Chapter 25
The Good, The Bad And The Very Darn Ugly
Rating - T
Disclaimer: I do now own Hollyoaks or any of its characters except OCs and OPs
Marie
"Hmm...Builder, Plumber, Rubbish collector...Nope. Cheshire is not in short supply of beauticians..." sighed Marie, as she scanned the job pages of the Chester Herald.
Calvin and Marie were sat at a table in Il Gnosh. Marie was reading the paper and Calvin was busy reading a magazine. The spring morning sunlight was streaming in through the glass windows, illuminating the tables and the place was starting to get busy with lunchtime customers. Marie adjusted her purple top, pulling it down and Calvin tried not to look down as she fiddled with the neckline of her top...
He looked down at the paper from which she was reading off and scanned the page as well, hoping to find something helpful.
"What about in the city?" asked Calvin, looking up from the sports pages. "You could commute..."
She folded the paper in half and tossed it down on the table. "I don't think I even want my old job back..."
"Why?" frowned Calvin. "You used to like it..."
"Yeah, but that was before everything. Now, I just want to actually do something in my life. Get a better job with better money..." said Marie, stirring her spoon in her coffee.
"And plus, even if by pure luck that I find a salon round here and get an interview, how do I explain about Evissa? ''So Miss Roberts, why did you leave your last job?'' ''Well, technically, I didn't leave, but my boss did hold me hostage and whacked me over the head..."
"Ok, then..." smiled Calvin. "What do you have in mind?"
Marie paused, looking up to the ceiling. "Errrm...Something which doesn't require me to do much work, but pay's a lot..."
Calvin smirked. "Ok, I need something a bit more specific than that..."
"I don't know..." sighed Marie. "I honestly don't know. But I know I don't want to be a beautician, that's for sure..."
"Right, let's go through the ABC of jobs..." said Calvin, grabbing a pen and paper. "So, how about...Accounting?"
"No. I'm not great with numbers." dismissed Marie.
"Acting?"
"Uh-uh..."
"Ok, then, how about...Animals? Vetinary work..."
Marie shook her head and laughed. "Nooo way! I've seen Rolf Harris in Animal Hospital. I don't really want to shove my hand up some cow's arse, thank-you very much..."
Calvin crossed something off on his piece of paper. "Right then. Builder."
Marie stared at Calvin with horror over the very thought of becoming a builder. 'Me in a hard hat?? You must be having a laugh!'
He laughed. "I'll take that as a no...How about Children?..."
Marie's face went pale. "If you're asking me to breed for money, then...
Calvin shook his head. "No no no...Childcare. Teaching. That sort of area..."
"Maybe. Quite possibly." sighed Marie. 'Hmm...Teaching might be good. I'd get summer holidays and half-terms...If only I could control children...'
"Ok, so, that's going on the maybe list..."
Marie raised her hand in the air with excitement. "I know! How about Cookery! Yeah! I could be the new Nigella Lawson! Except without the whole faking sex thing with the food...What about that? That sounds good, don't it?"
He nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "It sounds great. Really great. Except for one small, baby, minor issue..."
"What's that?"
"Can you actually cook?" asked Calvin, leaning towards her.
Marie paused. "I can make a really mean round of... toast..."
"Right..." said Calvin, scribbling furiously on the piece of paper. "How do you feel about Dentistry?"
"Oh, I don't know." sighed Marie. "This is getting me nowhere. Even if I was interested, then I don't have the right qualifications..."
Calvin reached into his jacket pocket and produced four-folded pieces of paper. "Good job, I have this to give you then..."
Marie took the papers from his hand and opened them up, spreading them on the table. "What's this, then?"
"It is an application form for Hollyoaks Community College..." said Calvin, with a promising smile.
She looked down at the papers, confused. "HCC?"
"Yes." nodded Calvin.
She scanned the pages as she saw every box had been filled. Her name. Her address. Even the box where it asked why she wanted to join the college and become a student. She tugged on a piece of her hair nervously as her eyes flickered as she saw every single detail had been filled in...just not by her...
Marie looked up at Calvin, dumbstruck over what had been placed in front of her. "But it's all filled out."
"I know. I did it for you." said Calvin, with a reassuring look. "All you have to do now, is to sigh and post it..."
Marie gave a small nervous laugh. "Wait, what have you signed me up for...I hope it's not some weird holistic yoga course or something..."
"A-Levels..." said Calvin proudly.
"A-Levels?" repeated Marie. 'Oh god, I thought I'd escaped having to do them...'
Calvin put his spoon in his empty coffee cup with a clink. "You can't go anywhere without A-Levels nowadays. And plus, by doing A-levels, you can then do whatever job you want, but, you still have time to think about what you want to do..."
Marie smiled uneasily as she looked over at her best friend. "Calvin, this is very good of you, but you know what I was like when I was at school. Me and school did not mix..."
"Yeah, but this time it will be different." said Calvin, moving his hand over to hers.
She read through the application form. "Wow, you've even picked out courses for me to study...English, Psychology and Sociology..."
"You can change those if you want, but they are broad-based subjects, so you can go to all sorts of different careers with these A-levels..."
"I don't know..." sighed Marie, her heart and head clouded with uneasiness and doubt.
Calvin smiled. "Oh come on. This is your chance to change who you are..."
Marie looked down at the application form and then back at Calvin. 'He's taken a lot of time to help me with everything...I didn't know he cared so much...He seems dead keen for me to do this...Maybe if I did do this, I could really work this time round and finally get to do something other than polishing nails...What do I say?? Do I say yes or no?? I can't say no, cause then he'll get offended...Oh god, what would the old me do??...No. I can't keep thinking about the old me. This is the new me. I suppose it is time for a change...'
Marie smiled. "Alright. HCC, it is then..."
"Great!" grinned Calvin. "That's fantastic..."
The smile quickly slid away from Marie's face. "But what about money? I won't be earning money if I'm a student. I need to have money so I can pay rent and all..."
"Marie, you don't have to pay rent. I don't want you to keep paying rent. I like having you around..." said Calvin, his eyes looking straight into hers. She looked back at him. It felt as if he was staring straight through her, right into her body...
She quickly glanced down. "I know, but I feel bad. I don't want to be some freeloader living off you..."
"You could get a part-time job" suggested Calvin, "...At the Dog, Washed-Up..."
Marie looked around her and looked at the people around her and the waiters serving tables. She looked at Tony and Dom, who were standing by the kitchen and looked back at Calvin. "I could get a job here..."
"Or here is good too..." said Calvin, his voice less enthusiastic.
"Tony's bound to have some jobs going..." noted Marie, as she looked around. "And plus I could work evenings, so I could go to college in the day and earn a bit of cash here in the evening..."
"Go and ask him then, but there are a lot of people working here, so I don't think he'll have any..." sighed Calvin.
"I don't need to.." smiled Marie, "He's coming over here..."
Calvin looked as Tony made his way over to their table in his black chef's uniform. He looked over and smiled at them both as he came over to speak to them.
"Marie and Calvin..." smiled Tony. "What a lovely surprise to see you two in here! And how are you both?"
Marie was about to say something when Calvin suddenly interrupted. "We're fine, thanks, Tony..."
She glanced at Calvin and then smiled at Tony.
"Can I get you anything else?" asked Tony. "More coffee? Lunch, perhaps?"
"Yes, please." smiled Marie and she scanned the menu. "I would like...a job. Do you have any?''
Tony scratched his head in thought. 'Well, I do need someone to cover some shifts in the evenings.''
''What sort of work?'' asked Marie.
''Oh the usual. Waiting on tables, taking orders, doing drinks...Why? Do you want some work then?'' asked Tony, curiously...
''Well, I don't exactly have anything to do anymore, so...'' laughed Marie.
''Have you done any waitressing before?'' asked Tony. "It is quite hard work..."
She nodded. ''My step-mum runs a pub, so I've done bar work and a bit of waitressing...''
Tony looked at his watch and back at Marie. ''Well, if you like, I can give you a trial run. See if you like it or not...''
Marie's face quickly grew into a smile. 'That would be great!''
''Say, come in tomorrow, around nine-ish? I can start you off with some work...'' said Tony, breezily.
''Super! Thanks!'' grinned Marie.
"Don't be late!" said Tony and he walked off back to the kitchen.
She sighed happily to herself and looked at Calvin. ''See? Positive thinking equals positive actions!''
''Well, I must say, I'm impressed!'' smiled Calvin.
''New start. New me.'' beamed Marie, happily.
''I'll drink to that!'' laughed Calvin.
Marie gasped with delight. ''Hey! Let's go out tonight! Let our hair down! Well...my hair, seeing as you have none...''
Calvin feigned a look of shocked hurt. ''Oi! I can grow hair!...Anyway, what do you have in mind?''
''I dunno. The Dog??" suggested Marie. "Or if you're feeling really outrageous, then we could go to the Loft for some celebratory drinks and a bit of a boogie...''
Calvin sighed and smiled. ''Why not? It is my day off...''
''Yay!" giggled Marie. "This will probably be my first night out in ages!"
She downed the rest of her coffee and got up out of her chair. "But first, I need to buy something to wear...Care to go shopping?"
"If we must..." smiled Calvin and he grabbed his coat.
Mel
Mel sat at the kitchen table in her new surroundings and watched as her mum, Liz did the ironing. She looked at the orange juice and toast in front of her, but somehow couldn't get the energy to shove the toast in her mouth or to drink the juice. She looked at the TV, her eyes weary from lack of sleep and became transfixed as the images flickered from screen to screen...
"I have a feeling today is going to be a good day..." smiled Liz. "I just...feel it in my bones..."
Mel closed her eyes and rubbed them, not paying attention to what her mum was saying...
"Mel? Are you listening?" asked Liz, with one hand on her hip.
"No..." replied Mel, honestly.
Liz walked over to Mel and put her hand over her forehead. "Are you feeling alright, love?"
"I'm fine..." said Mel and she looked up to Liz and gave her best fake ''I'm fine'' smiles.
Liz frowned at Mel. "I heard you get up to go to the bathroom four times last night..."
Mel slumped down in her chair and felt her body collapse from tiredness. She had been to the bathroom four times in the night and felt like she'd thrown up her entire body weight...
''Dare I ask is it from drinking or not drinking?" sighed Liz as she walked back over to her washing.
"Not drinking, actually..." snapped Mel. "You know, I am trying. For Sophie..."
Liz put down her iron. "I was only asking because I can't really tell with you, Mel...You know, whenever I called to check on you, you always said you were fine. But clearly not seeing as you're getting withdrawal symptoms..."
"It was just how I coped..." sighed Mel, as she hugged her knees.
"Well, like I've said, we'll wipe the slate clean...and focus on moving forward together as a family..." said Liz, adamantly.
Mel nodded and drifted off into a world of her own. "Have you heard from Sophie's doctor?..."
Liz looked up at Mel and then back down at her ironing. "He phoned yesterday..."
"And?" said Mel, turning around in her chair to face Liz.
Liz took a shirt of Justin's and began to iron the creases smooth. "Just the usual..."
"Did he mention anything about..." said Mel, her voice wavering. She couldn't bare herself to say those words which she didn't want to hear...
"He did..." said Liz, the colour from her cheeks draining.
Mel looked at her mother, terrified. "Mum, please don't tell me you've made a decision..."
Liz paused. "Don't be ridiculous...Of course I wouldn't...I told him no. As I have done for the past three weeks..."
Mel felt her body relax a little. At least she wasn't going to have to worry about having to say goodbye to Sophie for today...
"You know, doctors can be wrong." said Liz, as she carried on with her ironing. "I don't know why they're pushing. There are hundreds of stories of people waking up from comas with suspected brain damage and having perfectly normal lives...I mean people have woken up from comas years after they've been put in them..."
Mel looked up to the ceiling. She thought about Sophie waking up from her coma, fresh as a daisy...
"I was thinking about us all going to see her this evening..." smiled Liz. "Me, you and Jay, once he's finished his shift at Il Gnosh..."
Mel nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great..."
"Do you think you'll be up to it?" asked Liz, concerned over her other daughter's welfare.
Mel swallowed hard, hoping the waves of nausea would subside. "Yeah, I'll be ok..."
"Good." smiled Liz, optimistically. "We can all go together and talk to her. That'd be nice, won't it? And Nana has sent another card down for Sophie, but she's put your name on the card yet again, so we're going to have to tippex it out..."
Mel sighed and looked down at her phone and felt an element of surprise hit her as she noticed she had a new message. She scrolled down and opened the message up:
Mel,
I need 2 talk 2 u. Please. Meet me in Jubilee Gardens at 2.
Russ
Mel looked down at her phone again in shock and then looked at the message. 'Russ? Russ is texting me because he wants to talk?? Russ?? Who hasn't bothered with Sophie in weeks now suddenly wants to talk...Bastard. He had the nerve to go behind Sophie's back with Mercedes and now he wants my help? Well, he can go whistle. I don't care. He needs help in the head, he does...'
"Who's text you?" asked Liz, eagerly.
"No-one..." said Mel and she put her phone down on the table.
"Why don't you go for a walk?" suggested Liz, looking out of the window. "It's a lovely day and it might clear your head..."
"I dunno..." said Mel, taking a sip of water.
She looked at her phone and picked it up and began to text Russ...
Why should I help u?
Liz sat down at the table across from Mel and took a sandwich and began to eat it. "I could join you if you like?"
"You don't have to..." said Mel, "Honestly, I've got some errands to do for Justin anyway..."
"You know, we haven't really spent much time together..." sighed Liz. ''And I thought maybe one night we could go to the cinema or something...Help us take our minds off things...Or we could go shopping..."
Mel looked down at her phone and looked in her inbox. Nothing.
"That sounds good..." said Mel and she gave her mum a smile.
"Life is short, Mel..." said Liz, her voice wobbly with emotion and she reached out for Mel's hand. "And so precious...so I don't want any of us to waste...any more time with any regrets or unhappiness...And as a family, we've had our fair share of unhappiness, what with Dad, then Ali..."
Mel looked over at her mum. "Mum, you don't -
"No, Mel. Let me finish." said Liz and she stood up with her daughter and placed her hands on Mel's shoulders. "I don't want to lose both my girls. So, from now on, we're going to get through this tough patch and we're going to be strong. You're not going to be alone anymore..."
Mel nodded and she leaned in towards Liz and hugged her. She looked at her hand and saw a message from Russ appear on the screen...
Because you're the only person I can turn to.
She felt herself sigh. She may have someone helping her, but it seemed not everyone had someone to help them along. Even if it was Russ Owen...
The Dog
Darren Osborne looked at himself in the mirror and studied his face and smiled. In his opinion, he'd never looked better. He adjusted his flashing ''Happy Birthday'' badge on his blue-checkered shirt and his blue party hat. With a wide grin, he took a tray of drinks from the bar and he started to walk over to a table near one of the windows where Max, Dom, OB and Tony were sitting.
"Here you are, then..." smiled Darren. "Drinks are on me because...It's my birthday!''
He pointed to his flashing Birthday badge and hat and waited for some sort of response. They all looked up and Darren and then looked back at their drinks...
Darren rolled his eyes and sat down. "Well, don't all cheer at once..."
"Happy Birthday..." said Dom, brightly.
"Yeah, Happy Birthday, Darren!" smiled Tony. "Only four more years till you're thirty..."
"Cheers Tony, not!" said Darren, his eyes widened and he looked at Max and OB who were nursing their pints. "Earth to Max and OB, got anything to say?"
"Happy Birthday..." mumbled Max and OB in unison.
"I said it's my birthday, not ''I'm dying...''. frowned Darren. "What's the matter with you two?"
"I think they're a bit down at the moment..." whispered Dom. "Money and women troubles..."
"Cheer up, guys!" smiled Darren. "We're all going on a pub crawl!"
Max shook his head. "Not for me, mate..."
"Me either..." sighed OB.
Darren sighed. "I know you're down, but let's go and get drunk and forget about everything..."
Tony looked over at Max and OB sympathetically. "He's right guys. We may as well go out and have a civilised drink..."
"Hang on, who said anything about civilised??" laughed Darren as he looked at Tony. "Anyway, what'd you say?"
OB shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno..."
Darren folded his arms. "You two aren't the fun-loving Max and OB anymore. You're the two people formerly known as Max and OB...Just a few drinks...Take a break from your Wii Championship, which frankly is quite sad..."
Max looked at OB and then back at Darren. "Well..."
"Great, that settles it, then!" laughed Darren. "Get your pulling shirts on, lads, cause I'm feeling lucky!"
"Sorry, I'm taken..." grinned Dom.
Tony nodded in agreement. "Me too..."
"Right then, just us three single lads!" smiled Darren over at Max and OB.
Max shook his head. "Not tonight. I don't feel like it..."
Darren laughed. "Oh come on, mate. It's not as if you miss Clare and her bottle of arsenic..."
"God no..." grimaced Max. "I just don't feel in the pulling mode. And he's certainly in no mood..." pointing to OB.
Darren nodded. "Oh yeah, I forgot you're still after Marie..."
"I'm not..." said OB.
Tony, Max, Dom and Darren all looked at each other.
OB looked at them all and shook his head. "I'm really not..."
"Oh good, cause I just hired her." said Tony, incoherently.
OB looked at Tony, in shock. "You what?"
"I hired her. She asked for work, I said yes. It's alright, you can thank me." smiled Tony.
"Oh...right..." nodded OB, looking down at his pint.
"Right, who's round is it now?" said Darren, solemnly.
"I'll go..." said Tony, dusting off his jeans. "But one drink and one drink only..."
He got up and left the table, leaving Darren alone with Dom, OB and Max. Darren stared his pint as the silence around them started to become uncomfortable. He began to whistle to himself to ease the awkwardness of the situation. Dom started stacking the beer mats on top of each other.
"So..." smiled Darren, uneasily. "Anyone watch the footie last night?"
"No." said Dom, shaking his head.
"Missed it..." sighed Max.
OB shook his head. "I was working..."
"I see..." said Darren, slumping further down in his chair.
As Tony was about to collect the drinks from the bar, Louise Summers made her way towards the bar, in her black knee-length coat. Her eyes were glass-like and watery and her face looked tired. Her hair was slightly tangled and she looked pale and gaunt. She turned her head around and looked at everyone who was in the pub suspiciously. Tony watched as she looked at each and everyone of the people in the room, her eyes intent and serious...
"You alright there, Louise?" asked Tony, putting his hand on Louise's shoulder.
Louise jumped as Tony's hand touched her shoulder and she sighed. "Didn't see you there, Tony..."
"How have you been?" said Tony, with a sympathetic sigh.
Louise blinked and turned away. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine thanks..."
"Listen, do you want a drink or anything? On me, of course..." smiled Tony, trying to ease Louise's mood.
She stared at him and then turned her head around. "No no...I...was just looking for someone..."
"Who?" asked Tony, inquisitively.
Louise looked back at him, her face stone cold and she gently whispered. "Warren..."
Tony looked back at Louise, taken aback by what she had just said. "Louise, Warren is dead..." he said, quietly.
She shook her head. "Tony, I've seen him...He is not dead. I know he isn't. Have you seen him? I need to know..."
He placed both his hands on Louise's shoulders and sighed. "Louise, you're obviously still in shock..."
"Just listen to me! I'm not going mad..." barked Louise, "Warren is alive. And I know he's back here..."
"Louise, let me get you a cab home..." said Tony, picking up his mobile and punching in a few numbers.
"No!" shouted Louise, causing some heads to turn and she backed away from Tony. "I don't need your help..."
Tony sighed. "I'm only trying to help you, Louise. It's not going to be easy to forget everything, but I can assure you, Warren isn't going to hurt you anymore..."
Louise wiped her hand across her eyes which were brimming with tears. "You're wrong, Tony..."
She walked quickly towards the door before Tony could say another word, leaving him speechless at the bar. He watched as she ran out from the pub and back out into the village, disappearing from his sight and back into her own world...
He collected the drinks and made his way back to the table, where Darren, OB, Max and Dom were starting to talk...
"Was that Louise?" asked Darren, looking out from the window.
Tony sighed as he passed over the drinks. "Yeah. To be honest, I don't think she's coping. She just asked me whether I'd seen Warren..."
"But he's dead..." frowned Dom.
"Exactly..." said Tony, his face a mixture of confused and worried.
Mel
Mel walked across the village, her hands running up and down her arms as she made her way towards Jubilee Gardens. She felt her hands turn to jelly as the wind shook right through her as she walked along and she felt her face go clammy. She looked around at people's faces, hoping that Russ wouldn't show up. She walked past The Dog and she looked up at it, longing to go inside and have a few drinks to ease away the stress that was eating away at her...
She sighed and walked along the footbridge, her mind empty and thoughts of Sophie and drink weighing heavily on her heart...
'I really hope he's chickened out. Why should I talk to him after everything he's done? Or everything he hasn't done, to be more precise...
I could be at home now, minding my own business, without having to waste my time going to meet someone who's betrayed my sister. Or more to the point, someone who I hate...
It's not fair that he's asking for my help. He should be apologising. For being a cold-hearted bastard with no respect for my sister, who's very sick. Not that she needs him anyway. He's about as useful as an umbrella on a sunny day...
I could do with a drink right now. I'm shaking like a leaf. Bloody withdrawal symptoms...Meeting Russ Owen is just what I really need...not...
I hope he's not there. Please don't be there...'
She walked up the path up to the fountain at Jubliee Gardens to see a man sitting down on one of the benches, looking down at the floor. His hair was out of place and greasy and he looked like he was starting to grow a beard. He was wearing a big puffy black parka coat and had scuffed trainers on his feet. Mel stood back and to her horror, realised it was Russ who was on the bench...
She stayed still as she looked at him, not knowing whether to approach him. But before she could move, he looked up and clocked her as she stood behind the statue. His eyes met hers and she felt uneasy as he smiled at her.
"Hey, Mel. How you doing?" said Russ, semi-cheerily as he looked at Mel standing before him.
Mel walked over to the empty part of the bench and sat down. "Fine. Can't say the same for you, though. You look terrible..."
Russ laughed shakily. "Thanks..."
"Where have you been staying?" asked Mel, feeling genuine concern.
"Men's hostel." replied Russ, rubbing his hands together. "Mum and Dad are in Spain."
Mel closed her eyes and sighed. "What do you want Russ? Why did you ask me to come here today?"
Russ looked over at Mel, his eyes tired and lifeless. "I just...want someone to talk to..."
"Fine. But be quick. I have better things to do than listen to you." snapped Mel, her head bitter as she looked at him.
"How is she?" asked Russ, his eyes desperate.
"Who?" asked Mel, confused.
"Sophie..." said Russ, shakily.
Mel bit her lip and exhaled. "She's great. Doctors say she could wake up any minute now."
Russ' face lit up. "Really? That's...well, that's just fantastic...It'd be nice to see her, up and about and smiling like she used to..."
"What do you need to talk about?" asked Mel, bluntly.
Russ put ran his hands through his hair. "My head...has been such a mess lately...after everything that's happened. What with Sophie and Mercedes..."
"Well, it seems like you already made your choice." muttered Mel, angrily.
He shook his head. "No, you don't understand. Mercedes was just...a one-off. Nothing more."
Mel laughed. "I really believe you, Russ. If she was just a one-off, then why do you mourn her so much when my sister is lying in hospital, her life hanging in the balance of the bloody doctors?!..."
"I've been so confused..." said Russ, nervously.
Mel sighed and stood up. "Russ, I really don't have time for your pathetic whining. You know we've all got problems..."
Russ looked up at her. "Like you and drink?"
Mel felt her face flush hot as she tried to remain calm. "Did. But now, I'm on top of it..."
He nodded. "That's good to know."
Mel sat back down next to Russ. "Why do you need my help? I'm the last person anyone would go to help for."
He turned towards her. "I need you to tell me something."
She looked at him, her voice impatient. "What?"
He sighed. "Did...did Sophie love me?"
Mel shook her head, angrily. "You don't deserve anything from her! You cheated on her!"
"I know." said Russ, his voice wobbly with emotion. "And I've paid for my guilt in my own ways..."
Mel looked at Russ, her eyes relentless and angry. "Well, do you know what, Russ? Yes, she loved you. Very much. She was crazy about you. But you treated her like something you scraped off your shoe..."
"I didn't mean to..." said Russ, his voice filled with sadness and regret.
Mel closed her eyes. "Yeah, well. It's a good job I haven't told her about Mercedes. Otherwise she'd kill you."
"She doesn't know?" asked Russ, his voice brightening up.
She shook her head. "No. But that doesn't mean when she wakes up that she won't ever find out...That's for you to tell her."
Russ nodded and for the first time, he smiled properly. "And I will. I really will. I love Sophie, with all my heart..."
"Loved her so much you haven't been able to see her?" replied Mel, cynically.
"I did see her. Once. But the sight of her there...it just broke my heart..."
"Yeah well, it's been harder for us. Her family. How the hell do you think we feel? Being told that she probably won't wake up...But at least we still see her." said Mel, her voice crackly.
Russ looked up at Mel, confused. "But you said that she was gonna wake up anytime soon?"
Mel looked away into the distance. "Yeah, well, that's just what doctors think. They don't have ten times the amount of faith that I have in her...She never gave up on me, so why should I give up on her?"
There was a moment of silence between the two of them as they sat together. Even though they were on the same bench, they felt as if they were miles apart from each other. Mel looked at Russ. His face looked heartbroken and she could tell that this was clearly affecting him. She shut her eyes and looked down at the floor. What right did she have to deny her sister the man she loved?
"Russ, if you really love her, then you go tell her yourself..." sighed Mel.
"I can visit her?" asked Russ, his face eager with anticipation.
Mel nodded and stood up, buttoning her coat. "Yes. But once she wakes up, I don't want you in her life...:"
He looked back at her as if she had shot him with a gun. "But you said..."
"Sophie doesn't need you anymore. She doesn't need you messing her around." replied Mel, her voice monotone.
Russ looked at Mel pleading her with his eyes. "But she's all I've got left..."
Mel shook her head. "Not my problem. You should have thought about that before you cheated on my sister."
"Mel, please..." cried Russ.
But before Russ could say anymore, Mel had already left, leaving him alone on the park bench - with just the memories and him and Sophie filling his mind...
Justin
Justin stood in Drive n' Buy, looking at his list that his mum had given him. Milk, eggs, cereal, yoghurts... The list went on. He stood looking at all the neat items stacked on the shelf and aimlessly picked a box of cereal off the shelf into the basket and walked towards the refrigerated shelves. He picked up some more items and shoved them carelessly into the basket and made his way towards the till, thinking about trivial things, such as his next shift at Il Gnosh, another hospital visit, whether he had enough money to help his mum pay the electricity bill...
He unpacked his basket onto the counter for Gilly to scan and swipe. Gilly stared at Justin, who was looking into his wallet, checking to see whether he had that vital crumpled tenner that he needed to pay for the groceries...
"You alright there, mate?" asked Gilly, his face sympathetic.
Justin looked up at him. Gilly's expression was exactly the same as everyone else's whenever they saw him. Sympathetic. At first, Justin had found it comforting - an ease to know that people cared. But now, he was sick of it. Everyone was doing it. Tony made the same face when he asked for more shifts at Il Gnosh. Jack had made the same face when he had ordered his second pint at the Dog last night - not that it did any good...
"Fine. Why shouldn't I be?" he answered back, in typical teenage Justin mode - the tone he used to use on his mum when he really couldn't be bothered to answer her stupid questions.
Gilly looked away and continued to swipe the items, taking the hint. He packed the goods away into bags and punched some numbers into the tills. "That'll be eleven pound forty nine..."
Justin delved his hands into his pockets and started to dig around for some change. He felt his throat close up as he felt just the fabric lining of his trouser pocket. He carefully put the tenner down on the counter and pretended everything was normal. Gilly looked up at him as Justin began to search is back pockets, hoping that they'd be a spare two pound coin lurking about...
"Justin, it doesn't matter, you can pay it back later..." said Gilly, as Justin continued to search his pockets.
"No!" answered Justin, hastily. "I can pay now..."
He felt his body temperature rise as he tried to think about where to get the extra money. There was no way he could just accept Gilly's offer - he may have been in desperate times, but if there was one thing standing in the way of accepting other people's help, it was his pride...
"I'll pay the extra bit of cash..." came a voice from behind Justin.
Justin exhaled heavily. "I said I'm fine..."
As he turned around, it was none other than Becca Dean standing behind him. She gave him a small smile and put down a two pound coin on the counter. Gilly took it and rang up the till. Justin felt his throat swallow up. The love of his life was standing before him, looking immaculate. Her blonde hair was neatly styled, wearing a smart black coat and shiny patent shoes. She looked better than ever...
"Becca..." stammered Justin, unable to speak.
"Justin" sighed Becca and she looked at him sympathetically. "How are you?"
Justin stared back at her. Like all the others, she was full of sympathy. But instead of being annoyed like he was with most people, he felt his heart melt as he knew she was geniuine.
"Stupid question..." sighed Becca.
"No no..." said Justin, shaking his head. "I'm...getting there..."
Becca nodded and smiled. "Good, that's nice to hear."
Justin took the bags off the counter and stood to the side of the shop, feeling nervous as ever as he talked to Becca.
"Listen...thanks..." said Justin, clearing his throat. "For helping me out, with the money..."
"Not at all..." smiled Becca "You looked like you needed some help..."
"Am I that obvious?" said Justin and he smiled up at Becca.
The two of them looked at each other and awkwardly exchanged looks.
"You look nice..." said Justin, surveying Becca from top to bottom.
Becca nodded. "Thanks. I've got a new job."
Justin felt his face light up. "Really? That's fantastic..."
She shrugged. "Well, It's just office work. But it pays the bills, so I can't complain..."
"How's Charlie?" asked Justin, a question that had been aching on his mind for so long.
Becca smiled. "He's great. He's with Nancy at the moment. He's getting bigger every day."
Justin smiled sadly. "That's...that's great..."
"How is Sophie? Has she woken up yet?" asked Becca, concerned.
Justin swallowed hard. "No. Still no change. Doctors say she's deteriorating..."
Becca's face crumpled. "Justin, I'm so sorry to hear that. How's your Mum and Mel coping?"
He sighed. "Mum is...well, putting on a front. I don't think she really wants to accept the fact that things aren't changing. And Mel...she's pretty much in denial of it all..."
She nodded. "I can't imagine what that's like. But I'll be thinking of you all..."
"Thanks. That means a lot" replied Justin, honestly.
"Listen, Justin. Do you want to come round sometime? I dunno, for dinner, or something. Help take your mind off things..." asked Becca, her voice caring and loving.
Justin felt the butterflies in his stomach flutter faster. "Sure. I mean, only if you want to..."
She smiled. "No, that's fine. How about Friday?"
Justin nodded, hoping not to look too eager. "Friday sounds good, yeah."
"I'll make spaghetti bolognese. It's the only thing I can properly cook well." added Becca, with a nervous laugh.
"Sounds great. My favourite." nodded Justin.
Becca looked at her watch. "Right, I better go before Charlie wakes up demanding food..."
"No, that's fine..." agreed Justin, "I better go too. I have to get this back for my mum..."
"Take care..." smiled Becca and she turned on her heels and out of the shop door.
"Bye..." waved Justin and he watched as she walked away...
He opened the door up and looked up at the sky...
Maybe things weren't all so bad after all...
The Loft
"See anyone you like?" asked Marie, peering over at the bar and then looking at Calvin with a grin.
The two of them were on the top floor of the Loft at the bar, Calvin with his soda water and Marie with her barcadi and coke. Marie was wearing a new silky patterned white and black flower knee-length dress which she had bought on her shopping trip from the Trafford Centre. She saw it on the rail of one of her favourite shops and although had made a dent in her bank account, she knew she had to have it... along with two pairs of jeans, a new pair of high heels and two tops. Meanwhile Calvin had bought a new Ted Baker shirt and spent the rest of the time giving verdicts on clothes for Marie...
Calvin looked round at the women around him and then back at the women around the bar. Most of the women looked the same - platinum blonde, orange-tanned WAG wannabes, dressed in tiny shorts that could fit nine-year olds...
"Oh...nah..." said Calvin, shaking his head.
"Oh come on!" sighed Marie and grinned. "There's some nice girls in here! How about...that one?"
Calvin looked round to where Marie was looking at. "Where?"
"The girl in the pink dress with blonde hair." said Marie, quietly and she motioned towards the edge of the bar.
He looked over at her and studied her for a second before looking back over at Marie.
"She's alright, I guess." shrugged Calvin and took a sip of his soda water.
Marie rolled her eyes. "Go and say hello!"
"No..." laughed Calvin.
"Okay...so you're a brunette man..." said Marie, still peering. "How about the tall tanned one at the bar?"
Calvin looked over to see a woman in a silver sequin dress, chatting to another bloke. He looked at her again and then suddenly burst out laughing. Marie stared at him, perplexed...
"What's so funny?" asked Marie, looking at Calvin, who was practically in stitches.
"Oh you..." laughed Calvin and he leaned in and motioned Marie to come closer. "You do know that's a man in drag?..." he whispered.
"Really?" gasped Marie and she looked over discreetly. "Oh! So it is...Wow! He really does look like a woman! I really need to get out more..."
"Easy mistake to make..." said Calvin, who was trying to hide the laughter.
Marie took a sip of her drink. "Is it me or is it really busy in here?"
Calvin looked round. "I think it's some promotional drinks night. They've got all the students in here."
Marie's eyes widened. "Oh god...I will be a student. That's scary!..."
"No, but you'll be a mature student." smiled Calvin.
She laughed. "That just makes me sound like a right old boffin! When I'm clearly not..."
Marie took another sip of her drink and then looked back at Calvin, who was staring at her intently. Marie looked at his eyes and realised he was looking at her shoulder. She looked at her shoulder and then looked back at him.
"What?" asked Marie, looking at her shoulder. She then looked down at her dress. "Is it my dress?"
"No no, it's nothing..." said Calvin, still peering over by her shoulder.
"No, seriously, what is it?" asked Marie, starting to get worried.
"There's a guy staring at you." said Calvin, somberly.
Marie looked over her shoulder to see a group of lads behind her. A bloke in a blue shirt with blonde hair and green eyes smiled at her and raised his beer bottle at her. Marie smiled at him and then looked back at Calvin.
"Oh yeah. So there is..." shrugged Marie, "He doesn't mean any harm."
"Looks like an idiot to me." muttered Calvin and he took a huge gulp of his soda water.
"He doesn't look so bad..." said Marie. "But maybe you're right. What I don't need is another idiot in my life. I've had too many of them before..."
"Don't be so down on yourself..." said Calvin, patting her hand.
Marie sighed. "No, but it's true. Remember Adam?"
"Unfortunately." nodded Calvin.
Marie nodded. "See? Ultimate idiot. No, he was more like a psycho infact... God, I wonder what he's doing now. I haven't seen him in years...He's probably banged up again..."
Calvin was about to mention the time Adam came to visit, but decided against it. "Yeah, I wouldn't put it past him."
She sighed and stirred her straw in her empty glass and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, look at me. Reminiscing about my ex's. That's just sad..."
"Would another drink cheer you up?" smiled Calvin.
"Yes, please." nodded Marie.
Calvin got up and joined the very long line for drinks at the bar. Marie sighed and fiddled with her straw. She hugged her arms and looked at the people around her. There were lots of couples in the club and we're either locked in embraces dancing or practically eating each other's faces... Marie sighed and looked away. Thank god I'm not here alone...
She looked at the steps and the various people coming up them. Most of them she didn't recognise, until she saw a muscular man with blonde spiky hair come up the stairs, wearing a string vest, gold chains and a grey shirt with gold anchor patterns all over it, which had several flashing badges attached to it. Marie stared at him again, a familiar sense of deja vu creeping over her...
'God, he looks like he's time-traveled from the Seventies with that hideous shirt...or the whole outfit full stop. He looks a bit of a Del-boy actually...Where do I know him from? Oh, this is gonna bug me all night...It's a shame really as he's not bad looking...He just has terrible dress sense...'
The man clocked her gaze and winked at her. Marie smiled uneasily back at him and then turned around and felt herself tense up...
'Oh no!...He's seen me now...I can't run away, cause then he'll know...Oh jesus, he recgonises me...But I don't know his name!...Where's Calvin when you need him??...Oh no, please don't come over to me...'
He started walking over in her direction and Marie felt her brain go to mush as she tried to remember him...
"Well, hello, Marie..." smiled the man. He had several Happy Birthday badges on his shirt.
Marie put on a smile. "Hello..."
Mike? No. Steve? Don't think so...Alan? No...
She looked at his shirt and one of the badges saying 'Happy Birthday Darren!'
"Darren!" she smiled and hoped she'd got it right...
"That's my name, don't wear it out or I'll make you buy a new one..." grinned Darren.
"Wow, it's your birthday. Happy Birthday!" smiled Marie.
Darren did a mini-bow. "Thank-you. And where's my present?"
She looked up at him and hope he was joking. "Oh, I didn't know I had to get one..."
He grinned. "Joke. The very presence of you is all the birthday treat I need...So, what's a gorgeous girl like you doing here then?"
Ouch. I thought they banned chat-up lines like that! "Oh I'm just here with Calvin..." nodded Marie, hoping Calvin would make his entrance any minute.
Darren nodded and looked serious. "Ah, so you two are..."
"No no no! We're not together!" laughed Marie. "Just friends..."
"That's good..." smiled Darren.
"Why's that?" frowned Marie.
He swayed in closer. "Well, a beautiful girl like you tied down is a criminal injustice..."
Marie rolled her eyes and smiled. "Now there's a pick-line that aged about 26 years ago..."
Darren began to head towards the bar. "Well, if you change you're mind, I'll be on the dancefloor."
"Great! See ya..." smiled Marie.
Marie watched as he walked off to the bar and didn't notice Calvin come by with the drinks.
"Here you are..." smiled Calvin and he placed another glass of barcadi and coke down on the table along with a beer for him.
"Thank-you." she murmured, half-daydreaming.
"What did Darren Osborne want?" asked Calvin, defensively.
Marie shook her head. "Oh, nothing really. Just parading the fact that it's his birthday."
"I see." nodded Calvin and he leaned forward on the table. "So, Marie..."
She leaned forward closer. "Yes?"
"Can I ask you something? With all seriousness." announced Calvin, his face serious.
"'Course you can." smiled Marie.
He leaned forward and took her hand. "Do you..."
"Do I?" repeated Marie, her heart rattling in her chest as she waited for Calvin to tell her something important...
But just then, Calvin's phone began to ring, interrupting the tense atmosphere.
"Oh for god's sake..." cursed Calvin and he reached into his jean pocket and answered his phone. "Hello?"
Marie sat back in her chair as she watched Calvin's face crumple and sigh heavily.
"But it's my night off..." sighed Calvin. "Can't Kev take cover?"
There was a pause.
"Right. No, that's fine. See you there. Bye." sighed Calvin and he shut his phone and turned his attention back to Marie. "That was work, they want me to cover someone's shift."
"Oh, but we're having fun!" moaned Marie, "When was the last time we did this?"
He sighed. "I know, I know. Anyway, I've got to go and get changed and go to the station. Will you be alright?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll finish my drink and then I'll go home, watch TV and then go to bed..."
"Sounds cosy. Anway, I'll see you tomorrow." said Calvin, sadly.
"Calvin?" called Marie as he put on his jacket and left his untouched beer behind.
"Yeah?"
"What were you gonna ask me?" smiled Marie.
Calvin shook his head and kissed Marie on the top of her head. "Doesn't matter. Tell you tomorrow. Bye."
Marie waved as she watched Calvin fade away into the sea of crowded people, leaving her alone at the table, with her and two untouched drinks. She sighed and took her drink and started to polish it off.
'So here I am. Alone again. It's like being at home, except it's crowded, hot and there's a bar and music...'
"See Mr. Valentine ditched you." said Darren, pointing to the empty chair.
Marie turned to see Darren standing beside her and she sighed.
"Work." sighed Marie. "Or something like that."
"Now, that's a crime leaving a pretty girl on her own. He should arrest himself for doing that to you!" said Darren, giving a cheeky grin.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." said Marie, rolling her eyes playfully.
"So, why don't you join us?" asked Darren, pointing to the stairs.
Marie looked up at Darren, intrigued. "You've got others with you?"
He smiled. "Oh just the usual. Me, Tony, Dom, Max, OB...Don't worry they won't bite."
She felt her stomach flip over as she heard his name. "Oh, I dunno..."
"Oh come on." pleaded Darren, pulling up a chair. "I need cheering up. You seem like a girl who knows a good time when she sees one..."
Marie laughed. "Hardly. I was gonna go home..."
"Oh come on. We've got drinks..." egged Darren.
Marie smiled. "Oooh, tempting, but..."
"But?" continued Darren.
"I don't think some of them like me" she sighed.
"Like who?" asked Darren, frowning.
"Like..." said Marie, her sentence trailing as she tried to get his name out.
"Ah. OB." nodded Darren, sympathetically.
"How did you guess?" asked Marie, shocked.
"Oh, he likes you alright." said Darren, surveying Calvin's untouched beer.
"Are you sure we're talking about the same person here?" asked Marie, puzzled.
"Well, how about I stay here and keep you company?" said Darren, giving one of his trademark easy smiles that Marie was beginning to like.
Marie shook her head. "No, don't be silly. You've got your mates with you."
Darren laughed. "They're not really in the party spirit. It's like being with the Addams family with them lot."
"You've noticed too?" said Marie and Darren smiled.
"I like fun people." said Darren, adamantly.
"Me too." nodded Marie.
"So, how about that drink? And we can talk about other things we like too..." toyed Darren.
She sighed. "Alright. But just one. I have work in the morning."
"Fine by me." grinned Darren. "I'll just let the others down."
Marie watched as he went downstairs and as soon as he was out of sight, she buried her head in her arms and let herself smile...
'Okay, okay, okay...I know. I'm very bad. I know I shouldn't even be drinking with him, because he has the worst chat-up lines in history and he reeks of aftershave and he's not my type, but hey, it's like the Dr. Pepper ad - What's the worst that could happen? One drink won't hurt, right?'
"Where have you been? I feel like I've aged 26 more years just sitting here!" moaned Tony as Darren resurfaced from the bar.
Darren grinned as he did a little dance and hummed to himself as the others watched in bemusement.
"What's got into you?" asked OB, bemused.
"Sorry, guys, but I've pulled." smiled Darren, winking.
"Didn't take you very long! What did you do? Kidnap her??" laughed Tony.
"Well, that's the Osborne charm for you!" grinned Darren.
"Hang on, I thought we were celebrating your birthday..." frowned OB.
Darren sighed happily. "Well, I am. But the party just got private, if you catch my drift..."
"But what about us?" asked Dom. "We got you a beer!"
"Ta very much..." said Darren as he picked up the beer and shrugged. "I dunno. Go home if you want."
"Oh thanks, Darren!" moaned Max, sarcastically. "You promise us a good night out and now you're ditching us!
"Sorry! Early bird catches the worm." laughed Darren. "And anyway, it's not as if you're all enjoying yourselves!"
"We might be!" replied Max, folding his arms.
Darren laughed and rolled his eyes. "Really? On Mars?!"
Max sighed. "Alright, but we might be just...warming up!"
"Anyway, I'm still going."
OB folded his arms in protest. "We're your friends! You're not supposed to ditch us for a girl! And anyway, who is she?"
"Errr...no-one you know." replied Darren, sheepishly. "But you see, she is more fun than you people are. And she's in a party mood! So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and celebrate my birthday..."
"We'll get you a cake if you stay!" pleaded Dom. "Won't we guys?"
"Nah. Gotta watch my physique!" smiled Darren as he lifted up his top to show off his muscles.
"Show-off..." muttered Max, as he sipped his beer.
"Well, I'm going home then..." said Dom, finishing his beer. "I've got Tina waiting at home for me..."
"How I envy you..." replied Darren, sarcastically.
"I'm going home too..." agreed Tony. He looked at Max and OB. "Fancy coming back to mine for a few beers?"
"Yeah, why not?" said Max, looking at OB for an answer.
OB nodded, taking a swig of beer. "Go on then...seeing as Darren is ditching us..."
"Well, thanks for coming, lads" said Darren, rubbing his hands. "It's been a brilliant night, but for me, it's going to get so much better..."
"Yeah yeah yeah..." said OB, sarcastically.
Mel
Mel was sat in her usual spot in Sophie's hospital room, while she read a magazine and kept watch on Sophie. For Mel, this was a daily ritual: she would sit by Sophie's bed every day from four till six in the afternoon or from eight till ten in the evening and watch Sophie in case she woke up, just so she could prove the doctors wrong. Her mum came with her nearly every day, but seeing as she was starting her new job soon, it would just be Mel on her own. Justin visited every other day in his lunch hour, but would stay later at weekends...
It was half nine already and Mel had half an hour left before one of the nurses told her to go home. She looked at Sophie, who was still as peaceful as ever, despite the loud whirring of her machines. Every day, Mel would talk to Sophie about what had went on in the day, but Mel couldn't quite bring herself to tell her about her meeting with Russ...
She held Sophie's hand as she flicked through a magazine aimlessly: still lost for words over what to say to Sophie. Even though she wasn't talking, Mel knew that her being there was helping Sophie - and herself - both physically and emotionally. Mel felt better already knowing that she was with Sophie - she even stopped feeling sick when she was around her...
"I see Amy Winehouse is in hospital again..." said Mel, reading aloud from the magazine. "They think she has some sort of heart condition..."
Mel looked up at Sophie. Still nothing. It was like performing infront of an empty stage, except Mel knew that deep down, Sophie was listening.
"At least I'm not as bad as Amy, eh?" said Mel, with a laugh, hoping Sophie would laugh too - even though she probably wouldn't have found it funny.
Suddenly the door opened and Mel turned her head. It was Russ, carrying a boquet of roses. Mel stared at him. He'd had a shave, cleaned himself up, put himself in a smart shirt and trousers and his hair had been cut...
"Hi..." smiled Russ.
Mel got up angrily from her chair. "What are you doing here?" she hissed quietly. "And how did you know to come at this time??"
"You said I could visit. I phoned the hospital and checked the visiting times." said Russ, and he gazed over at Sophie. "Any change?"
Mel sighed. "No. But that's not the point. You shouldn't be here!"
"Please, Mel." pleaded Russ, "I just wanted to see her."
Mel looked at Sophie and then back at Russ. "Alright. But I'm staying in the room. If she wakes up, I want to be here..."
Russ nodded and he pulled up an extra chair and held the flowers in his lap. He looked at Sophie, silently, as if he was mesmerized by her. Mel sat down on her chair next to him, watching him closely.
"Can I talk to her?" asked Russ, turning to Mel.
Mel nodded. "She can hear us, you know. But don't make her upset..."
Russ turned his attention back to Sophie. "Hi, Soph. How you doing?"
He looked at Sophie, hoping for some sort of response, but all that filled the room was the noise of her machines. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"I'm not very good at this..." sighed Russ and he ran his hands through his shortened hair.
Mel sighed. "Just...talk to her like you normally would. She can't talk back, but just tell her stuff. Like what you've been up to."
"Okay..." said Russ and he took Sophie's delicate hand in his and he smiled at her.
"Soph..." he began, "I know you can hear me. So I just want to say I'm sorry, really. I'm sorry for not visiting more. I know I should have done, but...well you know me, I'm really useless when it comes to these things...But at least Mel's kept you company and I'm grateful for that..."
Mel gave Russ a small smile.
"But I just want you to know, that...I love you. And that I'll never stop loving you." said Russ, tears welling up in his eyes. "And that I'm sorry...for not telling you that sooner..."
Mel looked over at Russ and felt a stab of guilt hit her heart. She took his hand in hers and held it tightly. He looked at her and she looked at him back. It was the least she could do to make him feel better.
"She will wake up, Russ..." nodded Mel. "And when she does, you can tell her that for real..."
"But how do you know that?" asked Russ, his voice choked up with emotion.
"I just do..." smiled Mel. "Cause she's a fighter."
Russ and Mel looked at each other and then back at Sophie. Although they would never really see eye to eye, they had one thing in common: they both loved Sophie.
Marie
Marie knew she was drunk.
As she finished off her umpt-teenth glass of Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 1997, she felt her head go woozy with dizziness. Darren was sat beside her, sipping on his beer and he laughed as she put her glass down hard on the table, only for the bottom of the wine glass to come off...
"Whoopsadaisy..." hiccupped Marie.
"You are drunk..." laughed Darren.
"No, I am most definitely not, Mr. Osborne..." smiled Marie, putting on a best posh accent. "But we seem to have run out of wine..."
"That is because you have finished it, Miss Roberts..." smiled Darren, imitating her accent.
Marie picked up the wine bottle and tipped it upside down. "So it may seem..."
"Now, there is one game we must play when we are both as drunk as...we are" announced Darren.
"And that is?..." laughed Marie.
"The Truth Game!" smiled Darren and he added an evil laugh.
"Noooo!" protested Marie. "I HATE the Truth Game!"
"Oh come on..." pleaded Darren, "I am the Birthday Master, you must do as I say!"
Marie sighed and then looked back at Darren. "Alrighty..."
"Right..." smiled Darren. "Ok...My go...Where is the weirdest place you have had sex?"
Marie looked up to the ceiling and sighed. "I can't think..."
Darren laughed "Well, it's gotta be something other than a bed..."
Marie sighed again and racked her brains. "Okay then...in a car in the woods..."
"Went for a little outwood bound experience, did we?" smirked Darren. "Who with and where..."
"I'm not telling you that!" laughed Marie. "Now, it's my turn..."
"Do your worst!..." said Darren, waving his hands about.
"Okay..." said Marie, tapping her head. "Have you ever...kissed a guy?"
"Is that your worst?!" coughed Darren, as he sipped his beer.
"I don't know!" laughed Marie. "Have you?"
"My dear, I am a ladies man, not a lady boy..." said Darren, putting his arm around her. "I bat for one team..."
"I see. How very...masculine of you!"
"My turn..." smiled Darren. "Now...do you find me attractive?"
Marie began to laugh and she buried her head in her arms and laughed.
"I'm serious!" said Darren, looking at Marie.
Marie sat up and looked at Darren and placed a finger on his chest. You are very very...vexy..."
"Vexy?" frowned Darren.
"I meant to say sexy but it came out as vexy..." giggled Marie.
Darren put a finger under Marie's chin and lifted it up to study her face. "Well, you my dear, are very vexy too...but you are also very drunk..."
"I'm not drunk!" scoffed Marie, her speech slurred. "I've only had two glasses of wine...and some...Lambrini!"
"Are you sure that's two and not ten??" smiled Darren.
Marie ran two fingers up Darren's chest and looked at him. "So...what do Mr Osborne want for his birthday?"
Darren put down his beer. "Oooh, let me think...a Ferrari, a two week stay in Rio..."
"Anything else?" asked Marie.
He moved closer towards her so his breath tickled her face. "Well, there is something else. Which involves you, my dear."
"And what is that?..." smiled Marie, batting her eyelashes playfully.
He leaned in towards her and he kissed her firmly on the mouth. Taken aback, Marie opened her eyes. The beat of the music was pulsating through her and she couldn't remember the last time someone had kissed her like that. The alcohol washed over her senses and she closed her eyes and let herself relax and began to kiss him back. Before she knew it, his hands were wandering her body and trying to get up her dress. She moved his hand away, but before she could say anything, his hand began crawling from her leg, to her thigh, up to her waist, her chest...
'This is going too fast...Way too fast...I don't think I'm ready...Where is his hand going? Oh no, please don't do that...I can't do this...'
She broke away from the kiss.
"No no..." murmured Darren, kissing her neck. "Don't stop. I was enjoying that."
She looked up at him and sighed. "I've got to go..."
"Don't go. Come back with me to the Dog. I can think of something very fun we can do together..." as he caressed her arm
"You're right..." she smiled. "I am drunk. I need to sober up. And plus I'm starting work in the morning..."
She moved out of his clutch and she began gathering her things.
"So...let's be drunk together..." teased Darren.
Marie looked at him and she kissed him on the cheek. "Happy Birthday Darren...Thank-you for the company..."
Darren looked up at her as she stood up. "Well, can I see you again?"
Marie shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "Maybe..."
She picked up her handbag and started to make her way down the stairs, but before she could do anything, her ankle gave way and she fell over, hitting her chin hard on the floor...
"Owww..." moaned Marie.
A few people knelt down to her and asked if she was okay. Marie slowly lifted herself up using her arms. Her ankle was in agony and her chin was red raw from hitting the floor. She felt someone lift her up off the ground...
"Come on..." came a voice.
She moaned in pain as someone lifted her up and began carrying her down the stairs of the Loft, whilst people watched.
She looked around as she saw herself going backwards. She could smell aftershave, so she knew it was a man who had picked her up.
"Darren, I'm okay..." she sighed, closing her eyes. "I don't need to be carried."
"I'm not Darren..." came the voice again.
"Oh?" she sighed and she looked behind her to see none other than OB carrying her out of the nightclub.
"Oh! OB! Ah, what are you doing here??" she smiled, peering round at his face as he carried her.
"I came to look for my wallet..." said OB, his voice stony somber. "So I came looking for Darren and I found you on the floor..."
"Oh..." nodded Marie. "It's ok...You can... put me down now..."
"No. I'm taking you home..." sighed OB and they were outside now and he was carrying her slowly down the steps of The Loft.
"On your valiant...stead?" giggled Marie with a hiccup.
"I'm taking you home before you do something you will seriously regret..." said OB, his voice bitter.
"I was having FUN!" sighed Marie. "You know? F-U-N! Dancing...and...drinking!"
They had finally got down the black iron-wrought steps and he put her back down on her feet. She looked at him as he knelt down on the floor and looked at her ankle. His face looked somber - not saying a word...
"How's your ankle?" he asked, touching it.
"It hurts..." she sighed.
"Can you walk?" he asked again.
Marie began to take a few steps forward, tottering in her black high-heeled shoes, but as she did, she yelled in pain as her ankle felt like it was on fire.
"I guess not, then..." sighed OB. "Put your arm over my shoulder..."
Marie did as she was told and he helped her hobble across the street, supporting her weight. They walked along for a good few minutes without saying anything to each other. Marie looked at him, his eyes looking straight forward, not even batting an eyelid at her...
"Why do you...hate me?" sighed Marie.
"If I hated you, Marie, you'd still be on the floor..." answered OB, bluntly.
"You know what you are?" said Marie, looking at him. "You are like...water. Very cold water. One minute, I think you're warming up, but still, you are icy cold...''
OB said nothing as they continued to walk.
"Where's Calvin?" he asked, ignoring her remark.
"Now, Calvin...is a very...very...lovely man." smiled Marie, her mind fuzzy. "Now, he is a...very...very important man. He is a hero. He rescues cats...from trees. How heroic is that?"
"Very..." replied OB, sarcastically. "And what a hero he is leaving you to get drunk in a club..."
"Excuse...me!" demanded Marie, "But I can look after myself!"
"Clearly..." said OB, rolling his eyes.
"But I must thank you anyway..." nodded Marie, her speech slurring. "You are a credit to... society...and to me. You know...I might just like you after all..."
He remained silent as they began to approach the city steps.
"I want...a Wee..." murmured Marie, groggily.
OB shook his head. "Right, I'm not taking you to the toilet..."
"No!" giggled Marie, "Not Wee. I mean Wii! The game console. You promised to teach me."
"So I did..." sighed OB.
"But now you don't like me... again!" retorted Marie.
"It's not that..." said OB, shaking his head.
"Then what?" asked Marie, as she stopped hobbling on one leg and she looked at him square in the eye. "What is it?"
OB looked at her, still saying nothing...
"Do you fancy me or something?? Is that why you're avoiding me?" laughed Marie.
He looked at her and then looked away again...
Marie looked at him and her eyes widened. "Oh...my god, you do!! I knew it!"
He sighed. "I never said that..."
She giggled. "Yes, you do! You have a crush on me! You want to hug me...You want to hold me...You want to kiss me..."
His face became angry and he held her square by the shoulders forcefully. "Why would I fancy you? Someone who deliberately gets drunk because they have nothing better to do in their life, acts dumb, drapes herself around someone who pays her the slightest bit of attention and tries to jump into bed with them because she thinks she's talented..."
He let go of her shoulders, leaving Marie shocked by his outburst. She stood still, not knowing what to say, but every word that he had said was now whizzing round her mind like a washing machine stuck on spin. It was as if he had slapped her hard in the face...
"Oh..." said Marie, not knowing what else to say.
He looked back at her, his face softening, but as he tried to come near her, she stepped away, looking back at him, with tears in her eyes...
"Marie..."
She felt her stomach tighten and she felt like she was going to be sick. She felt the sting of tears brimming to her eyes and she tried to force them back in again...
'Don't cry, Marie. Don't give him the satisfaction...'
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and she looked at him, fury rising up inside her. "Glad to know what you finally think..."
"I...I didn't mean it..." said OB and he tried to come near her again.
"Yeah, well. You said it. And do you know what? Think what you like, alright? 'Cause this was my first night out in ages and you know, I just wanted to have fun without having to sit around at home all the time, crying! And I was having fun. But it turns out, I was just kidding myself. As per usual. But ask yourself this. Why are you even hanging around me if you don't even like me? Hmm?"
OB stared at her, silent as she walked closer towards him, all the bitterness forcing its way out...
"That's the biggest riddle of all! Maybe its because you're a very sad man who has nothing better to do than follow me around like a lost puppy and then snarl at me because I don't give you a bloody bone!" She shouted, venomously. "I may be sad, but then that makes you even sadder if you choose to hang around me!..."
She was close to him now that she could see his face clearly.
"So, do me a favour and piss off home, alright? I don't need you around me! I didn't ask for you to take me home and to insult me! You're like poison! Cause you are nothing but an ugly, bad-tempered, moody, foul-mouthed loser!! So go home and do whatever it is you do...Go stalk some other girl!..."
He looked at her, his face ashamed and hurt. She sucked in her breath and fought hard not to cry.
He took one last look at her and started to head off in a different direction, leaving her behind at the bottom of the city steps...
Marie watched as she saw him disappear off into the night. She looked at the stairs infront of her and put her good foot in front of the other and onto the first step. She held on tightly to the stone as she dragged her bad ankle up the step, feeling the pain as she walked up each step. As she began to slowly walk up the step, she felt the tears escape from her eyes and drip down her face. She forced her ankle to get up each step and as the pain got worse, the more tears came tumbling down. By the time she had made it half-way up the steps, she was sobbing...
She carried on, moving slowly whilst trying to silence her tears. She finally made it up the top of the steps and tried not to fall back. She limped across to the front door of the Valentine's and she reached into her handbag for her key. She cried harder as she tried to find the key and as she found it, she pushed it in hard and opened the door and quickly let herself in...
She closed the door behind her and collapsed to the floor, crying. She buried her face in her knees and sobbed fat tears...
She cried over everything. Her life. The way she was. The way she acted...
She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, mascara all over her hand. She stood up, holding onto the door handle as she lifted herself up. She hobbled across to the stairs and forced herself to walk the whole way up: ignoring the searing pain of her ankle.
She made her way into the bathroom and locked the door shut. She stared at herself in the mirror, turning her head away as she studied her image. She looked down at the floor and picked up her washbag and tipped it up, scattering the contents onto the floor...
She looked at herself in the mirror. She wiped her eyes again and sighed.
It was time to change...
End of Chapter
A/N: Apologies again for my lateness! I made this one very long cause it was meant to be two chapters, but I rolled it into one! Please R+R! Thankyou! xxxxxxxx