Read Online No Going Back by ALEX GUTTERIDGE - Free Book Online

wouldn’t. Have you got a boyfriend?”
    I tilted my head, looked up at him. “Don’t you know? I thought you knew everything about me.”
    For a moment he seemed lost for words. “You’re too young for boyfriends anyway,” he said. “You want to concentrate on your school work so you can get a good job. That’s the way forward in your world, Laura – education.”
    Now he was beginning to sound like a politician.
    â€œIt’s a shame your gran didn’t make me more welcome,” he said, a touch wistfully as he gazed at the stone houses with their slate roofs and hollyhock-filled front gardens. “I actually liked coming here but she always managed to spoil it.”
    â€œAt least you were only here for a few days at a time,” I said. “I’m trying to put on a brave face for Mum’s sake but to be honest it’s going to be a nightmare actually living with Gran. I would likeMum to find a house for just the two of us as soon as possible.”
    â€œI’ll see what I can do,” he said with a grin.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI’m sure I can help things along. That’s what I’m here for, to help.”
    I stopped, leaned against a low stone wall and looked at him. He looked just the same as he did in the last photo taken of us together at the fair. He was tall, slim, good-looking and didn’t look old enough to be the dad of a fourteen year old.
    â€œI still can’t believe that you’re really here,” I said. “But I am glad, very glad.”
    I wanted to put my arms around him, to feel what it was like to have a hug from him, but I held back and he didn’t make the first move. Suddenly there was a touch of awkwardness between us.
    â€œI’m glad that I’m here too,” he said softly. “We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
    He smiled and the tension dissolved.
    â€œI can feel it in my bones.”
    â€œYou don’t have any bones,” I said with a laugh.
    â€œSo I don’t! Well, I can feel it in my aura then.”
    His edges shimmered with white mist but amongst it there were other colours, if you looked closely: patches of pale purple, specks of yellow, tadpole squiggles of green. As I watched, the mistiness expanded and reached towards me. I took a step backwards.
    â€œHey! What’s happening?” I asked, fear stabbing at my stomach.
    â€œIt’s fine, Laura,” he said. “Don’t worry. It’s like a virtual hug.”
    â€œOh!” I replied and stayed where I was, let the mist reach me. I’d expected it to be cold and damp but it was warm and soft as it touched my bare arms and legs and swirled up towards my face.
    â€œThis is nice,” I said, “but I’d rather have a real hug.”
    â€œThis is almost as good as a real hug,” Dad said.
    Almost. It’s one of those words which reeks of disappointment but the mist did feel soft and comforting. I closed my eyes and imagined a million tiny airborne kisses swirling around me. If I tilted my head to one side I could almost believe that Dad’s cheek was resting against mine. “It’s not quite thesame though, is it?” I said, opening my eyes.
    Suddenly he looked really sad, as if he was about to cry. He shook his head.
    â€œNo. I’m sorry. It’s not. I daren’t give you a real hug. I don’t know what will happen, whether it’s safe.” I reached out instinctively and almost touched him. He jumped away.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” I said, letting my arms slump to my sides. But of course it did matter and tears filled the corners of my eyes. Suddenly the virtual hug was too much, the mist was too dense, too claustrophobic, and yet at the same time it wasn’t enough. My head was full of confusion and then a sort of tidal wave of dizziness seemed to sweep across my brain. I staggered, felt my knees