Learning to Fall by Peach Morris

Author:Peach Morris [Morris, Peach]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 8th Note Press
Published: 2025-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Anna and I manage to grab an evening together to watch films with Mum while she’s home from uni, but I don’t get a chance to talk to her alone because she heads straight back up to Leeds after Boxing Day to work overtime at the pet shop she’s picked up a job at. We have a great time watching The Craft and She’s All That, but we don’t really get much time to talk other than for her to catch me up on the latest dramas in her life.

In an uncharacteristically festive display, Venom has brought us all Santa hats to wear over our helmets on our first practice back after Christmas. The thought is certainly there, but it makes scrimmaging difficult as it’s tricky to put helmet covers on over them.

Imogen doesn’t show up, heightening my anxiety, and I have almost managed to convince myself she hates me so much she’s moved away when she walks in right at the end of practice with a stranger. She’s hanging onto the arm of a tall, impossibly handsome Black guy who she introduces as Nathan.

While everyone rushes to fawn over the new arrival, Mel stays behind and squeezes my arm.

“We’re going to the pub, right? For our secret Santa thing? Let’s just stay for the presents then we can get the fuck out of there and chat about it.”

I nod wordlessly and zip up my bag, slinging it over my back as I go to greet Imogen.

“Case!” she shouts and starts towards me, one arm raised to chuck over my shoulder as usual, when she stops. It’s almost as if she checks herself, then slaps me on the side of the arm instead. “Good Christmas?”

“Lovely thanks,” I lie. “Yours?”

“Bloody awful, but it’s done now, hey?” She smiles, but there’s something cold behind her eyes that doesn’t quite reveal the whole picture.

“Oh wow, is this the famous Casey?” Nathan’s gorgeousness is even more intimidating up close. He’s got a shaved head, impressively buff shoulders and the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a boy … Wait, famous?

“I’m famous?” I say without thinking. Imogen shoves Nathan.

“She wouldn’t shut up about you,” he says, looking me dead in the eye and winking.

“What.” Why wouldn’t she shut up about me? What is this?

“Come on, Nath, you’ve got to meet Venom. She’s our coach and she’s terrifying.” Imogen pulls him away and we all troop across the road to the pub.

As soon as we get in there, Mel announces that she’s going to the toilet and stamps on my foot so hard I almost see stars.

“Jesus fucking … Oh, okay.” I realize what she’s telling me. I follow her and we crowd into the smallest and smelliest toilet known to humanity. Mel sits on the closed lid and points a finger at me.

“Who is he?” she demands.

“I don’t know.”

“Like, is he a cousin? A boyfriend? Who is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are they dating? When did she meet him?”

“I don’t know, Mel.” I don’t know how

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