Granddad's become obsessed with writing his story. It's all he seems to do when he doesn't spend time with us, I still don't know what it's actually about- every time he starts talking about the plot he gets excited and dashes off to write more.

"I'm halfway there," he says, sipping from his mug as he takes break from typing away at his laptop. Unusually bright March sunshine streams in through the kitchen window as I lean against the kitchen counter, inspecting the plant that Aunt Madge gave to Granddad. It's almost dead, it's leaves have wilted, its stem has bent- even Evie's lost love for the thing.

"Great," I say, "but you better not let Aunt Madge see the state you got her gift in."

Granddad waves his hand, not seeming to care about the plant. "I need more apple juice," he says, getting up to go to the fridge He has this idea that apple juice is his writing fuel, that it's the stuff that spurs his creativity. He opens the fridge before giving a rumbling groan.

"I've almost ran out," Granddad says, taking out the last carton and shaking it to hear how much is left.

"I can get some more," I say, getting up off the counter.

"Oh, you don't need to-"

"It's fine, I want to go out and feel some of the sun anyway." I shrug, grinning. Granddad shuts the fridge door.

"You're a saint, love," he says, beaming at me.

"I know," I joke before walking out to grab my wallet and keys.

Outside it's wondrously warm, the walk to the shops ten minutes away is much more enjoyable than the ones I've had during the past few months. Outside, there are children playing on the streets and people walking their dogs- all appreciating the sun.

The nearest place to find groceries is a small supermarket. Walking in, the cold air of the air conditioner washes over me. I walk over to the juice aisle, finding the specific brand of apple juice Granddad particularly favours. Beside me I see a small, blonde woman inspecting some fruit smoothies.

Upon a second glance, I recognise her as Levi's mother, Heather.

"Hi," I say, my voice full of surprise at seeing her here. Heather jumps; dropping the blueberry and strawberry drink she's holding and turning to look at me.

"Oh, Ruby," she says, she sighs, calming herself before smiling at me. I don't fail to notice how tense she looks.

"I never see you here," I say, unable to remember any other time I've seen her here.

Heather simply smiles in response and I wait for her to say something. She doesn't, instead her fingers creep up towards the collar of her shirt to adjust it slightly. The movement draws my attention to her neck. I don't notice anything apart from how pale her skin is. It's a stark white that makes her appear as ill.

"I've got to go," Heather suddenly says.

"Oh," I say, not expecting the meeting to be cut so short. I'm about to say something more but she suddenly pivots on her heel before hurrying out, looking like she couldn't get out any quicker. As she passes me, her bag knocks against my elbow and something falls out. I look toward the supermarket floor and see it's a purse, a neon-purple one.

I quickly pick it up, hoping to catch her in time to return it. I walk outside and look around the car park and surrounding pavement. Heather's nowhere to be seen. Confusion clouds my mind as I think about why she had to leave so quickly, it was as though she was running away from something.

I think about what to do. It's a Friday afternoon and I won't be seeing Levi until Monday. That's almost three days Heather won't have her purse for, and that's assuming I'll even see Levi. Ever since the Valentine's day fiasco, I've been avoiding and ignoring him.

Three weeks on and I'm still angry at the git, things have been different between Ryan and I- there's an unmistakable awkwardness that wasn't there before.

Sighing, I realise I have to stop off at Heather's house to return the purse. Hopefully I can just post it through the letterbox and not come across anybody, especially her son.

I begin the fifteen-minute walk to Finchley Avenue, all the while feeling increasingly agitated with each step I take. Going to houses I haven't really visited always makes me feel nervous but going to Levi's house takes the anxiety to a whole other level. Eventually, I reach his home, finding the way there surprisingly easy.

I clutch Heather's purse tighter, still debating whether I should go and return it to her or not. I wait on the pavement just by the path that cuts through the front lawn, weighing up my options. Whatever decision I would have made doesn't get the chance to happen because then the front door suddenly bursts open and Levi steps out, looking absolutely furious.

My heart lurches up into my throat and for a moment I think he's angry at me before I realise he's not even looking my way, he's glaring down at his phone as he swears quietly under his breath before agitatedly dragging a hand through his hair. Then Levi stills, as if he's just sensed there's someone out here with him.

Slowly, he looks up from his phone, his eyes gradually travelling upwards before landing on me. His brown eyes widen. Every muscle in my body tenses and I don't think the grip I have on the purse can get any tighter. I freeze on the spot and look back at him with wider eyes, my expression similar to that of a deer caught in headlights.

Levi swallows, straightening as he stops looking surprised and instead suspicious. "What are you doing here?" he asks, his voice is quiet but sounds so challenging it's as though he's loudly demanded the question.

I drag in a breath, not yet able to formulate a verbal response; instead I hold his mother's purse, the purple item bold in comparison with my skin that's paler than usual. Levi looks at it in recognition and, given the distance between us, I guess he can only identify it due to its bright colour.

"I..." I begin before trailing off, not really knowing what to say. It feels like there's electricity humming in the air, constricting the atmosphere and filling it with tension. Levi looks way from the purse, as if it's suddenly become irrelevant, and stares at me- his penetrating gaze making my knees feel weak.

He sighs heavily and I'm afraid he's going to start shouting at me. He doesn't. Instead Levi pockets his phone, I notice how rigid his stance is, it's as though he's going to snap at any moment. He takes another breath, before his eyes directly look into mine.

"Have you ever been to Wickworth Park?" he eventually asks. I can hear how tense his voice is and it feels like he's struggling against something, I don't know if it's anger or something entirely else. The words are unexpected and I return his passive look with one of confusion.

It's been ages since I have," I say, deciding it's best to just let him direct the conversation, regardless of the questions that are quickly building up.

"They've got a band performing there tonight," Levi goes on and I hear something else afflicting his voice. To my surprise it sounds a lot like hesitance. My heart thuds a little faster as he takes another deep breath. He looks down at the stone pavement beneath our feet before meeting my eyes once more. "Come with me?"

In that moment a feeling of understanding washes through me and I realise that, for whatever reason, Levi needs me to come with him. I forget all notions that I'm meant to be ignoring him, that I'm meant to be angry at him and hating him- all those ideas leave as easily as dandelion seeds being blown away by the wind.

My grip on the purse loosens slightly. Distantly, I think of how I should be thinking about this more, about how wise would be to go with him. But all I can really think about is how instict's telling me to go, to say yes.

"Okay," I say quietly. I pretend not to notice Levi's small sigh of relief and instead put Heather's purse in my bag before letting him lead the way to his car, hardly able to believe the sudden change of events.

* * *

The last time I've been to Wickworth Park was about a year ago, and that was for an outing with the family. Twelve months on and nothing's changed, there's still the pleasant scene of large, green-grassy land with people scattered across it. Everything has a mellow feel, amber light radiates down from the sun that's hanging lower now that it's late afternoon.

Centrally placed in the park, there's a large gazebo surrounded by deckchairs and people enjoying the band playing in it. I don't recognise the musicians performing but their peppy beat and gently upbeat guitar sounds like a lot of the stuff I listen to and I find myself appreciating the sound of their music drifting through the air as languidly as the clouds wandering through the orangey, pink sky.

On the radio and news debates and reports of global warming have flared up due to the unusually warm March day and I can see why, right now it honestly feels like it's summer, and in England and early spring- that's quite miraculous.

"Do you come here often?" I ask as Levi weaves a path away from the busy crowd of people surrounding the band and through the park, walking to somewhere quieter and more secluded. He glances back at me before returning his attention ahead and nodding.

"Yeah."

"Really?" The surprised word leaves my mouth without thinking as I stare at his back in disbelief.

"Yes," Levi says and I'm glad to hear a touch of amusement in his voice. During the car ride he'd lost his edgy mood and seemed to calm considerably, now appearing more like the calm guy I know. "Why?"

I pause for a moment, thinking of why it seems so strange that Levi spends time here. "I don't know... parties seem more like your type of scene."

Levi shakes his head and, though I can't see it, I'm sure he's grinning. "You've got me completely wrong, Bug."

It worries me how I no longer feel annoyance when hearing that nickname. And if that isn't disconcerting enough, I've even begun responding to the name- whether someone uses the word when mentioning an insect or being annoyed- I find myself immediately looking up, as though they've called my name. It's gotten to a point where I have to question what exactly is Levi doing to me.

"Sure, I enjoy parties but I like the quiet of this place," Levi says before finding a large tree. He sits down, crossing his legs and leaning against the trunk. I sit too, drawing my knees up to enclose them with my arms. The grass is cool beneath us and I realise just how much I've missed being outside.

A strong gust of wind whistles through the air, filling in the silence that halts our conversation. Levi quietly exhales beside me, relaxing and slumping against the tree, the change in his posture causing his arm to press against mine. My cheeks mimic the warm feeling of his skin as they grow rapidly pinker.

Levi doesn't look my way but instead into the distance, he watches a distant family of three- two of which seem to be parents. They've also taken advantage of the rare sun and have spread out a picnic, on which they sit with a young toddler I assume is their son. The little boy's face is coated with a sticky layer of white, whippy ice-cream that he can't seem to be getting enough of. I grin, the scene reminding me of Evie.

Turning, I see Levi's faintly smiling too and warmth washes over my insides. His smile really is something else. It's not like the empty one he gives when he annoys me and it's worlds away from his usual placid expression. His smile brightens his features, it illuminates his dark eyes and one of end of his lips seems to rise ever so slightly more than the other. But this smile doesn't seem to be entirely content, in fact there's something sad about it, something-

Abruptly, Levi turns to look at me. He quirks one of his eyebrows, his smile's still on his face but this time it appears much more amused. "You're looking at me like that again," he says. I feel a jolt of panic and attempt to look defensively at him.

"Like what?" I ask.

"Like you'd done when I was driving you home," he responds. I swallow, aware of the feeling of a lump in my throat, before trying to shrug indifferently.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say, my voice sounding anything but nonchalant. Levi chuckles quietly and the feeling of warmth ignites into heat. His gaze leaves my eyes and moves to a space just above my ear and his eyes glint with humour.

"What?"

"You have a leaf in your hair," he says.

"Oh," I say, guessing it must have come from the wind earlier. I reach up towards my head, trying to find it. My fingers only run through strands of hair. "Where is it?"

The amusement softens in Levi's eyes but doesn't diminish entirely. He leans in, his fingers reaching up before slowly brushing the leaf out of my hair. I breathe in quickly in surprise at his sudden proximity. I catch the smell of Levi's familiar scent that reminds of spring- the smell and his closeness intoxicate me, making my chest feel as though someone's just bound it with rope.

I hear the leaf crackle as Levi encloses it in his hand and I dare to look up at him. A shiver runs down my spine when I see he's already looking at me, he doesn't look at all amused now. I can't quite place a finger on the expression that shapes Levi's features but it's different to how he usually regards me. He looks like he's just understood something.

"Levi, how lovely seeing you here!" a voice suddenly sounds, causing Levi and I to jump away from each other.

An old couple beams down at us, a picnic basket swings off the arm of the tall man that stands beside a slightly stooped lady with startlingly white hair who clutches a walking stick. Levi smiles up at them and I realise they must be friends of his.

"Mr and Mrs Bennett, hi," he says, grinning.

"You know, I thought I'd find you here, what with it being such a sunny day," Mrs Bennett says, leaning forward whilst clutching her stick. She's wearing an assortment of beaded necklaces and bracelets that jangle as she moves. "Do you know, they're saying this lovely sun's because of global warming!"

"Absolute bollocks," Mr Bennett says, shaking his head disapprovingly. His wife turns to him, looking absolutely appalled.

"Arthur! You can't say such words-"

"But it's true! We had hot days back in the day and we wouldn't question it, now they're saying the Earth's going to boil up and we'll all die unless we drink our bathwater- it's complete rubbish," Arthur says, snorting. Mr Morris would have a heart attack if he heard him.

"But who's this?" Mrs Bennett says, choosing to ignore her husband's rant. She smiles widely down at me and I grin back, getting over their sudden arrival.

"I'm Ruby," I say, introducing myself.

"Levi, you've never mentioned you have a girlfriend!" she exclaims excitedly. A blush immediately invades my face, making my cheeks feel like they're burning. Resisting the urge to protest madly and not appear insane in front of these people I bite down on my tongue and take a minute to calm myself.

Why do people always come to that conclusion? That Levi and I are together? I think back and realise that Mr and Mrs Bennett caught us when Levi was taking the leaf out of my hair. I curse internally, seeing how that might appear as something romantic, even though it was anything but.

Levi doesn't seem to react towards Mrs Bennett's words; he just grins and doesn't bother to correct her. I aim to make that my job. Looking up at her beaming face; I ready myself to tell her she's wrong. I inhale and open my mouth but find no words come out. Mrs Bennett continues to smile at me, it's such a sweet smile that it renders me speechless- I can't do it! I can't admit to her that Levi and I aren't going out. Oh lord.

"We came here when we were young," Mr Bennett says, raising his eyebrows at his wife who chuckles. "We have some very fond memories in this place if you know what I mean."

"Arthur!"

"What?"

Mrs Bennett glares at him before turning back towards us, looking increasingly frazzled. "I usually see you alone here," she says to Levi, "but this time you've brought someone along- and such a sweet, pretty girl at that."

Levi's smile widens as he turns to look at me. My breath shallows as he unexpectedly wraps his arm around my shoulders, squeezing them and causing my heartbeat to quicken dramatically. Oh dear God, what is he doing?

"Well, Ruby's something else," he says with a grin, "like the devil," he adds on in a whisper as Mrs Bennett turns to smile at her husband.

I glare at him with a slightly ajar mouth, completely insulted. The little prick! Mrs Bennett turns back towards us and I smile serenely up at her, looking either like I've got concussion or am as loved up as I can possibly be. I giggle airily shifting so my thighs rest upon Levi's legs and my head's on his shoulder.

"I can't believe you're all mine," I gush to Levi, and Mrs Bennet beams at me, "to murder as soon as they leave," I finish, my voice a quiet murmur as I lean in towards Levi's ear. Being so close to him, I notice how the pace of his breath has picked up; he turns to look at me with darkened eyes and a slight smirk.

"Having fun sitting on me?" he whispers, inclining closer towards me so I can hear him. My heart flutters like it's a bird trying to escape a cage and I will myself to keep composed and appear as though I'm perfectly at ease.

"Trust me, I'm going to go bang my head after this so I can forget being this close to you," I reply, my voice just as hushed.

Levi scoffs and gives a smug smile. "Forget? More like obsess."

I narrow my eyes. "You're such a godda"-

"Oh look at you two whispering together like a pair of lovebirds," Mrs Bennett gushes, distracting me from my urge to strangle the complete git.

"It's not just whispering that kids do nowadays, is it?" Mr Bennett pipes up, not appearing too impressed by mine and Levi's antics.

Both his wife and I stare at him, shocked. "Arthur!" Mrs Bennett cries as a squeak of horror leaves my mouth. Both her husband and Levi laugh at our reactions. I want to grab Mrs Bennett's stick and beat him with it.

"I apologise dearly!" Mrs Bennett cries, looking aghast.

"It's fine," Levi says nonchalantly and I mentally disagree with him, the idea of Levi and I doing 'more than whispering' horrifies me beyond belief.

"Well, we'll leave the two of you," Mr Bennett says, "I have a feeling my wife wants to kill me." He then shuffles off, apparently in an attempt to run away from Mrs Bennett's forthcoming scolding.

She scowls after him before looking down at us and giving one last smile. "Good bye, it was lovely meeting you!" she says warmly before walking off, looking like she really is about to murder her husband.

"You too," I say as Levi says, "Bye," even though she probably won't hear us. I wait for a moment to let Mrs Bennett walk out of earshot before turning to Levi and hitting him on the arm.

"You are so evil!" I exclaim.

"Hey, that's no way to treat your boyfriend," Levi replies, chuckling quietly. The mention of the word 'boyfriend' suddenly brings thought of Ryan hurtling to my mind and I remind myself of just what I'm doing. I awkwardly move away from Levi to sit on the grass properly and alone, trying to assemble my disordered thoughts and feelings.