by H P Steven
“Probably why they’ve changed it to a day party bro,” Devin joked.
“Anyway, I’m just planning on getting that day sorted and see what time I get home. I don’t think you guys know this. But kids are tiring,” I joked.
“Like how long can you reall steal their noses for?”
Trudie and Mike laughed.
“Oh well, try your best.” Kalliope sighed.
“Yeah I will. Any way let’s get back to dancing,” I announced as Mike handed us the beers. “Cheers bro.”
We were dancing away I noticed Hannah yawning. Devin laughed, Hey bro we might head off soon.”
I replied back, “I shouldn’t be too far away, I’m just gonna walk Kalliope home. Got a massive day tomorrow”.
Devin just looked at me like I’m a moron.
Hannah hearing this walked over. “Hey douchebag, go stay the night she’s been dropping hints all night.”
“Well, I’ll see how we go. But, I do have a massive day tomorrow and I’ve still got some work waiting for me at home.”
“Oh your off to see this Audrey tomorrow,” Hannah laughed.
Hearing this Kalliope asked, “Who Audrey was.”
“She’s my literary agent,” I replied.
“Is she hot?” Kalliope asked.
“Um, no she’s like fourty something,” I replied.
“Ooh so fourty year olds can’t be hot,” Hannah mocked.
“What the hell is going on here?” I asked.
“Nah, just messing with you babe,” Kalliope laughed. Everyone else was just smiling away.
“Oh good,” I said finishing my beer and going to get another one. Followed up to the bar by Kalliope. “Sorry about that.”
“Ah that’s okay. I take it Hannah was thinking she was funny again,” I remarked.
“Yeah, but it kind of was, do you want to take me home soon?” Kalliope asked.
“Yeah okay.”
“Cool, me and the girls are gonna finish the champagne then we can head off.” Kalliope walked back to table picking up the bottle and heading back to the group.
Oh man, finally getting served I wandered back over to them as well.
“Good night bro,” Mike said.
“We have to do it again sometime,”
Trudie agreed and commented, “So great to meet you all.”
“Yeah great to meet you too Trudie.” We all replied apart from Hannah who had yawned at the same time.
“Hey guys we’re gonna head off pretty soon,” Mike announced.
Hannah replied, “Yeah we are gonna head home soon also.”
“Yeah cool, good night guys, I’m gonna walk Kalliope home. I’ll catch up with you guys soon Mike and Trudie,” I declared.
As we all stood around for a while finishing our drinks, thanking Hannah for the stories about her friend. Then heading off in different directions. It took me till eight the next morning to make it home. I thought I had slept in till I was woken again by Kalliope’s crazy next door neighbour. At first I didn’t think I would stay over. But the kiss that changed my mind, had me thinking.
There and then I knew that night was gonna be one I would always look back on and smile, we had become comfortable with one another. But, I was in such a hurry when I got home in the morning that I didn’t bother to print off the extra chapters. Then headed off to the meeting with Audrey running late after having a quick shower. She was happy I was running a bit late cause one of her earlier meetings ran long, or so she told me.
10
The Light Before the Darkness
The meeting with Audrey actually went on for a while. Sitting nervously on the other side of her desk. She thanked me for the latest chapters. I told her the next few aren’t too far away. So I should have this book finished in a few months. Which really excited Audrey and myself especially. I couldn’t wait to finely have something published and out into the world.
“So, thanks for today. How’s the cake coming along? I heard through Meredith that you were put in charge to make it.” Audrey asked.
“Ha, yeah really good, well actually I’m off to get Iva a present and pick up the ingredients today. Though I haven’t the faintest idea who Dora is, I’ll get the cake sorted somehow? So I take it you’ll be heading around for the lunch?” I asked.
“Yeah can’t wait, our little one luckily gets along with Iva which helps. Especially with Meredith and Linda being old University friends,” Audrey mentioned.
“Ah cool, I think Greg’s getting a bouncy castle as well.”
“Yeah, should be fun as long as Greg isn’t cooking,” Audrey joked.
Making us both laugh. Before Audrey added “All right so that’s sorted.”
“I guess I’ll see you on Saturday,” I replied.
“Yeah cool, I’ll get my assistant to text you our next meeting, but looks like everything going really great, I’ll see you on Saturday,” she said.
“Yeah sounds good, I’ll see you then.” Getting up to shake her hand and then walking out into the world. I’d decided to go to the Disney shop at Hammersmith, before heading home. What I didn’t expect was the perfume store next door. It seemed you could invent your own smelling perfume and after I had done that I discovered it came with some massage oils.
“Ah cool, thanks I didn’t know this place was here,” I told the lady at the counter.
“Yeah we’ve only been here a few months,” she answered. “I see you’ve been to the Disney store next door as well.”
“Yeah, I’ve got two birthday parties this weekend. A friend’s daughters and I guess a girl I know well, a very close friend of mine.” I smiled.
“Okay cool, there you go, have a fun weekend,” she remarked, handing me the package. Leaving I jumped back on the district line and headed off home. Pulling out my phone from my pocket I dialled Greg’s number.
“Hey bro, what’s happening?”
“Ah, just at work bro,” Greg said.
“Ah, cool bro, do you want to swing by after work tomorrow and pick up Iva’s cake bro?” I asked.
“Yeah man, all good,”
“How’s it all going?” Greg added.
“Yeah good bro, just got home so gonna head down to the supermarket and pick up what I need now,” I commented.
“So have you seen a picture of Dora yet?” Greg asked.
“Yeah bro, good old Uncle Google. So you’ll pick it up tomorrow bro?” I asked.
“Yeah man see you then,” Greg replied.
“Sweet as man, I’ll catch you then,” I said hanging up. I put the package and bag of fluffy Disney characters away in my room. Then I headed off to the supermarket to get all the ingredients I’d need. I was probably looking forward to using the Kitchenaid mixer I found in the cupboards. Getting into the store my phone started vibrating, I didn’t bother to check who it was. It kind of dawned on me, if I wanted to be with Kalliope. I’d have to end it with Anna.
It looked more and more likely I’d just end up being a busy friend with her. I was feeling a bit weird about the previous night, but stopped thinking about it long enough to get the ingredients for Iva’s cake. Heading back home to get started on it. I picked up some groceries while I was there. It was while making this cake I realised why I started and decided to walk away from baking, it was fun. Yet I liked writing too much to care about looking back into that world. It took me a little bit longer to make the cake than what I thought.
Stopping for a steak lunch probably didn’t help my cause. I finely checked my phone after putting the cake in the oven to bake and making the buttercream to decorate it up and it was from Kalliope.
Hi Phil, thanks for last night, the meal was great, (with a winking smiley face emoji) Kalliope
“Ha,” I smiled. Thinking to myself, it was a great meal.
So good to finely finish off Iva’s cake that I didn’t notice the time, I just put the cake into a container and grabbed a beer and sat in front of the TV. Had no idea what time it was when I was woken
up by Hannah. It came as a complete surprise when I opened my eyes and her smiling face was inches from mine. “Hey don’t do that!” I yelled.
“Hey that mess in the kitchen isn’t gonna clean itself,” Hannah said kicking my legs. “Can I munch on the off cuts?” Hannah asked.“Ha, I’m gonna munch on the off cuts,” Hannah laughed. “The cake looks good.”
“Um, thanks, what’s time is it?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s about quarter past six,” Hannah replied.
“Oh man, I was out for a while,” I added. “Hey what do you want to do for dinner?” I asked getting up to throw my beer bottle in the trash and start cleaning up. “Hey, are you hearing from Devin tonight Hannah?” I asked.
“Um, yeah probably,” Hannah said.
“Can you tell him I won’t need the truck, getting Greg to pick the cake up tomorrow night.”
“Yeah no worries, I’ll let him know,” Hannah said. “No idea about dinner, do you want to try the Chinese down the road or take aways,” Hannah suggested, after peaking in the fridge.
“Yeah sounds good, I’ll just finish cleaning this stuff up.”
“Yeah no rush, I’m just gonna have a shower,” Hannah responded.
Turning to walk to her room, before adding, “Hey what time did you get in last night?”
“About 8am,” I announced.
Watching her shake her head on the way to her room, could have sworn I heard the word, “douchebag.”
“Let’s go and get some takeaways when you’re ready, I should have this place cleaned up!” I yelled.
“Yip, just give me thirty minutes,” Hannah yelled back.
I took out my phone and quickly flicked Kalliope a text back.
Thanks, I thought the meal was great as well. Talk soon.
“Hey let’s go!” I yelled, too Hannah a short time later.
“Yeah coming, hey what did you get for Iva?” Hannah asked.
“Well, you and Devin got her some stuffed Disney characters. I’m making the cake,” I added.
“Ah cool, did you want some money for them?” Hannah asked.
“Nah all good, just fill the fridge shelf with beer before you guys head off this weekend.”
“Yeah sounds good, let’s go get some food.”
“So this new Chinese place looks pretty good, I could go some duck and fried rice.” I remarked.
“Yeah sounds good,”
“So, what’s been happening with your book?”
“Hey you know the rules,” I joked, smiling back.
“Yeah worst rule ever, so it’s going well?”
“Yes, it’s going well.”
After leaving the Chinese place we walked back home, only to run into people who looked familiar but I couldn’t remember their names.
“Hate that, when you know someone and you can’t remember their names,” I announced.
“Oh did you know those people?”
“I thought I did,”
“Let’s get home,” Hannah laughed.
“I might run into someone I know,” Hannah joked, smiling at me.
***
The following day, was pretty good I had nearly finished all the chapters of my book but just had a day or two, to have a quick read through and edit, so I saved it to a hard drive and put it in my desk draw. Hannah was out with Devin and was heading away pretty early in the morning so I had the whole place to myself.
So, I gave Kalliope a quick text.
Hi, will I see you tonight I have the place to myself.
But didn’t hear anything back from her till the next morning. It seemed that everyone was either working or incredibly busy. Well, at least I could enjoy the beers that Hannah and Devin had left me and wait for Greg to pick up his daughter’s birthday cake. Thought I might as well go and wrap the Disney toys.
About an hour later I gave the cake to Greg and the presents.
“There you go bro. What times it kicking off tomorrow, do you guys need any help setting up?” I asked.
“Nah should be all good bro, probably any time after ten in the morning I reckon. The cake looks mean man; Linda will be stoked. She always thinks you’re not going to come through aye,” Greg joked.
“Yeah what’s up with that bro?” I asked.
“Not sure man, but you’ve come up tops again,” Greg insisted.
“Awesome bro, I’ll catch you tomorrow.” Giving Greg a hand to load the cakes and presents into his car. “Take it easy on the roads bro, don’t want anything to happen to that cake.”
“Yeah man, see you tomorrow thanks again,” Greg said as he jumps in his car and heads off, back to Isleworth.
What ended up being a pretty good night. Unfortunately, I decided to pop into Thai Square for a couple of beers and ran into Paul and Lacey. Who decided to turn around and join me back inside the club. Shaking the bouncers hand, who joked with me and told me to line up. Which I did heading around the corner but when he noticed I knew Lacey he laughed at me at told me to, “Get inside and have a good night.”
“Hey Lacey, are you leaving?” I asked.
“Um, what are you up to tonight?” Lacey asked.
“I just came down for a couple of quiets,” I replied.
“Oh cool Pauls inside, I was gonna have an early one but I’ll have a few more,” Lacey announced.
“Well, if you need a place to crash, my housemate’s beds free. Actually, the couch might be better,” I joked. “Hey Paul, where’s the missus bro. Or are you and Lacey up to no good?” I asked.
“Nah, she’s up getting us a beer, what are you up too tonight?” Paul asked.
“Just popped in for a quiet one bro,” I said.
“Greg was just up at Hannah’s and my apartment picking up Iva’s birthday cake,” I added.
“Oh how’s it looking?” Lacey asked.
“Ha, like Dora hopefully, well a buttercream version of her,” I joked.
“Yeah nice,” Paul muttered.
“Hey Lacey what do you want to drink? I’ll get it.”
Getting up and heading to the bar after Lacey told me she’ll be happy with a beer. I take back four coronas to the table. “There you go,” planting two of them in front of her. “Saves me getting up again for a while,” I laughed.
“Oh cheers,” Lacey replied.
“Hey Phil, you remember Kylie aye?” Paul asked.
“Not really man. But nice to meet you again,” I nodded to Kylie.
“So how do you guys know each other?” Kylie asked.
“Well, I’m good friends with Greg, and met these two through him,” I said.
“Oh cool,” Kylie replied.
“Yeah I met Lacey through Paul and Linda,” Kylie added.
“Yeah I went to university with Linda,” Lacey declared.
“Oh cool, so are we all set for tomorrow?” I asked.
“Yeah screaming kids and parents not watching them,” Lacey joked.
“Oh Lacey, you’ll have a kid one day,” Paul responded.
“Got to meet a guy first,” Lacey sighed.
“Could be a guy in this very club Lacey, that could be the love of your life,” I said. “It’s not me,” I added. Making Kylie and Paul laugh.
“So who you taking tomorrow bro?” Paul asked.
“Ah no one man, everyone’s either busy or not in the country. Just spending most of the day hanging out with you guys and Linda and Greg,” I added.
“Yeah man sounds good, we’ve got a house party to go to in Acton after if you’re keen,” Paul suggested.
“Nah probably not man, might just come home and get some work done. I’ve got a fancy-dress party on but I’d only planned on making an appearance,” I declared. “Also been busy with work so haven’t had time to source a costume.” Knowing full well I didn’t want to get anything sorted. I knew I had to make an appearance at least anyway.
“Work? don’t you write? How hard can that be?” Lacey flicked her hair back, trying to make a point.
“Oh it’s
a little more work than most people think,” I remarked taking a swig of my drink.
“Ah cool man, so we might finish these and go for a dance are you two cool here,” Paul asked.
“Yeah thanks Paul,” Lacey said.
As Paul and Kylie got up and headed to the dance floor, leaving me to talk to Lacey alone.
“So did you end up getting Iva a present?” Lacey asked.
“Um kind of, I made the cake but I was out in Hammersmith and stopped into the Disney store and picked up a few fluffy toys for her as well. Wrote on the card they were from my flatmate Hannah and Greg’s workmate Devin,” I replied.
“Oh I was wondering how they came into the equation,” Lacey said.
“Oh why didn’t you ask?” I joked.
“So how’s Kalliope?” Lacey asked.
“Well, it’s her dress up party. Slash birthday party tomorrow night. So, I guess I’ll have to at least make an appearance,” I responded.
“Yeah can’t get out of that one.These beers are really good, do you want another one?”
“Yeah by the time you get back I should have finished this second one, Thanks that’ll be great,” I replied.
“Another two?” Lacey asked.
“I’d be happy with one I think, then I might call it a night,” I said
“Oh cool back soon,” Lacey declared.
I decided to get up and popped over to talk to Paul. “Hey bro, I’m gonna have one more then head off.”
“Yeah bro, what’s Lacey doing?” Paul asked.
“Um, not sure, she can stay at mine. I’ll ask when she comes back,” I suggested.
“Yeah cool bro, but her stuffs at mine,” Paul replied.
Laughing I said, “Well I guess she’ll be staying at yours.”
“Ah she’s got some gear at mine, but it’s pretty full at the moment. I was actually gonna ring you earlier and ask if she can stay at your place,” Paul remarked.
“Um, yeah all right, she can have the couch. How bout we catch up for breakfast tomorrow morning at the Railway and she can get ready at yours,” I said.
Just then Lacey joined us down on the dance floor
