Dear all  Surrey Tennis Club Members,

The kitchen and café will be closed from the 26th of May to the 16th of June for renovation regarding previous incidents.

We apologise for any inconvenience, please contact Marie Thomas for more information or to make any impending complaints. And if anyone is still affected by the events prior to this, please also contact Marie, her number can be found on the website.

We thank you for you patience.

Sincerely

Imogen Shipman, head of reception.

Imogen stretched in her seat, watching the cursor flicker as she finished the update. She sighed as she clicked onto the newsletter email from her favourite Leo DiCaprio fanclub. Then began to read about her favourite star's whereabouts, what he had been up to and his latest film/ films or parts he was rumoured to have auditioned for or was going to audition for.

"Hi Imogen" Marie addressed her from the doorway that led to the offices in the room behind her. Imogen jumped and quickly closed the newsletter, she heard Marie approaching her and spun round to greet her, feeling a little flushed.

"If I'm honest, I'm not sure he's ever going to beat his performance in The Great Gatsby" a small knowing smile graced her face as she looked down at where Imogen was sat. Imogen smiled shyly.

"I've always loved him in Romeo and Juliet, or the beach...hmm, anyway, I wrote the email update Tennis Club newsletter thingy for you" she demonstrated with her hand towards the screen that still held the previous contents she had been working on.

Marie had spoken to Imogen about her favourite DiCaprio film on several occasions, yet never stopped to take interest in it, she knew how anxious she could get and liked to make her feel comfortable and engaged. It was Imogen's favourite topic after all.

She had especially done this since going to the doctors with Imogen and having her finally diagnosed with her condition.

Marie's eyes scanned over the chain email and she nodded.

"Yep sounds good, just make sure you format it with the graphic header and the new footer with the email and official reception number on it"

"I will do"

"So Imogen" Marie addressed her, directly this time, settling herself down in Peter's empty seat beside her. As she sat, she got distracted by her line of thought and looked over at Imogen, confused.

"Where's Pet-"

"Guys! Has anyone seen Jessie?! I can't find her anywhere!" Peter had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, eyes wide and frantic, as he hovered. His head switched back and forth as he searched for his twin sister.

"Well that answers my question" Marie laughed weakly, stifling it as Peter glared at her.

"No love, sorry, I haven't seen Jessie. You should ask Eddie, he usually knows"

"Right" he nodded "thanks". Then he took off.

Marie turned her attention back to Imogen. "So how have things been? With your anxiety and everything?"

"Not great" Imogen sighed

"Really? I'm sorry to hear that"

"Max and Adam walked in on me having a panic attack in the kitchen stock room the other day"

"Oh god, Im, why didn't you tell me?"

"You had your own issues Marie" she smiled "in taking my medication and it's numbing it"

"Excuse me! Can I have some help?!" A customer yelled, his hand repeatedly hitting the button, the automatic doors not opening.

Imogen rose to her feet, her hands starting to shake from the abrupt nature of the customer's words. Marie pulled on her elbow an Imogen stumbled, looking back at her boss

"This conversation isnt over, come find me later in my office, if Peter finds Jessie I'll get her to book you in for a meeting with me this afternoon, I'll push something forward and work late"

"Are you sure?" Imogen raised her eyebrows, lips parting in grateful surprise.

"Excuse me!" The man yelled again, people started to turn and look.

"Yes I'm coming! Are you sure?"

"Yes, its all fine" Marie smiled "Let me know if you see my PA will you?"

She nodded and scurried of to aid the man, Marie rose to her feet and stretched. She felt a lot better today, mentally, her husband had softened again and that meant she could lie low and didn't have to tip toe around him so much.

Over at the outside courts, Jessie sat in the shadows of the stands, sat on one of the fold down seats. She was concealed by the shadows of the May sunshine that meant she was both warm and hidden. Her eyes watched as he played, when Eddie played tennis it was like watching a whole new person, his stride was confident and he didn't look like he was shrinking in on himself like he normally did. His face was set, determined as he often gritted his teeth in determination or concentration, he dashed back and forth, his trainers scuffing against the tarmac, but he wasn't bothered, completely absorbed in the tennis balls coming from the machine and his actions.

Jessie glanced occasionally at Jay who was filming Eddie's progress with the camera and tripod that Marie usually pulled out for fetes and competitions for the parents. Both Eddie and Jay had not noticed Jessie, but that was the way she wanted it.

If anyone noticed Jessie was around Eddie, they would all start panicking and would herd her back into the safe loving arms of her twin brother. But Peter wouldn't find her here, she wasn't even on the router to clean the stands, but she wanted some space from the stuffiness of the office and when Eddie and Jay walked out into the otherwise empty courts, she couldn't look away and was frozen to the spot.

Jessie felt numb, which was both a good and bad thing. Bad because it meant that she had probably taken a slight overdose of her medication as she couldn't feel any emotion, but good as it meant she could look at Eddie and not have all the memories of that day all flash back. Eddie had once meant the world to her, they used to be so close and it was gone just like that.

She could feel his eyes on her sometimes, when she was sat at reception and he walked past, she would keep her head down, but the hairs on her neck and arms would stand up. Jessie wanted nothing more than to talk to him, maybe it would help if she checked up on him, but like her Therapist had reminded her, it could also be very very bad.

Still. This wouldn't last forever. And she wanted so badly to be around him again. He meant a lot to her, still.

If she looked at the bigger picture, Peter often reminded her, she was the hero of the situation, helping him out and going in the ambulance with him. If anything the experience should have brought them closer together, not further apart.

Jessie was also sick of everyone taking pity and treating her like a child. The only person who still treated her the same was Imogen, Imogen herself had spoken of similar things regarding her recently diagnosed anxiety. They had found common ground in the tone of voice that Marie used on them, and although they knew she was caring and helpful and was someone they could both easily talk to, that sometimes it felt a bit like being smothered.

Then Eddie stopped, the machine's last ball shot just inches away from him. Jay sat up, running to meet him. He wiped his hand over his forehead and leant against his tennis racket to support his tired form. They pair began to talk but Jessie couldn't hear a word of anything they said.

They spoke in what looked like silent words and hand gestures, Jay nodding and folding his arms as Eddie spoke. Then Jay was striding over to his bag, which he swung over his shoulder. Eddie picked up his own and helped Jay carry the camera equipment inside.

Jessie jumped to her feet, grabbing the cleaning materials and jogged down the line of green seats in the row she sat in and down the stairs. She tripped on the last one, but regained her balance. Then stopped.

What now?

She shook her head and walked with determination to the back doors that lead to the corridor that lead to reception and the heart of the Tennis Centre. When she heard the echoes of someone running she planted herself against the shadowy walls on the inside of the door way.

Peter appeared, his mixed complexion had turned darker from where he had been on the other outside courts with the ten year olds of the second rank, which meant in Max's terms: "they're okay but not great". Peter raked a hand through his normally not unruly head of tight black curls and sighed, he looked completely and utterly stressed out.

"JESSIE?!" He yelled, a hint of anger to his tone as he searched frantically around where he stood. "For gods sake, I look away for five minutes, it's like handling a child" Jessie felt her heart crumble at her brother's harsh words and scrunched up her hands to her chest, sliding down the wall to hide away further.

"Eddie? Jay?!" He yelled, cupping his hands over his mouth. Jessie saw and heard the door to her right in front of her open. Jay stepped out, about to answer when she grabbed his ankle. He looked down at her, confusion etched along his brow bone as she shook her head frantically. He frowned, but then nodded in understanding.

Jay stalked out into the sunlight and Peter turned at the sound, Jessie flinched and shielded her face, but he didn't see her.

"I'm here, god Pete will you shut up and let the girl live a little! There are other people here you know, like customers?..."

"I-"

"No, shut up" Jay said firmly. He grabbed Peter by the arm. "Let's go find her together and you can stop shouting the house down".

Jessie wasn't sure what Jay was getting so wound up about, but she knew that Peter was one of the main subjects of the Layla/Jay related gossip at the moment. But also Jay prided himself on his happy working environment. So Peter had a) not confronted Jay about the Layla issue himself and b) was breaking his working ethic.

So Jay and Jessie seemed to be on similar pages with how everyone always seemed to be talking about them, trying to find their whereabouts (so that they weren't dodgy or out of bounds) and seemed to pity their positions.

Jay drove Peter away. Maybe to actually 'find her', maybe to get Peter working and distracted or maybe to talk about the gossiping. Jessie wasn't sure.

Jessie scrambled to her feet and sighed, then headed other to the room where the medical supplies and cleaning utensils were kept. She paused in her path when she heard someone take a sharp intake of breath.

"Jesus" someone cursed, their tone high from wincing in pain. The sound came from the room she was headed for, so, with curiosity, she was pulled quicker to the room.

The same pained person as before gasped in pain and Jessie jumped, running into the space of the open door frame.

Jessie's heart beat rapidly in her chest at what she saw, her hands beginning to shake and any audible words drying up in her throat. Her wide chestnut eyes widened at the sight before her and the person who was sat on the counter before her stared back, almost in horror.

No turning back now.

The opportunity was golden before her and she'd be a fool not to take it. So then, without time for second thoughts or opportunities to drop out, she stepped in and closed the door behind her. The sound of the closure echoing in the deserted hallway.

A/N - after reading this to my sister she wrestled me onto the bed and yelled "READ ME MORE!" Over and over.