Author's Note: Here it is, the next chapter. This took FOREVER to write 'cos it's one of the more dramatic ones, but I'm kind of pleased with it.
Kevin: Get ON with it!
Author: Fine! Fine! Demand away, I'm done here.
It would've been nice to say that their day went completely uninterrupted. It would've been lovely for them to spend the day at the beach peacefully and unbothered.
It would've been very nice, but completely untrue because sometimes you're just not that lucky at all.
The day had gone well enough since the video game matter, they really hadn't moved along the beach much, mostly just talking and generally, acting like the teenagers they were (Kevin was definitely getting better at the whole 'teenager' thing) until they found a video shop and Theresa dragged him inside. It took maybe two minutes before he began browsing the DVD's on sale along side her.
"Hey darling, do you love me?" Theresa suddenly asked
"What?!"
"Darling do you love me?" she repeated, looking up from the rack of DVD's she was searching though.
"I…uh…That is…" Damn, this was awkward! Well…DID he love her? He didn't know! Not yet! It's too soon! Wait, WHY am I even CONSIDERING that I MIGHT be?!
"Um…Kevin…" Theresa held out a DVD case to him and then it made sense. 'Darling, Do You Love Me? & Other Short Films' was written in bold red letters against a black background. She hadn't been asking for a declaration, she'd been quoting a film title.
"Oh," he said lamely, and then quickly cleared his throat, "What is it?"
"An art film from the 1960's, I think it's about how some women will just badger a man until he gives in, I'm not totally certain though. Germaine Greer's in it"
"I think I know the name…"
"She's the woman who pretty much led the feminist movement of the 1970's single-handed, at least in some people's minds. But she's the one that said I don't have to wear knickers if I don't want to"
He paused, trying to keep some mental images that were trying to form at bay; instead he ended up giving her an odd sort of look.
"I am wearing knickers," she told him dryly, resting one hand on her hip.
"Th-thank you for sharing!"
"You're welcome!" She grinned up at him cheekily, before turning her attention back to the item in her hands, "Oh cool, the Brothers Quay are in this! Ooh, and it's 'The Street of Crocodiles'…It's only £2? Ugh, some people just don't understand art!"
"You're very strange, do you know that?"
"Know it and revel in it. I'm getting this," she tapped the case of 'Darling, Do you Love Me?' again, "anything caught your eye?"
…Yes…the fact that the top button on your shirt is undone… "Not really. I don't usually have time for films"
"OK, I'll be back in a second,"
"I…could pay for it for you"
"Hm? No, it's OK. I've got it."
She gave him a bright smile and headed over to the counter, far at the back of the shop, to pay for it.
No buying her things, no wanting to talk about her problems, no nauseating nicknames, no mindless fawning or trying to get a declaration of love from him.
He didn't know whether to feel pleased or disappointed, to be honest and, despite himself, he was starting to wonder if it was because she wasn't very interested in him in any capacity (despite her referring to him as her friend on more than one occasion and having told him she liked him)…it felt odd to be on the receiving end of such a feeling.
"OK, we can go now," Theresa suddenly said, a small bag in one hand, "unless you found something you wanted?"
…Maybe…Oh wait…she means film-wise…
"No, I'm fine, let's go."
Maybe things could've continued in this peaceful way…but fate's a bitch and as such the timing they chose to step out of the shop and stand by the fence was horrible.
A few minutes of banter then there was an odd rumble, as if of lots of feet.
"IT'S KEVIN MASK!!"
"OH MY GOD!"
"Oh no…" he recognised that sort of call. What on EARTH were fangirls doing HERE?! ((The author whistles innocently and backs away to hide behind her computer))
"Fangirls?" Theresa asked, eyes widening at the group of rapidly approaching girl. It seemed almost surreal…or like that opening scene of Austin Powers.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered quickly
"Don't be, it's not your fault. Just go man! Run!" and she pointed down the street, "think like a fox in a hunt!"
"You're an angel"
"You know it!"
Less than a second later he was off…the rabid fans on his heels (and would be until they found something else to drool over or got bored or lost)
And what've Theresa during Kevin's bolting away?
Well, Never having been around fangirls and having no knowledge of how deadly they are, she'd got knocked off the rail, of the fence she'd been sitting on, whether by accident or on purpose she had absolutely no clue and no time to work it out, or even scream as she fell down onto the mix of rocks and sand below.
There was an organic sounding SNAP a few seconds later as she landed, using her arm to shield herself from the worst of the blow that followed.
"Ow…" was all she said as she sat up and the pain exploded in her arm, since it was hanging at an odd angle, she came to the conclusion it was likely broken, vaguely she held it up and shook it, then decided that wasn't a good idea, it hurt.
"OK, that's not good…" she said aloud and carefully pushed herself up to her feet, feeling more than little giddy and sick, her DVD was intact, which wasn't a big deal but nice to know she supposed. Taking a few deep breaths to dull down the pain, she managed to get to the steps and climb them, walking into a newsagent's and ask if could she please use the phone because she needed to call her grandfather to come and pick her up…
…And possibly take her to the hospital, if it wasn't a problem?
…Did it look like her arm was broken, did they think?
…Umm…did they say if it was OK for her to use their phone, please?
…I hope Kevin's OK…
Hospitals…I hate hospitals… Kevin thought to himself much later as he sat in the waiting room outside of the plastering room that currently contained Theresa and the plaster technicians.
Theresa had a broken arm, courtesy of him. Most men gave girls they were interested in flowers or presents. What did Theresa end up with? A bloody broken arm!
The guilt was really gnawing at him, pointing out things like he hadn't taken her to the beach it wouldn't have happened (the doctor had said it was a clean and minor break but try telling your conscience that)
'She's always getting hurt around me. I'm bad for her health. This time she broke an arm, what if she gets hurt worse next time? Fatally?
There's not going to BE a next time! This…whatever it is…it's over! It's for her safety.
What about you?
What about me?
Is that really what you want? You really want to walk away and never see her again because 'maybe she'll get hurt' whilst being around you?
I don't care about what I want; I care about not having her death on my hands.
You know, it's very unlike you to think so deeply about other people.
She's not-
Not what…?
She's not 'people'. She's…
She's…?
She's my…
Come on! Just say it! You'll feel better if you'll just admit it! She's…
"All done now," someone announced, breaking the thought before he could complete it. One of the orderlies led Theresa out with a hand on her shoulder. She looked…exhausted but better than when she'd been brought in, her right arm was in plaster and a cloth sling.
"Kevin!" she called loudly but apparently happily and all but threw herself onto his front and cuddled tightly, holding on with her good arm before announcing, "I'm so happy to see you!!"
"Are you alright?" this was and odd way for someone who'd broken an arm to act around the one responsible for it.
"Uh huh…" she nodded and tried to snuggle closer as if wanting to burrow under his skin.
"It's the painkillers," the orderly explained, "she'll be a little loopy until it wears off"
"I am not loopy, just happy," the blonde girl protested then ruined her argument by giggling dizzily.
"Come on, we'll go and wait for your grandfather," with a cool but polite nod at the orderly he led her down to the front door waiting room.
"Nylufooh," Theresa mumbled nuzzling into his shoulder as they sat together.
"What?"
"What?" she blinked up at him, it was clearly obvious under the brighter lights of the waiting room that she was drugged up to the gills with painkillers
"Never mind."
"'kay!" she giggled again as she settled back, not really looking at anything, "thank you…"
"Hm?" Had she just thanked him? No way…
"Thank you…for taking me to the beach. It was nice. Next time we should get fish and chips before the fangirls attack…can we get some before we go home? I'm really, really hungry now."
Author: I know, I'm being horrible. Tch, where DO I get off tormenting and hurting my characters? But did you SEE that? SOOOOO close to him admitting something!
Man, I really AM a bitch to you guys, huh?
(Hides under her bed to avoid any thrown fruit or bricks)
Musical References: got sacrificed in the name of plot but the title is 'Such Horrible Things' by Creature Feature.
BTW, 'Darling Do You Love Me?' and 'The Street of Crocodiles' are real films. You can find them on YouTube. Go look them up (they are a bit freaky but entertaining)