An update? :O I know... incredible. I'm in a good mood, but it may be the last for a while: it's exams soon :( However I am going to see John barrowman on Wednesday, go me :P
Helen looked across to Nick as he drove and smiled softly. "It's good to be back… sweetheart," she said gently. "I've missed you, for eight whole years."
"Yeah," he confirmed. "I… I missed you too. What-" he coughed- "what are you going to tell people?"
"I'm not sure." Helen said, sounding as if she'd only just thought of it. "I guess- I'll tell them- that I've not got any memory of what happened. That's bound to be the official version, isn't it?"
"Mmmmm."
"Actually… I think I might go see one or two people tonight, just to catch up. I won't be too late, sweetie, and I know that we haven't seen each other for years but… I won't be long, and otherwise I just know I'll be thinking of them all night…" she looked at Nick pleadingly. He nodded, relieved that he was going to have some time to himself, to sort himself out.
"No, I understand. Sure," he agreed. Helen smiled.
"Thanks Nick…"
The lights flashed brightly, on and off, on and off, on and off… they would have been a nuisance in any other place then this small time bar, where the smoke and lighting and sound effects were all designed for people who wanted the distraction. Who came here to forget, or to escape, or to pick someone up...? Nobody expected anything of anyone here, which was something Stephen was glad for as he drank alone.
A noise made him look up. A man was standing there, offering a drink and a smile. Stephen shrugged, indicating he didn't care what the man did. His new companion studied him for a while, and then sat down. They drank together, not talking, each losing themselves in a haze of silence.
The man nudged Stephen's elbow. Stephen looked at him, annoyed. What?
The man blinked back at him, mocking him gently. Oooh, touchy.
Stephen sighed. Sorry.
The man smiled understandingly. Bad day?
Stephen nodded. Shit.
The man looked at him thoughtfully. Stephen frowned. Eventually the man appeared to come to a decision. He beckoned with his finger. Follow me.
Stephen looked at him, and thought about Cutter. Sure.
The two men walked outside quietly. Once secure in a dingy alleyway, hidden from the main road Stephen wondered exactly what the man had in mind. Great, he thought glumly to himself, ticking all the boxes. Love of my fucking like leaves me for his bloody evil wife, what do I do? Go and get pissed, then shag all my troubles away with a fucking stranger? Clichéd, Stephen, so clichéd.
"Nick Hart." Stephen introduced himself, although why he'd chosen that name… you idiot, he scolded himself, why pick Nick? Out of all the bloody names…
"Hi Nick," the man said smoothly. Close up, Stephen could see he was quite hot, but he wasn't… he wasn't Cutter, was he? And that was all that mattered, at this moment. "I'm… John Brown." The man continued. Stephen nodded and smiled, as if he really believed that was true.
"Shit day, huh?" 'John' asked.
"Crap." Stephen confirmed.
"Try this." It was a pill; he was offering a pill? Stephen stared at it, and took it off the man's hand.
"What is it?"
"E," John smiled, "it'll cheer you up in no time. No ill effects trust me."
Stephen shrugged. He was about to refuse when he thought once again of Nick kissing him softly, holding him, stroking his hair… and then of Nick kissing Helen, and Helen screaming Nick and Stephen's life without Nick, with only pity and fucking looks from people who he barely knew.
Tears came to eyes and he scowled. Following the man's example, he swallowed the pill.