Fifteen Going on Grown Up by Stephanie M. Turner Page B

backpack; which they had enormous fun playing. Several times throughout the day people passed and spoke to Wes casually. Much to Hally’s joy when he politely introduced them he referred to the girls as “My girlfriend Hally, and her two friends Clia and Corrinne.”
    As the day turned to evening they mutually agreed to go back to Hally’s.
    “Have you sampled Hally’s homemade lemonade yet?”
    Corrinnne asked Wes. Hally gave her a wicked look, but her friend chose to ignore it.
    “You make lemonade Hally?”
    He asked her. For some reason this made her blush. It was such a small thing, but it sounded so domestic and to Hally really uncool.
    “Uh, well, my mum does and …”
    Before she had the chance to decide what to say both her friends chimed in with “You do too Hals, and it’s gorgeous.” Wes laughed and put his arm around Hally’s shoulder.
    “Sounds like you have a fan club.” Then in a mock posh voice. “Come then, to Hally’s for lemonade.”
    Even Hally couldn’t help but laugh at this, so forgiving her friends they made their way back to her house.
    The house was quiet when they got back. At first Hally’s heart skipped a beat thinking something was wrong; then she remembered her parents had promised to take Nathan to the cinema. Relaxing, she sent the girls and Wes out into the garden whilst she put together the lemonade.
    “Well I can’t have any of you recording my secret recipe.”
    She told them playfully. Wes patted her gently on her behind and said.
    “One day I will know.”
    Then with a laugh he joined Clia and Corrinne.
    Hally tried not to mull over what that meant as she took the already cooked and cooled lemons out of the fridge. Luckily for her, her mum kept a stock.
    As they sipped their drinks, Wes asked Hally what Clia had meant about Dana; so the three girls recounted many tales of the bullying Hally had had to endure over the years.
    “Most of the time it was just bitchiness.”
    Hally told him, but there had been times when it had got bad enough for Hally’s parents to visit Mr Hopkins the head teacher. On these occasions, Dana and her friends had been subjected to detentions, calls to their parents and even temporary exclusions. However, the situation was never truly resolved. “Until now, Dana seems to have stopped by herself, for whatever reason.” Hally finished.
    “My poor baby.”
    Wes said, wrapping his arms around Hally, and though it shocked her to hear him call her this she felt like she was in heaven.
    “Mmm, look at the time Corrinne. Think we should get going.”
    Said Clia, standing and pulling her friend from the other sun lounger.
    “It’s not that late…”
    Hally began, but Clia put up a hand to stop her and obviously faked a yawn.
    “All that swimming, delicious food and fresh air has totally worn me out”
    She claimed.
    “Me too”
    Announced Corrinne, faking her own yawn. Hally laughed as she stood up too.
    “Ok, I’ll see you out.”
    The three girls walked down the garden to the back gate.
    “I know what you two are up to.”
    Hally told them.
    “What?”
    They both exclaimed innocently. Hally shook her head lightly and the three girls gave each other a hug as they said goodnight.
    Hally then nervously made her way back up the garden. She had spent evenings alone with Wes quite often over the holidays, but she still got wobbles in her tummy each time. She always wondered when Wes, being so much older would expect their relationship to move on, but as yet he had not tried to push her at all. Most of the time she was very relieved by this, she was, she kept telling herself only fifteen. However, there were times, and naturally, she told herself; when he was holding her and kissing her; that she felt a fiery sensation deep inside her. It was then that she wished he would just move his hands to somewhere else on her body, like her breasts, she would say in her mind, or even somewhere else.
    These thoughts always brought heat to her face,