"Everything okay?" Al turned himself towards where Roxy was sat on the bed in his dressing gown as he continued to button up his shirt. Roxy turned towards him, holding her phone poised. It was well past midday and the Square seemed deserted, most of its residents at Syed and Amira's wedding and those who weren't were busy sleeping off hangovers or staying in with families. The only life seemed to be the ever present patrol of police officers still speaking to people, still searching.
"Yeah, it's just Ron asking where I am." Roxy sniffed, as her fingers moved over the keys to reply to her sister. Placing the phone on the bed she slipped her knickers back up her thighs and began to dress herself. Al stared out of the window, his eyes narrowing and heart pounding as he watched the police officers moving across the Square. He turned back to the bed to see Roxy slumped with her head in her hands.
"Rox, come here," Al opened his arms and knelt on the bed pulling Roxy in towards him. He stroked her hair and let her body relax onto his chest. The feeling of holding her, it was right, but was it worth it all? Had it been worth the risk?
December 5th 2009
The phone buzzed again, the fifth time in a row. Al shoved it into a drawer, trying to ignore its incessant drone. He didn't want to have the conversation he knew was coming. He spent the day in his office, seeing patients, doling out prescriptions and advice and the entire time wondering what he was going to have to face.
By the time the doctors surgery was closed Al felt exhausted. Stepping out onto the Square he was immediately confronted.
"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" Al neither flinched nor jumped as the voice assaulted him. He had expected it. He knew it would be coming. He merely sighed, refusing to show his nerves at the mistake he had made. He had gone too far, got in too deep.
"I guess you'll want to come up." Al said. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Al already knew that this was a meeting he could not put off.
"This was not part of our agreement!" Archie seethed as the door closed behind him in Al's flat. Al strode over away from Archie uncomfortably. "You think this is some sort of joke? That you violating my daughter is acceptable?!"
"It's between me and Roxy. It has nothing to do with anything else...or anyone else." Al snapped agitatedly. Archie slouched onto the sofa, relaxing and looking entirely unphased.
"Would be a shame for Roxy to find out why you're here though wouldn't it." Archie smirked. Al's eyes narrowed angrily. "I'm giving you two weeks Albert. Two weeks to end this. I will not let my daughter get hurt...and we all know what you're capable of don't we."
Roxy didn't deserve the pain. Al felt the guilt creep over him. He looked over towards the window again. He couldn't afford to get involved in this, in the investigation. If they found out how involved he had been with Archie, if they knew the truth, Al knew that he would be a prime suspect. And if Roxy ever found out, he knew he would lose her. It was something he wasn't willing to risk.
Ronnie paced the living room in the Branning's house. She couldn't stay still, energy felt like it was bursting inside her, achingly creeping through her veins, seeping into every limb. She had to move, thoughts swirling, fingers fidgeting.
"Ron?" Ronnie turned to see Roxy slipping through the door before softly closing it behind her. The sisters said nothing, merely staring at each other for seconds before Roxy approached Ronnie, throwing her arms around her. Neither spoke as Roxy began to cry.
Ronnie lead her to the sofa, sitting her down gently and wrapping her arms once more around her fragile little sister.
"I don't want him to be gone Ronnie." Roxy buried her head into her sister's shoulder, once again looking for protection. Ronnie let a tear slip down her cheek as she whispered soothing words to the woman in her arms. How did she suddenly want her father back more than anything? After everything he had done, he had taken away her life and still, she wanted him back.
"I know Roxy. Shhh...I know."
August 29th 2005
Music pounded it's thudding vibrations though the room, the lights flashing, sporadically illuminating the sweaty, half naked throng of people gyrating and pulsing along with the beat. The air was hot and close with the combined heat of the summer and the mass of bodies all moving together. Behind the bar Ronnie slammed a row of shots out to the waiting holiday partiers and flashed a smile at one of the men as she leant over the bar to take his money, her top low, her way with the customers easy and so well trained. She glanced over to the other side of the bar where Roxy was pulling a mans head towards her over the bar, their lips crashing together as she took the money from his hand and spared him a wink as she walked away, her hips swaying purposefully beneath her short skirt.
The dawn was breaking as the two women walked arm in arm back to their apartment.
"Oi Rox, show us some!" A group of lads staggered past, raising their drinks to Roxy and grinning at her excitedly. Roxy smirked to herself and pulled her skirt up to show the men her backside before pulling it back down, blowing the men a kiss and once again linking her arm with Ronnie's to continue on their way as the men wolf whistled and whooped.
"Nice Rox, really nice." Ronnie said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Great rep you're building out here."
"Oh shut it Ron, just cos it takes a crowbar to get your legs open!" Ronnie nudged Roxy teasingly, trying not to laugh at the comment. "Although, Nick didn't seem to have much trouble from what I heard." Ronnie turned to Roxy suddenly, her eyes wide, obviously shocked that Roxy knew about that particular indiscretion. She watched as Roxy shook her head,
"Oh come on Ron, we live in the same country, you two weren't exactly quiet..." Roxy's rant was interrupted as her phone rang, she reached into her pocket and began to speak as Ronnie let them into the apartment. At the sound of her father's voice, Roxy glanced shyly at Ronnie before rushing to her room and closing the door behind her.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow and gave a small smirk assuming that Roxy had yet another man on her tail.
"Dad!" Roxy whispered, making her way to the furthest corner of her room.
"Roxanne, there's my girl." Archie smiled. "How are you? How are my girls?"
"Good, we're good. What are you doing up so early?" Roxy asked, suddenly realising that it was barely dawn back in England. "Dad are you alright? Dad?"
"Did you get the money Roxy?" Archie asked, avoiding the question.
"Yeah...but Dad...can't you just come out and see us?" Roxy knew that Archie wanted them both home, both back with him and had even sent Roxy money for the flights and more besides.
"Roxy darling, you're old Dad's not too well. I need my girls with me. I need you both home."
Roxy said nothing to Ronnie. She didn't know how she could ever persuade her. She was stuck. The love for her sister was undeniable. But sometimes Roxy hated her, hated Ronnie for making her choose, for making things so hard. Roxy reached into her bra and pulled out the small bag of white powder, her little escape.
