“Well, I’ve seen what you do here at the shelter, and I can say you’re going to make an awesome vet one day. Don’t give up on your dream.” He smiled kindly and finished up as Hannah beamed back at him.
She watched in awe as he placed the monkey in a cage, waiting for him to wake up. All Hannah could think of was how much she wanted to be like him one day. She imagined herself looking after the animal, healing his pain. She knew she would be able to do it, that she would be that capable one day too. To hear the reassurance from Brady’s lips was like a dream.
“Do you really think I’ll make a good vet?” She asked again, hoping she didn’t imagine it.
“You love animals, that’s a good start. But, above all, you’re gentle with them. They already trust you, instinctively they know you’re not going to hurt them. It all points to a born vet to me.” Brady patted her on the shoulder before busying himself with the monkey.
Hannah left him to check in with Cory. She had been on the phone trying to track down any reports of a missing Capuchin. They all knew there was no chance a well cared for monkey could just be wandering the streets of Mapleton alone.
She waited patiently while Cory finished up her phone call. Only then did she turn to Hannah. “The police haven’t heard anything.”
“Does that mean it could be illegally owned?” Hannah asked.
Cory shrugged. “Maybe, or it could just be too early for the report to come through. If the little guy only went missing this morning, the owners might still be looking for him. I’ll get something online to get the word out.”
“Does that mean we can go home now?” Veronica moaned from the chair in the hallway. Hannah was surprised she had waited around for that long.
Hannah glanced at Cory. “Go home, it’s not your shift today. We have plenty of volunteers to help out. I promise to call if anything happens with the patient.”
Veronica stood, grabbing her hand. “See? The boss says to go, so we better get going.”
“Can I come?” They turned around to see Jessie standing in the doorway. She was already taking off her apron. “My shift is over.”
Hannah didn’t want to be rude, she couldn’t very well turn around and say no. Especially when she had an audience. “We’re probably just going to hang out at home for the afternoon.”
“I don’t mind,” Jessie said happily.
“Okay, then,” Hannah forced a smile as Veronica shot her a look. She would hear all about her terrible decision when they were alone later, no doubt.
The three girls left the shelter and walked to Hannah’s house, grabbing an ice cream at the corner shop along the way. By the time they arrived, the afternoon sun was forcing them indoors.
They sat around Hannah’s bedroom, sipping on ice tea and watching Billy go crazy with so many people to pet him. He didn’t know which lap to curl up in first.
“This dog is crazy,” Veronica giggled, trying to stop the pooch’s tongue licking her face clean.
“He’s crazy cute,” Jessie cooed. “Did you get him from the shelter?”
Hannah nodded. “Yeah, Cory gave him to me. He’s fit in perfectly here.”
“Crazy, just like your mom,” Veronica teased. Hannah laughed, she couldn’t disagree. They were all a little mad in the Wilson household.
Jessie changed the subject. “Harry was working at the shelter today, he said he was planning something big for you.”
Hannah’s ears pricked up, desperate to know the details but not wanting them to know that. She tried to pretend she didn’t care. “Oh, really? It’s probably something lame.”
“He was pretty excited about it,” she shrugged.
Veronica’s smile could not be contained. “Harry the hottie has something planned? Oooh, give me all the deets Jess, I need details.”
Jessie’s eyes came alive, delighted to be able to gossip. “He said Hannah’s going to love it because it’s perfect for her. I begged him for specifics and he just said that I wouldn’t be able to keep the secret. He said no girl can keep a secret for more than ten minutes.”
Hannah inwardly laughed, he had said the same thing to her before too. He was kind of right, maybe not on the ten minute timeframe but definitely the secrets thing. Wouldn’t Jessie have spilled everything if she knew more?
Veronica looked scandalized. “Harry the hottie has a secret. We have to find out what he’s planning.”
“We could follow him,” Jessie suggested. “He doesn’t have to know we’re doing it.”
“We could wear disguises,” Veronica agreed.
Hannah wasn’t going to have a bar of it. “We won’t be doing anything. If Harry thinks some gimmick surprise will get me back, then he’s mistaken. Can we please change the subject?”
She stared both the girls down, challenging them to say another thing about Harry. Both Jessie and Veronica knew better.
Veronica sighed. “So the bonfire party. Are you in or out, Hannah?”
It wasn’t the change of subject Hannah was hoping for. She crossed her arms, thinking. The party was only a few days away, she was hoping time would just run out and she would conveniently forget to attend. That was the plan, but the more she was hassled about it, the less likely that was going to work.
“Come with me,” Jessie said in the silence. “We can go together, please? Don’t let me go alone like a Nigel no friends.”
“Come on Hans, you have to be there,” Veronica begged. “You won’t even notice you don’t have a date.”
“I’ll be her date.”
Hannah finally relented. “Fine. If it means you’ll both stop nagging me, then I’ll go.
“Yeah!” They exclaimed together, finally winning the battle.
Hannah was already dreading the bonfire party. She wasn’t entirely sure why, but she had a bad feeling about it. She wasn’t one to trust her gut instinct, she preferred to put her faith in logic and reason. This feeling was entirely a new one.
Chapter 10
Her dress was ironed, her hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail, she even had a brushing of makeup on. All the ingredients were there for Hannah to feel amazing but she couldn’t stop worrying.
“Oh my God, this looks awesome,” Jessie muttered under her breath. For the bonfire party, she had chosen more sequins than was appropriate for the beach but she didn’t seem to care.
She grabbed Hannah’s hand and pulled her through the crowd of moving bodies. Teenagers of all ages danced to the thumping music being spun by a DJ set up across from the bonfire. The only lighting came from the fire and a set of torches set up at regular intervals.
Everybody was laughing and talking around them, it seemed the only one not having a good time was Hannah. And that’s how she felt too.
“Maybe I should go,” she started, yelling to be heard. “You’ll have more fun without me.”
“What? I can’t hear you?” Jessie tugged her ear to reiterate her point. Except, she could hear her, she was just choosing not to listen. The begging to go home had grown old in the car on the way there. Far better she just ignore Hannah.
They spotted Veronica and Lucas dancing on the sand, the lights from the fire dancing over them. Veronica waved over her boyfriend’s shoulder when she saw them. The beaming smile on her face betrayed the fun she was having.
“Dance with me,” Jessie insisted. She moved Hannah’s hands for her, clunking away to the beat. “Try to have some fun, it’s not going to hurt. I promise.”
Hannah felt herself relax – a little. Jessie’s enthusiasm was catching, no matter what she did to resist. She felt guilty for disliking her so much when they had first met only a few weeks ago.
They bopped along to the music, quickly getting overwhelmed with the heat of the fire and the summer night. “Do you want a drink?” Hannah asked. Jessie nodded and she stalked off to the drinks vendor.
The line seemed to take forever but it was worth it for the cold soda. Hannah searched through the crowds to find Jessie talking with Veron
ica and Lucas. She handed the girl her drink.
“It’s great to see you, Han,” Lucas greeted her happily. His arm was around Veronica’s back, it was nice to see them so happy together. Maybe all summer romances weren’t just for the summer, Hannah thought to herself.
“You too, Lucas. Everyone having fun?” She received three head nods in reply. “Is it always this crowded?”
Veronica looked around. “It seems a bit bigger than last year. I guess more people are hearing about it now.”
Hannah took a breath to reply but stopped when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She quickly spun around to see who everyone was looking at behind her.
Harry grinned, his blue eyes drilling into her. “Hey Hannah. You want to dance?”
She did but she didn’t too. Dancing with Harry was fun, it had been every time. When she was with him, she didn’t feel like the clumsy, self-conscious fool she normally was. Harry turned her from the ugly duckling into the beautiful swan, at least that’s the best way she could describe it.
“Go on, Han,” Jessie urged, Veronica giving her a subtle push into Harry’s arms. He seized the opportunity and pulled her onto the dance floor.
Hannah let her feet and body move but she didn’t want to put her heart into it. Harry was too cute, he smelled too good, and he made her feel special when she let her guard down. She couldn’t let him back in and give him permission to break her heart again.
“The monkey’s doing better,” Harry said out of the blue, trying to make it less awkward.
“He’s up and about again?”
“Yeah. Cory’s having trouble keeping him from being bored. I think she’d like to open the door and let him go free,” he joked, his eyes sparkling in the firelight. Hannah desperately tried not to notice.
“Maybe that’s how he got into the situation to begin with,” she suggested.
The music stopped and went down to a slower pace, A Thousand Years by Christina Perri played. Harry moved closer to wrap his arms around her. She let him, sinking into his chest. If she closed her eyes, it was like they had never broken up in the first place. She could forget about what happened and pretend everything was perfect.
“You look really pretty tonight,” Harry whispered against her hair. “I’m glad you came.”
She didn’t reply, just continued on with the side to side movements that passed as dancing. She felt herself melting into Harry, the way she used to. It felt so good to be in his arms and he was wearing her favorite cologne. The overall effect was making her giddy.
The song finished and changed to Live While We’re Young by One Direction, breaking the spell. Hannah tore herself away from Harry, shaking her head. “I have to go.”
“No, Hannah, stay with me,” Harry called out, trying to follow her.
Hannah pushed through the bodies, most of them dancing happily without a care in the world. All the couples looked like they belonged together. She wondered if her and Harry looked the same? She couldn’t bear the thought.
The couples only added to Hannah’s unease. She shouldn’t have come, she was a science nerd, she didn’t belong at teenage parties. And she certainly shouldn’t have been in Harry’s arms when she had vowed to protect her heart. Boys were trouble, they only led to confusion and pain.
She broke away from the crowd, stopping in the shadows of the outskirts of the party. Harry was right behind her, still insisting she stop.
Hannah spun around, the tears stinging her eyes. “I can’t do this Harry, I can’t be here. This isn’t me.”
“It’s only a party. What’s wrong?” His brow was wrinkled with confusion. He still made her heart speed up, which was very much a problem.
“I don’t want to be with you. I mean, I do, but I don’t. So I have to go.” She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, dialing Coco with shaking hands. She felt for sure she sounded as crazy to other people as she did with her own ears.
Harry waited patiently while she asked Coco to pick her up straight away. He didn’t try to stop her, he wouldn’t prevent her from doing anything she so obviously wanted. Only when she hung up, did he speak again.
“Hannah, I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said gently.
“You didn’t, you didn’t do anything. It’s me, I just can’t handle this. It was supposed to be a simple summer and then it got… complicated.”
“I’m glad I spent the summer with you. I would rather that than a thousand simple summers.”
Hannah bit her bottom lip, trying to stop it quivering. It would be so easy just to throw her arms around his neck and forgive him. She was having trouble even remembering why she was so upset with him in the first place.
Harry took a step closer, making it even easier for her to reach him. Still, she stayed where she was. “Hannah, I’m so sorry. I want you back so much, I love you. I’m so new at this whole boyfriend thing, I didn’t mean to make mistakes. I’m still learning.”
He moved close enough to rest his forehead against hers. He took her hands in his, holding them tightly so she couldn’t get away.
Hannah was acutely aware of how close he was. All she had to do was angle her head slightly and their lips would meet. Just a tiny movement, that’s all it would take. She could stop the ache in her heart, she could forget the last few weeks happened. Just a little movement, that’s all.
Honk honk. The car horn interrupted her thoughts. Hannah jumped back, out of Harry’s grasp, to see Coco watching them in her old VW Bug.
“I have to go,” Hannah mumbled, running towards the car. She climbed in and slammed the door. “Please go quickly.”
Chapter 11
Coco reversed away from the bonfire party and had the old car on the road in no time. “Do you want to talk about anything?”
“No.”
“Did Harry upset you?”
“No.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“No,” Hannah shot back, incredulous that she would even ask. Sure, there was alcohol there, but she didn’t touch the stuff. “Did you have to come in your pajamas?”
“Why would I change?” Coco asked, equally as incredulous at the question.
“You like embarrassing me, don’t you?”
“Only because it’s so much fun,” Coco joked, trying to lighten the mood. She knew something was wrong with her daughter but trying to unlock that secret was like trying to crack a safe. “I’m really glad you called me to pick you up. I want you to know that no matter what happens, at any time, you can call me and I’ll be there for you. I don’t care what the situation is.”
Hannah looked at her mother, the shadows of the streetlights flickering over her face as she drove. She loved her so much, even if she did wear her pajamas in public. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie.” She reached over and placed a hand on Hannah’s leg, a silent, comforting gesture. They didn’t speak again until they were home.
Billy raced up to greet them, jumping all over them like he hadn’t seen them for a year. Hannah caught him, lifting the little dog up for a cuddle.
She buried her face against Billy, knowing he would never break her heart. He was the best companion there was, he never asked any questions and thought she was the best person on the planet. If only boys were more like dogs, Hannah thought to herself.
“I’ll make you a cup of tea,” Coco offered without waiting around for a response. She hurried to the kitchen, leaving Hannah and Billy to cuddle on the lounge.
When she returned with two steaming hot mugs of tea, Coco took her place on the lounge. She sipped, waiting for Hannah to start the conversation.
She didn’t have to wait too long. “Are relationships always this hard, Mom?” She continued facing the television as she waited for a reply.
“Relationships are hard work,” Coco said gently. “But they can also be absolutely wonderful. When you fall in love with someone, it’s like everything in the world has aligned just for you two to be together. It’s magical.�
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“Why doesn’t that feeling last?”
“Because the world gets in the way too. If you can still love that person even though the magic has subsided, then you know it’s true love.”
“So you and Dad weren’t in true love then? Is that why he left?” Hannah asked, trying to make sense of it all. There was so much she didn’t understand, it sounded like walking through an entire minefield and just waiting for the bombs to explode.
Coco smiled kindly. “We were in true love, but sometimes things happen and people change. Sometimes even love isn’t enough. It’s a tricky world out there, honey. I’m still trying to make sense of it too.”
“Would you let yourself fall in love again?”
“Absolutely. Falling is half the fun. It’s the holding on part that’s a bit difficult.”
Hannah stared into her tea, watching the few stray leaves settle on the bottom. She wondered what a fortune teller would say about the leaves. Did they fall in a good or bad way?
The next day brought no new answers to her problems. It did, however, bring routine. Hannah made it to the shelter just before her shift was about to start, parking her bike and entering like nothing had happened last night. That was the plan – pretend nothing had changed. They didn’t have to get inside her head and know the truth.
Jessie, however, had different ideas. “What happened to you last night?” She demanded. A cat was curled up in her arms as she stroked it.
“I, uh, wasn’t feeling well so my mom picked me up.”
“And your phone? I guess that was out of reception or credit or something?”
Guilt struck her, she didn’t think anyone would miss her. And Harry knew where she had gone, didn’t he talk to them at all for the rest of the night? “Sorry, I didn’t think to tell you where I was going.”
“We looked for you for ages. Vee ended up texting your mom, she was that desperate.”
When had Veronica become Vee to Jessie? Hannah wondered, trying not to be annoyed by that little fact. She had bigger issues at that point. “Look, I’m sorry. I promise I won’t do it again.”
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