29

I had stayed up with Vanessa pretty late in the end, so I had decided to give myself a lie in on Saturday morning. However, my plans were disturbed when my phone went off at 10am.

I answered sleepily before checking the caller ID.

“Hello?” I asked groggily into the receiver while rubbing my eyes.

“Miss Woods…are you still in bed?”

My daze state dissipated into thin air as I realised who it was.

“Mr Stone? I er…had a late night.”

Silence.

“Mr Stone?”

“A late night with library boy?” Mr Stone seemed to spit the words.

“No, with a friend. Vanessa.” I clarified the gender of the friend automatically, although I wasn’t sure why.

“I see,” he replied, seemingly more congenial. “Does that mean you have a date with him tonight?”

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to lie and say yes. I didn’t want him