The Dark Shadow of Thursday

by H P Steven

  I woke up suddenly, with Anna standing next to the bed freaking out. Hannah ran in and tried to grab me, while tripping over the end of the bed she ends up head butting me on her way down.

  “Ow! What the hell Hannah?” I yelled.

  “You were having that same dream again,” Hannah said. “You were freaking out Anna,” Hannah added.

  “Wow,” I whispered, startled a little myself.

  As I started filling both Hannah and Anna on what my dreams about. Anna holds her hand over her mouth shocked, at what I’ve said. Hannah seems to know what my dream was about, but listened intently.

  Anna jumps in the bed behind me and wraps her arms around me as I talked about both my friends covered in blood, she kisses my neck and rests her head on my shoulder, I can feel her tears against my skin. Hannah just looked at me in shock, not knowing what to do.

  “I think you need to talk to someone?” You can’t live that dream, over and over again,” Hannah said.

  “I agree and I’ll come with you if you like,” Anna said.

  “It’s like you have survivor’s remorse, that’s not fair on you and the memories of our friends,” Hannah added.

  “I’ll sort something else once I’m back, I can’t discuss it with anyone now Hannah,” I said.

  “Back from where?” Anna asked.

  “Ah, New Zealand,” I replied.

  “I’ll be flying back with Drew and Cam,” I added.

  “Oh,” Anna whispered, leaving the room.

  “You probably should have said something,” Hannah muttered.

  Looking over at the time I can see its now 7:30am. “I’ll talk to her now; do you want a coffee?” I asked Hannah.

  “Yeah I’ll be in my room,” Hannah said getting up and going back to her room. I put my pj trousers on and head out to the kitchen, where I find Anna looking for some clean cups and where the coffee and tea is kept.

  “Hey I can do that,” I said.

  “Were you ever going to tell me, you were heading back to NZ?” Anna asked, with her arms crossed.

  “Anna, what would I say,” I replied.

  “You had all night to tell me, I slept in the same bed and you thought it was okay not to tell me,” Anna said.

  “Anna, Cam was one of my oldest friends. I was always gonna go back for his funeral,” I declared. “What do you think was gonna happen?” I asked.

  Anna just stood there still for ages. Again, it felt like time had stopped, the only thing to break the silence was the sound of the jug boiling. So, I turned to turn it off, and grabbed three cups from the cupboard. It felt like Anna wanted to yell, though she was lost for words. I would have listened to every last one of them.

  I decided to man up.

  I walked over to Anna who was now leaning against the wall and looking at the floor. “Hey, tell me what you want me to say and I’ll say it, or tell me how to make you smile again and I’ll prove to you I’m worth it,” I whispered.

  She just looked up at me and said, “I don’t want you to go.”

  “Anna,” I said. “I’m coming back, I’m not going to stay there. I have to come back,” I added.

  Anna looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I want to be there for you but I can’t.” Anna cried.

  “Hey it’s okay, I understand. But I must go,” I whispered. With the trips and the flights, I knew Anna might have been struggling to tell me she couldn’t afford it, but I didn’t want to say anything.

  She just looked at me and smiled. “You better come back, cause if you don’t, I’ll be pissed,” Anna remarked.

  “Yeah so will I,” I smiled with Anna putting her hand in my face and pushing me away laughing. I go to kiss her hand and she told me off laughing.

  “Hey you two, get ready and Phil where’s my coffee?” Hannah asked.

  “Ha, I’ll finish making it now for you,” I replied. “If you want to have a shower, Hannah can point out where the extra towels are,” I whispered.

  “Thanks guys, you both are going through so much,” Anna said.

  “Well, it really helps that you’re here,” Hannah said.

  “Hey, let’s get sorted and head down for breaky,” I said.

  Hannah just smiled and pointed Anna in the direction of the towels and the bath room. Walking back into the kitchen. “Hey didn’t hear much noise coming from your room last night,” Hannah joked, with a massive smile on her face.

  “Wow, really Hannah,” I said.

  “It’s okay if you couldn’t get it up,” Hannah joked, trying to say this without laughing horribly. “It happens to guys,” Hannah added.

  Even with a stupid smirk on her face I tried to say something. “Nah, your right Hannah I couldn’t perform at my optimum,” I said.

  Hannah just laughed as I hand her the coffee she was after. “Same thing happened with Devin our first night together–” Hannah started to say, before the smile on her face is replaced by a sad one.

  “Wow, could have done without knowing that one,” I joked.

  “Yeah well, sharing’s caring,” Hannah replied.

  “Hey are you gonna have a shower as well?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah of course, once Anna’s out and I’ve finished this coffee,” I said.

  “Hey, where we going for breakfast?” I asked Hannah.

  “Um, we’ll meet up with Trudie and Mike and go from there I think,” Hannah assumed. Just as Anna comes out of the bathroom and heads to my room.

  “Hey do you want another coffee?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah, that’ll be good, thanks Hannah,” I said getting up I knocked on my door.

  “Hey are you dressed?” I asked knocking.

  “Would it stop you,” Anna replied.

  “Ha probably not, I’m just gonna grab some clothes and have a quick shower,” I said opening up the door and walking towards my draws to take some clothes out. Taking a small glimpse at Anna I smiled thinking. Time waits for no man.

  “Hey I saw that,” Anna declared getting up and coming over to me.

  “Yeah I thought you might,” I said.

  Anna leaned in and I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her towards me, locking lips again. “Hmm hurry up and get ready,” Anna whispered.

  “For what?” I replied.

  “For breakfast,” Anna laughed.

  “Oh right, then let me go and stop kissing me like that.”

  “Okay just this once, just making sure you’ll miss me when you’re away,” Anna replied.

  “Well, I’ll get to see you today, and hopefully tomorrow. Let’s enjoy the time we have,” I said.

  “Yeah sounds good,” Anna replied.

  I headed off to the bathroom, only to hear Hannah call Anna out of the room. Just as I turned the taps on. Wow, this won’t end up well for me.

  Luckily as I was drying my head and getting changed Anna came in. “Hey are you almost ready?” Anna asked.

  “Yeah just let me put some shoes on and grab my stuff and we can head off,” I said, walking past Anna and patting her on the hip smiling.

  “Cool, Hannah’s ready and I’m starting to get hungry,” Anna declared. Whispering, “hurry up,”

  “Oh ha ha, I’ll be a couple of minutes. Hey, come with me for a second,” I whispered walking back to my room with Anna following me I yelled out to Hannah, “Aye Hannah, we’ll be a minute I’m just putting some shoes on.”

  “Yeah no worries,” Hannah said back.

  “Hey, I just wanted to talk to you quickly, I’m always gonna want to do this,” I said to Anna. Leaning in and holding her by the waist and making out with her. She leaned away from me and said, “Okay good, but what’s the but?” Anna asked.

  “No PDA it’s a weird moment and I don’t want to make anyone feel awful or uncomfortable,” I replied.

  “What do you mean?” Anna joked.

  I go to answer but find it really hard to start, it felt like I was rubbing it in and I didn’t want anyone to feel awkward. I was just really happy to
be in a moment after the fact, my mind was exploding inside.

  “Your messing with me now aren’t you?” I said.

  “Yeah, but I was gonna make you sweat it out a bit,” Anna replied.

  “Ha nice, are you ready to head off?” I asked.

  “Yeah let’s go,” Anna said.

  We left my room and head to the kitchen I quickly take a sip of the coffee Hannah made for me.

  “Hey Hannah let’s roll,” I said.

  “Are you sure, it’s about time you two,” Hannah joked.

  “Just let me put some shoes on,” Hannah added.

  “Yeah sounds good,” I said drinking the rest of the coffee and putting the cup in the sink.

  Finally heading down the main road, it doesn’t look that busy for a Saturday and never really looked like it was going to be. I take my phone out of my pocket and flick Mike a quick text.

  Hey bro heading down to yours, be out the front in five minutes.

  “Oh man, what’s happening in the city today, it’s never usually this quiet on the main road at this time of the day,” I announced.

  “No idea aye, but your right,” Hannah replied.

  “So where do you guys usually eat on a Saturday in Putney?” Anna asked

  “Usually at home, or a quick bite at any of the local bars that do brunch,” I said, smiling awkwardly after saying the word brunch. Anna just smiled as it wasn’t lost on her.

  “Hey is that Mike just up there?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah, I sent the message a few seconds ago, they might have been heading up,” I replied.

  Anyway they both spot the three of us walking towards them. After the meet and greet, its decided to head to the Putney Pantry for something to eat.

  “Hey bro what’s been happening?” I asked Mike.

  “Ah, not much since last night man.” Mike laughed.

  “Yeah I knew it was a pretty stupid question when I said it,” I muttered.

  “Well, you’re allowed to be stupid,” Mike joked.

  Trudie hits him and whispered in his ear, “You can’t say that.”

  I noticed Hannah and Anna smiling, over hearing the conversation.

  “It’s okay Trudie,” I said.

  “Yeah Trudie, Susan would have found that funny,” Mike declared.

  Over a chorus of “Oh’s,” from Hannah and Anna. We finally cross the street trying not to laugh feeling to awkward. Hannah and Anna are just torn, but getting through it. The food at this place wasn’t too bad

  “Hey I’m gonna head home, after this, I need to get some clothes on. That I haven’t been wearing for two days. I’m not in Croatia anymore,” Anna announced.

  “Yeah, I’m not sure what we’re doing this afternoon. I think Margaret is calling at some stage, it’s all a bit up in the air,” I said.

  We sat there for just over an hour really enjoying breakfast and having a pretty good time with all five of us, before I walked Anna to the tube laughing with her.

  “Oh, we are bad people, we shouldn’t be laughing at Mikes stupid jokes,” I said.

  “Yeah well you started it,” Anna replied. Before adding, “What time do you have to pick up the brother’s tomorrow?”

  “Well, knowing Drew, he’s probably given me the wrong bloody time again,” I said.

  “Could you let me know when Susan’s funeral is,” Anna asked stopping me in my tracks, just on the other side of Putney bridge.

  “Yeah that shouldn’t be a problem, wow,” I declared.

  “If it’s okay could I come along?” Anna asked.

  “Yeah, that’ll be great,” I replied.

  Finally making it to the tube station, Anna turned to me and we laughed at each other before kissing.

  “You’re a terrible friend, but your great at this,” Anna joked.

  “Wow, that’s what I was going to say,” I replied.

  “Thanks,” I added.

  Leaning in, “If this was it and you never came back, I’d still have this and we’d still be this,” Anna announced.

  “I don’t want to think about that,” I replied. Adding, “I’m finding this amazing and I can’t give it up, it’s you.”

  Anna just smiled and we made out for a while just as we heard her train coming she grabbed me and kissed me,

  “I’ll see you soon, I’m coming to the BBQ tomorrow, Hannah invited me,” Anna said, turning around and heading through the turnstile to the tube.

  “Thanks Hannah,” I whispered to myself.

  Then started to head back over the bridge to head up the hill. I quickly have a look down Kalliope’s street and think, I’ll let that one go, I’m pretty-busy. Sure, I could have possibly called but we had a huge week installed for us. Either way I stop to get a coffee. It doesn’t take me to long to get home after that, though leaving the coffee shop the streets seemed to suddenly filled with people. Might have been my eyes playing tricks on me but I had thought I had seen Cam and Susan heading into the train station to catch the overlander. Though, I also thought I’d seen Kalliope looking at me from the other side of the street. So, I was pretty stoked when I finally walked through the front door and sat down on the big chair. Just as Hannah walked in five minutes later.

  “Hey did Anna get away all right?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah, she didn’t have to wait for the train for too long, she’ll be back around tomorrow for the BBQ, I think her works trying to put something together for Monday night for Cam. But I did tell her to talk to Drew first,” I replied.

  “Ah cool I’ll keep Monday open, I may have to go back to work for a bit,” Hannah said.

  “Ah work, I need to ring Audrey to see what time she can pick us up tomorrow and I’ll need to get a hold of Margaret,” I commented.

  “What, whys that?” Hannah asked.

  “Audrey said she’ll take us to the airport to pick Lewis and Drew up and she’s sorted out most of the funeral stuff and flight details for Cam, we just need Drew to sign a few forms, once the cops release Cams body to family,” I said.

  “Hey do you want to go and try and see Devin tonight?” I added.

  “Ah yeah I was gonna ask if you’d come with me, Thanks Phil,” Hannah replied.

  “Yeah no worries, be good to see how he’s doing. I’m just gonna make some calls,” I said.

  Getting up and heading to my room, to check a few numbers, I end up ringing Greg and inviting him to tomorrows BBQ, along with telling him to tell Paul and Lacy, then I rang Audrey and she’s all set to go tomorrow and reminds me about Tuesday. Then I rang Margaret, who lets me know the funeral for Susan will be on Wednesday and if we needed any help getting to it. I told her we’d probably hire a car, though we’d see each other again tomorrow as Scott and Ian, Susan’s dad were all going to travel with the director of the funeral home to take her body down to Gloucestershire before-hand. It would be just enough time for them to call in on the way through. I told her if they can’t we’ll see them on Wednesday. While Margaret thanked me again and she’ll see me, Anna and Hannah tomorrow. Before giving Mike a quick text. Then heading back out to the lounge, sitting down with Hannah who’s now watching a bit of TV.

  “Oh man, wow,” I whispered.

  “Yeah I know,” Hannah replied.

  The rest of the day and quite honestly the night was all a blur, Hannah punched me in the arm so hard when we caught up with Julie at the hospital, I had to let her know I was seeing someone, which was hard cause Hannah was trying to get me into a headlock. After apologising to Julie for Hannah’s behaviour we walked into see Devin. Who was still on the machines but was doing really well, Julie told us. I told her Hannah and Lewis, Devin’s brother would probably be back tomorrow. But I had to take care of a few other things. Which stopped Hannah in her tracks and must have made Julie feel a bit weird cause she didn’t ask me what was going on tomorrow, when looking back was a good thing. I didn’t want to explain taking my dead friends brother to see him and getting the cops to release his body so we could take him
back to NZ. Just the thought of it all annoyed me. Till Hannah punched me in the arm again. We stayed with Devin for a couple of hours till Julie told us that visiting times were almost over.

  “I’ll see you both soon no doubt,” Julie smiled.

  “Yeah, thanks for all your hard work with Devin,” I replied. Hannah agreed with me, in thanking Julie herself. We headed off home and got some dodgy Chinese food after getting off at East Putney tube stop.

  17

  That Weird Sunday

  “Wow, morning Audrey. What time is it?”

  “It’s just about six in the morning, I thought I’d make a coffee at your place before we head to the airport but luckily the place down the road was open,” Audrey replied. Hearing this I run to the door and buzz her in. Before running back to my room to put some pants on.

  “Hey who’s here?” Hannah asked wiping her eyes as I had unfortunately woken her up.

  “Audrey’s here to take me to the airport to pick up Lewis and Drew,” I announced.

  “Oh right, I’ll just have shower,” Hannah commented.

  “You don’t need to come if you don’t want to.”

  “Well, if Audrey doesn’t mind, Lewis and I can go and see Devin,” Hannah replied.

  “Yeah I’ll ask her. She’s heading up the path now.”

  “Good morning,” I said to Audrey just as she reached the door.

  “Morning Phil, how you both doing?” Audrey asked.

  “Oh we’re okay I guess,” I replied. “Would it be too much to ask if we could possibly drop Lewis and Hannah off to see Devin?” I asked.

  “No, not at all, I’ve cleared my schedule today so I’m at your disposal, so no worries we can do that,” Audrey replied.

  “Wow, thanks Audrey I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you,” I said.

  “We can talk about it later,” Audrey said smiling. “No, I’m just joking,” Audrey added. I took the coffee off Audrey thanking her as she walked inside.

  “So Hannah’s just having a shower and I’m just about to get changed. Are you gonna be okay for five minutes?” I asked.

  “Yeah go get changed, I’ve got my coffee, but hurry up,” Audrey joked, with a cheeky grin. I past Hannah on the way to my room who gives me a funny look,