OUT THERE

Chapter Five

"Uninvited guests are often most welcome when they leave" (Aesop)

When it came to fast food, Adam's sense of smell was infallible. "Pizza," he guessed, peering out of his apartment as the elevator doors pinged open and a spicy aroma was released. It wafted down the corridor, mingling with the other scents that already lived there. He inhaled again and smiled. "Pepperoni..." The word was enchanting and tripped off his tongue. His empty stomach gave a little leap of happiness. Maybe this evening was going to be fun after all.

Moments later, his jaw dropped.

Kevin left the elevator, followed by his cousin. And she was... well, as Adam's stunned brain could attest, she was not what he had expected.

His friend was unremarkable in every way - stocky build, mousy hair, broad face. A constant air of bewilderment at life's choppy tide and the speed with which it bore him onwards.

This must be a very distant cousin.

She strode behind him, a whole head taller; lithe and thin, like a stalking cat. Long fair hair flicked from side to side as she glanced at her surroundings with a gaze that displayed little curiosity - until it settled on Adam. He gulped and looked away, flushing deeply at the sudden force of her appraising stare. There was hunger in her eyes that had nothing to do with food.

He tried to shake the uncomfortable feeling that a target had just been painted on his chest. Manly pride suggested that he should be flattered. Instinct told him to step back quickly and slam the door.

He dithered - and lost his chance.

"We're back," Kevin offered with a wary smile. Wanting to be a good host in spite of his misgivings, Adam tried to compose himself. Reaching out, he took charge of the three enormous pizza boxes that his friend was struggling to carry, and led the way into the apartment.

"So I see. Hi there," he called out, over his shoulder. "I'm Adam."

"Oh - sorry," Kevin said. "I guess I should have introduced you. This is..."

"Jade." She grinned. "Pleased to meet you, Adam. I'm the one with the manners. And the beer." She held up a six-pack of cans in each hand and he nodded politely, gesturing to the kitchen counter with his elbow.

"Um... thanks." His voice was light, but his mind was racing. What was that saying? About people bearing gifts?

Oh yes - beware...

More importantly, if he knew one thing for certain, it was that alcohol and empty stomachs didn't mix. A lesson learned in his very first week at college and never forgotten. Okay then - pizza first. Beer later.

Except that Jade seemed to have other ideas. Sliding a can from its plastic webbing, she popped the top and took a long draught, tilting her neck like a swan. Then she opened another and passed it to Adam.

"I'm good," he said hastily. Jade pouted.

"No fun," she said. "That's not what Kevin told me."

Adam gave his friend a glare that clearly said: later. "What...? Um... okay." He took the can and set it neatly down on the counter. "Just what did my 'good friend' Kevin say?"

Jade giggled. "That would be telling. I knew you'd be cute, though."

"Cute?" Adam's face was aghast. Kevin quailed. "You said that? You said I was 'cute'?"

"I never did..." his friend protested feebly. "There was a picture. Of the team... Jade asked about you, that was all..."

"Relax. It's a compliment," she drawled, flinging herself onto the couch and draping her long legs over the arm. Long legs in skinny jeans... Adam turned away.

"Pizza," he mumbled. "You want some?"

"Sorry, man," Kevin whispered urgently as they opened the first box together. Jade, meanwhile, began rifling through the pile of games that lay on the floor beside Adam's couch. "She descended on me yesterday, out of the blue, okay? Freakin' force of nature. One night trawling round the city's hotspots and I'm already on my knees. There's no wearing her out."

"So you brought her here." Adam nodded. "I can see the logic..."

Kevin's face was pained. "Like I said, she saw your picture."

"Okay - I know I'm 'cute' and all, but really... You're telling me that's what did it? I mean..." Adam gestured discreetly. "Look at her. And look at me."

"No accounting for taste?" Kevin offered, helplessly. Which, of course, made Adam feel much better.

He pressed the heel of his palm against his temple. A dull ache was starting to throb there, tiny but insistent. The smell of the pizza, which had seemed so appealing five minutes ago, began to knock him sick and he pulled a face. Kevin didn't notice. He was too busy waiting on his cousin.

This was a nightmare. All Adam wanted was to lie down in a darkened room and give himself up to the welcome oblivion of a full night's sleep. Why couldn't he just ask them to leave? I will, he thought urgently, and opened his mouth to speak - but Jade had already powered up the X-box and was waving Adam over to join her on the couch. A half-eaten slice of pizza drooped from one hand, threatening to dump its load of melted cheese and oily sausage on his clean... okay, semi-clean carpet. "Watch out," he cried, leaping forward. She caught it just in time, and giggled.

If only, Adam thought. If only Elma hadn't got him thinking about his pitiful social life.

Oh well. Too late now.

With false cheer, he rescued Assassin's Creed from Kevin - who was well known for his clumsiness - and popped the disc into the console.

"So, Jade," he said, turning round and smiling in a guarded, 'I'm-flattered-but-no-thanks' kind of way. "You like games?"

-xx-

For a while, much to his surprise, Adam actually did enjoy himself. Kevin had never been that much of a game player. Strategy was so far beyond him that Adam always had a hard time convincing him to graduate to anything more complex than Sonic the Hedgehog whenever he came around. But Jade was a clever, creative gamer, if a little aggressive, and he revelled in her skill, forgetting all about the look in her eyes and the predatory manner which had startled him so much. Maybe - and this seemed likely, given his track record - he had misjudged her.

Time passed. Adam's headache receded. He also managed to force down several slices of pizza, which sat in his stomach, refusing to digest. Kevin sat at his feet, with his back against the base of the couch and his legs splayed out beneath the coffee table, taking slow, habitual sips from his latest beer can - the fifth, by Adam's count. He was almost asleep. "Party pooper," Jade whispered, making Adam laugh even though he felt a little guilty afterwards. This had been just what he needed. A way to counteract the stress of his dreadful day at work.

He tried not to look at the clock, as the hands moved on... and on...

"Bathroom break," Jade sang out. She paused the game, leaving Adam blinking in surprise, and rose from the couch with graceful ease. His guilty eyes followed her progress as she sashayed across the room.

"I know," Kevin groaned. "She's my cousin - and I can't help it."

Adam's gaze snapped back to the screen. Too much information. "Hey, man," he muttered. "I don't want to be a killjoy, okay, or a..." 'Party pooper,' Jade's voice echoed in his head. "It's just - I was late for work today, and that's so, so bad. I can't be late again tomorrow. I need sleep..." He shrugged apologetically.

"Me too." Kevin didn't move. Clearly, he was going to be no help whatsoever. If Adam wanted his guests to leave, then he would just have to tell them. Firmly. No dithering this time.

He got up and wandered over to the kitchen, dumping his own empty beer can back on the counter before moving to the sink to wash the grease from his hands - and discreetly splash his face with water. Feeling slightly more alert, he turned and stared at the bathroom door.

Jade was taking forever. He hoped that she was okay. How much beer had she drunk that evening? What if - he bit his lip - what if she had passed out on the floor?

Five more minutes crawled by. Adam moved closer. "Jade?" he called out, feeling awkward.

The door swung open. Apparently, she had neglected to lock it. A thin plume of smoke drifted out and he recognised the scent at once. Jade followed, leaning on the doorframe with a joint in her hand and a mild expression on her face. No guilt. No apology.

"You look stressed," she told him. "Want some?"

'Stressed' didn't even come close to the way that Adam was feeling. Wordlessly, he took the offered joint. She nodded, pleased - but instead of raising it to his lips, he turned on his heel and marched back into the kitchen.

"Hey!" she called out. Too late. The sizzle as it hit the wet base of the sink was oddly pleasing. The stench that followed was not. "You shouldn't have done that."

"And you should have asked," he told her quietly. "I don't like people sneaking around in my apartment."

This time, Jade had enough common sense to look penitent. Her eyes shifted quickly to Kevin - but he was far too busy draining the bottom of his can to notice. "I know where you work. He told me. You would have said 'no'."

"I would have said 'wait'. Or 'go outside'. What you do to your body is your business - I know that, all right? What you do in my home is mine. I think... I think I'd like you to leave now. Please..."

Jade laughed. "And if I refuse?" she demanded, archly.

Adam blinked.

"What...?"

"Don't worry." Laughing again, she strolled over to her tipsy cousin and hauled him up from the floor by his arm; her wiry strength overcoming his feeble resistance. "I'm just messing with you, Adam Ross. Great night - thanks a lot. And I'll see you around..."

"Oh - yeah, sure," he said, feeling more than a little unnerved.

Meanwhile, Kevin had finally registered that they were leaving. He leaned on Jade and reached out to pat Adam on the back. "Good fun... Thanks, buddy..."

Adam shook his head and sighed. "Get him home," he said to Jade. "He's had enough."

"Yes, mom," she teased. Catching the look in her eye, Adam had the distinct feeling that Kevin's evening was far from over.

"You want me to call you a cab?"

"I'll flag one down. Or we can take the subway. It's only a couple of stops to Kevin's place." Her smile was bright. Was she lying? He hoped not.

"Please," he said, "be careful."

Jade gave him one last appraising look. "You really do worry too much," she advised. Kevin clung to her, full of drunken trust.

As the mis-matched pair staggered off down the hallway, Adam shut the door behind them. "That's not always a bad thing," he whispered to himself.

Trying not to think about the mess all around him, he closed his eyes and revelled in the silence until weariness made his head spin and he realised that he was in danger of falling asleep. Was that even possible? Sleeping on your feet? He opened his eyes again quickly. Probably not a good idea to try and find out.

With a wide yawn, Adam stumbled into the kitchen. The stench from the sink caught the back of his throat. He opened the window, just a tiny crack but enough to let the stale air from his apartment seep out overnight - he hoped. Then he threw the soggy joint in the trash and swilled the last dregs down the drain. The pale stream of water made him thirsty, so he filled a glass as well and poured it down his throat in one long gulp.

As he turned to leave, the cake tin caught his eye.

He had tucked it out of sight between his empty fruitbowl and a pile of unread magazines. To his relief, neither Jade nor Kevin had noticed it. Reaching out, he picked it up again and lifted the lid.

"I've had pizza," he reasoned to himself. "It's okay to have cake..."

Besides, his mouth felt like the inside of a garbage chute; all greasy and sour. His stomach felt the same. They were crying out for sweetness and he happily obliged. Pulling a plate from a nearby shelf, he cut himself a generous slice and then balanced the treat in the crook of his arm as he turned out the kitchen light. Snacking in bed wasn't usually his style - too many crumbs - but Elma's cake begged him to make an exception.

Five minutes later, he slipped between the sheets, feeling like a child with a midnight feast. Which, of course, made the whole thing so much more exciting. The cake was heaven. He savoured every bite, relishing the love and care that Elma had put into it. Then he ran his finger around the empty plate and licked his lips to find the last of the sugar before dropping his head against the pillow, satisfied at last.

Dream time. Maybe he could go back to the railway tracks...

Three hours later, he was still awake. For some unknown reason, his brain refused to switch off and he kicked his feet in frustration, causing the sheets to tangle round his legs like a sticky web. He tore them off and threw them to the floor. Now the bed was bare - and he was cold.

Remembering the open window, he rolled to his feet and lurched across the room, dazed and grumpy.

That was when he heard it; a low sound, and muffled. Not knocking but weeping.

Adam paused. This was a dilemma. Elma hadn't called for him. Was that because she wanted to be alone? Or was she reluctant to wake him two nights in a row?

He tapped softly on the wall.

The sob became a hiccup. For a moment, there was silence. Then an answering knock; Elma's stick, gentle and apologetic. Adam dressed himself quickly and slipped from the room, his bad mood forgotten. Pale light was already creeping through his apartment as he left it.

When he saw Elma's face, he knew that he had made the right decision. Gratitude shone through her tears. She was white and shaking. Clearly, her latest nightmare had been a bad one. Adam motioned for her to stay in bed. No more tea parties - this was serious.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said urgently, as he opened his mouth to ask that very question. "Please, not now. It's too near..."

Adam understood. "Then what?" he asked her, keeping his voice low.

"Read to me?"

He looked around. There were several books on her nightstand. He picked up the first one, which fell open, dropping its flowery bookmark. Poetry. Oh...

He cleared his throat. "And death shall have no dominion..." he began.

Elma's face turned even paler and she clutched his hand, halting him instantly. "Not that one."

Adam turned the page and tried again. His second choice seemed more hopeful.

"Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green..."

Elma closed her eyes and sank back against the mound of pillows. Gradually, her breathing deepened. Was she asleep? He couldn't be certain. His voice grew soft as he carried on reading; the gentle flow of words like a waking dream...

-xx-

A/N: The two poems are by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas - 'And Death Shall Have No Dominion' and 'Fern Hill'.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing - I love to read your comments. They keep me going! And, of course, thank you to 1917farmgirl and Lily Moonlight who always give me such great support and advice.

Next chapter? Back to the lab - and things do not go well for Adam...