Never Giving Up

Chapter 2

It's weird driving Allison's car because I tend to take public transport if I need to go somewhere. For all I have my driving license, I don't see the need to have a car since I live in London. I don't need to go into detail as to why I don't have a car because saying where it is I live explains it all, really.

While Allison is away on holiday, having her put my name on her insurance as a named driver has come in handy. I've been able to go out shopping on the odd occasion and to a few other friends houses without having to spend a lot of money on taxis. Being able to drive to my parents has been a bonus, too.

Although, the drive to my uncle Dom's house is roughly the same as it is if I was going to my parents – long and enraging when dealing with the traffic. I can see why Allison loses the plot during the drive which she does every Sunday. I take a right onto Longhope Drive and pull into my uncle's driveway, parking up in between his black Range Rover and my cousin Caleb's red Ford Focus.

My intention of being here is to talk to Declan about going to New York tomorrow. I know well enough by now that this is where Declan will be. He uses our uncle's gym every second or third day after uni which none of us have any objections to. Having phoned my mum before leaving my flat, she confirmed he was here.

I don't know how the conversation will go. In my mind, I have already made up my choice but I want his opinion more than anyone else's. He's the one who has been most effected by all of this and I don't want him to fall backwards after all the good work he has done so far to get to this point.

I kill the engine get out the car.

"You missed a bit at the side you didn't wash right," I point out to Caleb as he wax's the bonnet of his car.

He looks at me, his dark brown eyes narrowing at me under the shade from his snapback cap. "Leave my baby alone."

I hold my hands up in defence on a laugh. "Sorry I said anything."

"She didn't mean that, baby. I washed you properly."

I laugh as I make my way into the house. As soon as I walk into the bright hallway, I turn to my right and knock on the door leading to the gym before entering. The room is made up of various different gym equipment which are set up around the room, making you wonder if there was ever a double garage where we're standing in the first place. The walls are white and the windows opposite me look out onto the driveway, giving us a good view of the neatly parked cars and Caleb who has moved to wax the roof of his car.

I shake my head at my little cousin and smile at my uncle Dom who looks at me over his shoulder. His short dark brown hair is a mess and darkened with sweat and his eyes, much like my dad's, soften as he smiles while turning on the spot and walks to me.

"Hey, baby girl." My uncle Dom smiles. He pulls me into a brief hug with one arm then continues to tidy away the weights that he was using. "How are you today?"

"Not bad," I answer.

"Could be better, though?"

"Couldn't we all?"

"Touché."

"I see Caleb is still immersed in his car," I comment, nodding towards my cousin.

"Typical boy," uncle Dom responds. "The youngest of all my four boys and he's more interested in keeping that damn car clean than anything else."

"Wouldn't expect anything else from him, though."

My uncle Dom mumbles something under his breath but I don't catch it. I think he swore but I can't be sure. Caleb may only be two years younger than me but he acts like he's a lot younger. Mostly because he's the second youngest male in the family before Declan.