Holding On (Memories)

wearing a suit.”
    “Any particular reason?”
    “I asked him to,” Mum says, looking at me sternly. “That is why. We are having a civilised meal tonight to welcome Jen to London, which means no swearing.” She glances at Bing again. “No undressing with eyes.” This time she focuses on Alec. “And no crazy-”
    “You have no idea how glad I am to see you again, my little ball of summer lovin'!” Jen's voice exclaims behind me.
    “Outrageous exclamations of excitement,” Mum finishes wearily.
    I laugh and stand, turning to greet Jen. We hug and she ruffles Alec's hair. After greeting my parents in a more... Civilised way, she takes the free seat between Alec and Bing.
    “Evening, Samuel,” she says, taking the menu.
    “Jennifer,” he says tightly and shifts in his seat.
    “No need to move away. I won't bite.” She grins.
    He swallows and hides his face behind a menu. Jen looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I shrug. Alec hides behind his own menu. His shoulders are shaking and I kick him under the table, but he just shakes his head.
    I look at Mum, who rolls her eyes, and Dad is trying to hide a smile. This has to be the most dysfunctional table in the restaurant. We place our orders, and Mum takes control of the conversation.
    “So, Jen, how was your journey here?”
    Jen sighs. “It was okay, if you ignore Mr. Let’s Make Babies eyeing me on the train, and of course then there was the Barbie Bitch on the tube who thought I was making eyes at her man. I told her not to worry, her boyfriend looked too much like my best friend's brother for me to even consider him being partially good looking.”
    I choke on my wine and Alec pats my back. Bing glares at me across the table before turning his attention towards Jen.
    “And what did she say?” he asks.
    “She asked what your name was and I told her.”
    “And what did she say then?”
    “She laughed and said I was a very smart girl.”
    I drop my head and purse my lips, trying my hardest to keep my laughter inside.
    “Something funny, Lexy?” Dad questions in an innocent voice.
    I swallow the bubble of laughter in my throat and look up. “Nope, nothing, Dad. Nothing at all.”
    Alec nudges my foot under the table with his when Dad winks and distracts Mum.
    “What?” I whisper.
    “Do you think Bing fancies Jen?” he says in the same, hushed tone I used.
    I glance over at them. Jen is grinning and Bing looks annoyed. “Maybe.” I shrug a shoulder. “But Bing fancies an awful lot of girls, so I'm not sure how it's a big deal.”
    Alec's eyes flick towards them. “I think he fancies her a bit more than he usually does.”
    I half-frown, half-smirk. “Really? That's crazy. We're not in Lilac Bay anymore, Alec.” My heart pangs a little as Grammy's face flashes in my mind. “Bing's home now... It's different in London. He was calmer in Devon because of Grammy, but now we're back...”
    “It'll be someone new every weekend,” Alec states.
    “Pretty much.” I sigh. “Jen has Carl, anyway, so it's never gonna happen.”
    Alec coughs and rubs his neck uncomfortably.
    “What?” I whisper harshly. He opens his mouth then closes it again. “What?”
    He sighs and leans his head into me until his lips are right by my ear. “I spoke to Carl earlier, before you came over. When Jen left, they weren't on good terms.”
    “Why not?”
    “He's, uh... He's refusing to come to London to see her until at least half term.”
    “But she'll be going home at half-term, won't she?”
    “Exactly.”

ALEC

    Lexy opens her mouth and closes it again. “He won't come to London?”
    Our plates are put in front of us. “It's unlikely,” I reply.
    “But why not? Won't he miss her? They were inseparable this summer.”
    “I know that, Princess, but Carl's too much of a country boy. He's... He's not like Jen. Jen wants to spread her wings and find out who she really is, and she can't do that in the Bay. Carl would be happy if he never had to leave the Bay.”
    Lexy's silent as she takes in what I've said. She begins eating and I take it as conversation over.
    I'm wrong.
    “And what did you say to Carl?” she whispers tightly.
    “I told him he was a prick and Jen would go and see him if it was the other way around.”
    She nods, satisfied with my answer. “Good.”
    She turns back to her food before Jen strikes up a conversation with her about the university they'll both be starting next week. Jen doing Fine Art and Lexy studying Fashion Design.