Look at that, two updates in the space of 24 hours! Does that make up for the previous delay? Probably not, but I can try.
Kizzy's POV
The rest of that day we didn't do a lot. The boys showed me around London a bit, well, their usual haunts in London anyway; we didn't exactly go sightseeing. Bacon had started being less suggestive - hopefully he'd got the message that I wasn't interested. Nobody mentioned the fact he'd asked me out again, which I was grateful for. It was awkward, especially when the person I'd rather have been asking was standing right there. I shook my head to clear it. I didn't need to get weighed down in my developing feelings for Tom. I had to adjust to a new time period. I know it wasn't exactly the Stone Age, but it was different enough. My phone had no signal - I guess ASDA mobile hadn't been invented yet! Tom had given me one, which didn't text or do anything else, but it served the purpose of a telephone. He said it was 'spare stock from his shop', which I doubted was the most legal thing ever, but I found myself not minding. He'd given me a place to live after all.
That night, we were back in JD's bar. The lads sat at their usual table and I took a seat next to Tom, smiling internally. "Right, first rounds on me," I said quickly, getting up and walking towards the bar. JD stood behind it, laughing silently.
"I see you've become one of them," he said.
"I think I'll take that as a compliment!" I replied, laughing as well. "The usual for the lads, and a coke for me please."
"No problem," he replied, getting four glasses out and starting to prepare the drinks. "So, you promised an update on your opinions. Well?" he enquired.
"Well, Eddy's a laugh, Soap still hasn't said a great deal but he seems more serious than the rest, and Bacon asked me out."
JD didn't seem surprised. "Took longer than I expected. Usually he'll ask the first night. Silly beggar. Never stays with 'em long though, even if they do say yes. You said no I assume?"
I nodded. "How did you know?" I asked.
He smiled. "You seem like you've got a bit of sense in your 'ead. Enough to see he's not boyfriend material anyway. Idiot. He'll never settle down if 'e carries on like that. Still, suppose 'e's happy."
"Yeah," I said, shrugging.
"What about Tom?"
"What about him?" I said, instantly alert. I didn't want to give anything away.
"You never mentioned him, you know, when you said what you thought."
I breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. "Oh, yeah, Tom's great, we get on really well," I said nonchalantly. "He's letting me stay with him too. Got nowhere else to go."
"I won't ask," said JD, handing over our drinks. I smiled in thanks and walked over to the guys again, putting the drinks down in front of each of them.
"Ooh, that's fancy isn't it Ed?" said Bacon. "Getting our drinks delivered directly to us rather than just dumped in the middle of the table? Good job you're not a waitress eh Ed? You'd never get any tips!"
Tom laughed "Yeah, plus he wouldn't suit the skirt!"
"You know it's not wise to wear a skirt as a waitress," I remarked matter-of-factly. "You spill something, it goes on your legs rather than your trousers, and if it's hot that's even worse. The tight ones are hard to move in, and the floaty ones can be an invitation for men to have a peek when you bend over. No, trousers are much more suitable. Plus wearing a skirt limits your choice of shoes - and shoes are the most important thing when you're on your feet all day." I finished my speech and realised all four guys were staring at me as though I was an alien. Surprisingly, Soap was the first to break the silence.
"Wow, so much we never knew, eh lads?" The others laughed, and I continued.
"I wouldn't want to be a waitress again. Although I'll have to find a job if I'm sticking around here." I had no way of getting back, well, not that I knew of, so I had to start earning my keep.
"I can get you a job if you like." I looked at Tom, suspicious. What did he have in mind? "No no, nothing untoward, I mean, it's just working in my shop, it's not much, but if you want…"
I beamed at him. "That would be great," I said honestly. I didn't need much right now.
…..
The next day, I woke up to hear arguing. I crawled out of bed sleepily and opened the door a crack. Eddy was whining at Tom about having nowhere to live. I crept out the room and saw Tom leaning casually on the kitchen counter, and Eddy had his back to me. Tom spotted me and grinned slightly, and my heart jumped a little in my chest. Eddy hadn't noticed me yet.
"Look Tom, our place was full of bodies; we just had to leave it! It's all smashed up and covered in blood!"
"Well I can't have you two staying here indefinitely. There's no room. Just get another place, even if it's just a little rubbish one for now," said Tom, rolling his eyes at me. I smiled. Eddy didn't notice, he carried on his tirade.
"Yeah, because the one we had before was Buckingham f***ing Palace wasn't it?!" Eddy exclaimed.
"Watch it Ed, there's a lady present," Tom said calmly.
"Lady? What…? oh, hello," said Eddy, turning around to see me. He looked me up and down and I felt awkward standing there in my pyjamas. Then I shook my head to myself. I was practically living with these guys, I had to get used to it. Anyway, I was decent… I just wasn't wearing a bra. But who wears a bra in bed?
I walked over to the kitchen and caught Tom's eye. He looked slightly guilty and I wondered if he'd been doing the same as Eddy. I swept the thought from my mind. "Mind if I make myself a cup of tea?"
Tom's POV
Eddy was whining again, going on about him and Bacon staying with me. I hadn't got room, especially now Kizzy was here. That was another reason too. I couldn't have those two living with Kizzy. Just then, she appeared behind Eddy wearing her pyjamas. My breath caught in my throat. She was really good looking, even the just-got-out-of-bed look made me want to go over there and… But no, I just smiled slightly and let Eddy carry on his rant. I didn't want him to notice her yet. I had to tell him off for swearing in front of her though, it just wasn't right. I caught sight of her figure as she walked over the kitchen near me, noticing she wasn't wearing a bra. I tore my eyes away just in time to meet hers as she looked at me. "Mind if I make myself a cup of tea?" she said.
"No, course, go ahead," I said, gesturing at the old kettle. I became immediately embarrassed of the stat of my flat, the old furniture and untidy kitchen. I swore I'd clean it as soon as I could. I realised I needed the loo, but I didn't want to leave Kizzy alone with Eddy… Stupid thought. No use pissing myself in front of her. I desperately wanted things to go well between us. I couldn't remember when these feelings had grown so strong, but they had, and there was no going back.
Kizzy's POV
As the kettle boiled, I popped a teabag into a mug and poured the water in.
"I'm going to the loo," announced Tom suddenly, and he walked off towards the bathroom. I shrugged, and pulled the milk out of the fridge. I'd just finished making my tea when Eddy approached me and stood close.
"Kizzy," he said, looking down at me."
"Eddy," I said, echoing his tone of voice as I looked up at him.
"Um, well, I was just wondering if you wanted to go out for a drink sometime."
I groaned internally, hoping he wasn't saying what I thought he was saying. I tried an innocent response. "We went out for a drink last night. And the night before."
Eddy paused for a moment. "No, I mean, just you and me. You know, like a date. I know Bacon already asked, but when you said no I thought-"
"Look Eddy," I interrupted him, choosing my words carefully. "I'm really flattered and thanks for asking, but I just wanna stay friends with you. Okay?"
Eddy's expression was unreadable. It seemed like an hour had passed before he finally spoke. "It's Tom isn't it?"
"What?" I said, panicked.
"You fancy Tom. Don't you?" he said, his jaw set.
"I- I…" I began, not sure how to deny it when he'd come out with it so bluntly.
"That'll be a yes then. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. And yes, it's okay," he said, smiling, though it seemed a little forced.
"What's okay?" I asked, lost as to what was happening.
"It's okay of we stay friends. That's fine. I'm not going to hold a grudge or nothin'."
I sighed in relief. "Good." I heard Tom coming out of the bathroom and Eddy turned to leave.
"Where you going Ed?" asked Tom as he walked back into the room.
"Gotta go mate. See you down the pub later yeah? We've still got some guns to sort out," Eddy said, before walking out the door and shutting it loudly behind him.
"What's rattled his cage?" Tom mused. I didn't answer his question, afraid he'd bring it up in front of Eddy and Eddy would tell him my secret. I didn't want Tom to know how I felt, just in case he didn't feel the same.
"So, are you gonna show me the shop then?" I asked, and Tom smiled that half-smile, making my stomach melt.
"Yep. Not going out like that though, are ya?" he asked, still grinning.
I shook my head, before heading to the bathroom for a shower. It was going to be another weird and wonderful day.
Next Time: Kizzy has an idea of how to branch out in her new job, and Tom battles with his feelings.
