Coffee breath? Poppy didn’t need that. Not with her hopes for the evening. ‘Water would be good if that’s OK?’
They went into Norah’s kitchen, which was identical in shape to Poppy's, if a lot fresher. Norah poured two glasses of water. ‘So, there’s an absolutely crap thing on the Odeon about aliens...’ Norah began.
‘Sounds terrible. I’m in,’ Poppy said. She could kiss Norah in the back row if she was amenable.
Norah handed Poppy a glass of water. ‘Or...’ she began nervously.
‘Or?’ Poppy repeated.
‘I mean, the house is empty.’
Poppy nearly dropped the glass. ‘Oh, right. You’re thinking we might... hang out here?’ she said carefully.
Norah shrugged. ‘I mean, we could just watch something on TV? I don’t know what’s on, but...’
Poppy felt her stomach roll over in the best possible way. ‘TV sounds good. We can just surf. In the living room?’
‘If you don’t mind a smaller TV, we could watch it in my room. So we don’t get... interrupted.’ Norah took a sip of water and glanced at her shoes.
Poppy didn’t know exactly what this meant, and she didn’t want to assume anything. She’d have been more than happy to just sit next to her and hold her hand. But obviously, it would have been even nicer to kiss her. To run her hands over Norah’s body.
But Poppy was determined not to rush. Take it slowly, she warned herself. She just said let’s watch TV.
Norah popped some popcorn in the microwave, and they took it upstairs. Poppy was more terrified with every step. It had never been like this before. Boys were simple. You knew what was what, and you got on with it. This was different. The mystery of what precisely Norah wanted lay in front of Poppy. She had to admit, it was deeply hot.
Or was it simple? Was Norah actually hinting rather hard? Poppy supposed her ability to read her was impeded by the high stakes. They were putting a good friendship on the line, and they both knew it.
Norah led the way into her room, the air thick with anticipation. Norah sat down and flicked the TV. The news was on. She flicked to the next channel, horse racing. She tried again and got an Australian soap.
‘Hey, you gonna sit with me?’ she asked, noting that Poppy was standing like an idiot next to the bed.
Poppy’s heart raced as she settled onto Norah's bed, feeling the warmth of her proximity.
‘You OK with this?’ Norah asked, nodding at the TV.
‘Sure,’ Poppy agreed.
As they settled in to watch, a comfortable silence enveloped them, broken only by the occasional rustling of popcorn.
Poppy stole glances at Norah, admiring the way the flickering light danced across her face. She had never felt this way before, pulled towards Norah like a magnet. And as the soap played on, forgotten in the background, Poppy felt a surge of courage wash over her. It was only enough to take her hand, but the reward was a firm, light grip that made goosebumps travel up Poppy’s spine.
Should Poppy try to kiss Norah? She really didn’t know. She wanted to. But she also kind of liked sitting like this, too. Poppy’s heart said hold her hand, but the contents of her knickers were telling her to hold other areas. Which would win?
‘I’m thinking about kissing you,’ Norah said quietly.
Poppy turned. ‘Thank god,’ she said and pulled Norah to her.
Thirteen
Now
Norah was not supposed to be alone for parents’ evening. But Max texted her ten minutes before their appointment time to tell her there was some emergency at his work. What manner of emergency could arise at the franchise pizza restaurant he managed, Norah couldn’t have said.
But she was glad he’d sacked it off because if he’d had to sit with Norah and Poppy, he might have picked up on the atmosphere. That was the last thing Norah needed—she hadn’t exactly told him about Poppy. He knew there were a few girlfriends in her past, but she hadn’t explained that one of them had reappeared at the school gates.
Norah didn’t have the energy for any jealousy to rear its head. Max wasn’t enormously secure in that department. If he saw her smile at someone a bit too long, his wheels came off.
Poppy walked back out of the room, only three minutes after she’d entered. She looked happy enough, so Luna was probably settling in OK.
‘See you at the gates,’ she said, sauntering past.
Norah turned to watch her go. She’d forgotten about that swagger.
‘Mrs Cauldwell?’
Norah spun to her quickly, like she’d been caught doing something wrong. But she hadn’t. She was just watching Poppy walk, for god’s sake. No crime in it.
‘Miss,’ Norah corrected Mrs Bauer, standing.
She and Max were married, but she had kept her name and title. There was no planet on which Norah was swapping Cauldwell for Biggerstaff.
‘Sorry, yes. In you come,’ Mrs Bauer said.
Norah followed her in and sat down in front of Miss Potter, both on another set of small chairs.
‘Hi,’ said the young woman. ‘So, first of all, Freddie’s doing great with his lessons. Just great. You don’t need to worry about that at all,’ Mrs Potter said.
An unnerving start.
