CHAPTER TWO

I layed out on the sofa the following weekend, my eyes focusing on the television set and my mind on what I'd have to do to get Martin talking again. It had been a week since we'd had a proper conversation — well, if you can call it that. It had been the same everyday since; I'd come in from work and Martin would be out of the house, or tucked away in the games room until the early hours of the morning. As guilty as I felt about the entire situation, I couldn't help but also feel that he was throwing a petty tantrum. Sure, I took full responsibility for the fact I'd snapped at him for no reason at all, but he was so wrapped up in making me suffer that I think he'd forgot to even acknowledge me at all.

It was as though none of this was effecting him at all, and as though it was easy being mad at me. Earlier in the day he'd managed to get himself through the door and up to his bedroom to sleep, and I'd only found out after seeing the gym bag and muddy football boots on the marble floor of the hall.

'It's the least I can do… right?', I wasn't entirely convinced as I managed to drag myself from the sofa and into the hall, the muddy boots laying at my feet, the size of them some comparison to my dainty little feet. I knew that even if I had managed to make the boots sparkle, Martin wouldn't be anywhere near okay with me again, but it was a start?

Grabbing one of the brillo pads from the cupboard under the sink, I lathered the pad with a little soap and got to work removing the thick layer of dirt that covered his boots. My eyes caught a glimpse of his blackberry sitting on the marble top, before falling back to my hands and watching what they were doing. I'd never once cleaned Martin's boots, as he usually did it himself before training and I understood why Martin usually got so worked up when the dirty water splashed back at him, and covered his clean clothes.

Buzzing across the marble top, Martin's blackberry distracted me yet again from cleaning, the screen lighting up with a notification.

1 New Message - Hendo.

Hendo? That was a new one, I thought. I had believed I was caught up with Martin's friends — clearly, not. Honestly, he had way too many. Some of them I knew he could trust, others just there because of who he was.

I didn't feel a single bit of regret as I picked up the handset, quickly unlocking the keypad and getting to work on reading the message;

Mate, no worries. You need to calm down! The lass has every right to not want me there.. chill, yeah? x

A lump formed in my throat as I leant back on the island, my mind going into panic mode over what Martin could have said.

I'm sorry again mate. Cass is just being a bit funny with me lately. I love her, but sometimes I can't help but feel like a doormat x

I quickly flicked off the message and slid the phone back onto the marble top. I'd read enough.