Chapter 2
"Ohhh... lets say I wasnt the best example of selfcare. Maybe we should get going home, girls!", said Chilli, trying to change the topic.
"Aww! Cmon, we want to know!".
"Cmon Bluey, it's getting cold, and we must lunch. Pack up your things darling", insisted Chilli.
Bingo lifted a brow, it wasnt customary for their mother to dodge a question. "Its ok Bluey", she said to her sister, "I think we can still talk while we walk, dont you agree mum?".
Bluey smiled, proud of her little sister. "Well played, mate!", she said to her.
Chilli let out a sigh while putting on her bag, "The truth is that Im afraid the next part of this story can damage the image you have from me...".
"Aww, mum! You worry too much!", said Bluey while taking her mothers arm.
"Yeah!", said Bingo while hugging to her mothers free side, "Let us judge that for ourselves".
THIS EPISODE OF BLUEY IS CALLED: MISTAKES.
"Well, first you must know that at that time your dad was 28 years old, and I was 25, so we were both full grown adults, and I had finished Uni, had a work and was living on my own".
"Ok! We get it!" said Bluey, "Whatever you did we promise not to make it until we get 25 years old, don't we, Bingo?".
"Mhhh...I guess...?", said the youngest heeler.
THE PAST:
Bandit and Chilli were still dancing for the first time, enjoying themselves in silence. "This is a fandango, isnt it?".
"Yes Chilli, it is".
"How come this club is playing such music? I love it, but it doesn't seem to fit with the places style".
"Oh! Its to give the people the chance to talk each other, and romance each other, before the DJ starts to play. He is awesome, but when he starts theres no more option left than dance".
"How so?".
Bandit didn't have the chance to answer before the lights of the club changed abruptly creating an atmosphere of darkness and bright coloured beams, and a loud voice said at the microphone: "DJ MAC IS HERE!!", resulting in general acclamation and a flood of people taking the dance floor.
"Aww boy!!" exclaimed Bandit.
"Now I get it!", said Chilli.
"LETS GO TO ANOTHER PLACE!!", yelled Bandit.
"WHAT??!! I CANT HEAR YOU!!".
"I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU!! LETS GO TO ANOTHER PLACE, PLEASE?!".
Chilli had barely heard the words "talk" and "place". "WHAT??!" she repeated.
"PLEASE, FOLLOW ME!", Bandit said gesturing to the bar and offering his hand to Chilli.
She smiled, realizing the dog had a plan and put her hand on his, so he skilfully guided her trough the dancing mob. In their way to the bar, Chilli saw Trixie dancing with a handsome Doberman they get to know at the seminar, so she smiled and waved to her, signalling Bandit. Trixie waved back at her, happy if somewhat surprised.
Once at the bar, Bandit got to talk to the St. Bernard barman, yet it was impossible because of the loud music, so he put on a please face and scribbled something in a paper. The barman took it, read it and rolled his eyes, then proceeded to put several bottles and two cups in a bag for Bandit, giving it to him with a smile and a gentle pat at his shoulder.
Bandit smiled to Chilli and took her hand, guiding her to the snacks table for the staff, from where he took two bags of crackers and crisps, accommodated everything in the first bag and keep guiding Chilli, this time to an elevator.
Chilli stopped and looked in the direction where she had seen Trixie, wondering if this was a good idea. Bandit took her hand gently and tilted his head with a sweet smile, mouthing the word "please". So, she got into the elevator with him.
PRESENT:
"Oh! That was risky!", said Bingo with admiration.
"Yeah! That's our daring mum!", commented Bluey sharing the sentiment.
"What?! You shouldnt look up to that kind of behaviour! Never enter to an elevator alone with a stranger, much less so in a new city!".
"Even if the stranger is cute?".
"Even if he is cute, Bluey", said Chilli rolling her eyes.
"Even if we happen to have a crush on the stranger?".
"More so if thats the case Bingo!", harrumphed Chilli. "Young hormones are wild things; they make you unnecessarily risky!".
Both teens giggled and Chilli stopped, looking at them with calm but seriously. "It's not a joke, girls. Sadly, the world can be quite dangerous sometimes, and sadly still it's more so for women than for men".
"Oh! Yeah..." the girls sobered up.
PAST:
"Before we press that button, I promise you are safe with me, yet if you dont want to go its ok, well do as you decide", said Bandit taking in Chillis apprehension.
She looked at him intently... there was something with this dog, or with her, that compelled her to trust him instinctively, a new and funny feeling difficult to explain. So, she took a breath and, smiling, hoovered her index finger over the buttons of the elevator, asking: "So, to which floor are we heading to?". Bandits smile in that moment was priceless. "Eight!", he answered wagging his tail with happiness.
They waited in silence for the elevator to lift, just smiling to each other. They arrived at a hall with a short staircase that leaded to a security door.
"Please take these", said Bandit giving the bag to Chilli, before he pushed open the very heavy looking door.
"Ooh! Impressive!", she said to him thanking his efforts, at which he smiled gallantly to her.
"Ladies first", he said while Chilli stepped into the terrace of the edifice.
She was amazed by the sight of the city at night and turning to him said: "Its beautiful!"
"Yes, it is a beauty" answered Bandit dreamily. Chilly smiled from the bottom of her heart, thinking he may not had spoken just about the landscape.
He took her by the hand and said: "Come over here", gesturing to a concrete construction beside some pipes or the like, that would allow them to sit quite comfortably.
"Oh!! Its warm!!!" said Chilli surprised. "Yup! It seems these things behind us are the boiler ducts, or something like that. Yet, the night is cold, so please have this", said he, taking of his leather jacket and putting it over her shoulders.
PRESENT:
"Wait, he had a leather jacket on?".
"Yes?" answered Chilli quizzically.
"You should had told us that from the beginning!", said Bluey, "was it black? ".
"Yes", laughed Chilli.
"Now well have to imagine it all over again!", complained Bingo.
PAST:
They looked in each other eyes and stayed in silence for a while.
"This is funny", said Bandit, "I wanted so badly to be in a quieter place with you to talk, because I would love to get to know you, and here I am, speechless".
"Yet, this is a pleasant silence, peaceful and wholesome", said she.
"Yes, it is. Quite a rare thing uh?!".
"Yep! Its... special", she agreed.
Bandit felt his chest warming at the loveliness of her stare at that moment, and sighed.
"Maybe we should play 20 questions!", she suggested, "you have 20 opportunities to make to me any question you want, and I have the same chances to make questions to you. The only rule is not to dodge questions and complete sincerity".
"Its a deal!" said he. "Now: Blue Vodka, Mojito, a cold one or juice?", asked he while offering her a cup.
"Ah!", she said, "first question spent, and its blue vodka, please".
"Hey!!!" said he with laughter in his voice and in the wagging of his tail. "Well, it seems its you turn then, Chilli".
"What are you doing here in London?".
"Well, I got here five months ago to make some research for my PhD, now I think I have two more months left or so. What are you doing here, Chilli?".
"Im attending to a seminar with the Interpol".
"Woah!", said Bandit genuinely surprised, "the Interpol... Im in trouble?", he added with a seductive look.
"Good on ya, mate! I can also play this game", Chilli thought, and said with a coquettish grin: "Dunno... are you in trouble, Bandit?".
The dog smiled cheekily, "That depends... are you a cop?", said he.
"No, Im not!".
"Aww, then Im not in trouble". They were both smiling to each other.
"By the way, that was your fourth question!".
"And yours second one!", said he, laughing heartily.
"At this rate you are going to lose very soon, Bandit!",
"Ah! But it will be a pleasure to lose to you!", said he, and she couldnt help but smile.
PRESENT:
"Oh oh oh! Thats heaps of flirting, mum!".
"Mhhh, yeah, we were flirting a little bit..."
PAST:
"Do you like any sport?".
"Yep! Im a quite serious hockey player", said she.
"Oh! Ya don't look like a hockey player!". Chilli lifted an inquisitive brow at that, and Bandit continued: "You are more on the petite side." he explained.
"Oh! So, Im too small to play hockey?".
"Hey! I didn't say that, and that was your third question. I mean... one tends to imagine hockey players a bit taller, or bigger than you are, and you're more in the petite side like I said, but its a very pretty kind of petite, like a ballerina".
"Oh!". Chilli was surprised. "Hes good at this!", she thought, considering he had just called her "very pretty", without saying so directly.
"Well mate, you don't look like a PhD student at all!".
"Oh?".
"Yep, you are too scruffy looking!".
"Hey! I'm not scruffy looking!".
"Yep! Too right scruffy looking!... but youre the nice kind of scruffy looking, like Indiana Jones, or something like that...".
Bandit looked extremely pleased. "So good!", they both thought. He put a hand on his heart and said: "Ill take that as a compliment!".
"Its meant to be one!", she said, side looking to him with a smile.
PRESENT:
"Yes, that was pretty obvious flirting". Chilli admitted.
"How do you do that?".
"Do what, Bingo?".
"To flirt with someone. How do you learn to do it?".
Bluey smiled and winked at her sister. "Dont worry mate, youll learn eventually!", she said with an air of confidence about herself.
Chilli tried to keep a serious face, but smirked while frowning, "Bluey Christine Heeler... is there something I should know?".
Bluey smiled ruefully, "Not mum, not really...".
The mother made a mental note to herself: "Mhh...we need to speak sweetheart..." she thought.
PAST:
"What about you, Bandit? Do you like any sport?".
"Yeah! I like cricket, surf, and I LOVE footy. Back at home I played at least two times a week!".
"How come you are in an Interpol seminar?".
"Oh! I work in security management for a bank, so they sent me to it along with my friend".
"Whats your PhD about?".
"Archaeology!".
"Whoa! I nailed it with your looks, then! Thats so interesting! Oh, I love history".
"Do you? for real life!?".
"That was your seventh question!", she said smugly, "and yes, I love it for real, if you want a good story, then check history!".
Bandit felt elated.
"So, how does an archaeologist find himself as a muso in London?".
"Well, its an expensive city to live on! I work with the band in this club every Friday and Saturday's night, as a bus driver on Tuesday and Thursdays mornings, as an online tutor for archaeology students of QL Uni, and as an online assistant to one of my former teachers. Fortunately, I have a half scholarship for my PhD program and the Queensland Museum had helped me a lot, saving my job with them while I'm here, so they are constantly sending me writing work to do, until I return home and retake my usual functions on it!".
Chilli gasped. "Wait! You work at Queensland Museum?! In Brisbane?!".
"Yep, I have lived all my life there!".
"Me too!!", said she almost squealing, "I only got away while studying in Sydney. Now I work at National Australia Bank, in the CBD!".
Bandit smile couldn't be brighter, "Where do you live?", he asked.
"Me and one of my best friends rent an apartment close to both our works, but I grew up with my family in our farm, at Landsborough".
"I grew up in Paddington".
"Ooh! Nice place! my great aunt Mary owns an old Queenslander in Red Hills very near a Creek close to Paddington".
"Really?! I used to live with my family at a 20 minutes' walk from a creek, but my parents sold their house and bought an apartment on Gold Coast, around Burleigh Heads...they couldn't cope with the step street any more... so now I live at my older brother's apartment. He works in an oil rig so he needed someone to take care of it...".
"And you needed a place to live!".
"Yep! Im sorry to say so, but Im afraid Im the poor relative of my family", said he, while chuckling.
"Aww! Don't worry about it! My job is paying well right now!".
Bandit smiled cheekily, "Was that a proposal of sorts?", he said seductively.
"Did I say that aloud?", she asked.
"Yep!".
"Aww, man. Please, pretend as if I did not!".
"Only if you really want to...".
She rolled her eyes at him and just laughed. "This is crazy! We lived all our lives in the same city and yet we just met here in London", she said after a little sigh.
Bandit was looking at her intently...searching for some memories while studying her features.
"Did You ever get to spend your holidays at a caravan park in Golden Coast, the last years of the eighties?" he asked her.
"Yes".
Bandit smile was hopeful. "Did You ever wear a Princess She-Ra costume during those holidays?".
"Well, I had one...maybe... yes?".
"Ohh! I knew it!!!", He said with the brightest smile ever. "God, this is fairy-tale stuff!". Chilli was puzzled looking at him. "We had met before, Chilli, when we we're kids!"
PRESENT
"So, he told You his version of your story?".
"Yep. I thought it was cute, but I told him that I did not remember to have met him before that night".
PAST
"Bandit, I would remember if it was that way... I never forget a face". "And I would had never forget yours", she thought.
"I maintain my version", he said smiling playfully. "Any way", he added, "the truly important thing is that we're both here right now". He looked sweetly to Chilli and let out and almost silent sigh.
Chilli looked at him and smiled. "Yes. The world is a magical place", she said.
"How much time will you stay in London?". "Today was our last class of the seminar, but well stay two weeks more on our own account, as a vacation."
Bandit smiled hopefully and with a somewhat shy look, said: "I will like very much to see you again, maybe we could hang out while you are here, if you want to... Can I get your number?".
Chilli smiled. "Give me yours", she said while taking her cell phone. Bandit looked a bit crestfallen while dictating to her, until his cell phone began to ring the tune of "Riders of the Lost Arc". Chilli smiled widely, "Now you have it", she said while ending the call. "You seem surprised Bandit!".
"...For one second, I thought you were just to keep my number and not give me yours".
"Why would I? I would love to see You again, so please, feel free to call me!".
Bandit felt his heart going as wild as his tail. "Oh, I Will! I promise!".
PRESENT
"Mum...What's the risk or mistake in all of what You have told us? Until now You had only let us know You two were being romance and all." Asked Bluey, with a puzzled face.
"Well...the thing is that I had been drinking all that time, and I was a very poor drinker back then, I used to get tipsy just with a pair of shots and at that moment I was drinking vodka, a lot of it..."
"Ohh!", said Bluey. "Why were you drinking that much, if you knew that?".
"Because I was feeling bold: the night was beautiful, the drink delicious and your dad was showing interest in me; in other words, I was just dumb".
PAST:
Chilli and Bandit had lost track of time long ago. She was resting her head into his shoulder, and he was just enjoying her presence by his side.
"Your shoulder is so comfy, Bandit!!".
He laughed sheepishly. "You can stay there all the time you want! ...So ...is there anyone missing you back home?".
Chilli laughed, "Why dont you just ask if I have a boyfriend?".
Bandit smiled and shrugged, "I just didn't want to be rude".
"Aw you are not!... And I have no boyfriend...", she said coquettishly. Then, she looked at him and said: "Wait a second... what number was that question?".
Bandit Laughed. "I dont know!", he said, "I made my twentieth question almost 30 minutes ago, so you had won!".
"Hurray!! I won!" said Chilli in a childlike fashion, standing up clumsily.
"You Ok? ...maybe we should stop drinking", he suggested.
"Nah.. . Im apples fine!", then she looked at him alluringly, "Now, I want a prize...", she said.
He couldn't contain the mischief in his voice when he asked: "And what could be a good prize to you?".
"Well... what about a kiss?".
Bandit gulped. That was fast!
He felt so tempted to comply to her wish... this woman was not like any other he had met. She was enchanting, even now while clearly far over her cups. She was smiling so sweetly at him, her eyes sparkling in the moon light, clearly waiting for him to yield...and oh! He wanted so much to do so! "Sorceress!", he thought.
He took her hands in his, and slowly kissed her cheek.
"Oh!", she said, "Uhm … I was expecting to you to... ehm...we...".
"Yeah, I know... but what about a better prize?", he said with kindness.
"Is there any better?".
"Yep, next time you came Ill dedicate a song to you with the band!".
"For real?!".
"Yeah".
"Then, it's a deal!", she said while laughing. "Hail to the victor!!", she added, clumsily toasting with a mojitos cup.
PRESENT
"Mojito!? After all that vodka?!" Said Bingo astonished.
"I told you I was being dumb..."
"And how was dad?".
"Oh! He wasnt even tipsy! He even tried to stop me, but I didn't listen to him. He told me once that I almost didn't leave any vodka to him, so he drank mostly beer".
PAST
"That is enough, Chilli", he said with calm, "Youll have an awful headache tomorrow...".
"Aw, cmon Bandit, youre not my dad...thankfully...", she said with mischief in her stare.
PRESENT
"Very well my girls, there is another thing you need to do when out in the perils of the night life!".
"What?".
"Always keep contact with a reliable friend near you, just in case you need it. I did not back then, And I should have, it would have saved worry to your aunt Trixie."
PAST
Chilli was leaning into Bandits shoulder, they were laughing about something silly...it was so good to be so close to him, he was so warm and kind. She felt utterly safe and free with this handsome dog! Yet she had the weird feeling that she would not remember much of this night tomorrow morning.
She was literally cuddling at his side when she heard the security door open.
"There you are, Chilli Cattle! I was looking for you everywhere!".
"Trixie!!!! Oh! You are here?! Oh! What a beauty, dearest!!", said Chilli, enthusiastically getting up and greeting her friend. Bandit got up just behind her.
"You!", exclaimed Trixie pointing to Bandit, "What did you gave her? Did you put something in her drink?!".
"What?! Of course not!!", said Bandit with indignation. "...Wait a second, are you from the Interpol?", he added.
"No, I'm not, nevertheless if anything happens to her, you are in for trouble, Mate!".
"Hold on, Trixie!", begged Chilli holding up a placating hand. "Im perfectly fine, he has done nothing to me... I'm a little bit tipsy, that's all!", said she while stumbling on her own feet.
"Gotcha!" exclaimed Bandit, who had catch her from the back.
"Awww! You are such a gentleman!", cooed Chilli to him. "See Trix? Told ya, Im fine!" she added.
"Fine?", harrumphed Trixie, "You are legless, mate!". She looked reproachingly to Bandit and said: "I have never seen her in this state, she is a very responsible and clever woman. If you wanted to flirt with her, you could at least have care for her!".
"Yeahh...look, I'm truly sorry, I..."
"No sorries needed!", exclaimed Chilli, "Im an adult, Trixie, he has no responsibility in this, so please dont take it on him!". Trixie appeased herself a little yet glared suspiciously at Bandit.
"We better get going, Chilli", said Trixie taking her friend's arm.
"Oh! But what about Bandit?!", asked Chilli with a sad face.
"Your friend is right Chilli, is very late and you'll need to sleep", said he sweetly. "Yet I better accompany you both to your hotel". Trixie was about to refuse but he did keep on talking, "You'll find not any cab at this hour, and even if your hotel is near, the street might be dangerous to you right now".
Trixie fumed, but acknowledged he was right. "Ok, show us to your car", she said.
"I have no car!" said Bandit with a sheepish expression, "I'll walk You to your place!".
Trixie rolled her eyes, "Ok...anyway Chilli might get sick on a car... Let this serve you as atonement", she said looking reproachingly at him.
"Oh no...Bandit I'm afraid You are in Trixie's baddies list".
"Yes, there he is". Bandit looked puzzled at the two friends while helping Chilli to lean on him to walk.
"You don't want to be there", Chilli continued. "This little miss", said she pointing to Trixie, "got a huge bloke stunned with her hockey stick once!".
"Yep!", Trixie said while snickering. "That I did!".
Bandit gulped.
PRESENT
"What?! Did she really do that?!".
"Yep! It was in self-defence, tough".
"Whoooa! We must ask her about it, Bluey!"
PAST.
With a little effort and some teamwork of Trixie and he, they got to get out of the club in one piece without too much fuzz.
Once in the street, they assessed the situation. "I don't think she could walk much longer without getting sick or fall somehow", said Bandit, holding Chilli's arm.
"So, what do You propose?" asked Trixie snickering, already knowing the only possible outcome.
"I'll carry her", he volunteered.
"Yep!", she said, "that's atonement!!".
Bandit rolled his eyes and lifted Chilli into his arms, she was pleased.
"Oh! So strong!", said she, smiling coquettishly at him.
"Nah! You are as light as a Bird!", he responded to her in the same fashion.
It was Trixie's turn to roll her eyes. "Oh, C'mon don't brag about it!".
"Trix! You are still mad at him?! Oh please, don't be!", Chilli begged, "after all, You told me he was cute! You even took me to meet him!".
Bandit snickered, "You really did that?", he asked to Trixie.
"Yeah, now please stop to look so happy about it!". Then she said to Chilli: "I thought he was kinda cute until I saw him with a finger stuck up in his nose!".
Bandit could not help but grimace at that. "Trixie did Chilli told You if she thought I'm cute?".
"No, she didn't ".
"Oh! But You are cute!!", interrupted Chilli with enthusiasm.
Bandit smiled brightly and said: "Well, you are most beautiful, Chilli Cattle!".
"Awww!", cooed Chilli. Trixie rolled her eyes again.
After some time, they arrived at the hotel. Trixie got to the elevator first and, looking up she smirked. "Atonement Indeed!", she said with a triumphant air. "Hey Bandit, the elevator it's out of service!", she added.
Bandit let out a stoic sigh. "In which floor are You staying?".
"Fifth".
Bandit looked up to the step staircase, and then to Chilli's sweet face, and with a deep inhalation and a smile of his own said: "Let's do this!".
Trixie was almost half staircase before them, to arrange Chilli's things in case she needed something.
"Hey! It's true you are quite the footy player, you have strong arms!", said Chilli looking seductively to him. Bandit let out a little sheepish laugh.
"Are You ok? how do You feel?", he said.
"Oh! I'm fine... although I'm sorry You must carry me... it's my fault...".
"Nah... don't worry, I got your back babe".
"You just call me babe?!".
"Oh...sorry".
"No worries, I liked it actually!", she said, snuggling deeper into his chest. "Mhhh!", she cooed appreciatively, "your fur is so soft!".
He laughed bashfully. "Chilly please. It tickles! and You are... distracting me".
"Oh! Do I?", said she with feigned innocence.
"Yes, very much so!", said he with a grin. "So, if I trip it will be all fault of that pretty face of yours!".
LONDON (PRESENT)
At 5:00 am, Bandit stirred in his sleep. He stretched one of his arms, but Chilli was not there at the other side of the bed...Oh! How much he missed her! Even if he was tired, he could not sleep well without her. It had been five days now, he had felt truly honoured when Oxford University invited him as one of the speakers for its Archaeology Congress, yet now he only wanted to return home to Chilli and their girls.
He sighed and looked up to the ceiling, trying to evoke sweet memories to get to sleep again. He smiled and let out a little chuckle: Chilli, far beyond tipsy and a little sleepy, in his arms, the very night they meet. Oh boy, he was tired back then! But Chillis face so near to his neck, just above his heart was worth it.
They had begun the ascent of the staircase with much flirty bantering and laughing, to the obvious annoyance of Trixie (...good old Trixie!), but they had gotten into comfortable silence by the fourth floor. They were content just looking at each other eyes and smiling. Chilli surely hearing his wild heartbeat, warm and comfortably snuggled to his chest. And he was just elated for her smile, her soft fur, and the feeling of her body in his arms.
When they were heading to her door, he said: "Well, of you go Chilli!".
"Aww...", she protested, "Why? I feel like a bride right now! Wont you take me through the door at least?".
Bandit smiled widely. "I think is not a good idea, Im in Trixies baddies list, remember?".
"Oh! Yeah, its true … Wont you kiss me good night, then?".
It was the second time in the night she asked him for a kiss, and as in the first occasion, Bandit wanted so very bad to comply, and now she was right there in his arms... "Im sorry, but I won't", he said. She looked crestfallen, until he added: "When Ill kiss you, for I will, I want to both of us to truly remember it".
At that moment, she smiled, and her eyes seemed impossible bigger and brighter. Both their tails were wagging with happiness, so he put her down and took her hands in his.
"Good night, Chilli",
"Good night, Bandit".
They could see Trixie coming to the door to help her friend to her room. "Now, to bed dear Chilli!", she said with a sigh, yet with patience, as if talking to a child.
"Remember I will be with the band at the club tomorrow night", he said to Chilli.
"I will be there!" she said, before Trixie ushered her to the hallway.
"Hey Trixie!", Bandit said, when she was about to close the door.
"Yes?".
"I want you to know that I will be eternally grateful to you... and that you have my most sincere admiration, you are a true friend, Trixie".
She was genuinely taken aback for his words... maybe he was a good dog after all... "Good night, you smooth talker", she said and closed the door.
Bandit stood for a second there, just grinning.
He did not know what to do about his tingling arms, nor his tingling stomach full of butterflies, nor how to get home at this hour without a cab. He might just run there, yes, that would resolve the tingling sensations, or just add tingling legs to the list. Never mind, he was happy, he was almost flying, so he could run anyway.
PRESENT- BRISBANE
"I will always regret to have been so drunk that night, for I don't remember what happened after the first mojito cup, everything I know is what your dad and your aunt told me".
PRESENT- LONDON
Bandit covered himself a little more in the bed. "Biscuits!". For him, London was cold even in its summer. He rolled again to the other side. What would have happened if Chilli wouldn't had drunk so much that night...maybe she wouldn't had asked him for a kiss, not that first night. But if she had, he would have kissed her right away! And what about if he would have drunk the same as her? Defo he would have kissed her when she asked to...if he would have been as drunk as her, there would have been much more than kisses probably... "Stop that line of thought, Bandit...it doesn't help you to sleep!".
Any way, it was a good thing it didn't happen that way, it wouldn't have been a good start, and he had wanted the best of starts possible for them, for he knew this was different, from the very beginning.
PRESENT- BRISBANE
"The first thing I saw the next morning was your dads jacket over my bed... and he was right, I had a terrible headache".
PAST
"Bandit?!", Chilli half asked half squealed.
Trixie came out of the bathroom at that very moment and said: "My!! He is your first thought by the morning".
"Hey Trix!", said Chilli massaging her aching temples. "Uh! It hurts! Well...he is the last thing I remember to have seen … Yesterday was the first time I've got SO hammered... and I don't remember exactly how I got here", she added with a guilty chuckle. Trixie didn't laugh. "You are mad at me, don't you?... you have every right to be...".
"I sent you messages and called you more than ten times, Chilli! I didn't know where you were nor if something wrong had happened to you! You should had told me where you had gone, for your own safety at least..."
"You are right..." said Chilli looking down, she had made her friend to truly worry. "Im very sorry, can you forgive me?".
"Yes I can. By the way, your phone was discharged, I checked it after you slept".
"Oh! It must had discharged little time after I saved Bandits number".
Trixie chuckled, Chilli was rather in for that bloke, then.
"Well, he might be really a gentleman, after all he didn't kiss you even after you asked him to!".
"What?! I did ask him for a kiss while drunk?!" said Chilli mortified.
"Mate, you almost begged him for a good night kiss!".
"What else did I said to him?".
Trixie snickered mischievously and, mimicking Chilli's infatuated voice tone, said: "Oh! You are so strong!, You are really a footy player, I'm distracting You?. Oh! But you are cute!, I'm feeling like a bride right now, won't you Take me through the door?!" .
Chilli was appalled, and closing her eyes in despair, she said: "Awwww boy! Did You heard what he said?".
"No, he was speaking really softly to you, so I didn't understand a word of his, but girl you are LOUD when drunk!".
"Oh! What a shame! Of course, he didn't kiss me, he probably doesn't want to see me ever again!"
Chilli hugged her knees miserably.
"Aww, C'mon. I don't think so", said Trixie putting a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder, while sitting at her side. "He was smiling from ear to ear when he said goodbye to me, he even got that vexing expression of a cat who got the milk!". Chilli looked up with something akin to hope in her eyes. "And when he said goodbye to you, he was all sweetness, and he even reminded you that he Will be with his band at the club tonight, and you agreed to go".
"Really?".
"Really, he was not at all appalled, on the contrary, I might say he was quite taken".
PRESENT
"And then many things happened". Said Chilli while opening the door of her house.
The girls entered, and after washing her hands, began to help their mother. "Bingo, could you make a salad, please? Bluey please, prepare dessert for us".
"Yaay! Ice cream!".
"Healthy dessert, Bluey", corrected Chilli with a chuckle.
"What else did happen to You?!", asked Bingo while rinsing some edamame beans.
"Well, a lot of things that prepared the way for the worst mistake I made at that time".
"Woah! There is more?!", exclaimed Bluey. "Could you pass some honey to me, Bingo?".
"Righto!".
"Yeah sweetheart, I kept making it all wrong", said Chilli grimacing.
"You'll see. As your dad told me, that Saturday morning the club's bathroom appeared collapsed, and the water was flooding everywhere..."
PAST
Bandit hasted to the club, with his new borrowed book under his arm. Rum had just called him, saying that they needed the help of the band to move the musical instruments away from the room adjacent to the malfunctioning bathroom.
In that moment he heard his cell phone ringing.
"Hey Bandit! We are near to your place; Jam is taking us to the club".
"Sorry Mate, I'm not there, I think might be at the Pony some 15 minutes behind you".
"Don't worry, we'll see our stuff safely stored in no time, by the way, Rum just called me, he told me that the club will not open tonight".
"Oh...Ok, see ya".
"Aww, Biscuits!!" exclaimed Bandit, thinking he had lost his opportunity to see Chilli, but then he smirked, "Hey! Now I got the perfect excuse to call her!", he thought, "I just will be a gentleman and warn her about the club being closed for tonight … and if she wants to, maybe we could go somewhere else, maybe to dinner and then to dance".
He was daydreaming now, about how beautiful would be to dance with her again, about her intelligent conversation and sweet smile. He got his phone in his hand, when he suddenly felt a hard push on his back.
Bandit got at the club 25 minutes later.
When he arrived, his friends had already stored the musical instruments and, along the clubs staff, had dried almost all the floor.
"Sorry Im late".
"What happened Bandit? You look dumbfounded."
"I was robbed!"
"Oh! Are you Ok?", asked Clark, the guitarist.
"Yeah, I guess... a little bit bruised tough, and he took my cell phone...".
"How much bruised?", asked Pearl.
"Dunno...I hit my right shoulder against a wall when he pushed me, and then I fall badly in my right knee while I was running to catch him, I almost did it!".
"Hey! Thats dangerous", said Jam, "He could have had a weapon".
"Come over here, let me check on you", commanded Pearl. Bandit went to her absentmindedly.
"Ah!! There you go! Have a care, she may use dark magic on to you!", said Jam laughing.
"Its called medicine, Jam".
"Yes, and you are still a junior student of it".
"Well, you are STILL studying law, that's magic".
Bandit looked up at the bantering siblings and smiled to Pearl. "Here I am Dr. Wolfhound", said he, sitting in a chair by his friend.
"See?", she said to jam, "Finally someone who respect me!".
"I respect you!" yelled Clark at the other side of the room, she smirked.
Once the two other dogs were busy with the cleaning again, Pearl began to gently probe Bandits shoulder, and said: "Now, whats eaten you up? I know its not just that robber, nor your shoulder".
Bandit sighed, "You are far too perceptive for your age, Dr...".
"It comes with motherhood".
Bandit chuckled ruefully, "Its the phone... I had a saved a number in it, form a girl you see?".
"Ohhh... I see...".
"I knew her yesterday after you were gone, I was planning to call her and... Ouch!!!".
"Sorry!", Pearl chuckled. "Bandit", she said moving up one ear, "you knew her yesterday at the club and you were already making plans? Dont rush yourself... I know I have known you just for a couple of months, but I can tell that you are the kind of guy who wears his heart on the sleeve, and sometimes girls just wanna have fun, and its ok.".
"Oh! Yeah, its ok, I have nothing against fun! I have had fun myself". Pearl looked like she wasn't believing that last part, "...But somehow I feel different about this...Would it be a creepy stalker thing if I visit her in her hotel today?", "Without calling her first? Yeah, it would! Definitely!!".
"Um, Ok I wont do it. Thank you for the advice."
"About your shoulder, don't overdo it, it would be ok if you don't play the drum nor charge heavy things for a week".
Bandit said goodbye to his friends and, with a heavy heart, got to the stores to buy another phone, anyway he needed one.
It was 22:30 of that Saturday when Chilli got to the club, it was closed, but inside the light was on, and some people could be seen working. So, against her better judgement, she called to the door.
She was received for a guy in working clothes, and get to the bar, were a dog (not the barman) was making some administrative work of sorts.
"Excuse me, Im here to return this jacket", said she, "can I have paper and a pencil please?".
"Of course, suit yourself" said the dog pointing a notebook on the counter.
She wrote a note and put it in one of the jackets pockets, then, she gave the jacket to him, saying: "Its from the drummer, Bandit Heeler".
"Ah, Bandit! He was here this morning, Ill return it to him next time I see him".
"Thank you".
She returned to her hotel and got to the receptionist.
"Good night miss Cattle. Is everything ok?".
"I think it is, Mrs. Grey... Have you received some message or visits to me?".
"No miss".
"Oh...ok, please let me know if you do".
PRESENT:
"Oh, I was so sad! For I concluded that he knew about the club being closed, and yet he did not tell me about it! So, it was obvious to me, that despite what your aunt told me, he wasn't really interested!"
"Mum, dont you think you was overreacting?", said Bluey while putting the dishes on the table. "I mean, it had past just one day, I would never call a boy the very next day after meet him!".
"Your aunt Trixie said the same to me, yet at that time I was much younger than now and I had a tendency to overthink".
"Why not?", asked Bingo to her sister, while taking a juice bottle out of the fridge. "Thats mean, If I would meet a boy I like, I would call him right away!", Bluey rolled her eyes at that.
"Thats exactly what I did!", said Chilli.
PAST
Chilli called to Bandits phone that Sunday, three times, with no results. The next day, she called again, someone answered, but then hung up the phone.
That was it, the guy didn't want to see her! If before she had felt sad, now Chilli was ashamed of herself and angry.
Nevertheless, the Monday morning she checked with the receptionist again. "Good morning Mrs. Grey... It's not Penny's turn at the reception today?".
"Oh! Yes, but her mother got sick this Saturday, so she's taking care of her, she'll be here tomorrow".
"Is there any news for me, Mrs. Grey?".
"Not today Miss Cattle".
On Tuesday, Trixie and she had planned to visit the British Museum. They were waiting at the bus stop, when one arrived. Chilli looked up to its front window, and quickly began to get on the bus.
Trixie followed her saying: "Hey Chilli, stop! This is not the 14 Line Bus!", but she got on it along her friend anyway.
"Chilli!!! Im so happy to see ya!!", said the bus driver.
PRESENT
"It was dad?!", said Bluey and Bingo, almost choking with their food.
"Yes, he was".
PAST
"Hey Bandit", she said coolly. Bandit felt his heart going numb, what had happened?
Chilli and Trixie went to seat at the back. Trixie was snickering, "So, he was true about him working as bus driver! Are you going to tell him you love him in secret?", she bantered.
PRESENT
"Hold on a sec!", Bluey exclaimed. "You used to play The Bus with us when we were little".
"Yeah! Dad was the bus driver, and you always had some secret or romance thing to tell him!".
Chilli smiled sheepishly.
"How much of reality went into your games with us?", asked Bingo.
"Well... A lot, I confess. Yet we always played in the way we wanted reality to be. Oh! I miss to play with you in that way! It's a healthy thing for an adult's soul to play, you should always keep playing someway girls, promise me!".
"We will mum, somehow!".
"Yeah! That we'll do".
"But... was Aunt Trixie guess right?".
PAST
Trixie's mischievous expression changed when she saw Chilli's face. She was utterly serious.
"Trixie, this might take a while. I will wait for the bus to get empty to speak with him, so you should keep on going to the Museum tour, you still can catch the right bus in this street".
"Are you sure you don't need company?".
"I will be ok, I'll call you as soon as I finish".
"Are you sure you need to do this right now?". }
"Better today than tomorrow".
Trixie left the bus, giving an almost compassionate look to Bandit. He gulped, whatever it was, it wasn't good