by H P Steven
“Well, if we need a valid answer it’s because Phil finished his book,” Hannah suggested.
“I’ve got tomorrow off work so thought we’d pop down for a couple,” Hannah added.
“Oh nice, what’s your book about?” Natalie asked me.
“Why do people always ask me that?” I remarked.
“Cause they’re interested bro,” Cam joked.
“Oh well I still think it’s bad luck,” I replied.
“Anyway I still need to hand it into Audrey.”
“So Natalie would you like a drink?” Devin asked. “Phil’s standing so he can get it.”
“Ha yeah no worries, what can I get you?” I asked.
“Um, I’ll grab a glass and help you two with this wine,” Natalie suggested.
“Oh that’s okay I’ll get another bottle and you a glass,” I insisted.
“Oh thanks sound’s good,” Natalie replied smiling.
Walking over to the bar. The bartender was surprisingly quick and I was back at the table in no time.
“So where’s the guy?” Hannah asked Natalie.
“Oh he went home, he’s got to work tomorrow and I knew you guys were probably heading out so took a chance and I came here and had a drink and I suppose waited for you guys,” Natalie remarked.
“Oh okay,” Hannah shrugged.
“So what does everyone do?” Natalie asked.
“Wow, I sing in a cabaret company,” I replied.
“I’m batman,” Cam joked.
“I like to ride unicycles and juggle,” Devin insisted.
“Oh I’m a boring accountant that works in a Chinese restaurant part time,” Mike remarked.
“Oh cool, I believe none of you,” Natalie smiled.
“Actually that’s what Mike does, those three are lying,” Hannah said.
“Prove it,” Cam insisted.
“Prove that you’re not Batman?” I asked.
“Yeah, prove it,” Cam snapped.
“This game sucks,” Devin laughed getting up and buying a few beers for him, Mike and Cam.
“Well, you already know I write books. Cam here works with computers, computing stuff and Mike is an accountant, Chinese chef part time,” I said.
I really wanted to say, and you trial vibrating sexual pleasuring equipment.
Though I choose not to. I could see the look on Hannah’s face and I knew she was thinking about the fact, I was thinking about saying it. Which was funny.
“So how’s law treating you?” I asked.
“Yeah not too bad, still don’t want to work in Hannah’s Law firm cause we try and save the wankers and get all the money,” Natalie laughed.
“Ha, nice one, and how’s that working out for you?” Hannah asked.
“Good thanks, just recently got sponsorship so I can stay here as long as you,” Natalie replied.
Far out they went on for ages about lawyering stuff it wasn’t that boring but I was trying really hard not to hear any bit of it. Took us ages to remember that we had a massive day tomorrow. To do some stuff that Cam finally told us involved meeting some of Susan’s friends for breakfast and get some suits measured up. Why Devin was going was a surprise. He’d wanted to do something like get a custom suit for ages.
So, at about midnight when we were all pretty wasted, we decided to head home. We put Natalie in a taxi and told her to call Hannah so we knew she got home safely. Said bye to Mike, who had to work the next day, but kept saying, he was going to ring in sick due to being too drunk.
I had unfortunately drunken so much that I text Kalliope I noticed on the way home.
Hope Brett’s okay, your name came up tonight quite a bit. I don’t know where to begin. But I’ll always be happy that I got the opportunity to meet you.
Showing Hannah, she shook her head at me.
“Actually that reads pretty well,” Hannah said.
“Thanks, so how are you feeling tonight?” I asked.
“Far out I needed this tonight, wish I got a punch in on Kalliope’s flatmate though,” Hannah replied.
With me having said, “Bloody south islanders,” laughing up the hill. Followed by Cam and Devin trying to tackle one another.
“Hey you two hurry up, I’m really looking forward to six hours sleep before having to get up and have a shower,” I snapped. “Hope you know how to use a jug and make coffee Cam?” I asked.
“Yeah bro all good, sure I can figure it out.” Cam laughed.
Luckily Hannah remembered the code to the front gate as I had deleted her abusive spray of texts messages, after the Kalliope incident. Once inside I started making some roast meat sandwiches that get snapped up as soon as I’ve finished making one after the other.
As we sit up for an hour, having a laugh, Hannah was the first one to go to bed, closely followed by Devin. I help Cam make the fold out couch bed and head to my room. Surprisingly seeing I’ve got an unexpected reply from Kalliope on my phone.
Sorry bout Brett, he seems fine. His boyfriend and mates told me what happened. I’ve spoken to Hannah. I don’t know where to start.
I smiled and put the phone on the charger. Re-checked my book ending and pressed print. Then jumped into bed. Not thinking about what could possibly happen tomorrow. The six hours seemed to go in a blink of an eye.
I was a little pissed when I was woken up by Cam jumping on my bed.
“Dude wake up and go and have a shower!” Cam yelled.
“Yeah get off my bed and go and make me a coffee,” I snapped back. Finally getting up and heading to the bathroom to have a shower. “Oh man, how much did we drink last night,” I muttered as I chucked my dirty clothes in the laundry and headed to the kitchen after my shower.
“Too much,” Devin insisted.
“You guys almost ready it’s getting late, there you go Phil,” Cam said handing me the coffee.
“Oh thanks man.” Taking it and walking back to my room to put some shoes on and grabbing my oyster card and phone, before heading back out to the kitchen.
“You guys ready to go?” Cam asked.
“Yeah, I think so bro,” I muttered.
“Yeah man whenever you are,” Devin replied.
“All right let’s hit it,” Cam said.
“Cool, hey Hannah! I’ll see you later on,” I commented.
“Bro she’s out to it,” Devin whispered.
“Didn’t even wake up to catch me using her electric tooth brush,” Devin added.
“Ha, living dangerously bro,” I laughed.
As we got out through the front door and headed to the front gate. What seemed like the usual walk down to East Putney tube station. Finally getting there we notice some kid with a bloody huge lollipop, crunching away at it. Walking down the platform waiting for the train.
“Hey man did you see that lollipop? It was as big as that kids face,” Cam declared.
“Yeah man, where’d he get it do you think?” Devin asked.
“There’s an old lady selling them down stairs as we walked in bro,” I replied.
“Oh nice,” Devin said just as some random in a suit brushes past the little kid and knocks the lollipop out of his hands.
“Oh no,” Cam said.
“Who’s this kid with?” Devin asked.
As no one came forward to check and see if the kids okay. I checked my oyster card protector. I usually keep a debit or credit card in it, with some cash. Realising I’ve left them on my desk I turned to the fellas as they’re looking at me.
“Oh no, I’ve left my cards at home. Do I need them?” I laughed, while the both of them just shook their heads at me. “Hey you guys go ahead I’ll meet you there,” I insisted.
“You’re an idiot, yeah don’t be too far behind us man,” Cam remarked.
“Yeah I won’t be, first round on me later this arvo to make it up to you guys,” I replied.
Walking off feeling pretty bad I finally got back home and walking into my room feeling like a dick, I see the cards and cash sitting
where my phone had been. It isn’t till I stepped out of my room, I noticed Hannah with her face in her hands. Somehow she didn’t hear me walk in. It’s not till I said hey, to her that she acknowledges I’m there.
“Hey!”
“Oh, I thought you had left,” Hannah said, cleaning the tears off her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You don’t want to hear about it,” Hannah remarked.
“Yeah, I do I’ve got time, always got time for you Hannah,” I insisted.
“Now what is it?” I added.
We sat there for a while and she opened up told me.
“Devin hadn’t touched her last night.”
It made me laugh when she said something along the lines of dribble.
“I think he dribbled on my shoulder at one stage. He knows I don’t want to go home to New Zealand as professionally work in London is much more satisfying.” Hannah sighed.
It all made sense and she knew Devin wasn’t going to stay here forever,
I ended up making Hannah and I a cup coffee each. Though not saying too much. I had to get going and didn’t want to be called a dick twice in one day let alone in an hour, I thought to myself.
“You need to get going anyway, thanks for the coffee and chat,” Hannah insisted. “Anna’s lucky,” Hannah added.
“Thanks Hannah are you going to be all right?” I asked getting up and finishing my coffee and putting the cup into the sink.
“Yeah, thanks Phil. I’ll see you later on. Oh I heard from Natalie she got home safe and had a great night with us,” Hannah said.
As I went to leave. “Oh nice, see ya later Hannah.”
Taking the slow walk of shame back to the Tube station, knowing full well if the guys were still there I’d be hearing it.
14
The Dark Shadow of Thursday
7th July 2005
The air was still; the light was mostly like it was an hour ago. The walk didn’t take long and I couldn’t hear a bird. I never knew. I always wondered.
I was content as I reached the tube station where a line had formed at the front and no one was really moving. A few people were wondering what was going on.
Much like the middle of summer like winter it didn’t take much for the trains to be held up. Walking up to the front I could see the ticket turnstiles were all closed which was surprising. No one in the ticket office, so nobody knew what was going on. I must have hung around there for a good thirty minutes before going home. What the hells going on. I thought trudging back home, trying to figure out what was the best way to catch up with the guys now.
“Hey what’s going on?” Hannah asked.
“I couldn’t get on the tube it seems it’s completely shut.”
“What do you mean it’s shut?”
“I’ve no idea,” I shrugged.
Walking over to turn on the TV. Switching it over to the news as Hannah walked back to her room. Breaking news!
“Oh my god, Hannah get back in here!” I yelled.
As Hannah walked back into the lounge, wondering why I was yelling, “Why what is it?”
“There’s been a bomb blast in London.”
“What the hell?”
As Hannah walked back into the room, before heading back with her phone.
“Oh my god where is this?” Hannah asked.
“They’re saying Holborn,” I replied.
While it takes a few seconds for the words to hit me, they also mention a bus explosion and an incident at Edgware Road. My heart sank and I had to quickly hurry to get my phone and ring Devin and Cam, slowly starting to panick as I was struggle to get through.
“It could just be the cell signal with all this happening, try texting,” Hannah suggested. “Who were you calling?” Hannah added.
“Cam and Devin, we were heading to Edgware Road,” I responded.
With a shocked look on Hannah’s face she grabbed her phone and tried to ring Devin. “I can’t, get through,” Hannah stuttered.
“Shit, what do we do?” I asked.
Seconds seemed like hours as both of us failed to get through to our friends. “Do we wait, how do we get there?” Hannah replied.
“I’ve got no idea, I guess we wait?” I shrugged, not really knowing what to do in this type of situation.
While I’m sitting there I ring Susan quickly thinking she may know something or at least heard from the other two.
“Hello this is Constable Smith, who’s this?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked.
“Um, my names Phil, I need to speak to Susan,” I replied.
“Unfortunately we’ve come across this phone at an incident in the city,” The constable started to explain.
With a ghost like look on my face I hand the phone to Hannah and head to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, too make sure I’m not dreaming this.
Coming back into the lounge I can see Hannah on the floor on her knees with tears streaming down her face. I’m numb I can’t feel my body and feel like I’m having an out of body experience.
Hannah looks up at me and cried, “The bus, Susan was on the Bus”.
“What?” I snapped, taking the phone back from Hannah. “Hey, what do you mean Susan was on the bus?” I asked.
“We can’t divulge any further information at this time I’m sorry to say. We found this phone,” The constable said.
“What do you mean, how can we find out more information, we also might have friends caught up in the Edgware Road incident as well,” I remarked.
“Again information is still coming in, keep watching the news and a special phone line should be released on air shortly,” he said.
“What the hell, that’s all the information you can give us, really?” I hollered.
“Sorry sir, that’s all we can divulge at this stage,” The constable said.
“What about the person that owns the phone?” I asked.
Again, he repeated himself. Hanging up the phone not really knowing what to do. Hannah gets up off the floor and I hug her. As a stream of tears runs down my check and onto her shoulder.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Hannah shrugged.
“As far as we know they’re okay, I’m gonna make some calls and see if everyone else is okay,” I replied. Still holding on to Hannah I pick her up and place her on the couch and head to the kitchen to put the jug on and make us both a coffee.
Not knowing what else to do, I rung around and it seemed that everyone else was okay, it was just those three we couldn’t get a hold of. I took the coffee out to Hannah. “Hey Hannah drink that,” I suggested placing the cup into her shaking hands.
“Thanks Phil,” Hannah replied. “What do we do?” Hannah asked.
“Well, I’ve rung around and everyone else seems okay.”
“Do you want to ring some of your friends, I’m sure they’ll be okay,” I added.
Not really believing it myself looking at Hannah I’m not too sure she believed me either. Though she did take a few sips of the coffee I had made her and started ringing around. Just as Mike rung me back.
“Hey bro, you guys all good?” he asked.
Leaving the room, Replying, “Yeah me and Hannah are just at home, I was supposed to be on the tube this morning heading to Edgware Road.”
“Oh shit bro, that was lucky,” Mike replied.
“Well, not really, Cam and Devin were on the tube. I had to quickly come home cause I left my cards and cash here,” I remarked.
“Oh shit, have you heard from them?” Mike asked.
“No not yet, but was thinking with everyone trying to call or text out, the system might be struggling to carry it all.”
I still can’t believe it myself.
“Well, keep me in the loop man,” Mike declared.
“Yeah bro no worries, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing bro,” I replied. Hanging up.
While I was on the phone I got a few texts fr
om home the one that caught me a little off guard was hearing from Drew.
Hey Bro, can’t get a hold of Cam if you three need to get back here in a hurry let me know the flights will be waiting at the airport, hope you’re all safe.
I suppose he was talking about Susan as well. Not sure what to say back I flicked a quick reply his way.
Cool thanks man, I’ll let Cam know
“Hey Hannah, all your friends okay?” I asked as I walked back out into the lounge.
“Yeah they all seem fine.” As she wipes the tears from her face.
“Hey I’m still not sure what’s going on. So I say we wait to see if they release a number on TV,” I suggested walking to the kitchen to make myself another coffee. “Oh and I’m sure they’re fine. Susan may have dropped the phone as she was going to safety,” I remarked.
“Thanks Phil,” Hannah said.
“For what?” I asked.
“For not being a dick and staying positive I really needed that,” Hannah commented.
“Yeah me too Hannah. For all I know they might have had to walk back due to the tube closing and their phones might not be working,” I said.
“Wow, I can’t believe how helpless I feel,” Hannah remarked.
“Yeah me too Hannah.”
As we’re both sitting watching the news unfold. Waiting for the number to come up. I get a phone call from Greg.
“Hey man you all good?” Greg asked.
“Yeah bro,” I said getting up and heading to my room.
“Hey man, Cam and Devin are missing. We were supposed to go up to Edgware Road but I had to come home to get my debit and credit cards. So, didn’t get on the train. I think they may have gotten caught up in that drama. Hannah and I are freaking out bro.”
“Oh man, you joking man?” Greg asked.
“Nope not joking, just waiting to hear something and try and get some news bro.”
“Holy shit, what can we do?” Greg asked.
“Bro, I’ve got no idea.”
“Oh man, well fingers and toes crossed and I’ll try and pop around later man, hopefully you guys have heard some good news by then,” Greg commented, hanging up.
I checked my phone, Anna and Kalliope have left messages, a few missed calls from Mike and decided to make the toughest call I’ve ever had to make. While quickly texting my own family. I go to sit on the end of my bed and call Drew.
