You Never Knew Me (Never 1)

Can a friendship be formed in a week? I wouldn’t have thought so, but these girls are mine now and I’m not going to throw them away just because Ivy and the boys will be back. I just wish things would go back to normal with Amias.

“Hey no being mopey on Christmas, that goes for all of you,” says Leah, dropping down with a tray of hot chocolates.

“I think it’s time you tell me who this mystery guy is,” I say to Bella, but she goes as red as a beetroot before shaking her head vehemently.

Someone catches my eye, standing in the doorway and I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my face. “I’ll be right back,” I say to the girls before jogging over to Mattias.

“Hello, my knight in shining jeans, I never thanked you for what you did by telling Noah what was going on. I’m here thanks to you,” I say, and he blushes furiously.

“It’s okay, couldn’t have anything happen to Noah’s Leighbear,” he says back with a small smile.

“Do you want to join us for hot chocolate, they’re going to be showing Die Hard soon and we’re swapping presents in a little while.” I’m bouncing slightly as my excitement starts to build.

“I don’t want to intrude, and n

o one here will have a present for me.” He sounds...sad and I don’t like that.

This is breaking my heart, I know I’m sandpaper but even I can’t be mean to him, he’s an utter sweetheart.

“Okay but please come and join us for the movie, you shouldn’t be alone at Christmas.” I give him my puppy dog eyes – I’m sure it’s more like a death glare – but it works.

He goes off to the canteen and I join back up with the girls, they’re very quiet and I even get a couple of squeaks when I tell them I invited him to join us.

“How do you know Mattias?” Roxie asks, with a calculating look on her face.

“He’s a friend of Noah and he kind of saved me a couple of times. He’s an utter sweetheart and I think it would do him some good to not be alone today.”

“You have a good heart Henleigh, do you like him?” Bella asks, it’s an innocent question but there’s a tone to her voice that I can’t quite identify.

“Sure, but only as a friend.” I say easily and I love that it’s the absolute truth.

They’re all looking at me strangely, but I let it wash over me as we drink our drinks and talk about mundane crap. Leah’s girlfriend, Charlotte comes to join us for a little while but she doesn’t stay for long and I can’t help but wonder if she has a problem with me for some reason? I know Leah had been hesitant to introduce us at first in case I had an issue with her being a lesbian, but who am I to judge. Love is love, why should it matter who you share it with?

I’m hunting down Amias, just because things are awkward between us, doesn’t mean I won’t go to him when I need assistance.

After last time, I’ve actually been shown where their rooms are, and he opens his door after I’ve pounded on it for a few minutes.

“Fuck sake Henleigh, no need to beat my door down. What’s wrong?” No warmth in his tone or face anymore, oh well probably easier this way.

“I need to get a hold of Noah, do you think I could grab his number off of you?” I ask and I swear the temperature has dropped a few degrees.

“If you want it, ask him when he gets back. And clearly, I can’t give him yours seeing as you never gave it to me. See you around.” He closes the door in my face.

Err yeah not happening, I’m not knocking this time. I push my way into his room and come up short when I see him standing there topless, I will not drool, I will not drool.

“What is your problem?” His voice rises as he stalks closer to me.

“Maybe if you’d stop being a jealous arse I wouldn’t have to barge my way in. All I want is to know what I could get for Mattias, and before you start pounding your fists against your chest, no I do not have a thing for him.” My frustration is bleeding through and I can’t contain it. “He’s alone for Christmas and no one here is going to give him a damn thing and you bloody idiots have shown me that it's nicer to be with people than to be alone.” I jut my chin out to show how much conviction I have in my words.

I turn around and open his door before turning back to look at him. “You only had to ask for my number and I would have gladly given it to you, and if I’d known that spending the best week I’ve had in years with you would end like this. I would have just stayed friends, there’ll be a gift for you under the tree.”

I won’t wait to see if he has anything to say back to that, instead I go back to my room and pull out my phone moaning at the list of emails waiting for me.

My little girl,

Merry Christmas, hopefully our gift has arrived and maybe it will give you a reason to call us. I miss you, I miss my sweet girl who always tried to put a smile on our face. I know we all changed when El passed away, but I hate that by losing him I also lost you.

I know what you think, and you need to know that I didn’t side with your mother, you are the most important person in my world and I only sent you away for your own good. I don’t want you to hate me but I’m willing to take that if this helps you the way I think it will.