The sun woke me, shining deep into my eyes; burning them. It was so bright that it was impossible not to be woken by it.

I squinted at the walls of my bedroom and tried to work out why Caitlin wasn't lying in bed beside me.

Then it all came flooding back. The argument, me threatening her and eventually getting her to leave. The breakdown I'd had afterwards and how Lilly had been there to comfort me.

But I didn't remember going to bed or Lilly leaving. Which begged the question: had she actually gone home?

I hauled myself out of bed padded into the living room. It was empty.

I went through into the kitchen and found that just as deserted. Maybe she had gone home. I felt a small twinge in the bottom of my stomach and ignored the fact I'd half hoped she would still be here.

I went down the corridor and found the door locked with the key lying on the door mat. Smart.

I went back into the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee.

Sitting alone in the living room I couldn't help thinking over the time I'd spent with Lilly.

The first time she'd stayed behind to talk to me the day I heard her voice inside my head. I'd thought she was completely insane, I even thought I was insane. I still did but there were doubts now.

She'd been so convincing that day in the cafe and I couldn't help but wonder if she really could prove it, as she'd claimed. And last night when she'd come over and listened as I droned on and on about Caitlin. That couldn't have been fun.

I wouldn't have stayed if it'd been her. I would have been out of there quicker than lightening. I can't handle girls crying. It makes me want to cry too and I promised myself I wouldn't do that again. Although it seemed I'd broken my rule twice in the last week, why?

Caitlin wasn't that important to me and I already knew she wasn't faithful. That was not the explanation as to why I'd been crying like that. I'd not cried since...

No. There was no point thinking about that now, it would only make me upset, and I'd already had two sobbing sessions this week. I was losing my touch. I couldn't control my emotions. But I would, I promised myself that whatever I felt from now on would be what I wanted to feel - nothing more, or less.

The phone went and I grabbed it thinking it was Lilly.

"Hey!" I nearly sang down the phone.

"Laura."

I could have screamed, it was Caitlin.

"What do you want?"

"You need me back, Laura! You can't cope without me, I'm the only one who understands you. I'm the only one who knows what to do! You know you need me!"

"I don't need anything. Especially not from you!" I snarled and hung up.

I had not even put the phone down when it went again, buzzing in my hand. I rejected the call and fought against the frustration building inside me.

What was her problem? Why couldn't she leave me alone and accept the fact I'd broken up with her? She was the one who went to some other girl for who knows what reason! If anything she should be the one wanting us to break up, not me!

My phone rang again and I switched it off before it could drive me crazy.

I decided to have a shower, to calm me.

As I stood under the warm water I wondered why Lilly had bothered to come over. I knew she thought I was her soul mate or something, but that didn't mean she liked me. She said she liked girls, but was that just a choice forced on her by what she believed? Was it just what she made herself think?

I liked her but I wasn't sure I could have a relationship with her. I didn't think having a relationship with a student was responsible. I was put in a position of authority and if I abused that I might be banned from teaching or locked up or anything!

'She's not your student anymore.' The sly voice in my head whispered, 'They can't do anything to you once she's left school.'

Was that true? I didn't know but it didn't matter. Whether it was allowed or not I would still feel... uncomfortable with it. It wasn't right.

I didn't normally date younger girls, in fact I don't think I ever have. I like them older and experienced, not young and innocent. Although her brother had died. Which tends to snap the realisation that the world is not all fun and games into place.

She didn't act young and carefree, in fact she was more composed than me, as last night showed.

So what was my problem?

Maybe if I spoke to her, saw her I could work it out. That would be my excuse anyway.

When I turned on my phone there were sixty missed and calls and nineteen voicemails. How obsessed was she? Ignoring them I dialed Lilly's number.

The phone rang and rang, until I thought she wouldn't pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Lilly?"

"Who else would it be?"

"I don't know," I said, "Spongebob." ()

"What do you want?" She asked half laughing.

"Do you want to go out?" I asked then realised how that sounded, "Oh cra- I didn't mean it like that!"

She was laughing again.

"It's okay," She said, "I know what you meant."

"So do you... uh... wanna meet up?"

"Sure." She said, "Pick me up on an hour."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"See you soon."

I waited for her to hang up but the click never came.

"Are you gonna hang up?"

"You hang up." I said.

"No, you hang up."

"We'll hang up together okay? On three."

"Okay."

"One, two, three!"

I pressed the end button and leaned back with a huge smile on my face.

Then I realised I wasn't ready. My hair was still wet and I was wearing a ratty pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt full of holes.

I jumped out of bed and ran to get ready.

The doorbell rang and I swore, I wasn't ready. Even though I'd been waiting for the last ten minutes...

My heart slammed in my chest and I could feel my skin clam up.

I opened the door and saw her standing there with a hand her pocket looking vaguely uncomfortable.

"Hi." She grinned and I nearly melted on the spot.

"H-hey." I said and leaned for the door frame but missed and hit my chin off it.

"Oh god." She rushed towards me and grabbed my face. "Are you okay?"

It stopped hurting as she held my head and twisted it, examining all sides for any injuries. I felt my face flush and she seemed to be staring at my lips.

"Uh," she coughed and released me, "you ready to go?"

"Yeah." I said and followed her to her car.

"So where are we going?" She asked.

"I don't know." I said and we looked at each other. Then we started laughing. "You'd think we'd have actually thought of something to do!" I spluttered.

"Do you want to just go and get some lunch?" She asked when we'd ceased our hysterics.

"I suppose."

***

We went to Nandos and ordered a meal platter.

Once we'd finished eating we relaxed in our chairs and talked.

"So how have you been since Caitlin left?" I asked.

"I've been fine." She said but she wouldn't meet my eyes so I knew she was lying. I didn't say anything, just looked at her and waited. "Okay it's been horrible. She won't stop phoning and it's been really bugging me. I can't turn on my phone without getting about twenty voice mails. It's driving me crazy."

"Can't you block her?" I asked.

"Why didn't I think of that?" She said hitting herself in the face.

She pulled out her phone and steeled herself before turning it on.

She drew in a deep breath and clicked a few things into it.

When she put it back into her pocket she seemed relieved and a lot happier than she had earlier. She smiled at me.

"Thanks." She said. "I would never have thought of that."

"Good thing you have me then." I joked.

"Yeah it is." She placed her hand on top of mine. My heart stopped. I looked from her hand to her face and she removed it again. "Sorry."

"I-it's..." I coughed, "fine. What do you want to do now?" I asked quickly to change the subject.

"We could go round the shops. It's about the only thing you can do here."

So we paid and left the restaurant.

"Let's go in here." She said and dragged me into a book store. I laughed to myself, she was a teacher through and through.

***

It was getting dark by the time we finally started the drive home.

It was comfortably silent, we didn't need to talk.

When she stopped outside my house I reached over and hugged her. She tensed at first but relaxed into it.

"Today was great." I said pulling away.

"Yeah, we should do it again some time." She said. I restrained a huge grin and said:

"Yeah, text me?"

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

I walked up the door with a huge smile on my face. The car didn't pull away until I opened the front door.