you do! You don't know me!" Everything poured out with those words and I suddenly felt drained. They stared at me with gaping mouths and round eyes. It was a huge surprise because I never showed when I was angry, and that was now twice in the one day. What had gotten into me? Feeling exhausted and just wanting to get back to sleep, I asked, "Can you just go? Please?"

"But-"

"We just-"

"Please," I begged. I was close to tears and they could tell, my voice was thick with it.

"We'll just be..." They backed awkwardly out the door.

"I'll get it out of you!" Sophie yelled as I locked the door again.

I collapsed on the bed and screamed inside my head, not wanting anyone to hear and investigate.

My head tingled and there was a strange whispering at the back of my head. I was straining to hear it when it disappeared. I mentally shook myself, this was not the time.

"Laura... are you okay?" I turned my attention back to the beautiful girl beside me whose name, as she had informed me with a wink, was Caitlin.

"I'm fine," I rolled over, pressing my lips to hers.

When she shuddered beneath me I forgot all about the strange voice and descended into pleasure.