Lucy stopped for breath. Izzy looked curious, so she kept going. “Mum and Dad are trying to persuade me to like it here. They gave me Sky on Saturday, to make me feel better about the move. That’s what Mum said.” Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “She’s supposed to help me forget my old house and my friends and everything.”
“Wow,” Izzy muttered. “I suppose I’d be miserable if I had to move somewhere totally new.”
Lucy nodded.
“But at least you’ve got Sky. She’s gorgeous!” Izzy smiled.
“She is,” Lucy agreed. “You’re going to think I’m stupid. But – well, I’m pretending I don’t like her. That’s why I just didn’t know what to say when you asked if she was my kitten.”
Izzy looked confused. “But why?”
“If Mum and Dad see I really love Sky, they’ll think I’ve stopped missing home and I don’t mind staying here,” Lucy explained. It did sound stupid. She blushed miserably.
“I guess that makes sense,” Izzy said rather doubtfully. “So your mum and dad think you don’t want her?”
“Whenever they’re around I don’t play with Sky, or even look at her,” Lucy admitted.
Izzy nodded slowly. “But … what’s going to happen? If your parents think you don’t want her, won’t they give her back? You’re going to let them?”
“Yes. I mean, I thought I was. I was missing home so much.” Lucy sat down on the bench by the gate, and heaved a huge sigh. “Only now I’m not sure I can!”
“Mmmm.” Izzy sat down next to her. “I can’t imagine giving her back. She’s so cute!”
Lucy smiled. “She is, isn’t she?” Then she put her chin in her hands and sighed again. “But I can’t just change my mind now…”
“You might end up having to stay here, and not having a gorgeous kitten,” Izzy pointed out.
“I know,” Lucy said gloomily.
That night, Lucy waited until her parents were both in the front room, and then crept out of bed. She stole quietly down the stairs, not wanting Kieran to hear her either, and along the hallway to the kitchen.
Sky looked up hopefully as she opened the kitchen door. Lucy had stroked her quickly a few times that evening when no one was looking. She did wish that Lucy would be nice like that all the time. Sky waited anxiously. Was Lucy going to ignore her again?
Lucy came and sat down next to her basket, and gently stroked the top of Sky’s silky head. “Izzy thinks I’m stupid not telling Mum and Dad how much I like you,” she told the kitten. “She said she doesn’t know how I can pretend. I’m not sure I know either,” she added sadly.
Sky climbed out of her basket and clambered up Lucy’s leg. She stood on Lucy’s lap and butted her chin. That was sure to make her feel better. She licked Lucy, too, just to be certain. There.
Lucy giggled. “Oh, Sky, your tongue’s really rough!”
Sky purred as she heard Lucy laughing. It had worked. Lucy was feeling better. She’d seemed so sad before, but now she felt warm and friendly. Sky curled herself into a comfortable ball on Lucy’s knee, gave a huge yawn and went to sleep.
Chapter Six
Sky woke up and yawned, stretching her paws lazily. Then she opened her eyes wide, remembering where she was. Lucy’s house. The thought of Lucy made her sit up eagerly. Lucy! Where was she? Last night Lucy had cuddled her to sleep on her knee – but now she was back in her basket. Sky hopped out and went to sniff at the kitchen door. She looked up at the handle thoughtfully. Her mum could jump and open door-handles, but Sky wasn’t big enough yet. She prowled up and down impatiently. Maybe Lucy would be down soon, and she’d have someone to play with.
When Lucy’s mum came downstairs, Sky wove around her feet, nearly tripping her up, but Lucy’s mum just laughed. “Are you starving, Sky? Poor kitten! Here you go.” She placed a full bowl of kitten food on the floor, and Sky settled down to eat it, keeping one eye on the door.
When Lucy finally came into the kitchen, Sky danced over to her delightedly. Where were you? I’ve been waiting for you! Cuddle me! she mewed.
Lucy gulped. She cast one quick glance at Sky, her tail pointing excitedly straight up, her whiskers twitching with happiness, and then dragged her eyes away. It was so unfair to keep doing this! Sky didn’t understand that she could only love her when no one was around. Quite soon, Lucy thought sadly, Sky’s going to give up on me…
Lucy’s parents watched as the kitten pawed eagerly at Lucy’s leg, and Lucy ignored her again. Lucy’s dad gave her mum a serious look and shook his head.
Sky gazed up at Lucy. After last night, she’d been sure that Lucy wouldn’t act all strange and cold again. Her tail hung low now as she slunk miserably back to her basket, ignoring the rest of her food.
Lucy didn’t touch her breakfast either.
“Wow, you must be starved,” Izzy said, watching Lucy munching swiftly through an apple at break.
“Mmmm,” Lucy nodded, swallowing. “Didn’t eat much for breakfast.”
“Well, we’ve got PE straight after, so you’d better have this as well.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a cereal bar.
Lucy gave her a grateful look. “Don’t you want it?”
“No. Mum keeps giving me them, but they’re yuck. You’re welcome,” Izzy smiled.
Lucy had looked for Izzy as soon as she got into school that morning, hoping that she would be there already. She’d been delighted when Izzy had seen her and rushed over. When they got into the classroom, Izzy had asked if she wanted to sit next to her – there was room, and she said Mrs Walker wouldn’t mind. Orla and Katie looked surprised, but they didn’t say anything.
“Hello,” Lucy muttered shyly, as she went past. It was the first thing she’d said to them since her first day, and they looked a bit confused.
It was amazing how different school was now she had someone to talk to. Lucy found she actually enjoyed their PE lesson, which was football skills. Izzy was terrible, but she didn’t mind and just rolled her eyes at Lucy and giggled hopelessly every time she had to run off across the field after the ball. Lucy was quite good at sporty stuff, and Mr Jackson said he’d have to keep an eye on her for the school team. Lucy couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.
When Lucy’s mum came to pick her up she was amazed that Lucy came running across the playground to her, rather than trailing slowly out after everyone else. She was with a pretty, red-haired girl who had a massive grin on her face. The red-haired girl grabbed a tall, red-haired woman, who had to be her own mum, then came to join Lucy.
“Did you ask her?” Izzy said anxiously.
Lucy shook her head. “Mum, please can I go to tea with Izzy? She lives across the road from us. Pleeeaase?”
“Oh, Lucy, that sounds great, but maybe another day?” said Mum. “We haven’t given Izzy’s mum much notice.” She smiled apologetically at the red-haired woman.
“Actually, if you don’t mind, it’s fine by me,” Izzy’s mum replied. “Izzy mentioned last night that she’d met Lucy, and she’d love to have her over. Lucky it’s a Wednesday actually, Izzy’s sister Amber has choir so I pick Izzy up. Usually the girls walk home together. You’ve just moved in, haven’t you?”
Izzy’s mum was really friendly, and as the four of them walked home she told Lucy’s mum about the neighbours, and which were the nicest shops in the area.