I Met Her On the Balcony

by Sandra Corton

  “How did he react?” Belinda asked in her gentlest voice.

  “He said that he could deal with my problems, if I could deal with his.” Lucy answered honestly.

  “That was very mature of him.” Belinda replied thoughtfully.

  “He did freak out a bit, at first, but he’s not like her. He doesn’t really like all the fame; he just wants to make music. He’s kind of in hiding right now. He just wants to have a more normal life.” Lucy babbled, while Belinda listened.

  “And Daz has no problem with him?”

  “No, apparently he had a talk with him the first night he came over for dinner. We decided this morning that from now on, he would go and organise his Martin James stuff on his own. We can just go out together in town. He has obligations in his contract that he has to complete. We probably shouldn’t have gone last night. I mean it was a disaster anyway, but… please, let me have a chance with him.” Lucy pleaded.

  “Alright, Lucy, calm down. I will talk this over with your Dad when he gets in today.” Belinda told her firmly, while Lucy just nodded.

  “Please, don’t tell Penny.” Lucy whispered, which made the older woman chuckle.

  “I won’t, though her reaction would be priceless.”

  “Mum!” Lucy scolded, as they walked back out of the stables.

  It wasn’t until early Monday morning that Lucy learned of her parent’s acceptance of Ash as her boyfriend. They had reminded her that she was an adult, and that she should get to make her own decisions. They warned her to be careful, but they had no problem with Ash.

  She had sat over breakfast, tense and tired after her lack of sleep. Once she had heard their encouraging words, she couldn’t wait to drive over to Ash’s house and tell him. He had been just as frantic to hear an answer when she had texted him last night.

  She quickly parked out the front of his house, while noticing a strange car in the driveway that she had never seen before. She instantly felt apprehensive, wondering if she should just leave, and wait to tell him at school. She quickly decided against that with the excitement zinging through her system.

  She rang the doorbell hesitantly, while her foot tapped impatiently. When his brother Nick answered the door, Lucy’s heart plummeted before her anger flared. He was the last person that she was hoping to see. She gave him an icy glare, which he returned with a sheepish look, and scratched the back of his neck restlessly.

  “Where’s Ash?" She asked him determinedly, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Upstairs, having a shower,” Nick answered with a shrug.

  “Tell him that I’ll see him at school,” Lucy told him abruptly, before turning and walking back to her car.

  “Lucy, please wait.” Nick called to her retreating figure.

  “What?” She asked him shortly, as she kept going.

  “Look, I’m sorry for how I treated you. I was a jerk, okay. I shouldn’t have been so rude to you… it was just the way he looked at you. He gave you all his attention instantly.” Nick looked at the ground, his face brightening to red. Lucy stopped, and turned to face him.

  “So, that gives you the right to act the way you did?” Lucy asked him furiously.

  “Well, no, but…”

  “That’s why you acted like such a jerk?” Lucy persisted, as she stepped up to him, and shoved a finger into his chest.

  “In the beginning, you were just annoying, but when you came back the next day. I just knew. I may not have been the best brother to him in the past, but I need to try to make it up to him. It’s not about the money. It’s just….” Nick stopped on a sigh.

  “You were jealous.” Lucy finished for him, and Nick nodded sharply, looking shamed.

  “You have no idea what it’s like being his brother.”

  “You have met my sister.” She told him, and he looked her in the eye for the first time.

  “Maybe you know exactly what its like,” He muttered. “Can you tell her that I’m sorry for that night?” Nick asked and Lucy nodded.

  “As long as I don’t see you acting like that again I will.” She told him sternly.

  “Nick, what do you think you’re doing?” Lucy heard Ash call out, in a fiercely angry voice. Nick immediately backed away from her.

  “He was apologising, so you need to calm down.” Lucy told him, as he came hurtling towards them. He quickly grabbed her, and pulled her away from his brother.

  “Wait, he was?” Ash stopped short, as he looked between them.

  “Yes, he was,” she told him, and Ash looked completely floored. “Now, do you want to get a lift with me?” She asked and he nodded.

  “Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll grab some breakfast.” He tugged on her hand, before turning to his brother, and giving him a smile.

  “That’s going to be one quick breakfast.” She chuckled, gesturing to her watch.

  “Yeah, I know so hurry up, Belle.”

  He pulled her through the house and into the kitchen, with Nick following along. Ash poured a bowl of cereal with milk, before turning to look at her expectantly. With Nick listening in, Lucy wasn’t sure that she was comfortable telling him why she was there so early.

  “What caused this reunion?” Lucy asked, stalling for time, which made Ash raise his brows.

  “He’s my brother, Belle; I couldn’t stay mad at him forever. Plus, he promised to behave, and the fact that he actually apologised to you means a lot.” Ash said around a mouthful of cereal.

  “Ewww! We so don’t need to see your breakfast spat everywhere.” Lucy teased, which made both guys laugh.

  “So?” Ash turned to her, waiting expectantly.

  “So?” She sent back cheekily. “Do you really think I would be here if they said no?”

  “Thank, God. They are okay with me not quite being who I said I was?” He did a cute little wince and pout expression that Lucy found irresistible.

  “Well, sort of. It’s mostly because Daz didn’t go crazy that they are accepting of it. They are expecting you at dinner tonight. Penny’s staying in town at one of her friends. Be prepared for total melt down, crazy over protective type behaviour. It’s only because of Crystal; you can understand that, right?” Lucy looked at him seriously.

  “Of course I can, and yes I’ll come over,” he assured her, as he threw the bowl in the sink, and marched out of the room. “C'mon, Belle, you were the one rushing me remember.” Ash called out from the front door.

  “Are we good?” Nick asked, as she went to leave.

  “Yep, just don’t screw it up.” She warned him, before leaving to follow Ash.

  Lucy was uneasy about school. She could only wonder how many people had recognised the back of her head from the newspaper. When they did arrive, all she could do was laugh so hard as to almost crack a rib. The whole school seemed to be treating Rachel like a queen who had saved the world from some terrible drama.

  Everyone was asking her about the photo. They wanted to know whether she had seen Martin James up close. She made up wondrous stories of how he had aimed that smile at her, how they had spent the night together, and how he was the best kisser ever.

  “I can’t take anymore,” Lucy spat out between guffaws of laughter.

  “Yeah, well that’s because she’s not talking about you,” Ash told her with a frown.

  “She was at least right about the last one.” She reassured him, as she sent him a heated look from beneath her lashes.

  “Ah, Lou, so what’s with the picture, missy?” Col asked mischievously from behind them, and Lucy let out a groan, as she pulled out of Ash’s embrace.

  “Of course, you idiots would notice.” She muttered, as she tried to snatch the newspaper away from them.

  “Tut tut! None of that behaviour, until we get the truth out of you,” Ren smiled with a little evil laugh.

  “I went and got an autograph for Penny.” Lucy exclaimed.

  “Oh, right, have you seen the smitten look he’s giving you?” Col persisted.

&n
bsp; “Geez, you must have looked that word up.” Lucy answered dryly.

  “Hey, no changing the subject, and answer the question.” Ren demanded.

  “Okay, you two break it up, and leave my girlfriend alone.” Ash interrupted them, only to see a few jaws drop around them.

  “Girlfriend!” Ren and Col shouted together, which even quietened the guys still talking about Rachel.

  “Yes, Nimwits!” Lucy hissed under her breath.

  “Okay, I’m not sure I even saw that was coming.” Ren muttered.

  “Are you two really so daft? That photo is from the date we went on. I went to get an autograph for Penny, and that’s the end of it.” Lucy told them calmly, but firmly.

  “So you're, um, together?” Ren whispered.

  “Yes, Ren, what the hell is the problem?” Lucy asked him in exasperation.

  “Nothing, I’m going to class.” He muttered, before walking away from them, his figure slumped and dejected.

  “What’s going on?” Lucy turned to a rather sad looking Col.

  “I think you just broke his heart, Lou.” Col said, leaving them as well.

  ”I couldn’t…. have. He’s my mate, right, Ash. I mean we’ve always been mates. It’s never been anything else.” Lucy felt her insides smother with dread, as the words streamed from her mouth.

  “Do you want the truth, or a lie, Belle? Either way you will have to accept it eventually, as they will have to accept us.” Ash informed her, as he grasped hold of her hand reassuringly.

  “Always truth, Ash. Always.” She managed to mumble.

  “This will hurt, but I think we broke both their hearts by us being a couple.” He told her with regret evident in his voice.

  “Oh no! No, that can’t be right.” She stared up at him. She wanted him to say anything that wouldn’t cause problems in her friendships with the two guys that had always been there for her.

  “I’m sorry, Belle.” He said softly, as he enclosed her tightly in his arms.

  “They probably think that I’ve been leading them on all this time.” She replied sadly.

  “That’s crazy, Belle, they never thought that.” Ash insisted, as the bell went, and they walked to class.

  Ren wouldn’t even look at her, and Lucy frowned, as she gave up her seat next to Ash to sit by him. He looked out the window, and dragged his chair far away from hers. She felt her temper flare at his stupid behaviour, and she glared at him.

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me that you liked me?” Lucy hissed at him.

  He stayed quiet until she reached over and pinched his ear. He yelped, and finally turned in her direction, just as the teacher walked in. Lucy gritted her teeth when she saw the sad look in his eyes, before he glanced away from her.

  ‘Answer me!’ She wrote in her notebook, and thrust it towards him, but Ren just ignored it. With bare patience, she waited until between classes, when she yanked Ren aside.

  “Talk to me now! I’ve had other boyfriends, and you never had a problem with it. How is this different?” She demanded of him.

  Ren looked at her, and then at Ash who was standing nearby, “It’s not just a crush. Those other guys, you didn’t really like them. But him…” Ren turned to point at Ash, “You’ve liked him from the start.” Ren finished on a fierce whisper, and then stormed off to class.

  “Dammit! You didn’t answer me!” She shouted down the emptying corridor. “I’ve lost him, haven’t I?” She asked turning to Ash in distress.

  “No, he just has to get used to it. He’ll come around.” Ash assured her, as he pulled her into his arms.

  “What if he doesn’t?” Lucy asked in a whisper, as the next bell sounded.

  “He will. I’ll see you at lunch, okay.” He told her, giving her a quick reassuring hug, before heading off to class.

  He hated leaving her feeling so upset. He worried about it all through the classes that he had without her. When he finally made it to lunch, he let out a sigh of relief, until he noticed that she wasn’t sitting with her friends.

  “Where is she?” The whole table turned to look accusingly at Ren. “What did you say to her?” Ash asked him seriously.

  “I just reminded her that if she was such a great friend why has she forgotten our Sunday tradition in the last two weeks?” Ren said snidely.

  “I didn’t know you guys did anything special. Why didn’t you tell me?” Ash said quietly.

  “That’s what you say; it doesn’t mean it’s true,” Ren pointed out. “Each time she’s been with you.”

  “Yeah, but if I had known…”

  “Right, like you didn’t know we had lunch at the diner while Lou had one of her crazy milkshakes.” Ren accused, and Ash felt his anger begin to grow at the blame forced upon him for something that he didn’t even know about.

  “Look, I didn’t know, but now that I do I’ll make sure…”

  “God, just shut up! You waltz in here and disrupt our lives, for what? So, Lucy can get her picture in the paper. That’s just sad, man.” Ren finally ran out of steam, and Ash tried hard to hold onto his anger. The poor guy was hurting, and he didn’t need somebody else, especially him, trying to tell him the truth.

  “Fine, so where is Lucy?” Ash finally asked into the quiet at the table. The silence turned awkward, which just made Ash worry more.

  “We think she got suspended for punching my idiot brother.” Col answered from behind them.

  Ash let his anger flare to life at those words. He turned, and noticed a bruise on Ren’s jaw. He had been so intent on worrying about Lucy that he hadn’t even realised.

  “You deserved it for being such an unforgivable arsehole.” Ash told Ren forcefully, then he made himself walk away.

  He wasn’t quite sure where she would be, but he was searching for her regardless. He thought of everything she had been through on the weekend. He also relived Ren’s words. He felt bad about the missed meetings that the three friends should have had. Ren was quite possibly right, and that Ash was disrupting their lives, but he couldn’t help that he liked Lucy, and that she returned his feelings.

  The bell rang and he couldn’t care. He wouldn’t be content until he had found her, and knew that she was fine. He would search the entire town if he had to. He sighed, feeling that small need that he had had for a normal life once again spiralling out of control.

  Chapter 14 – The trouble with brothers

  When she finally answered her mobile, and Ash found out she was at the café, he could relax. He walked all the way there, and found his breathing calming when he saw. She stabbed a straw angrily into her milkshake, fury in every motion. She glared, and muttered to herself, not even noticing his approach.

  “You seem to be having one hell of a start to the week, Belle.” He said softly.

  She looked up at him, utterly surprised to see him, and was out of her seat in an instant. She threw her arms around him, realising that she needed his reassuring presence to make her feel better. She took a deep breath of his citrusy tang, and buried her face in his shirt.

  “Are you suspended?” He whispered, as he pulled her closer to him.

  “Not yet. Our principal is a nice guy, and even though he should have, he probably won’t. He knows the lecture that I’m going to get off my brother is far more painfully annoying, than three days off school,” Lucy said with a sigh.

  “What happened?” Ash asked, and she let out a groan.

  “Ren was being an imbecile, so I hit him.” She said simply, and a chuckle spluttered out of him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that on Sundays you go out and have lunch with the guys? Ren kind of harped on about it,” Ash asked her, and she shook her head.

  “I guess that I never noticed that it had become such a tradition.”

  “This is where you turn up!” They looked around at Daz’s stern words, and Lucy let out another groan, as she lowered her head to thump against Ash’s chest.

  “Are you going to start yelling, or would you rather hear a
bout what happened?” Lucy turned to her brother with a firm look.

  “Police station now!” Daz told her sharply, while Lucy stood her ground and glared. “Don’t make me use the cuffs, Lucy.” Daz said quietly.

  Ash just stood there gaping at the pair of them. Was Daz really arresting Lucy? When Lucy finally stormed from the room, Ash had to try to keep up. He jumped in the backseat of the police car, with Lucy swearing all the way.

  It felt weird to be in the back of a police car. The car oozed sweat and fear in abundance, making Ash wrinkle his nose. When they got to the station, she grabbed his hand, and dragged him into the building. She walked in as if she owned the place. She greeted everyone like old friends, before casually strolling into one of the offices. The nameplate of Darryl McConnell on the desk told him exactly whose office this was.

  “Sit and talk to me, Lucy,” Daz ordered, sending her a stern look, and they both obeyed.

  “Ren’s being a pain about Ash and me being together,” Lucy told him simply.

  “And?” Daz rolled his hands at her to continue.

  “He told me that every day I was getting more like my mother.” Lucy uttered through gritted teeth. Ash felt his anger flare to life at her words.

  “You obviously didn’t hit him hard enough, Belle. I should go sort him out myself,” Ash said fiercely, as he stood up.

  “Sit down!” Daz told him harshly, and Ash obeyed. “Ren and his Dad are coming down here, and you are going to work things out.”

  “Hell no! I’m not apologising to him. That was the worst thing that he could possibly have said to me.” Lucy protested fervently.

  She crossed her arms over her chest, as she heard the door to the room open. She stood up, and almost bared her teeth at Ren as he walked in. Ash stood behind her and Lucy appreciated his support. Silence reined in the room, until Daz sighed and turned to them.

  “You two have been friends for way too many years for it to end like this,” Daz said quietly.

  “I’m not sorry I punched him for what he said, but I am sorry that I missed the last two Sunday lunches.” Lucy conceded, turning to face her friend.