Dudley's Mattress Adventures
For the great Houses competition, round eight.
House: Slytherin
Position: Herbology
Category: Standard
Prompt: Springs (object)
Word Count: 1869 (Story's length)
Betas: Aya, Emma Warnings: Slight OOC behaviour for child Dudley, not I believe for him as an adult, especially with a few years of getting used to the world.
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Dudley Dursley allowed his shoulders to slump forward as he pulled up in front of Land of Beds, looking at the building as though he wished it would turn into something else: like McDonald's. He thought that would be so much better. Dudley glanced at himself in the rear-view mirror, wincing. To put it mildly, he was a mess. Dudley looked like someone who had slept on a park bench. He hoped he didn't run into his parents today: they would throw a fit at the sight of him.
He had been in such a hurry to leave home today, he hadn't bothered to groom himself properly. His clothes had been thrown on, his short hair resembling a bird's nest.
Being a Thursday, a weekday, he was supposed to be at work now. But things had changed a mere couple of hours ago, thanks to his beloved Martina. It all started with his girlfriend of five years rudely waking him up, complaining about the new mattress, demanding he go and buy a new one yesterday.
"Dudders! Dudley! Wake up now!" his girlfriend, Martina cried, getting louder and louder. "Come on, you lazy lug! DUDLEY VERNON DURSLEY! WAKE THE HELL UP!" At least he was a sound sleeper, otherwise, she would have given him a heart attack screaming like that.
Dudley, being sound asleep, took a while to wake up enough to comprehend what was happening. He was still feeling extremely groggy and not all there, with a somewhat vacant expression and glassy eyes. "Huh?" He finally managed to get up, looking at Martina who looked ready to murder him.
"Don't 'huh' me! Get up now! This mattress will not do!" Martina glared. "I can feel the springs! They press into my back!"
"Springs?" Dudley questioned, feeling a bit more awake. "But, darling, I just—"
"I DON'T CARE!" she screamed, making Dudley cover his ears. She grabbed his closest hand, stopping him."I NEED A NEW BED NOW! ONE WHERE I CAN'T FEEL THE SPRINGS!"
"Get up," Dudley ordered, making a decision. She stared at him confusedly. "I want to feel your side. If I'm going to buy a new mattress, I want to check first."
"Fine," Martina agreed, albeit looking annoyed. She complied, though, which was something. She very rarely agreed to things like this, normally telling him to do it anyway.
Dudley rolled over onto her side, changing positions, trying to feel the springs. "Darling, it just feels like a bed. Maybe you aren't used to it, yet? It is a lot firmer than our last bed after all." He sat up.
"I DON'T CARE!" Martina growled, glaring at him. "Get me a new bed. Now. One without springs."
"Mattress Land is two hours away! I still do have the receipt, so maybe I can exchange it. I have to go to work—" Dudley started, but Martina would have none of it, telling him to go now.
After ten minutes of arguing and not getting anywhere, Dudley threw his hands up and gave up, ready to throw a fit, punch her, or cry.
Dudley tentatively rang up his work, explaining with a red face why he wasn't working today, not that the other man saw that. His boss had laughed at his dilemma, but he agreed to let him off for the day. So here Dudley was, outside the mattress shop, about to buy a bed without springs.
Dudley sat there for a few a while, taking a moment to collect himself. He hoped neither of the people he saw last time were here. This would end up being even more embarrassing if he was helped by the same girl or served by that same teller. Dudley was sure they both would get a good laugh at it, which was not something he wanted.
Finally, Dudley begrudgingly got out of the car, dread forming a pit in his stomach. It had been a bad experience last time, so this time was sure to be worse. He grabbed his wallet, which was tossed onto the passenger seat, before shutting the door, locking the car. He turned to Mattress Land, looking up at the big sign over the door.
After standing there for a few seconds, Dudley closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Dudley opened his eyes after a moment, feeling determined and finally having the courage to go in. Dudley strode forward through the shop doors, eager to get this over with.
Like every other time he had come into the shop, it was filled with mattresses. The staff were spread out all over, helping people or ready to help people. At the back, there were shelves packed with pillows, bedding and doonas, along with anything else one might need when buying a bed. In the doorway there were a few magazine-like things and a security man; the latter just in case someone tried to steal something. Dudley gave him a polite nod of hello.
Dudley looked around, trying to work out where to start. A salesperson would be best, he decided, shaking his head. How stupid he needed to think of that. He had started towards a bored-looking man nearby when someone spoke to him. Dudley yelped and turned around rapidly, seeing the girl who helped him the other week: Zoe. Dudley wondered why he hadn't heard her coming.
"Hey! I know that face!" she'd said brightly and loudly.
"Hello, Zoe," Dudley nodded, subdued, wanting to avoid this entire situation. If it had been acceptable, he would have groaned: she was the last person he wanted to see.
"How's the bed? Is there something wrong with it?" Zoe asked, tilting her head. "I can't see why: it's a damn good buy. I'm going to get one the same when I've saved the money."
"My girlfriend wants me to go and drive two hours here just to buy a new one because she doesn't like a bed that feels like a bed. She even left me to tell work why I can't come in today," Dudley moaned, all too happy to complain about his significant other. "You have no idea how mortified I felt telling my boss why! All because she can feel 'springs.' I tell you what, I couldn't feel any. It just feels like a firm bed."
"Really? You serious?" Zoe said, raising an eyebrow, her face shifting to bamboozlement. "Is she a crackpot?"
"Don't be mean! She's perfectly normal. But yes, I was being serious." Dudley nodded, averting his gaze from her, shuffling his feet with his feeble attempt of defending his girlfriend.
Dudley then admitted, feeling yet again (he recalled this last time) at ease with her, "Sometimes she really drives me insane. I'm not sure how much more I can take, to be honest. If something isn't perfect, she complains. If I look at her wrong, she complains. If I say the wrong thing, she complains again. This spring thing is the last straw, I swear. I am not sure how I can keep putting up with her." He grimaced. "I don't know what else to do, though. We've been together for five years, so it's hard."
"Then don't," Zoe told him, looking confused why he wasn't considering or hadn't decided to do this. "You don't have to put up with that."
"I would like to," Dudley admitted, looking down at the ground. "But I can't. My parents want me to marry her, saying she is the right sort. They are very picky, you know. They approve of her, love her. They'd be so upset if I left her, especially after all this time."
"Your parents have no right to decide who you marry," Zoe said instantly. "But there is something I'd suggest doing if you really insist on staying with her. It will make your life easier." She winked.
"Yes? I'm all ears," Dudley said, certainly listening now. Not to say he hadn't been before. "You are perhaps correct, though. Martina is getting to be too much, I need to do something about her."
"Well," Zoe said, grinning evilly, making Dudley shiver. Was she secretly a madwoman? She was certainly sporting a grin worthy of one. "If I were you, I'd turn around now, go home and tell her to either put up with the 'springs,' or pack her bags. Either way, it solves your problem."
Dudley considered this. Yes, her idea had merit and he couldn't help but like it nor could he send it away. "Maybe. If we can't make compromises, especially after spending a lot of money on a good bed—which she insisted on me getting—then our relationship is doomed." He nodded slowly.
"Good. Glad to see you are taking charge of your life at last." Zoe smiled. They stood in silence for a moment, with Dudley at least, unsure what to do or say now. He found himself wondering if she had a boyfriend.
"Thank you for your advice, Zoe," Dudley said, making a choice.
"No problem." Zoe smiled charmingly. "You seem nice: I like helping nice people in a spot."
"Well, I better go back and deal with my partner," Dudley said, finding himself unwilling to leave.
"Good luck," Zoe said, smiling sadly. She turned away. "If you ever want to chat, feel free to drop in," she called suggestively over her shoulder, turning to leave.
Dudley felt confused by her comment, but then it crossed his mind what she could mean. He had decided he was leaving Martina, as she would throw a fit if he returned without getting a new bed, and he was willing to bet she wouldn't let it go. Dudley wasn't going to give in, though: not this time.
He was better off without Martina, he had decided. Zoe was right, he didn't have to put up with the woman's crap. Besides, despite having only met Zoe twice, he liked her better. Dudley decided to take a chance, recalling his earlier train of thought.
"Zoe," he asked, recalling how at ease he was with her, how he just felt happier.
"Yeah?" Zoe asked, turning. She had a strange expression on her face.
He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Dudley asked quietly.
"No. Why?" Zoe asked, crossing her arms and looking at him with raised eyebrows.
"I am going to leave Martina. I was thinking I really liked you and felt comfortable around you, so I was wondering if we could meet up at some point?" Dudley asked.
"Sure." Zoe grinned, looking very happy. She quickly pulled out a scrap of paper and pen, writing something down. "Here: my number. Feel free to call me at some point. After you have left your girlfriend, though," she added onto the end, winking.
"I will," Dudley nodded, eagerly taking it.
They both turned away, both smiling, not that Dudley knew Zoe was. As he walked back to the car, he couldn't help but thank Martina for this. If it wasn't for her and her spring problem, he would have never decided to leave her or decided to take the chance and ask Zoe about going out.
He may not have bought a bed, but the trip wasn't wasted.