CHAPTER NINE.
It was end of term and Kainene was beyond thrilled. It had been a very trying last week. Ever since the Christmas ball, Kainene had not gone for any lectures. She had not missed her seminars as those had been compulsory and she could not bear to do so. Of course, not having either Heather or Minty in any of her groups had been a deciding factor as well. So for one week it had been no lectures for her as she did not want to see them. Partly because she just needed sometime away from them after the dreadful thing they had done, and partly because she needed her space alone in the flat with all the others gone for their own lectures and seminars. Although she had been very grateful and touched by the actions of the others, Matt, Lorna and Mykenos always bringing hot, sweet cups of tea to her room and providing chocolates for her, she had needed some time to herself without the stifling presence of her overly sympathetic friends. Viola had been the most understanding, telling her not to worry about the gown as it did not matter especially when Kainene knew how much the dress meant to Viola's grandmother and Viola herself. She had also stayed away from the union shop that week, pleading a terrible illness. As she was the most hardworking and the nicest worker there, they had told her to take the week off in addition to her Christmas holiday and to come back at the start of next term. That had definitely been welcome news.
Now she was packing some clothes and stuff into a suitcase to take home for the Christmas holiday. She was taking the 3 p.m. train and it was already 12 p.m. Matt and Lorna had left for Switzerland that morning for a two week skiing trip then they were going to Lorna's parent's holiday home in Tuscany for the last two weeks of holiday for Christmas. Viola had left the night before for home then she was off to the south of France with her family for the whole four weeks and Mykelos had just been picked up by his parents back to Liverpool. He intended to spend Christmas with them before heading off to Blackpool with some of his college mates for the New Year celebration. She smiled to herself as she thought of her friends' exotic sounding Christmas plans. She was simply happy to be going back home to London for some tender loving care, and to catch up with her old college friends, Vicky and Anna. A brighter smile found its way across her face. It had been months since she saw them and even though they all spoke on the phone at least once a week, it was not the same as before when they spent every passing day together.
She closed her suitcase with a firm click and looked round her room making sure that anything she needed for her trip back home was not being left behind. Satisfied, she took off her clothes ready for a relaxed bout of showering and primping before setting for the station. Having the flat all to herself was indeed relaxing, she thought happily.
A few hours later, she grinned in pleasant surprise when she saw two familiar faces wave excitedly as walked out of Paddington station. Her best friends had come to get her.
'What on earth are you guys doing here? I thought Mum and Dad were gonna come pick me up? She asked, dropping her suitcase and grabbing her friends in a tight hug which involved lots of rocking and squealing.
Vicky, a red-haired with piercing green eyes and a Vita Don Teese body screamed in her cockney accent, 'We had to come get you, luv. Your ma said to surprise you and we were well up for it.'
Anna, a slim black girl with large brown eyes and a short pixie hair cut added dryly, 'Unh-hunh. Let's not forget that you brought up the idea of surprising her as you wanted to show off your brand new death trap.'
Kainene turned in excitement and shrieked, 'You've got a car?'
Vicky smiled proudly, 'Yup, yup. A lovely old Volkswagen, okay it's a bit noisy but I bought it with my prize money from winning the best Newcomer Fashion Award.'
Kainene widened her eyes, 'But I thought you told me you were gonna use it for you and Nick's trip to Miami in spring?'
Vicky shrugged, 'Ah well, I did. But Nicky's just got a good job as a real good salesman and he said he wanted to spoil me, then I saw my baby and fell in love and the rest, as they say, is history.'
Anna nodded and said in her dry drawl, 'And that heap o' junk's is deffo going to be history when it's towed or giving a parking ticket.'
Vicky let out a sharp squeal and started hurrying to where she parked her car, calling out over her shoulder, 'You wicked witch, why didn't you remind me sooner? You know how I get when I'm excited!'
Anna just rolled her eyes and grinned at Kainene. Kainene herself felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She definitely loved her Bristol friends but with her college friends, she felt like she was truly home.
'Come on, Nens. Let's go have some of your mum's wicked J rice and you can tell us all about life with the upper class.'
Kainene just shook her head and dragged her suitcase as she went arm-in-arm with her friend towards Vicky's car.
