Ok so this one is a little longer and I accidentally wrote loads extra about Firkle's relationship with his mum etc. so there'snoIkeI'msorry BUT I will upload the next chapter later today so you won't have to wait long and there will DEFINITELY be pleny of Ike! Also Kaz the king I agree he's too young (I too am a hypocrite I started drinking when I was 14) But he's been smoking since kindergarten and the legal age to drink at home/private property in England is age 5 so as they're at Henrietta's house it's legal ;)
Sunlight came through the bedroom window and seemed to make Firkle's pale skin glow. He stirred in his sleep and eventually his eyes fluttered open. His dark fringe was a mess on the front of his face and the rest of his fanned out slightly around his head as if he had a black halo, causing his skin to seem even more celestial.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes he sat up groggily and yawned. He glanced around dazed momentarily until he saw his phone, quickly unlocking the screen he checked the time.
10:18am?! That's way too early for a Saturday
He groaned and reluctantly dragged himself out of bed and walked towards the door. A shiver passed through him and he looked down to see he was only in his vest and boxers. "Ugh" he quickly strode back over to his bed and yanked the covers back to reveal his joggers.
Must have kicked them off in my sleep again
He quickly retrieved them and pulled them over his cold legs before heading downstairs. "Good morning honey! You're up early today" his mother chirped from where she was sitting at the table playing some game on her tablet.
"Coffee…" Firkle grumbled in response earning a chuckle.
"The kettle's just boiled sweetie" she told him cheerfully.
He shuffled over to the cupboard and grabbed his cup then proceeded to shovel two spoons of coffee into it before adding the recently boiled water.
He added a little cold water from the tap then gently blew the hot liquid before taking a small sip, reveling in the sharp bitter taste that exploded in his mouth. He felt the fire burn a trail down to his stomach and sighed happily.
"That better?" his mum asked, watching him with a warm loving smile. Firkle nodded and returned the smile.
He didn't hate his mum. As much as people assumed he would due to her being so cheerful and affectionate, in reality he loved his mum dearly although he didn't show it a lot anymore.
Firkle's father left when he was two, he didn't remember much about him other than his light mousy brown hair and matching brown eyes, much like his sons. Since then his mother had always worked extra hard at everything she did, and everything she did was for Firkle. However, when Firkle was four she was in a bad car accident where she was seriously injured and he had to stay at his aunt's house for over two weeks while she was in hospital, being so young he assumed his mother had left him like his father did. He grew distant and withdrawn at school, he wouldn't speak to anyone. That's when he met the goths. He was sitting alone one break time scribbling a black mess in a notebook when Henrietta approached him and invited him to hang out with them. A few days later he was allowed to go see his mother in hospital and not long after that, she came home. The experience of thinking he'd lost her made him treasure her all the more. Through all these years they've been alone, even with Firkle becoming more gothic, she hasn't lost her smile once.
Feeling a little sorry for his lonely mum, Firkle decided to drink his coffee at the table with her today. She glanced up, clearly surprised when he sat down beside her, and smiled at him before returning to her game. Firkle sipped his coffee and watched her play the game, she had to find objects hidden in the picture and she was struggling with the final one. Seeing the teddy bear in a box on the screen he tapped it quickly before she ran out of time. "How did you see that?! I've been sitting here ages and I couldn't see the bloody thing" she whined as she started a new round. Firkle smiled and leaned over tapping a few of the objects he could see while she found the rest. "New highscore! And I'm first place now, finally beat Sheila Broflovski!" she whooped happily, grinning at Firkle and kissing his forehead. "Thank you sweetie, we're a great team" she declared happily.
"Damn right we are" Firkle agreed, playing along and finishing his coffee. Pleased that he did something nice for his mum.
I like seeing her happy even if it is difficult to smile so much, my cheeks are hurting already...
He stood and cleaned his cup before walking back up to his room.
"What to do…" he mumbled to himself, glancing around his room. Shrugging, he grabbed his laptop and sat on his bed to turn it on. Just then he noticed his phone's notification light was flashing.
Assuming it was Henrietta telling him what time to be ready at he opened it.
Unknown: Hey, what you up to?
Firkle frowned at the message, he rarely gave out his phone number, the only people he spoke to were, predictably, his mum and the gang.
Must just be a wrong number
He dropped his phone back onto his bed and opened a clean word document.
I wonder what to write this one about…
In his spare time, as well as poetry, Firkle also liked to write short horror stories. Which usually included people from his school who had annoyed him that day.
He began typing out an opening when his phone started ringing.
Incoming Call: Bitch
"Hey Henrietta" he answered without hesitation.
"Hey Firkle, just calling to tell you Michael should be there around 6 to pick you up, okay?"
"Yeah that's fine, I'll be ready. Should I bring anything?" he asked, wondering if she had anything specific planned.
"Ermm nothing I can think of" she replied thoughtfully.
"Ok well I'll see you later, bye Henrietta" Firkle said, his attention drifting back to the story.
Once he had hung up he immersed himself in the world of nightmares as he wrote about a character who often appeared in his stories. A fat boy with combed brown hair was trapped in a world where every day a one of his worst nightmares came true and every night he dreamed up new scenarios to play out which meant he barely slept.
He was so caught up in his writing that he hadn't heard him calling him till she was standing in his doorway, "Firkle sweetie?" she said, snapping him out of his trance.
"Yeah Mum?" he asked confused as to why she came all the way upstairs instead of calling him down.
"I called you four times, didn't you hear me?" she asked, laughing lightly.
Oh…
Firkle glanced back at his computer screen before looking back at her, "Sorry I was so engrossed in this I didn't hear you" He explained, "Anyway, what's wrong?"
"Oh I just wondered if you wanted something to eat, it's almost 2:30pm and you haven't eaten" she said, concern lacing her words.
Firkle frowned and looked at the time on his computer screen, then he felt a pain in his stomach as it rumbled lowly, "I was so focused on writing I didn't realise" he said, standing and stretching his arms above his head before following his mum downstairs.
"Oh you were writing again? Was it about the fat boy or the vampires?" she asked giddily.
Firkle rolled his eyes, "The fat boy, Eric" he confirmed as they entered the kitchen.
He didn't let his mum read his stories but she glanced in one of his notebooks he'd left on the table once that he'd written a few stories in and she happened to read them. She hadn't read any since, saying they were too 'scary' for her but she always asked about them. Firkle didn't know if she was actually interested and liked them or if she was just pretending but he liked it regardless.
"Ooh they're my favourite. You should write me a story some time you know, you have beautifully eloquent writing. Maybe I could be magic or maybe I'm in that scary place and you save me!" she rambled on enthusiastically, planning more potential stories.
Maybe I will write her a story, her birthday's coming up, it could be an extra present
They ate a sandwich each and Firkle managed to sit through all her gossip about people from work, once they were both finished his mum decided she needed to go shopping and Firkle returned to his room.
By the time 6 o'clock rolled round, Firkle had changed into a slightly too big Skinny Puppy shirt, that Henrietta had bought him at a gig they went to, and some plain black jeans. Hearing Michael's car horn outside he grabbed a black hoodie and headed downstairs. "I'm going now mum" he said, popping his head into the living room where she was watching tv.
"Oh are you sleeping over or coming home?" she asked with a smile, very used to Firkle staying out overnight.
He was thoughtful for a moment, "I'm not sure yet, I'll text you later" he said before leaving.
As the door closed behind him he heard his mum call "Have fun, I love you!". He never said it back but she knew he returned the sentiment.
The ride to Henrietta's wasn't bad, it seemed Michael had gotten over the Stan ordeal so they sat in a comfortable quiet while listening to a CD Pete had put in.
They all trudged up to the door, Michael carrying a large bag. "Hey guys!" Bradley greeted enthusiastically when they knocked on the door.
Ugh can't Henrietta answer the door herself if she knows we're coming?
None of them replied to his greeting as they walked in but Bradley was accustomed to it so he didn't expect one. They all walked through the house and made their way to Henrietta's room.
"Can't you get off your lazy ass and answer the door so we don't have to be burnt by that ray of sunshine you call your brother?" Pete complained as soon as they were in the room, voicing Firkle's thoughts exactly.
"What's the point in having a slave if you don't use him?" Henrietta replied sinisterly, Pete laughed.
Michael put the bag down beside Henrietta on her bed and she grinned before looking inside. "Oh great, you got the peach schnapps I asked for" she said gleefully as she pulled out the bottle before looking through the rest of the selection. "I'm guessing this is for you Pete" she handed him a bottle of spiced rum which he accepted gratefully. She then smirked at Firkle who frowned in response, "And a special drink for the baby!" she taunted while revealing a bright blue alcopop earning a bark of laughter from Pete.
Firkle snatched it off her, "Shut up I didn't ask for this" he growled angrily, examining the offensive bottle.
"I figured since you can get pretty wild I'd get you something weaker for once" Michael explained as he got his own bottle out of the bag.
Ugh Jack Daniels, disgusting
"Whatever it better not taste like shit" he spat, secretly appreciative that he wouldn't be getting drunk. He sniffed it after unscrewing the top and the sickly sweet smell flooded his nostrils, he stuck out his tongue at the smell before taking a sip. The taste was as sweet as the smell and very fruity.
It's pretty nice actually
"Ugh this is way too sweet" he lied and grimaced. The other three laughed at his expression and got comfortable sitting in various places around the room.
"Bradley!" Henrietta shouted loudly, seconds later her brother stuck his head through the door.
"Yeah Hen?" he asked brightly.
"Bring up four glasses and my bottles of coke and lemonade" she commanded with a wry smile. Bradley nodded then disappeared, reappearing again with the four glasses.
"I'll get your drinks now!" he rushed back downstairs, moments later returning with the requested bottles.
Henrietta passed the glasses out and began making her own drink up, "You can go now Brad" she ordered, relieving Bradley of his duties.
"I guess I see what you mean" Pete commented while mixing his rum and coke.
Henrietta put a silent film on and played some music while they all drank and talked about random things, mostly complaining about conformists from school or stuff at home. Soon it was 9pm and both Pete and Henrietta were past tipsy so they were laughing a lot more than normal and joking around like they usually did when they drank. Michael was smiling a lot more, a clear sign that he'd been drinking. Whereas Firkle was still soberer than all of them, normally he would've been bored but he was relaxed from the alcohol so he was having fun. He felt his phone vibrate on his knee and looked at it confused.
Must be mum asking if I'm staying over
Unlocking his phone he saw it was the same unknown number that had texted him earlier.
Unknown: Hey babe, why didn't you reply?
Firkle's eyebrows knitted together.
'Babe'? No one calls me that who the fuck is this?
Suddenly he remembered a certain conformist calling him that at school.
You: Ike?! What the fuck how did you get my number?
He texted back furiously.
Unknown: Ah you figured out it was me already? And Kyle asked Stan for your number for me. Now we can be text buddies! :D
Firkle groaned in disgust and texted back a reply before locking his phone screen again.
You: Fuck off.
"Oh guys! Before I forget!" Henrietta slurred, she was currently sprawled across her bed laughing at something Pete had said before he left to go to the bathroom. Firkle and Michael turned to look at her, "I'm getting a ride from Stan on Monday so you don't need to pick me up" she said in a hurry, as if saying it fast enough would lessen the impact on Michael; this didn't work however.
"What the fuck?" the taller goth bit, his voice raising.
Henrietta sighed and sat up, "You don't have to get to pissed he just asked for my help with something" she explained, rolling her eyes.
"Bullshit" he grumbled, "Fine do whatever you fucking want", he then stood and grabbed his bottle before turning to leave the room.
"Storm off then you fucking broody bitch!" Henrietta yelled after him as they heard him stomping down the stairs.
Pete finally returned and had heard the argument, "What the fuck happened?" he asked hesitantly, sensing the heavy atmosphere.
"He's been a fucking dick again! God i don't know why he's so fucking easily pissed" he grunted, lighting a cigarette to calm herself down.
"I'm gonna go now anyway… Told my mum I wasn't staying out tonight" Firkle mumbled as he pulled his shoes back on and zipped up his hoodie.
"I'll walk you" Pete suggested, both not wanting to deal with Henrietta's bad mood.
"I'm not a baby, I don't need a fucking escort" Firkle exclaimed defensively.
Pete rolled his eyes, "It's fucking dark outside you dick and I walk past your house on my way home anyway" he sighed, "You gonna be ok Henrietta?" he asked quietly, knowing she could explode any second.
Instead, she nodded and exhaled her smoke, "Yeah just make sure Firkle doesn't get abducted on his way home" she joked to indicate wasn't that angry. They both nodded and made their way downstairs.
Surprisingly, Pete didn't ask about what happened during the walk home.
