Caitlin fixed the last of the furniture in her room and smiled. It had taken a while, but she had completely redecorated her room. It represented who she was now, not the young girl of the past. She had kept some old furniture as it came in handy, but most was quite new. She couldn't bring herself to throw the dressing table away, nor could she throw it away. The locket. The damn locket. She often wondered why she couldn't throw it away, as it was just a locket from her past, but even after everything she knew she could not be parted from it.
She picked up the locket and sat on her bed. She gently opened it, and saw two smiling figures staring straight back at her. She smiled at the picture. They had been so happy. Where had it all gone wrong? She knew what was so special about the locket and why she couldn't throw it away. It was Barry's first gift to her, when they became officially boyfriend and girlfriend. She shook her head. No need to dwell on the past. It had happened and she had dealt with it. She was here to move on with her life, start anew
She had decided she needed to get a job. It would help her in moving forward and kill the time. She couldn't sit here doing nothing, it simply wasn't in her
"Morning Caitlin. Any plans for the day?"
"I need to find a job"
"So soon?"
"Mum, I'll go mad if I do nothing all day. I need to do something. I enjoy having a job. It keeps me busy. Plus how long will my savings last? I refuse to sponge off you or my brother. I'll earn for myself"
"But"
"But nothing. I know you are worried but you can't wrap me up in cotton wool anymore"
Caitlin kissed her mum's cheek
"Love you"
"Dear god. Please keep her safe after everything. She is not as strong as she thinks"
Caitlin wandered around the town. She saw a few vacancies and handed her details in. She was surprised when her phone rang, and she was offered a few interviews there and then. The places must desperately need staff she thought. She put in her earphones and decided to do a quick run, even though she wasn't dressed for it. She was busy pounding the streets when she bumped into someone
"Sorry" she said, turning to leave
"Caitlin, is that you?"
Caitlin froze. She knew that this day was coming, so why was it so difficult for her? She put her earphones in and ran away, pretending not to hear Barry as he called after her. She quickly ran in and was breathing heavily when her mum came
"How did it go?"
"I've got a few interviews"
"Why are you so sweaty and out of breath?"
"I went for a run"
Caitlin ran upstairs and had a shower, washing the morning away. She quickly got ready for her interviews. She really hoped she'd get something, as she really needed a job and she needed something to do whilst she was here. She was so bored. She had forgotten that there wasn't much to do in this small town.
Caitlin attended her interviews and was surprised to be offered a few jobs on the spot. These places must really need staff she thought. She was walking home, when someone caught up with her
"I thought it was you. Why did you run off earlier?"
"Oh sorry Barry. I didn't hear you. I had my music on"
"So how have you been? Why are you back?"
"Stop it Barry"
"What? I haven't done anything"
"Stop being nice to me. You should hate me after everything"
"I did at first. But then I realised it was getting me nowhere. And I was wasting my time and energy"
"Thanks"
"So why are you here?"
"Why do you care? We're over"
"Are we?"
"Barry, what are you on about? Of course we are"
"So your not back because of everything unresolved between us?"
"No. But if I wanted to why now Barry? Why after all this time?"
Barry said nothing
"Barry, not everything is about you. We finished things between us ages ago. I seriously can't believe you think that is why I'm back. After all this time. Can your ego get any bigger?"
Barry looked embarrassed
"If you must know,I thought I'd come and visit my mum and brother. Is that okay with you Barry?"
"I'm sorry. I can't believe I was so stupid"
"Forget it Barry"
"Look, let me take you out for dinner. My way of apologising"
"I dont think your parents would approve. If I remember correctly, they were against me from the beginning, I don't know what I did to hurt them"
"You did nothing. I couldn't work it out either"
"I'm sure they loved your next girlfriend after me"
"There was no one else"
"There will be. I'm sure they will love her. Anybody but me"
"So dinner?"
"I don't think my fiancée would like it very much, do you?"
Caitlin flashed her ring in Barry's face
"Got to go. He's finished work, and it's time I called him"
Caitlin walked off home. How long was she going to be able to get away with this lie?
Duff duff duff. Why is Caitlin lying to barry? As always, feedback appreciated
