PEACE (A Catherine Peace Novel)

Chapter 8

"Seriously, Titanic again?" Mason groaned, jabbing a finger at the screen as Jack and Rose's tragic love story unfolded for the umpteenth time.

"Oh, come on, Mason! You're just jealous that you're not Jack," I teased, dodging the pillow Jade hurled at him with a mischievous grin.

"Please, I'd make a much better Jack," Mason retorted, striking a dramatic pose that had us all in stitches.

Jade, however, was having none of it. "Excuse me? Titanic is a cinematic masterpiece! You two are just uncultured swines!" she declared, defending her beloved movie with fervor.

As the debate escalated into a full-blown argument about the finer points of cinematography, Liam and I exchanged amused glances. "Should we leave them to duke it out?" he suggested, nodding towards the door.

"Absolutely. Let them battle it out while we escape to freedom," I agreed, stifling a laugh as we slipped out of the room unnoticed.

Once outside, the cool night air greeted us like an old friend, wrapping us in its embrace as we strolled through the deserted streets.

"Leaving them to their movie feud... classic move," Liam chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"We're terrible friends, aren't we?" I quipped, grinning up at him.

"Terrible and absolutely shameless," he replied with a playful smirk

As the days grew colder, I couldn't help but embrace the chill in the air. Winter was my favorite season, filled with memories that warmed my heart despite the frosty weather. It reminded me of a special night back in the orphanage.

"Where are you right now?" Liam's voice interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present moment.

"I was just lost in my thoughts, nothing important," I replied with a shrug, trying to brush off the sudden introspection.

"It stole you away from me, so it must be important," Liam insisted, gently tugging me onto a nearby bench. "Please, do tell."

I couldn't help but smile at his persistence, his warm presence beside me comforting in ways I couldn't explain. "Well, if you must know," I began. "I was reminiscing about the first time I ever tasted hot chocolate. It was back in the orphanage."

"You were in an orphanage?"

"Yep, for a short while," I nodded, my gaze drifting to the twinkling stars above. "But it wasn't all bad. That's where I met my best friend, Mandy. We were partners in crime, always getting into mischief together."

Liam's expression softened, his eyes filled with curiosity and empathy. "What was it like?"

"It was... lonely, at times," I admitted, my voice tinged with nostalgia. "But there were moments of warmth and joy, like that night with the stolen hot chocolate. And then there were the not-so-great moments, like feeling out of place or longing for a family."

"My friend Mandy and I, we managed to sneak into the kitchen one cold winter's night. She swiped a mug of hot chocolate for us, and that first sip... it was like magic. From that moment on, hot chocolate became my winter and summer staple."

"Have you met your birth parents?" Liam's voice cut through the quiet, his question catching me off guard.

I paused, considering his inquiry. "Nope," I replied with a small shake of my head.

"Do you want to see them?" His gaze was gentle, his expression curious yet respectful.

I glanced up at him, finding his eyes fixed on mine, searching for something I couldn't quite decipher. "I don't know," I admitted, feeling a tug of uncertainty as I toyed with the hem of my shirt.