Chapter Fourteen

‘ I love the fact you get so engrossed in your planning, whether it be whilst writing a shopping list at home, some important project at work, or a child's birthday party.'

‘Huh?' Erin blinked and looked across at Tim. The car had stopped, and they had already parked up. ‘How did that happen?'

‘That's what I mean. You get so engrossed in your work that the whole world stops spinning for you.' Pulling the key from the ignition, Tim reached across and tucked her hair behind her ear.

She laughed. ‘Well, it clearly didn't or else we'd still be on our way.'

‘There is that.' Tim chuckled.

Getting out of the car, Erin waited until Tim had locked the car before rolling the magazine in her hand and tucking the pen into her plait at the nape of her neck. Now she had a list of things to buy and a loose plan for how the party would run, she was excited to get into the party shop and see what they offered. ‘From the directions I can remember which Elsie gave me, I believe the party shop is left out of the car park and then down a little side road off towards the right.'

‘Great.' Falling in step with her, Tim bent his elbow and held it out towards her, indicating to her.

Nodding, she looped her arm through his as they turned left out of the car park. ‘This is Trestow, then? The closest town to Penworth Bay?'

‘That's right.' Tim pointed down a pedestrianised street ahead of them. ‘And that cafe right there has the best coffee in town.'

‘Really?' Erin raised her eyebrows. ‘I'll remember that.'

‘Haha, I don't doubt that.'

As they turned down the side road, Erin kept her eyes on the shop windows around them. She didn't want to miss the party shop. She peered into the sweet shop window to their right, watching as a woman demonstrated how to make fudge, spreading out the mixture onto what looked to be a slab of marble before bringing it together again.

‘Here we are.' Tim pointed to the shop on their left. The outside of the building was painted a bright pink with mint green circles dotted around the door and window frame. The window itself showcased an extravagant display depicting a variety of costumes, from the traditional clown to what looked to be some cartoon character.

‘Wow, it definitely looks like the right place.' Erin pushed the door open, the tune of Happy Birthday to You sounding as they stepped inside.

‘Afternoon, welcome to The Party Emporium.' A man wearing a dark purple top hat strode around the counter at the back of the shop and bowed down in front of them. ‘Now what can I help you with on this fine day?'

‘Umm, I just have a list of bits and pieces to pick up for a party I'm organising.' Erin held up the magazine covered in her scrawled handwriting.

‘Very well. If I can be of any assistance, then please just let me know.'

‘Thanks, we will.' Placing her hand on the small of Tim's back, she ushered him down an aisle of costumes, hats and wigs, whilst trying her best not to give into the giggles rising inside her. Once out of view of the shopkeeper, she began searching through the costumes before pulling one out. ‘Now, this one would suit you. You always did want to be Spiderman .'

Tim chuckled as he touched the red fabric. ‘I did, didn't I? I always chose Spiderman when we were playing Superheroes on the school playground and...' He pulled out another costume, laying it over his arm and showing her. ‘You always said you'd be Super Girl.'

‘Oh yes! That's right! How could I forget?' She glanced down at the costume in her hand before raising her eyebrow at him. ‘You know, you could always dress up as Spiderman for Hudson's party? Live your dream whilst bringing happiness to a group of kids?'

‘Umm, no.' Tim chuckled as he slid the Wonder Woman costume back onto the hanging rail.

‘I'm being serious. You could. Now that would be a wow factor.'

Turning, he reached behind her and pulled a packet from the shelf. ‘I'll think about it, but for now, look what I've found.'

Taking the packet from him, she turned it over in her hand and grinned. ‘Superhero masks! perfect.'

‘Why, thank you.'

‘Haha, I meant the masks, not you.' She tapped him on the arm before pulling the pen from her hair and ticking ‘masks' from her list.

‘What else do we need?'

‘Decorations, games, party bags, banners, maybe some face paints...' She ran the pen down her list. ‘I think that's it.'

‘We'd better get moving then before the shop closes.' Taking her hand, Tim led her to the end of the aisle before peering around the shelving and hurrying her across to the other side of the shop. ‘Phew! I think we crossed unnoticed.'

Shaking her head, Erin laughed.

Tim pointed ahead towards the far end of the aisle of shelving. ‘Bingo. Banners and balloons.'

‘Great.' Walking towards them, Erin began looking through the small packs of balloons from the shelf. Blue and red - perfect. Taking a couple of packs of each, she bundled them into her arms before flicking through the banners. Now, a superhero banner would be perfect to keep in with their theme. She frowned. There were plain birthday banners, congratulations, welcome home, even thank you banners, but no themed birthday ones. She glanced around the aisle. There must be, this shop was crammed full of everything anyone could possibly want for a party, a wedding, graduation, every type of celebration imaginable. She looked behind her at Tim and pouted. ‘No superhero banners.'

‘Or is there?' Placing his arm around her shoulders, Tim turned her to look behind them.

She smiled. The themed banners! She knew that the eccentric shopkeeper wouldn't have let her down. As she riffled through the banners which were draped over a hanging pole, Tim began looking through from the other side.

‘Here we go.' Pulling out a silver banner covered with every superhero Erin knew the name of, Tim held it up and wriggled it from side to side.

‘Great! We're really getting through this list quicker than I'd thought. When Elsie had said this shop was a one stop party shop, I'd assumed she was kind of exaggerating and we'd still end up traipsing around the town looking for things, but I have a feeling we might just be able to get it all here.'

‘I think you might be right.' Tim draped the banner over his arm and leaned in, reading her list. ‘Party games. Is that what we need to look for next?'

‘Yep. It sure is.' Erin looked up and down the aisle before pointing towards a shelf running along the side of the shop. ‘Over there, I think.'

‘Good spot.' Tim began following her.

At the shelf, Erin picked up a bag of small bubbles and turned to Tim. ‘I think these might be good for prizes, don't...' She dropped the bag as she watched Tim trip over the end of the banner and fall towards her, holding out her arms, Erin felt the magazine and balloons drop to the floor.

Staggering in her direction, Tim threw out his arms, rescuing himself at the last moment, a hand either side of Erin's shoulders, his palms against the stack of party games on the shelf behind her as he came to a stop. ‘Sorry.'

‘Are you okay?' His face was a mere inch away from her, his lips an inch from hers. As their eyes met, Tim leaned in towards her, his lips touching hers.

Breaking the kiss, Erin ducked down and under his arm, stepping away from her. ‘Sorry, sorry. I...'

Pushing himself away from the shelving unit, Tim ran the palm of his hand across his face. ‘Sorry, I shouldn't have.'

‘No, no, you should have. I just...' What was it? She shook her head, trying to make sense of how she was feeling. This was Tim, standing in front of her. And that was just the problem. He was her friend. Her best friend, the person she felt closest to, but still her friend.

Bending down, Tim began gathering the fallen packets and the banner which has caused this in the first place before holding them out towards Erin. ‘I should go and wait outside.'

‘No, please, I just froze.' She searched his eyes, only to be met with confusion.

‘It's okay. I should never have told you how I felt about you.'

‘You should have.' She bit down on her bottom lip.

‘It's moving too fast then.'

‘No...' She nodded. Maybe it was. Maybe she needed more time. Not that they had any. ‘Sorry.'

‘No worries. I'll see you outside.' Tim smiled quickly before disappearing behind the shelving unit.

Leaning back against the party games, Erin closed her eyes. What had she done? Why had she pulled away? He'd worn his heart on his sleeve and she'd just pushed him away. Why?