Cook rummages in the depths of the giant rucksack that contains everything he owns in the world. Mounds of kit and clothes are strewn around his small space until with a small cry of triumph; he finds what he's looking for. His old mobile. He can't remember the last time he used it. He thumbs the on/off switch hopefully, and of course it remains stubbornly silent.
"This place looks like a bomb's hit it" Soraya stands, hands on hips. "I came to say bye, what are you doing?"
"Looking for this," he shows her the old mobile "I suddenly felt the urge to try to get in contact with some old mates, " he walks over to her "tell them 'bout you"
"Really?" She sounds sceptical, "I thought you said you didn't really have friends back home?"
"Don't worry, your secret's safe," he shows her the phone, "No charge"
Soraya stand on tip toes, kisses his nose, "How long you out for?"
"5 days, " he wraps his arms around her "too long"
"It'll fly by," she smiles. "Do you want me to try to find a charger for that?"
He looks down at the phone, "No, don't worry, it doesn't matter."
Over the weeks they'd formed a sort of unspoken relationship, they both knew it was probably not going to last, that they were being foolish, but it was theirs for the time being, and they treasured it. Only the previous night together Cook had tried again to talk about a future together, and once again Soraya had silenced him.
"James, it doesn't work like that, you know it doesn't, I'm from here, and you're not from here. My family, your family, we're from different cultures, different parts of the world, it could never work. What we have is here, now. There's not a future for it. "
He holds her, knows she's right.
"You should definitely meet Naomi, " he holds her close "She's clever too."
OooooO
Naomi wakes to the sound of a revving bike engine, and an empty bed. She sits up, and swings out of the bed, just in time to see Emily accelerate up the road. It's only then she becomes aware of the raised voices from downstairs. She grabs a tee shirt, heads for the kitchen intent on coffee. She finds Effy and Cook sitting at the small table, the voices of Katie and Panda can be heard from the lounge.
"What's going on then?"
Effy looks over, "Panda and Katie are 'discussing' Thomas," she hyphens the air "Emily said she'd be back later, needed to clear her head" She taps her cigarette, takes a sip of coffee.
"Right, "Naomi is suddenly slightly embarrassed, wonders how much Emily has told her
"Getting reacquainted last night, then?" Effy looks up at her, eyebrows raised.
Obviously Emily had told her enough, thinks Naomi, who's face suddenly flushes, she's lost for words.
"we...um...y'know...got ...um drunk...and well...stuff...happened "
Effy smiles, "Eloquently put. You shagged for old time's sake?"
Naomi nods, narrows her eyes at Cook, who's silently chuckling to himself in the corner.
"Don't look at me Naomikins, I didn't say a word" his arms are wide, all innocence.
"He didn't, " Effy agrees, "Emily wouldn't say either, I figured you're an easy target, I wasn't wrong"
Naomi rubs her temple, out manoeuvred by Effy, again. It was habit forming. "I need coffee"
Panda comes into the small kitchen, muttering to herself quietly, she takes a large loaf from the bread box, and starts to rummage around in a cupboard, finally emerging with an electric carving knife. She plugs it in, and as Cook backs away eyes wide, she starts to attack the bread. Hacking it into large wedges.
"Panda, should you be using a carving knife on bread like that?" Effy asks evenly.
Panda stops briefly, "Do you want sandwiches or not for today?" she waves the carving knife around
They all nod, it seems the safest option.
"Well then, we'll need slices of bread, won't we?"
"What's happening today?" Asks Cook.
"We're going on a picnic," replies Effy, "To go and see Freddie"
He nods, surprised. Before he can say anything, Katie comes into the small kitchen, Panda stiffens. Katie pauses for a moment, then. "I'm going to the supermarket for picnic stuff"
Naomi realises the atmosphere isn't going to get any lighter any time soon, and before she realises what she's letting herself in for, "Wait, I'll come, I need fags anyway."
They say nothing on the journey, Partly as Naomi has forgotten quite how fast Katie drives, and she's too scared to talk. At the supermarket they park, Katie locks the Car and Naomi finds a trolley, they wander across the half empty car park. It's still early.
"So..." Naomi breaks the silence "Thomas"
Katie sighs "Don't you start as well, Naomi"
Naomi holds her hands up, "Sorry"
They lapse into silence again, then suddenly "he's nice, you know?" Katie admits
"Nice?" Naomi smiles, "Katie, Coffee is nice, Ice cream is nice..."
Katie sighs again. "I meant, He's good, y'know, I think, "she pauses, "he might actually be the one." She scrunches her face in embarrassment. "Fuck, I can't believe I just said that" she shakes her head.
Naomi's head falls, "Don't worry, I know what you mean."
Katie stops in the aisle. "What exactly is going on with you and my sister, anyway?" She looks innocently at the shelves, "I heard you last night, I think the whole house did"
"Jesus " exclaims Naomi "Is there anyone who doesn't want to know about my love life?"
"You weren't exactly being subtle Naomi, " Katie laughs, does a more than passable impression of Emily. "Ffffuuuuucccck" She laughs harder.
"Fucks sake," Naomi pushes the trolley faster down the aisle, shaking her head, face glowing.
"Wait, Naomi," Katie is still laughing, "we need beer, wine, crisps... Come back"
OooooO
They meet them by the entrance to the cemetery. Lara is heavily pregnant, Albert running around her legs; they turn as they hear Thomas Shout a hello. Both Katie, and Panda Turn to look, Katie hears panda mutter something under her breath, and she pushes past her, and begins to walk into the cemetery. As Cook approaches, JJ at first cannot believe who he's looking at.
"Cook?"
"Jenkins, how you diddling?" he's all smiles, hugs JJ fiercely. "It's good to see you, man"
"Careful JJ, smiles Naomi, "You might have to salute him"
They're interrupted by the sound of Emily's bike. She pulls up to the kerb, and flips down the stand. Emily takes off her helmet. She looks over to Naomi. Walks over, and without stopping walks into the cemetery following Panda.
"We'll talk later; I came for this, not you"
Cook picks up the cool box. "Happy campers then..." Follows the others as they drift into the cemetery.
OooooO
Cook is tried and filthy from the mission. He stands outside the briefing room sucking gratefully on a cigarette, waiting to be told he can go. He's anxious to see Soraya. It takes a further 2 hours before the de-brief is finally over, and he's allowed out. He walks over to her small accommodation block, and it becomes obvious to him straight away that something is wrong when he sees the Police aware tape and the door swinging on its hinges, he breaks into a run. As he reaches the small hut an MP blocks his path.
"I'm sorry Sir, you can't go in" he holds an arm to bar Cooks way.
"What the fuck happened?" Cook can see the room has been overturned.
"The alarm was raised a few days ago, the young woman is missing, did you know her, Sir?"
Jameson joins them "What's going on?"
Cook turns to face him "She's gone..." he doesn't know what to say, he looks around at the camp going about it's business as if nothing has happened. He holds his head, convinced he's in some mad Kafkaesque nightmare.
"She's fucking gone"
