The buzz buzz next to me made us both jump out of our skins. We were currently sat in Gerard’s bedroom-basement getting thrashed on Call of Duty.

During a synchronised exclamation of, “FUCKING CAMPER!”, my phone had vibrated.

“Taylor,” I said after reaching over and snatching the ringing device off of Gerard's desk. I stood up and moved away from the noise of gunfire and explosions before answering.

“Hi Tay,” my voice was cheerful even though the purpose of this call was probably a request I was going to hate.

“Hi Evie,” Taylor's voice rang into my ear. Despite being a total slut, her constantly happy mood was infectious.

“What's up?”

“Well, I didn't get a chance to talk to you when school finished -” I was reminded of my mad rush to leave the school before my friends caught a glimpse of me “- but the girls and I were organising a sleepover in first period, if you're up for it?”

“Sure,” I agreed, shrugging. A sleepover wasn't so bad. “When were you thinking?”

“This Saturday? I've got a bottle of Malibu with our names on it!” I could hear the smile in her voice.

“I'll be there,” I confirmed; I did love Malibu.

“Woo!” Taylor giggled, “well I'll see you whenever school starts again - I'm going to the mall with the ’rents. Byee!” And the phone went dead.

I shook my head, stepping back over to where Gerard was having a much more successful game without me.

“What was all that about?” He said as I sat down.

“Taylor’s planning a sleepover this Saturday.”

“Ohh, can I come?”

“Fuck off.”

*

After sharing a lasagne with Gerard, Mikey, Donna and (briefly) Gerard's father, it was time for me to leave. I'd loved my time with the Ways and I got to learn a lot more about Gerard, such as his role as Peter Pan in a school play and the time he was caught dancing to Bowie. The awkwardness we experienced that morning was also seeming to dissipate. Everything was fine; Gerard and I were fine; his mother wasn't the disapproving witch I thought she was and to top it all off, Monty the Snowman was sitting happily in the garden, smiling up at us through the window.

As I hurried through the blizzard that was now raging (mentally thanking Gerard for allowing me to lend his parker), I felt satisfied. For the first time since this acquaintanceship began, I felt no guilt or anger or need to hide my face in the event of someone seeing us. I had made a friend today. Past confrontations lay forgotten.

I don't know if it was the magical weather that had caused this natural high, or maybe I'd bumped my head during our snowball fight, but I could not wipe away the smile that was plastered on my face. I think even Gerard was getting creeped out, because he kept giving me funny glances as he stuck his key into the ignition.

The short car ride was silent, but it wasn't tense. Knowing how our relationship works, if one of us was to speak, we'd probably end up saying the wrong thing and the day would be ruined anyway.

Gerard slowed to a stop outside my quaint little house and I got out of the car.

“Thanks for the lift," I said, leaning down to look at him.

"No problem," he grinned showing his small, white teeth, “I guess I'll see you at school, whenever that will be.”

“Yeah,” I agreed before shutting the door and sprinting to my porch. Once there, I waved Gerard off with one hand, whilst rummaging for my keys with the other.

*

My mum entered just as I was shovelling a fist full of popcorn into my mouth. The snowy weather had put me in the mood for watching Harry Potter and my mother came into view just as Harry was receiving his Invisibility Cloak. The early Potters are definitely the best - they're just so much more cute and magical with no dead Diggorys to deal with.

“Oh wow, this weather!" My mum breathed as she shook clumps of snow out of her hair. I watched her from my sprawled-out position on the couch.

“Yo," my voice forced its way through the mouthful of corn, coming out as a muffled grunt.

“Have you sat there all day?!” She asked, looking at me disapprovingly.

“No!” I defended, after swallowing my food, “actually, I've been to a friend’s house."

“Oh really?" She asked, matching my mocking tone, "and what friend would this be?”

“A...friend.”

“A...boy friend?”

“No," I smiled sarcastically, “a friend-boy."

“I see you made up with this Gerard then,” my mum said knowingly.

"Damn, you're good.”

She laughed and disappeared into the kitchen. I continued to watch rebel Harry sneak into the Restricted Section.

“Oh mum!” I called as I remembered something. Her acknowledgement rang from the kitchen. "I'm staying at Taylor's on Saturday.”

“Anything special?” She asked, reappearing in the doorway.

“Probably not,” I shrugged, “just Malibu and Gossip Girl.”

“Will Gerard be going?” She smirked, putting extra emphasis on Gerard’s name by bending her knees.

“I don't think you understand what kind of person Gerard is, mum.”

“Oh,” she sounded quite pleased, “well I look forward to meeting him all the same.”

I merely shook my head at her last comment, although the teasing continued when she found out I’d had lunch with his parents. I think my mum was as desperate to get me ’back in the game’ as my friends were, but maybe not for the same reasons.

*

“Evie!” My dad called up the stairs. My mum had already left as she was on the early shift. “I'm going now. Don't be late!"

“Yeah, yeah,” I assured him. I heard the door slam seconds later.

The weather had not improved from yesterday, and I wasn't even sure school was open, but I was going to try anyway. It gave me something to do, at least. Well, before I made myself more popcorn and sat down to watch the Chamber of Secrets anyway.

Mid-way through applying my makeup, I heard a horn sound outside. Peeking out of the stairwell window, I saw a beat-up black car parked perfectly in the snow.

What's he doing here? I thought, before applying my mascara and grabbing my bag.

When I reached the window of his car, he grinned his signature grin. “Thought you might want a ride.”

“Yeah right,” I smirked, “you just couldn't stay away.”

He put his hand on his heart and looked away dramatically. “You got me.”

I laughed, opening the door and sinking into the passenger seat.

“I was thinking about something on the way here,” he mused.

“Oh?”

“Why don't you drive?”

“Oh!” I was surprised at his question, “I do, just my dad doesn't want to get me a car. I think it would the final step to his baby flying the nest.”

Gerard scoffed. “I would hate to be a girl. Their dads are crazy overprotective.” I shrugged; my dad was pretty laid back compared to some. “So,” Gerard smirked, “wanna drive us to school?”

I stared to make sure he was for real, but he was already stepping out of the door. I played along, switching sides and jumping in the driver’s seat.

“Right,” I said, more to myself than anything, “um...”

“What's wrong?”

“It's different.”

“How so?”

“...I learnt to drive in England.”

“Shit, I forgot you were English.”

After a few quick lessons from Gerard about his funny American car, we were moving. And quite well, if I may say so myself.

“Aaand turn," I said as we moved past the school towards the parking lot. Parking wasn't my strong point, but I gave it a go anyway, swinging the car into the nearest space and narrowly missing another car. I heard Gerard frantically grasp the door, but ignored him. Once the car had stopped moving, I pulled on the handbrake and sat back, smiling at Gerard. I felt pleased with myself. He, on the other hand, looked far from pleased.

"Remind me never to let you drive again," he breathed, releasing his grip on the door.

“What? Why?!”

“Well, everything was going fine until you almost side-swiped that car behind us.”

“He was going to steal my spot!”

“So you thought you’d trash his car?”

I nodded happily, as if the answer was an obvious one. Gerard shook his head in despair and stepped out of his door. I did the same, throwing him his keys and moving away from the car.

“I guess I'll see you around then,” he called to my back.

“Yeah,” I said, waving a hand. I turned around a winked at him, before joining the crowd of people entering the school.

Notes

So yeah, sorry for not posting in a while. I'm rubbish at updates. Buuuut on the positive side, I got all the data collection for my dissertation done! *big cheesy grin*

Anyway, drama coming up in the next chapter. Look out for it!