20 years earlier... July 7, 2005
The smell of bacon and eggs hit the air as Price hummed a tune standing by the stove as he made a fry up
It was just an ordinary Thursday morning like usual
Make breakfast and pack Kyle's lunch, take him to school then come back and go to work.
That had been his life for the past two years ever since he took Kyle in to his home after signing the adoption papers, at first it was a bit different having a kid around but he eventually got used to it
In fact he had started to enjoy Kyle's presence in his life.
It gave him a reason to wake up everyday, It gave him a purpose in life.
Smiling he turned the stove off as the bacon made a light sizzling noise in the pan, it smelt good.
He went to grab a plate from the shelf above, placing it down on the counter
He opened the kitchen drawer and pulled out a pair of tongs before closing it again
He continued to hum a light tune as he placed two pieces of bacon from the pan onto the white plate and one egg that was cooked sunny side up.
He set it aside.
He grabbed the pan moving to place the pan on the sink
Time to wash up.
Price turned the tap on.
He started scrubbing and rinsing the oil off as it washed away beneath him
He scrubbed and rinsed for a bit until it was clean and then he put it on one side, leaving it to drain a bit before he would tea towel it later
Settling the wet pan on the draining board next to the sink, Price walked to the fridge door opening it
In front of him inside a sandwich bag was a Jam Sandwich that was sliced neatly in quarters that he had made last night.
Kyle's favourite.
The kid was obsessed with jam and would eat it any chance that he could
Price smiled to himself as he picked up the bag, reminiscing on a memory where Kyle had grabbed the pot of jam upon seeing it and devoured the whole thing, not caring that it had gotten into his face and clothes
Price had to spend a good half an hour cleaning the stain off Kyle's clothes and scrubbing it out of Kyle's hair in the bath but he wouldn't change it for the world
Cheeky kid. He loves his jam doesn't he? He thought to himself fondly
He closed the fridge door as he held the sandwich bag in his hands, heading towards the living room to the sofa.
Kyle's blue backpack stood out brightly among the mass of cushions.
Price set the Jam sandwich down for a second on the sofa as he reached over for the small backpack and unzipped the main compartment
He went to take the sandwich bag once more before placing it smugly inside away from his books and papers so that it wouldn't be squashed
He took Kyle's empty sports bottle and returned to the kitchen to the sink as he turned on the faucet, filling it up with cold water before closing the lid tightly and returning to the living room where the bag was
He placed the bottle next to the Sandwich inside gently before closing it.
A zipping noise was heard as Price pulled on the zipper and closed it.
Satisfied, he went back into the kitchen to the sink where he had left the frying pan on the draining board.
Grabbing a nearby tea towel, he caught it in his hands swiftly as he took the pan and started to wipe it dry moving in soft strokes until the towel was damp and it was almost dry
When he was finished he put it back on the hob.
He returned to the counter where the plate of bacon and eggs were waiting for him
He took it, walking over to put it on the table where Kyle sat, next to a knife and fork that was already laying there waiting
Now time for a bit of rest before the school run started.
He made his way over to one of the chairs that were at the table and plopped himself on it.
Kyle's breakfast still laid untouched in front of him, the two pieces of bacon and egg sitting forlorny
Price sighed as he rubbed his eyes.
He leant back in his chair as he breathed out and that was when he saw it
The kitchen clock in front of him had it's hands turned at a 180 degree angle, the hands very obviously on the six
The colour on Price's face drained as he realised what time it was. 8:30.
Shit. Shit. We're late. We should be on the train right now. Crap we missed the usual train. Kyle's going to be late for school.
Get moving Price! Unless you want him to be kept after school I suggest you get a move on!
Price got up abruptly as the chair made a high pitched squeaking sound on the floorboards, he wasn't in the mood to care right now
He practically darted and ran across to the stairs, taking two at a time as he tried his best to control the rising panic that was beneath him
He pushed open the bedroom door that was Kyle's not caring if the kid was still asleep
Kyle groaned groggily as he twitched under the covers.
Price wasted no time.
"Kyle! You have to get up now or you're going to be late for school. It's 8.30. We already missed the usual train. If you move now we can get the next one, but your still going to be late"
"Ughhhh is it really 8.30 already?! I want to stay in bed Dad, I don't wanna move" Kyle whined
Price rolled his eyes as he fought back the irritation that was clawing at him
"Yes Kyle. You already laid in enough. Breakfast is waiting for you. I expect to see you within five minutes otherwise I'll be coming back up here and I'll drag you out of bed myself. Got that?"
"Got it Dad. Fineeee" Kyle whined again as he pouted, crossing his arms as he sulked
Price's expression softened as the corner of his lips tugged into a smile
"Good boy. I'll see you in five"
With that he was gone, leaving Kyle all by himself
Kyle sat up as he let out a yawn, throwing the covers away from him
He swiveled, turning at a 90 degree angle as he placed his bare feet on the ground
He walked over to the door shutting it for privacy as it clicked shut before he turned back to the drawers that were next to the bed and opened one of them
A digital alarm clock on top of the drawer read 08:31
Got to be quick. Dad's waiting. If I don't get dressed within the next four minutes well he's going to come up isn't he and you don't want that
Reaching in he grabbed a white polo shirt and grey trousers along with some black socks before he placed them back on the bed and closed the drawer
He took his pyjamas off quickly, putting the school uniform on
He quickly found a brush that was next to the alarm clock and ran it through his short locks as he threw the comb back
08:34. One more minute before he would be in trouble.
Kyle practically sprinted towards the curtain that was on the other side of the room, his footsteps thudding loudly on the carpet as he threw them open
He was blinded by bright sunlight as the strong summer sun rays hit him at full force.
He squinted as he put a hand up to shield himself
No time. I need to get downstairs.
He turned around practically leaping across to the door as he pulled it open abruptly before running down the stairs.
By the time he arrived in the kitchen he was out of breath.
He panted as he slumped down on the chair at the kitchen table, his shoulders heaving heavily as he caught his breath
Price gave him a bemused smile, his eyes shining with amusement
"I see you arrived just in time like I asked you"
"Of course Dad. I wasn't going to let you drag me out of bed like that, I can do it"
Price chuckled as he reached over to pat Kyle lightly on the head, stroking his locks
The gesture caused Kyle to relax and soften slightly as he gave a sheepish and apologetic smile
"Good Lad. You can have your breakfast now. I won't stop you. I'll be watching the telly in the living room. Don't take too long kid"
Kyle nodded as he went to grab his fork
"I won't Dad. I promise"
"Good, Kid. You know where to find me" He got up before stopping next to Kyle
He gave a gentle squeeze on his shoulder before he walked over to the sofa and sat himself down
He turned the TV on, flicking to the news channel as he put his feet up on the coffee table in front of him, boots on top
Kyle munched onto the bacon as he forked pieces of it in his mouth, savouring the taste as he ate quietly in silence
He could hear Jon Snow's voice in the background talking faintly along with the familiar theme song of Channel 4 news being played behind him while he ate
He dug into his eggs, spooning a mouthful as he felt the creamy sensation of the yolk over his tongue.
It was good.
Kyle coughed briefly, the sensation tickling his throat
He got up from his chair as he went to the counter and stood on his tiptoes, reaching for a small plastic cup that was his own one
Now that the cup was on his hands he moved to the sink standing on his tiptoes once again as he turned on the faucet, filling it up with cold water
He brought the cup to his lips as he swallowed, the cool sensation a welcoming relief to his parched and dry throat
He drank all of it gulping it down quickly before he placed it back on the sink, standing on his tiptoes to do so
It landed with a thud as he saw it fall haphazardly near the drain
He stepped backwards, standing back at regular height as he made his way over to the living room where Price was, now that he was finished with breakfast
Price was still sat in the living room with his feet up as he watched Jon shuffle with his papers on the screen as he continued to ramble on about the latest news
Kyle stopped standing behind Price as he reached over tentatively, placing a gentle hand as he tapped Price on his shoulder lightly before he removed it
Price turned around to face Kyle right at that moment
"Yes Kyle?"
"I've finished now, Dad. We can go"
"Good, Good" Price nodded as he got up, turning the TV off.
Jon's face vanished turning into black nothingness
Price turned grabbing Kyle's schoolbag as he walked over to the landing where the front door and shoerack was before he stopped hovering by the doorway
"Got everything?"
"Yes Dad. I packed my bag the night before after you asked me before I went on the console. I did as you asked. Everything should be in there"
Price smiled as he felt a wave of proudness fill his veins
"That's my son"
"Now get your shoes on. We got a train to catch"
A/N: It's kind of sad when you think about that there were many people that day who woke up on the morning of 7 July who had no idea that it was either going to be their last day on earth or that their life would change forever because of one train/bus ride. Just like Price and Kyle there were lots of ordinary people who were going about their lives before disaster and tragedy stuck, it makes it hit all the more hard. But just for a moment we can pretend that everything is alright right?