Chapter Twenty-One
I sat in the covers of my double bed, the cream duvet lying over my waist as I sat up against the leather back, smoking a cigarette with an ash tray on the side table. I looked up to see if Lola was dressed yet. She was pulling on her leather pants with no sense of hurry.
"Pass me my shirt."
I looked to my right and grabbed the sunny yellow top, holding it out as she walked over and took it from me.
"You're welcome." I muttered as I rested my head back and took a drag.
"Thank you." She glanced in my direction with a smile, before pulling the shirt on and tying her paisley neck scarf around her neck, presumably to cover up all the love bites. "So, I'm going to drop around tonight." She informed me as she picked up the leather jacket on the sofa beside her.
"Whatever." I murmured sinking back.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing." I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "It's just… stuff." I said finally.
"Well, sort it out." She said, looking me up and down, and sauntered out of the room, walking down the stairs and loudly exiting. I walked over to the wardrobe, where I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I walked into the bathroom, where I examined myself – stubble lay lightly around my mouth, which had a cut on the right of my lower lip. My hair had grown a lot more then since I had first come back to Bullworth; I had seldom thought about getting a haircut, let alone actually bothering to get one. My dark hair hung beside my face, reaching down to my cheek. I pushed the hair behind my ear, revealing a large bruise on my right cheek, which was hidden by my hair. I leant closer to the mirror, observing the damage. The bruise was nearly fully healed, hence the fact I no longer bothered with a fringe.
The downstairs knocks echoed, leading me to walk down the stairs and to the door. I looked around to see why no one had already answered it. I then opened the door, only to see one of the most annoying and unwanted women standing there.
"What are you doing here Andie?"
"I have great news!" She squealed, running into the house.
"No Daniel? Shame." I asked deadpan as Andie walked through the doorway.
"He couldn't come." She said happily.
"Too much sunlight?" I asked sincerely.
"He's busy telling his family." She beamed at me. Before I could utter a word of my confusion, she burst out. "We're bringing the date forward!"
"What date?" I asked, dreading the obvious answer.
"The date of our marriage!" She said with joy.
"A wedding?" I looked back to Kara, who had stopped to see what was going on.
"It's not important-" I began.
"Hello Aiden, who's this?" Andie said, looking at Kara with a smile. I sighed.
"Andie, this is Kara, she lives here. Kara, this is Andie."
"His mum." She smiled.
"His mom?" Kara asked, looking at me with wide eyes. "Nice to meet you. He's said a lot about you." She said, walking over and shaking Andie's hand with a smile.
"No I haven't." I said monotonously, only to be shoved aside by Andie.
"Oh, you're such a sweet girl. It's nice to see Aiden getting along with such polite people." I rolled my eyes. "How's he been getting on?"
"Fine. I'm fine." I said, trying to get her attention.
"He's doing okay Mrs. Kane. He's a little bit depressed sometimes though…" Kara said quietly – as if I couldn't hear.
"Oh, please Kara, call me Andie. Everyone does. Even Aiden." Andie said, ignoring the last part of the sentence.
"What do you mean, 'even Aiden'?" I asked, offended?
"As I was saying, the wedding is this week, in three days time." Andie ignored me.
"Three days?" Kara said in astonishment. "That's so soon!"
"I know, I'm so excited!" Andie said with glee. "I'll expect you to come to it." She said with charm, which made Kara smile. "Maybe even drag Aiden along to it."
"Not likely." I scoffed. They both looked around at me, giving me a patronizing stare. "Really? That's when you pay attention to me?" They turned back to each other.
"I don't know how you put up with him. I mean, I couldn't! Imagine having to share a house with him every day!" Andie laughed at the mention of the ridiculous notion.
"The feeling's mutual." I muttered.
"I'll see you there Aiden."
I shook my head, looking back at Kara as Andie walked out of the house.
"She seems nice." Said Kara, still smiling.
"Oh piss off." I said, walking past her and exiting the room, going for a drive.