Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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September 1999

‘I noticed you and William getting quite . . . intimate last night,’ Lauren says.

Lauren’s shovelling scrambled eggs into her mouth. My eyes fall on the pan sitting in the sink, bits of egg still stuck to the side. As much as I love her cooking, she does tend to have the habit of leaving pots and pans lying around. 

I don’t look at her. The whistle of the kettle boiling fills my head. I knew this conversation was coming. After I’d spotted her looking at us both, last night, I tried not to pay William any attention.

William didn’t stay out with us all night. He finished his meal and left. Part of me wanted to go with him. I had to force myself to continue to sit in my chair.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I say, pouring the boiling water into a mug, and then rubbing the tips of my fingers together.

The clatter of the knife and fork on Lauren’s plate makes me jump.

‘Don’t try and act all innocent, Angela. God, you could see the chemistry between the two of you a mile off,’ she says, sitting back and folding her arms. ‘Then your fingers were nestled next to each other on the table. Hayley commented on it as well after we left.’

‘Okay.’ I spin around so I’m facing her. I push my palms into the edge of the work surface. I meet her eyes once, and then look away. ‘I admit it, I . . . I do find him attractive, I can’t help it. It’s his eyes. I know it’s stupid of me, but it’s just how I feel. I know he’s off limits. He’s Caz’s boyfriend. I’d never do anything that might affect their relationship. I don’t want to lose Caz as a friend.’

Lauren doesn’t look convinced. She picks up her plate and meanders over to the sink.

‘Angela, you know what kind of business he’s involved in,’ she says to me, running the tap and squirting washing up liquid into the sink.

‘I know.’ I’m glad Michelle isn’t here to overhear our conversation. ‘And I told you, nothing is going to happen between us. We might flirt with each other from time to time, but that’s just it, harmless flirting. It’s just a bit of fun.’

 ‘Just be careful,’ Lauren says, placing her plate on the draining board. ‘I didn't like the way how he was looking at you last night. In fact I think it might be an idea if we don’t see him again.’

‘What, just because of some harmless flirting, you can’t be serious?’

‘Just think about it Angela, it might be good for you to spend some time apart. You don’t want to upset our friendship with Caz at all, do you?’

Lauren stares at me waiting for my reply. I shake my head.

‘I’m going to sit outside,’ I say, squeezing the teabag against the side of my cup and chucking it into the bin.

I puff my cheeks out. First I had Michelle telling me about who I shouldn’t see, and now Lauren’s telling me. I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions about who I want to be friends with.

Lauren opens her mouth to say something, but stops herself. Her face crumples.

I brush past her and carry my mug of tea outside.

************

Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend