Page 60 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

Coffee, she decided, slowly opening up her bedroom door and peeking outside. Grateful that there was no sound from Ryan’s room, she quickly got dressed and tiptoed out of the apartment.

Earlier in the week, they had sourced a second-hand catering coffee machine for Platform 1 and was able to let herself into the ticket office to make the strongest of coffees.

Even feeling desperately sorry for herself, she allowed herself a little smile as she went through the large room. Thanks to Bob’s efforts over the past few days, the place was now completely clear apart from the memorabilia to be used for the coffee shop. All that was left was all the painting, decorating and cleaning although she couldn’t see how much work would be done day that day feeling this awful!

She was just filling up the machine with water when she heard a little moan in the waiting room outside. She headed out of the kitchen to see Flora shuffling across the floor before staggering onto one of the chairs.

‘Good morning,’ said Katy.

‘Morning,’ muttered Flora. ‘Glad someone else is up. Saw the light was on and thought I’d come here to quietly die.’

‘Coffee?’

Flora shook her head and groaned. ‘No, thanks. I feel awful.’

‘I think there’s some biscuits here somewhere if you’re hungry.’

Flora shook her head again. ‘Ugh. How can you think about food at a time like this? You’re as bad as Grams.’

‘It helps, I’ve been told,’ said Katy, also not feeling like eating anything at that moment.

‘Nothing’s going to help me feel better today,’ moaned Flora.

‘I didn’t think you drank that much,’ said Katy, trying to recall further details as to the evening’s events, but nothing came to mind except that kiss. She shook her head violently to dispel the image and then immediately regretted it.

‘It’s not the drink!’ cried Flora, clutching her head. ‘Did you see me? I was chatting with Tyler.’

‘Oh!’ Katy had a sudden image of Flora leaning in very close to someone whom she hadn’t recognised during the evening. ‘Well, I thought you were going out to dinner with him at some point.’

‘He’s not going to want to go out with me now,’ moaned Flora. ‘We went outside to look at the stars and I threw up over him.’

As Flora grimaced, Katy realised just how upset she really was and sat down next to her.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Katy told her, reaching out to squeeze her hand. ‘I’m sure he won’t mind. In fact, if he really likes you, then maybe you can both laugh about it.’

‘I don’t remember him doing a lot of laughing last night,’ said Flora, with a groan.

‘Well, if it makes you feel better, I behaved far worse than you,’ said Katy.

Flora sniffed. ‘What could you have possibly done that was more embarrassing than that?’

Katy bit her lip as she tried to form the words. She knew she could trust Flora, but still, admitting it out loud meant that it was real. That the kiss had really happened.

‘What is it?’ asked Flora, staring at her wide-eyed in anticipation. ‘What’s the matter?’

Katy sat down on the bench next to her. ‘You have to swear not to tell anyone.’

‘Okay.’

‘No, I mean really swear,’ said Katy. ‘On one of your cow’s lives or something.’

Flora looked very serious. ‘All right. I swear.’

Katy took a deep breath. ‘I kissed Ryan.’

Flora’s eyes popped wide. ‘You like him!’ she blurted out.

‘No, I don’t!’ said Katy quickly.