ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS: ROCK 'N' ROLL SUICIDE
The wind screamed, tossing and turning, whipping the trees, tearing the weakest branches from their limbs and scattering them here and there, smashing windscreens, crashing recycling bins to the ground and hurling them about the road as if they danced on invisible strings, their lids wide, gaping, noiselessly until the wind howled again, snapping them shut and crushing them against the concrete.
Max stood, hands in pockets, the rain stinging his face, burning his lips with the chill of it. He wore only his leather jacket for protection over his t-shirt, zipped tightly around his body. His jeans were dark and slack against his legs, wet through and sucked against his thighs.
The sky was a billowing shameless black, no stars, just the blinding dark and the roar of the wind.
He watched her house, Zoe's house. The windows were dark, the house loomed against the sky as if it might tumble down, her driveway was empty.
He watched it, unsure of what he was waiting for, but knowing that whatever it was would not happen. He turned slowly, even the inside of his shoes were wet and they squelched and squeaked as he walked, his socks sucking at his toes.
He made his way back out onto the road, head bent against the rain and the wind as he made his way up to the bypass, tucking himself into the bushes against the side of the road as he walked. The cars flushed past him, their tyres hissing through the puddles, splashing him with muddy water that shone with the glitter of petrol.
He had barely started walking when a car slowed down, passing him, hazard lights flashing as it pulled over in front of him. He stopped, several feet behind it, blinking through the rain to watch as the drivers door opened and someone leaned out to face him.
"Max! Get in the car!"
It was Charlie, he blinked against the rain, he could barely see ahead of him, just the streaked lights of the car and the lampposts.
He contemplated turning around until someone in a passing car shouted something at him and threw a half empty can of beer in his direction, it hit him on the arm and fell at his feet, the wind immediately whipping it up to play with, tossing it back into the road where it rolled between the wheels of several vehicles before being crushed by a lorry.
"Max!"
Charlie shouted louder this time and motioned with his arm.
Defeated he made his way over to the car, opening the back door as Charlie slammed his front door closed.
"What were you doing?!"
Charlie asked, turning to face him from the front seat. Tess sat next to him on the passenger side, both stared him, foreheads creased with worry or annoyance he couldn't tell.
He wiped a hand over his face, trickles of rain dribbling from his hair across his cheeks and down the length of his nose.
"Just walking."
He said, placing his hands between his thighs to warm them. Charlie pulled away from the edge of the road.
"Along the bypass?!"
Tess asked, shaking her head slightly.
His body began to tremble, the cold sinking deeper, through his clothes, through his skin, gnawing uncomfortably on his bones.
"She's at my house."
Charlie said matter of factly, ignoring the wide eyed look that Tess shot him.
"Charlie!"
She hissed, Charlie obviously having been told not to tell anyone where she was.
"What?"
Max asked, the noise of the rain on the roof of the car and the clattering of his teeth inside his head made it difficult to hear.
"Zoe, she's at my house."
Charlie repeated, turning off the by pass onto a small estate.
"Charlie, she asked you not to tell anyone."
Tess glanced at Max who remained silent and expressionless.
"You've tried talking to her, I've tried. If anyone is going to get through to her, it might well be him."
Charlie answered, pulling into the driveway of a small brick building with a neat front garden.
"Will you speak to her?"
He asked, switching the car off and looking back at Max in the rear view mirror. The porter was gazing vaguely out of the window next to him, his lips trembling with cold.
"Max?"
He asked, louder this time, removing his keys from the car and pushing them into his pocket.
"I'm not sure it'll do much good."
He answered quietly. Tess began to look impatient.
"Just come inside and get warmed up."
She said, watching him begin to move slowly, pushing his door open, the three of them stepping out into the rain. He followed them to the doorstep, Charlie fumbling with his keys, Tess trying to shield her face from the rain that spilled from the small roof above the front door.
"We're back."
Charlie called into the house, closing the front door and slipping his shoes off.
The creaking of floorboards came from somewhere along with the fluttering of paper.
"This way."
Charlie led them in through the sitting room door. Zoe was sitting at the end of the sofa, feet curled next to her, facing away from them.
"How are you doing?"
Charlie asked, placing a hand on Zoe's shoulder as she turned, catching sight of Tess, then Max. She stood up abruptly, a magazine falling from her lap to the floor. Her mascara was smudged slightly under each eye.
"What's he doing here?!"
She asked, her voice husky as if she'd been crying.
"Oh thanks!"
Max almost laughed, bemused by the sudden hostility she was showing towards him.
"I didn't mean it like that."
Zoe sighed, sitting back down again.
"Who else have you told?"
She asked. Tess moved around the sofa while Charlie sat next to her, placing a hand on her knee as Tess gestured towards the kitchen.
"I'll go and make us all a drink."
She said quietly making herself scarce.
"We haven't told anyone else."
Charlie squeezed her knee, trying to catch her eye. He noticed the foundation she wore on her cheeks was faintly tear streaked and her eyes were bloodshot.
"I thought he might be able to talk some sense into you."
She snorted at his words, glancing up to see Max quietly move over to the chair opposite her. She noticed how wet he was, the water from his clothes gradually seeping into the arm of the chair where he perched.
"You look like you've been swimming."
She said, looking him over, his hair flat against his scalp, his lips pale.
"Not far off."
He answered, watching her, trying to see past the riddle of her exterior. She looked away again.
"You should probably change into something dry."
Charlie stood up as he spoke.
"I'll find you something."
He added, leaving the room to make his way upstairs.
Zoe shifted, uncurling her legs so that she sat upright, her body stiff, still unable to look up at Max, despite being able to feel his eyes on her, begging her to look up.
"I don't understand what I've done wrong..."
He spoke quietly, hearing Tess moving about in the kitchen and the gentle squeal of the kettle beginning to boil on the hob.
"You haven't..."
Zoe looked up at him, meeting his eyes finally.
"You haven't done anything wrong."
She whispered, her eyes pooling with sparkling tears.
"I'm sorry."
She added, looking up towards the ceiling, trying to stop the tears from over flowing.
Max drew in a breath, standing slowly from where he sat, taking the three short steps across the the sofa and kneeling down in front of her, touching her chin with his fingers. She looked down at him, attempting a wobbly smile.
"Just let me in here."
He gestured to her head, her hair felt limp and faintly greasy beneath his cold fingers.
"Just tell me what's going on."
He whispered. She breathed in a faltering breath to steady herself. Blinking again to quell the tears, one or two escaping and slithering quickly down her cheeks. He raised both hands to her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears.
"I've left some clothes out for you on the spare bed, feel free to have a shower to warm up."
Charlie returned, stopping in his tracks as he noticed Max kneeling before Zoe.
"I'll show him."
Zoe answered, her voice catching in her throat.
"Take your time..."
Charlie watched as she stood up, noticing the fresh tears and the quivering lip.
"Towels are in the airing cupboard on the landing."
He added as they left the room as Tess entered carrying a tray laden with tea cups, a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl.