Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“I like your hair. Are you allowed to have it that colour at school?” I asked.
Jace shook his head. “No. Mam says I have to shave it off before September. I’m only allowed to have it for the summer.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Yeah,” he agreed glumly before he picked up the slice of pizza his mother had put in front of him. I watched in fascination as he folded it in half and shoved it in his mouth. I’d never, not once in my life, been permitted to eat food with my hands. Every meal was consumed with the appropriate utensils, alongside proper posture; otherwise, my mother would correct me.
“Yum! This is so good!” Francesca said as she ate the pizza just the same as her brother. Even the parents, Jay and Matilda, were eating with their hands. I stared down at the delicious smelling slice in front of me, but I just couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Too many years of hardwiring prevented me.
“Are you okay, Shannon?” Matilda asked. “Not hungry?”
I licked my lips, sitting ramrod straight in the chair, and my stomach chose that exact moment to let out a loud gurgle. I winced in embarrassment.
“She’s definitely hungry,” Jace said with a laugh as he elbowed me in the side in an easy fashion, like we’d known each other all our lives. “Go on, dig in. It’s good, I promise.”
Finally, I said, “Would it be possible to get a knife and fork? I’m not usually allowed to—”
Something soft entered Matilda’s eyes as she shared a look with her husband. “Of course, dear. Let me go grab you some.”
“Thank you,” I practically whispered when she returned and handed me the cutlery. I cut a thin strip off the pizza and lifted it to my mouth. When I bit into it, I had to hold back a groan because it was seriously one of the best things I’d ever tasted. I closed my eyes just to savour it.
“You look you’ve never had pizza before,” Jace commented, and I realised he’d been watching me the whole time. In fact, the entire family was.
“That’s because I haven’t,” I replied, self-consciously tucking some hair behind my ear.
He stared at me, wide-eyed. Even the little girl, Francesca, seemed awe-struck. “You’ve never eaten pizza before?” she asked innocently.
I shook my head. “My parents are very strict. They don’t let me have any fast food.”
“B-but pizza is so yummy,” Francesca went on.
“It is,” I agreed. “My parents are clearly crazy.” I forced a smile, and she giggled.
Jay and Matilda were both looking at me, but I couldn’t quite tell what they thought of the fact that my parents forbade me from eating anything even remotely unhealthy. I was on a strict diet of organic vegetables, whole grains, fish and clean meats and was permitted a slice of gluten free cake only on Sundays.
A quiet fell over the family, and I began to feel like I’d made them uncomfortable by being so weird and uptight, but then, to my surprise, Jace addressed his mother. “Mam, can I have a knife and fork, too?”
I peered at him, at his open, friendly expression, and realised he was being kind, trying to make me feel less like a freak. Matilda shot him a warm smile, “Of course, you can, son.”
She went to grab another set of cutlery before handing them to Jace. Without comment, he began cutting into his pizza just like I was doing, and something inside me melted. It was in that moment that I knew I’d found a friend.
“You know what?” Jace declared. “It actually tastes better this way. You should all try it.”
And that was how the entire family ended up grabbing knives and forks and eating their pizza just the same as I was. I’d only just met these people, but they’d made me feel more accepted than my own parents had in my entire life. They were good and kind and warm, everything I’d never had, and at that moment, I hoped more than ever that my parents didn’t decide to move again because I wanted this family as my neighbours.
Glancing at Jace, I realised something else.
I wanted this cool and interesting blue-haired boy to become my very best friend.
1.
Shannon
Present Day
The flashy, unfamiliar car in the driveway should’ve tipped me off.
Sadly, I was too busy fretting about being on time to pay the shiny black Range Rover much attention. I was a little obsessive about my time keeping. Arriving right on time was late as far as I was concerned. I needed to be places at least fifteen minutes early to allow for unforeseen circumstances.
A little out of breath from the brisk walk, not to mention rosy cheeked from the evening chill, I glanced at my watch and noted we were five minutes early. I exhaled in relief. Not my usual fifteen minutes, but it would do.