Forgotten Memories
Chapter 10
"Christ you're shaken Alex, you're moving about way too much, like you've had too many go's on the Carousel." Gene straight away became aware of the fact that something bad had without doubt left her feeling unnerved. He quickly positioned his right hand across her forehead, his eyes searched everywhere, across her sweated out point of view. He was wondering whether she might have suddenly picked up a serious temperature . He was more than surprised to see that she didn't seem too bothered to protest about the traditional way in which he was taking her temperature. This isn't like her, the old Bolly wouldn't have let me play temporary Doctor for at least five seconds.
"It's nothing, please let's just concentrate on other matters ..The only thing I want to focus on now is discovering the truth. So can you just stop fussing over me" She desperately wanted to forget about the previous few minutes of panic about whoever she thought she'd seen towards the front of the bus. If she didn't she knew this would constantly keep bugging her for as long as possible.
Deep down Gene couldn't thwart his genuine doubts while continuing to try and single out where or what was continuously disturbing her.
"I won't, honest. It's just like I said earlier when we're walking to the bus stop. How much I want you to remember all you can Alex. Why we, your friends respect and admire you. What hobbies and interests you like." The journey throughout the Welsh Countryside, a few bumpy moments occurring a few times when the bus turned left or right alongside the main shopping areas in Cardiff. In reality it hadn't taken too long for them to get to where they hoped to arrive next in their complicated trip back to that well known glorious street corner pub. Ray and Gene both pleasantly had plenty of thought-provoking plans on restoring The Railway Arms back to it's onetime magnificent brilliance.
"Are you sure, you're going to stick your words eh Gene. Most of the time you never do, you go on you act on your hunches." Ray suggested in a tongue in cheek manner.
"No I do not, well not anymore I don't. Doesn't mean I'm going to turn into a doughnut shaped softie." Gene clarified with determination. He didn't want a ridiculous argument with his friend especially not in front of Alex in case she finally cottoned to why he was nearly on the verge of annoying her specifically right at that moment.
"I wish you two would stop acting like squabbling brothers..It's bloody frustrating having to put with watching the way you behave." She didn't really know how any woman could possibly have the patience of a saint in putting up with them. "Both as bad as each other." she sighed and turned her head away.
"I'm not, I'm more the reformed ponce nowadays, Gene's more of the obnoxious and non attention pleaser." Ray told her, unwittingly unaware his words had triggered another huge flashback for her.
"You're grabbing a chance to wind me up again Raymondo, not bad but it isn't as funny as watching a fairy poof tripping over and falling face first into some dog shit." Gene said.
"Gene we argued back then, didn't we? You repeatedly went against everything I suggested about a few important, you're still the most obnoxious, unpleasant and self centered man I can vaguely remember you being. " Alex suddenly shared this detailed memory with them. A brief smile managed to inscribe itself across her delicate lips as she watched both of their reactions to what she'd just told them.
"Now I remember more, Gene you always did this thing with your lips, pouted them when you realized I was right and you were wrong." She giggled unable to prevent it. It was such a fresh of breath air and massive relief to feel the overwhelming feeling of joy washing over her.
Approximately around 20 minutes later, just as the narrow sized bus passed across and along the outskirts of the Welsh capital. The three reunited friends soon accepted that they badly needed to acquire accommodation for the night. Alex was the first person to make her towards the front of the bus and to stand alongside the quiet and tight lipped bus driver.
"Is this the last stop by any chance? I'm not from around here, you can probably tell by my accent and I thought I should just ask." She asked him, purposely trying to strike up a short conversation with him.
"Yes it is. You're Londoner aren't you love. Hope you don't mind me asking but I've noticed you've been eyeing me up since you got on with your male friends." The Bus Driver hadn't really liked being watched by any of his bus passengers.
"Alex what's up?" Ray asked her as he soon went to stand alongside her. In the spur of a moment Alex didn't wish to tell him, her reasons for questioning the bus driver.
"I'm married love okay." He wasn't taking too kindly to the unusual stares she was giving towards him.
"This is difficult to explain but I just thought you reminded me of someone I use to work with. I'm sorry if I give out mixed signals." She was too embarrassed and hurried off the bus as soon as it's doors folded open. She panicked and quickly left Ray and Gene in the lurch by running as fast as she could from the bus stop's archway, without thinking this forced them to follow on after her.
"She's fine one minute and the next minute she panics out of the blue. Gene we seriously have to get her to open to us and encourage her to mention why she's acting out of character." Ray just couldn't understand any of this anymore.
"Ray stop...just stop running will you. My bloody feet are going to run out of steam any second now." Their 15 second run across the pebble stone pathway was abruptly grounded as soon as some things began to make some complete sense in Gene's thoughts.
"We could lose her Guv." Ray argued.
"She won't go far, believe me I know her too bloody well. I think she's swearing that she's seeing Jim Keats everywhere she looks. He's not here or there but I think good old Jimbo wants her to be unbalanced and driven coo-coo mad." This felt oddly predictable for Gene to guess, he knew he couldn't be underestimated by his nemesis and knowing this made him feel stronger.
"Why are you sure?" Ray asked him.
"Because the other night when I walked into the pub he done the same thing and look at me now I'm not frightened. Jimbo will only go and pick on the people who he thinks he can mentally destroy and that's exactly what he's doing to Alex because she originally chose me. i'm going to take on that freak of nature bastard and before he knows, I'll be leaving him dangling from one of those lifts." Gene clarified with some good old fashioned determination.
"Well Raymondo, let's go shall we and find Alex." Gene smiled, they quickly resumed their search.
End of Chapter
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