the
Times
itself, but came from a surprisingly strong sense of professional pride. She’d taken some good pictures on the mountain, and wanted the opportunity to be recognised for her work.
‘Don’t worry, you’ll have them, Harry.’
‘I hope so.’ Harry smiled thinly at Winter and Sam, then headed back the way he’d come.
‘Nice guy,’ Sam observed sarcastically.
‘Welcome to Trinity,’ Winter said with a shrug.
Chapter 13
Winter poked her school-cafeteria lasagne experimentally, trying to gauge whether it was edible. She was aware that Jasmine was staring intently at her from across the table, but did her best to ignore her. But as the silent scrutiny stretched on, Winter found her friend’s behaviour too irritating to endure.
She threw down her fork and glared at Jasmine. ‘It’s not going to happen, Jas.’
Jasmine held up her hands defensively. ‘I’m not saying you should buy Blake flowers or anything . . .’
‘Good, because I’m not going to.’
‘Guys don’t like flowers. I just think that . . .’ Jasmine paused to take another bite of her salad. ‘You’re riding out there anyway to give him his jacket back, right? The least you can do is get him something nice as a
thankyou
.’
‘I’ve already said thank you. Besides – I got the impression he wasn’t too interested in forging a meaningful relationship with me.’
‘Who’s saying anything about a meaningful relationship?’
Winter’s mouth dropped open in mock outrage. ‘You’re such a tart!’
Jasmine held her hands up in defence of her comment. ‘All I’m saying is it wouldn’t hurt you to put yourself out there for once.’ Her expression softened and she lowered her voice. ‘I know you’ve had a rough year, Win, and I just think it would be good for you to have some fun. Get out of your head for a bit, you know?’
Though touched by the sentiment, Winter was a realist. She didn’t stand a chance with Blake. ‘I’m not arguing with you, Jas. I just don’t see it happening.’
Jasmine sighed. ‘Well, it won’t with that attitude. You’ve got to be proactive about this sort of thing. This isn’t the Middle Ages. Girls can ask guys out without fear of being stoned to death.’
‘I know, it’s just —’
‘What? You’re waiting for Mr Darcy to give you a call? Maybe old Redcliff from the moors will drop by.’
‘It’s Heathcliff.’
‘Whatever! You could spend the rest of your life waiting for the perfect guy to ask you out. Don’t leave it up to fate. Take some initiative.’
Chagrined, Winter toyed with her lunch. Jasmine’s words stung her, though she understood her friendmeant well. It simply wasn’t that easy for Winter, and never had been. Ever since they’d hit adolescence, and probably before that, Jasmine had been the one the boys went for. And if they didn’t go for her, she was more than willing to chase them. With her confidence and exotic looks, Jasmine hadn’t spent a single Friday night alone since she was thirteen.
Winter, on the other hand, struggled to meet guys, something her involuntary talent for being invisible only made worse. Even before her parents’ death had given her a legitimate excuse for a little isolation and introspection, she had been far more comfortable with a night in than attempting to make small talk with some guy who was probably only using her to get close to Jasmine.
She’d had the occasional crush over the years, but they’d always been short-lived and never intense enough to pull her out of the safe cocoon she’d woven around herself. It wasn’t that Winter didn’t want romance in her life; the prospect of it just seemed too big and scary. She watched the ease Jasmine had with guys in the same way she watched ballet dancers or musicians – envious of the performers’ skill, but comforted by the knowledge she could never match it. Some things were simply beyond her.
Winter noticed Jasmine look over her shoulder, and then quickly
Times
itself, but came from a surprisingly strong sense of professional pride. She’d taken some good pictures on the mountain, and wanted the opportunity to be recognised for her work.
‘Don’t worry, you’ll have them, Harry.’
‘I hope so.’ Harry smiled thinly at Winter and Sam, then headed back the way he’d come.
‘Nice guy,’ Sam observed sarcastically.
‘Welcome to Trinity,’ Winter said with a shrug.
Chapter 13
Winter poked her school-cafeteria lasagne experimentally, trying to gauge whether it was edible. She was aware that Jasmine was staring intently at her from across the table, but did her best to ignore her. But as the silent scrutiny stretched on, Winter found her friend’s behaviour too irritating to endure.
She threw down her fork and glared at Jasmine. ‘It’s not going to happen, Jas.’
Jasmine held up her hands defensively. ‘I’m not saying you should buy Blake flowers or anything . . .’
‘Good, because I’m not going to.’
‘Guys don’t like flowers. I just think that . . .’ Jasmine paused to take another bite of her salad. ‘You’re riding out there anyway to give him his jacket back, right? The least you can do is get him something nice as a
thankyou
.’
‘I’ve already said thank you. Besides – I got the impression he wasn’t too interested in forging a meaningful relationship with me.’
‘Who’s saying anything about a meaningful relationship?’
Winter’s mouth dropped open in mock outrage. ‘You’re such a tart!’
Jasmine held her hands up in defence of her comment. ‘All I’m saying is it wouldn’t hurt you to put yourself out there for once.’ Her expression softened and she lowered her voice. ‘I know you’ve had a rough year, Win, and I just think it would be good for you to have some fun. Get out of your head for a bit, you know?’
Though touched by the sentiment, Winter was a realist. She didn’t stand a chance with Blake. ‘I’m not arguing with you, Jas. I just don’t see it happening.’
Jasmine sighed. ‘Well, it won’t with that attitude. You’ve got to be proactive about this sort of thing. This isn’t the Middle Ages. Girls can ask guys out without fear of being stoned to death.’
‘I know, it’s just —’
‘What? You’re waiting for Mr Darcy to give you a call? Maybe old Redcliff from the moors will drop by.’
‘It’s Heathcliff.’
‘Whatever! You could spend the rest of your life waiting for the perfect guy to ask you out. Don’t leave it up to fate. Take some initiative.’
Chagrined, Winter toyed with her lunch. Jasmine’s words stung her, though she understood her friendmeant well. It simply wasn’t that easy for Winter, and never had been. Ever since they’d hit adolescence, and probably before that, Jasmine had been the one the boys went for. And if they didn’t go for her, she was more than willing to chase them. With her confidence and exotic looks, Jasmine hadn’t spent a single Friday night alone since she was thirteen.
Winter, on the other hand, struggled to meet guys, something her involuntary talent for being invisible only made worse. Even before her parents’ death had given her a legitimate excuse for a little isolation and introspection, she had been far more comfortable with a night in than attempting to make small talk with some guy who was probably only using her to get close to Jasmine.
She’d had the occasional crush over the years, but they’d always been short-lived and never intense enough to pull her out of the safe cocoon she’d woven around herself. It wasn’t that Winter didn’t want romance in her life; the prospect of it just seemed too big and scary. She watched the ease Jasmine had with guys in the same way she watched ballet dancers or musicians – envious of the performers’ skill, but comforted by the knowledge she could never match it. Some things were simply beyond her.
Winter noticed Jasmine look over her shoulder, and then quickly
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