Even though I know the plan is a stupid one, and getting stupider with each passing moment, I don't want to abandon it. For this reason I am sitting here and looking stubborn and annoyed. So far it's working. LeBeau hasn't said anything too me, yet.
Actually, he's sitting with his back to the trunk of the tree, one leg dangling down from the branch and the other crooked at the knee with his foot resting on the branch in front of him. He looks supremely relaxed, catlike. It's fucking irritating and it's helping me to maintain stubborn and annoyed.
Personally, my arms are folded in front of me, my right hand is folded under my coat into my left armpit, protecting my extra sensitive finger ends. My feet both rest on the branch in front of me, my knees are bent high enough that they provide warmth. From the outside this would look like a typically defensive posture. It isn't though, honest, at least part of it is caused by the fact that the gathering darkness is getting increasingly cold. It's not like it was a warm day to start with.
As time passes the colour is bleached from the world and the view from the tree becomes increasingly foreshortened. Remy doesn't move. I wonder if he is in some sort of a trance. Either that or meditating. I do move. Trees are not comfortable to sit in for more than about ten minutes and I can tell from the muscles in my back and my bum that I have been here for over an hour. Of course, we could leave entirely, but something in my hind brain still doesn't want to. I've always been ruled by my hind brain - probably because my fore brain is fucking useless. Of course my hind brain can't be any great shakes either since I am currently sitting in a tree... This thought is interrupted by a prickle down my wrist that tells me my arm has been still for too long and it makes me sigh. He glances towards me and offers a small, sympathetic smile.
He still doesn't speak.
"Fine," I say. "Okay, look, I know it was dumb. I'm sorry. There are obviously more sensible things we could have done. There are more sensible things we should be doing right now. Okay? I know, alright? So just shut up, okay?"
"Don' stress, fille," he tells me, still keeping his voice low. I didn't bother. I mean I didn't shout or anything but the Gardens have been closed for hours and I can't really see the point of whispering any more. I thinks he just trying to sound sexy. "Remy tinks we should stay 'ere. We can move at eleven if not'ing 'appens befo' den."
"Huh?" I say. To say I was surprised would be understating things.
"Remy's go' a feelin'," he tells me, complacently. "'E always listens to 'is feelin's. Remy tinks we stay. We give it 'til eleven, eleven-thir'y."
Well I suppose that part, at least, makes sense. It will be no surprise to anyone to see two idiots climbing walls at that time in the evening. That's when most of the pubs are shutting. People are expected to be idiots.
"Sure," I reply. "We can get a room and make some calls." I peer down at my watch. Four more hours. Fucking brilliant idea, Jay. Jeez.
We go back to the silence. He goes back to the complete stillness. I unfold my arms and swing them gently, encouraging the blood to flow and trying to wake the nerves without whimpering audibly. At least he can't see me clearly so I can grimace all I want. Small mercies.
Once I know the nerves are going to wake up, and the tingling is subsiding I look over towards him again. "You got a cigarette?" I ask.
He looks at me as if surprised. "Dat's goin' to draw attention," he tells me. I shrug and he tosses me his packet.
"Ta," I say shaking one out, lighting it, tossing it back. I smoke fast, not really inhaling. I didn't really want a cigarette.
"Wha' you doin, fille?" he asks, watching me.
"Word magic," I tell him. "First time Mick caught Martin and I smoking, we were sitting in a tree." He laughs and shakes his head. I shrug. "You've let me do stupider things already today," I tell him.
"You just gonna try an' put dis whole ting on Remy, aren' you, fille?" he asks, but he's grinning.
"I don't see anyone else around here," I reply. He shakes his head again, still grinning. Then, for the first time in over an hour he moves.
He swings himself up onto his feet on the top of his branch and leans up and across towards mine. He steps easily and gracefully onto my branch and then crouches in front of me.
"You wanna see some word magic?" Remy asks me.
What can I tell you? I'm the curious type. "Okay," I reply. He leans forward and lifts my chin.
"Okay," he says. Then he kisses me. Right there on the mouth. Right there in the tree. Who would have thunk it. I'm sitting in a tree being kissed by Remy LeBeau. I'll probably get a cold sore.
From below I hear a soft cough.
"Put her down, LeBeau, you don't know where she's been," my brother says.
"Wow," I say when he does.
"Nice job," I tell him, and in case the meaning wasn't clear I add; "It worked."
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Okay, sorry for the delay, it was caused by a general lack of internet access. This problem is about to gt a lot worse as I am about to move to Africa for two years for work... I don't know how bad the internet problem is going to be , but given my luck in the UK is pretty appalling I'm not expecting miracles. So I'm sorry if updates become increasingly rare - I will try (and obviously will be encouraged by reveiws... What? I'm only human). Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed the story so far... postgate