I have to spend the last 15 minutes of my journey alone in a taxi after Will goes in the opposite direction.

It's quiet, being without him. Although I savour the peacefulness, knowing that I'll have to see him tomorrow anyway, when we leave to go to our cottage.

It's going to be strange, back in London as Viola, I think as the taxi drives through the buzzing streets, lights and shops flashing by as we pass. I've been Mia for so long that it almost doesn't feel right.

The high street clothing stores seem to catch my attention when we stop at a red light, reminding me of the long duration of time that I've been away for.

Sure, the countryside is nice, but London is incredible. Some people say it's too congested and polluted, but I love the excited hum of the crowds, the music on the streets, lights inviting you into cute cafés and endearing book stores.

When the taxi finally pulls into my house, I breathe in deeply, taking in the sight of the building I used to call home.

Thanking the driver, I take my bags and walk slowly up the stairs, knocking on the door anxiously. It reminds me immediately of the pad incident, when I had to wait in the pouring rain, humiliated by life.

Mum opens the door within the first few seconds, squealing with delight as she envelops me in her arms. "My baby! My baby is here! Owen! Viola is here!"

I smile into her shoulder, smelling her lavender and honey fragrance that she puts on every day. Her bushy hair is down to her shoulders, tickling my cheeks as she squeezes me more.

"Come in, come in." She says, taking my bags. I might even have caught a glimpse of a tear glinting in her eye as she turns away from me, but she speeds into the house so quickly that I don't get a chance to check.

A deep voice rumbles from behind her. "Where's my kiddo?"

"Dad!" I throw my arms around him, my head not even reaching his chest as his warmth migrates to me.

He's dressed down today, not in his police uniform or any smart clothing, just a jumper and some jeans. This gets me even more excited for the holidays.

A toned-down dad means less strict parents.

They refuse to let me take my own bags upstairs, chattering to me about how quiet the house has been as they enter my room. Remi, my wonderful fluffy cat, jumps of the bed in a greeting, walking between my legs, brushing his tail against me.

"Come downstairs, I made cake!" Mum calls as they leave, allowing me time to change.

I roll my eyes, but can't help the smile spreading on my lips. Only mum would make cake for something as unimportant as this.

Once I put my bags away and have a shower, I put on my comfy winnie the pooh pyjamas. Believe me, I have missed them endlessly after being too embarrassed to take them to Winsor Dalton. They're so soft that it's heaven to sleep in. And they come with pyjama trousers or shorts depending on the weather. I opt for the trousers, deciding that the house is still too cold after mum never puts the heating on.

After I'm dressed, I head downstairs, following the sounds of clashing plates and dad's jovial tone. They smile as I enter.

"Still haven't matured yet, I see." Dad says, chuckling. He's sitting at the table, newspaper in hand with the radio on in the background.

I imitate him with my hands and therefore make him laugh even more, eyes sparkling as he watches me take my seat.

"Still haven't stopped obsessing over the newspaper, I see."

He shrugs, turning the page. "A policeman's gotta do what a policeman's gotta do."

Mum places a plate in front of each of us, tutting as she listens to him. "He claims that it helps increase his knowledge, blah blah. Is it more important than saying hello to your daughter?"

"Yes." He says plainly after a long look at me, which earns him a slap with the tea towel from mum. "Alright! Alright! I'm joking, love. But I did already say hi."

The cake is placed on an expensive looking china dish in the centre of the table. It isn't the most extravagant cake, I must say, just Victoria sponge with the words 'welcome home!' drawn in mum's handwriting as icing on the top.

"Tuck in." She says, admiring her work with one hand on her hip.

Cutting myself a slice is seemingly harder than I thought. Half of it ends up on the table, much to dad's dismay, and the other is mostly on my fingers.

Sighing, mum neatly takes another and puts it solidly on my plate, giving me a look. I guess things never change.

Dad finally puts down his newspaper and turns to me, taking a neat square off his slice and placing it on his fork. "So, Kiddo. How's school been?"

"Okay. It's hard to juggle all parts of it." I tell him, reminding myself to text Amie and Emily like I promised I would. "As in the undercover part, the social bits, the actual schoolwork."

Mum takes the seat opposite me, next to dad. "But do you like it? That's the most important thing."

I think for a while about her question. Do I really like it? Is it too stressful to handle everything?

And then I picture my friends, the people who I've been with for the past few weeks. Of course I like it. It's been more real than the school life I had as Viola, which is clearly saying something.

"Yeah." I reply, smiling into my cake. "Yeah, I really do."

We all watch a Disney film together after dinner later on. After deciding that none of us can agree on anything but Mulan, we go back to old times and place the disk in the holder, snuggling under various duvet covers and blankets that we brought downstairs.

Halfway through the film, I get a message from Amie.

AmieAvocado
Hey! Missing you loads. What are you up to? Free for a skype?

PiaMia
Fraid not! Watching Mulan with my parents ;))

AmieAvocado
WHAT! Sooo unfair. My parents would never even let me watch it by myself.

PiaMia
So I was talking to Callum on the way back.

AmieAvocado
Oh yeah?
...about what?

PiaMia
Nothing.

AmieAvocado
Come on! You're so mean! You can't do that to me!

PiaMia
Why should u care? Apparently u don't like him.

AmieAvocado
I just do. But yeah, I don't like him.

PiaMia
Whatever you say.

Ten minutes later, after logging into my old phone, I get a text from someone else.

Willyboy
Yo. Mum wants to know when we should get to urs tomorrow.

ViolaH
You just wanted an excuse to talk to me.

Willyboy
Wow, you've totally got me there, trouble. How can I live without you?

ViolaH
Shut up. I'm not an idiot.

Willyboy
I know.

"Who are you talking to?" Mum intercepts, peering over my shoulder to look at my phone.

Jesus. Sometimes parents can be so hypocritical. Whenever I do that to mum, she would get so annoyed with me. And yet, suddenly she feels as though she has the power to read my texts. Honestly, the way the world works.

I pull my phone close to my chest so she can't see. "Nobody."

"It's Will, isn't it?" She asks, waggling her eyebrows. Her hair flicks around as she moves her head, the curls bouncing against each other.

"No."

"Yes it is. I saw."

Glaring, I sigh loudly, giving in to her stupid mum behaviour. "Okay fine. His mum just wanted to know when they should get here tomorrow."

Her eyes light up at my confession, excitedly grinning. "Let's say 9? Best to get on the road as soon as possible, yes?"

I ignore her knowing look, making sure that when I open the phone, she can't see.

Willyboy
Hello? Viola?
U're not talking to that Calvin over me, are u? Because that would be extremely rude.
Violaaaa

ViolaH
I'm here, jeez.
Calm ur tits.
Also why is ur name Willyboy? Can u change it pls?

Willyboy
Nope. No can do. Besides, it's what people associate me with. I'm just that big...if you know what I mean.

ViolaH
Well you know what people say.
You are what you eat.

Willyboy
Fuck, Viola. You're almost better at this than I am.

ViolaH
Did the famous William Peters just say that I'm better at comebacks?

Willyboy
In your dreams. Key word: almost.

ViolaH
Whatever.
And FYI, his name is Adam Carter. Not Adam Calvin.
And I wasn't speaking to him.

Willyboy
Good.

ViolaH
Mum says be at ours for 9. Don't be late, Peters. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.

Willyboy
Wouldn't miss it for the world, trouble.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Authors note: Don't forget to let me know whether you like it so far!

Xxxxxx