by PJ Bayliss
Julie shook her head in disbelief. 'In this crowd?’
‘What? She seemed pretty resourceful, I’m sure she’ll work something out…’ he replied as he sat down.
Cheryl was seated a handful of rows behind them and Julie turned around to spot her friend before she sat down. Her friend seemed fine and was in good spirits, giving Julie a thumbs-up and a bubbly smile.
‘I guess you’re right,’ she said as she sat down next to Chaise. ‘She seems fine for now.’
The graduation ceremony began with a speech from the Chancellor of the university. He welcomed the students and congratulated them upon their various successes as a community and a collective group of individuals. As he began to throw light upon their future success, there was a tiny whimper from the stalls behind Chaise and the others. The first secretions had started to seep through Cheryl’s walls.
The serum was a potent simulation of arthritis developed by Pegasus for another firm to test for symptoms in patients. Typically, it was injected into the joints of fingers, knees, or toes, but had a similar effect on any human tissue. It replicated pain that drilled right down into the bones of the test subject. Not only was it deep, but it felt sharp and scratchy; as if tiny shards of piping-hot glass had been inserted directly into the flesh.
By now this horrific pain was starting to seep its way through the inner sanctum of Cheryl’s body. Every drop was causing her to instinctively clench and squeeze even more serum out into her body. It was a one-way street that would test the most determined masochist to the brink of their own demise.
Her first few minutes were bearable to a point of typical period pain and cramps. With a bite of the lip, Cheryl remained composed until the sensation intensified and she eventually tasted her own blood. This was her first tiny whimper of distraught pain which couldn’t be masked through silence, however, more was to come.
The pain continued to increase and drill its way deeper into her body. Cheryl fumbled for her phone and discretely sent a text.
OMG!!
There’s a fire inside me!
I can’t do this!
Julie nudged Chaise and flashed the message to him when they heard another whimper. Chaise sniggered and brought his fist up to his mouth to stifle his amusement as another text arrived.
FME!!
I’m out!
‘Happy now?’ Julie whispered.
‘Not really. It’s only been minutes. Thought she had more than that in her.'
Julie shook her head. ‘I can’t believe you’d think I would want any part of that?’
Chaise sat there quietly and mulled over her comment. He’d never intentionally hurt her with any ounce of malice, but upon her request was completely different. He wasn’t about to let this conversation dissipate into the crowded hall.
‘Are you suggesting pleasure and pain don’t belong together?’
‘Excuse me? Do you mean my pain, your pleasure?’
Chaise discretely nodded his head. ‘No. I mean one in the same. Your pain and your pleasure.’
Julie shrugged her shoulders. She was becoming increasingly aware of the other students sitting beside them as their conversation continued.
‘You’ve never wanted your arse smacked when we’re together?’
‘I don’t. Maybe?’
She racked her memory for a recollection of when he ever did that to her and what she felt at the time. Thinking like that didn’t help answer his question. It only seemed to build up a familiar frustration inside.
‘Well?’
‘I don’t know Chaise! But seriously, do we have to do this right here? Right now?’ She swept her hand at everyone sitting beside them and a final text arrived from Cheryl. ‘Let’s talk about it later?’ she said while checking her phone.
ARGH!
The string broke!!!
‘Oh no! Look at this!’ Julie flashed the message to Chaise, ‘Now what?’
‘She’ll have to ride it out. I figure she has fifteen minutes left’
'Some ride. Poor thing.'
‘Let her know. It may help?’
Reluctantly Julie sent the text to her friend. It was cruel, but what else could she do under the circumstance. She hoped the interruption would bring her conversation about the pleasures of pain to an end with Chaise.
Suddenly there was a loud and audible squeal behind them followed by a flurry of activity as Cheryl stood up and made her way out of the building. She shoved her way past her classmates and ran down the hallway toward the exit at the rear of the hall, smashing through the emergency exit in a dash to the nearest toilet block.
Julie shook her head in pity for her suffering friend and turned to scold Chaise, but as she turned her head to do so, she noticed his bulging lap.
Clearly this type of activity had some appeal to Chaise…
12
A crowd had gathered outside of Yonger Hall after the ceremony. Students, faculty deans, visitors and hospitality staff hustled and bustled about in small groups and were talking about the ceremony and the unfortunate girl that had to leave before it all began. The grapevine rumours had steadily grown out of proportion to become the portrait of a hung-over celebrant that was still suffering from the prior night’s events.
Julie scanned the grounds for Cheryl, who was now sheepishly walking back from Sallies Quad toward them. She was clutching her abdomen and looking very poorly.
‘Good grief! She doesn't look too good cried Julie as she dashed toward her, ‘Are you okay?’
‘Fine… now. But Jesus Christ! I thought I was going to die!’
‘You poor thing!’ Julie sympathised and hugged her tight as Chaise and Carlos approached.
‘I’m sorry Cheryl. Obviously, that wasn’t supposed to happen.’
Cheryl looked at him and shook her head, ‘That’s okay. I know you meant no harm. Besides, I was asking for trouble, I guess.’
Carlos comforted her with a hug, ‘We’re sorry for putting you through that. Let me try to make it up to you.’
‘Really, how?’ Cheryl quipped. ‘Want me to stick one of those things in your arse?’
Carlos chuckled. He admired her sense of spirit, ‘Well,’ he shrugged, ‘let’s see if it comes to that later? But let’s start somewhere else? I’d like to introduce you to a good friend of mine. Her name is Lisa…’ he grasped her hand and began to walk to the other side of the garden lawn.
◆◆◆
Julie glared at Chaise scornfully with her arms crossed and feet firmly planted. She wasn’t impressed with his mischievous antics, but this wasn’t the only problem. Something else was plaguing her subconscious mind. His imminent departure back home to the States, and the uncertainty of their future together.
‘Chaise Vallati, I know we’re in this together for fun. And I know we’re into exploring different things together, but today, I think we have encountered a new threshold. And I’m not so sure I appreciate it.’
‘Really? A new threshold? Do I have to remind you of the candle wax you insisted upon a few weeks ago? I still have the bloody burn marks, and it’s not simple explaining where spontaneous birthmarks come from at the rowing club!’
‘Hmph!’ Julie snorted. ‘I’m sure candle wax doesn't trump uterine arthritis!’
‘C’mon Julie, we don’t need to dwell on this one mistake. Not here and now,’ he said, ‘and definitely not on this day either.’
Her glare didn't soften, but she knew he was right. And she knew that an argument blown out of proportion now might remain with her forever.
Chaise, on the other hand, had planned to inform her about the working visa arrangement and plan to get her to America after the ceremony. But, this obviously wasn’t the right time to tell her about it.
‘C’mon babe, let’s figure this one out later?’ he held his arms out open inviting her to embrace
‘Hmmm…’ she mumbled, but she didn’t retreat as he approached. It felt so good as he encased her within his arms and within seconds, she was pu
rring once again.
‘Let’s go find ourselves an after-party. I told you Rex is throwing something together.’
‘I suppose. Do you know who else is going?’
‘Bound to have all the regular peeps there. It’ll be cosy.’
‘Hmm, maybe.’
‘Okay,’ he responded compliantly, ‘you have something else in mind?’
Julie had plenty on her mind. As far as she was concerned, the past couple of days together had taken a dramatic turn. She always felt prepared for this, but now she held some doubt in her mind.
‘I was thinking, we could spend some time together alone? Before you head off to Italy and…’
‘…Home?’ Chaise said finishing her sentence.
‘Yeah. Home.’
Chaise thought it was a good idea to spend some time alone. Maybe this might provide him with the opportunity to explain his cunning work visa plan to her. They excused themselves from their friends and headed to a café on the way home.
◆◆◆
Taste Café on North Street always had queues of people waiting, but the graduation party meant it was a lot shorter than usual. They placed their order and sat at a bench table to watch all the people passing by.
‘I’m going to miss this place, Chaise.’
‘Yeah, me too. I guess.’
‘You guess?’
Chaise sighed, ‘Hmm. There are memories here for sure, but I haven’t forgotten my home. My friends and family back there… Well, it is just special.’
‘I know.
You’re right. It’ll be great to see my father in London once again.'
‘You miss him?’
‘Big time. I’m still his little girl.’
Her comment gave Chaise an idea. Additionally, it reminded him that he hadn’t checked with Julie’s father about his plan. ‘When are you going home to London then?’
‘The end of next week.’
‘What if we drove down together? Carl and I can leave from there to Naples and it’ll give us some more time together.’
‘I guess that’ll work…’
‘Sure it will. I mean, originally we were going to beat a track directly out of here as early as tomorrow, but now that my grandfather has actually passed away, we have time.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Without a doubt. I’ll make it so.’
Chaise grabbed his phone and exited the café to call Carlos and Peyton. It was a bit of an act to make it seem real to Julie because the flight from London was already in play. All he needed to do was confirm it with Peyton and think harder about how he would spring the news to Julie on the way down.
The barista called their table number and Julie went to collect their coffee from the bar. She returned to find Chaise grinning ear to ear.
‘Sorted?’
‘Sorted.’
‘Did you call Carl?’
‘No answer. But he will be onboard with it. I’ve just texted him to let him know we’re leaving in the morning.’
Julie loved the idea of spending more time with him before he flew to Italy. ‘You’re incredible. Where do you get all these marvellous ideas from anyway?’
‘I have my inspiration through you,’ he smiled, ‘and I wouldn't have it any other way.’
‘Aww, you’re a sweetheart.’ she said, kissing him on the lips. Chaise placed his phone down on the table and they sat down to continue watching people walk by.
There was a less-than-perfect silence between them. Normally Julie felt fine being in his company at times like this without the need for any words or continual engagement with each other. But this time a piercing slice of doubt had managed to infiltrate her mind as she recalled his actions during the ceremony.
It was his attitude toward the situation that bothered Julie the most. She didn’t mind that fact that he’d willingly given the capsule to Cheryl. Nor did she mind the fact that he wished to inflict some pain upon her either. But she was unnerved about the way it ended up and Chaise’s reaction and apathy to her suffering. For once there was a coldness in his eye that Julie had never seen before. And she wasn’t sure about having that in her life.
But then there was this nice guy sitting here beside her. The charming man who insisted she travelled with her back to London. A lover who knew just how to tune her heartstrings. Julie was screwed. Inside her heart was fighting a battle with her brain, and with each sip of her coffee, she didn't know which one was winning.
They sat and observed the pedestrians’ bustling about outside on the street. His phone buzzed with a message and Chaise quickly read it and placed it on the table before excusing himself to go to the toilet, leaving Julie behind with her thoughts.
She continued to look out the window when there was a vibration from his phone. It was another text from Carlos.
Have you told her?
Julie frowned and pondered what the message meant. It was another doubt in her mind. Just what she didn't need.
Tell her what?
She glanced toward the back of the café and picked his phone up to look closer at the message. The screen was locked so she couldn’t see what Chaise had sent Carlos to gain any context.
Her heart started racing. Not through curiosity of what was being withheld from her, but through fear of being caught with his phone in her hand if she unlocked it. She considered the risk and placed her thumb upon the screen.
‘Hello Julie,’ came a voice from the doorway. ‘Where’s Chaise?’
It was Savannah with Tim beside her, both still wearing full graduation ceremony gowns.
‘Oh, hey there guys. He’s out the back,’ she looked behind her toward the toilet and realised Chaise was only a matter of feet away. He greeted Tim and Savannah before turning to Julie who was still clutching his phone.
She quickly handed it to him and continued the conversation hoping Chaise wouldn’t think anything of it. ‘You guys heading to Rex’s place?
‘Yeah. Just grabbing a cuppa on the run before we change out of these rags. What about you guys? Are you going to Rex’s?’
‘Possibly. We’re going home for supper first and will see how things go from there,’ Chaise replied.
‘Sounds like a plan. It’ll be a riot but won’t get kicking off until later tonight. Maybe around nine or ten I suspect.’ said Tim.
‘Plenty of time for a few drinks before,’ interjected Julie, ‘just to get the juices flowing.’
‘Sounds bril' Jules, we totally should do that,’ said Savannah, ‘Whaddaya have to drink?’
‘Err, some bubbles? We can grab something I guess?’
‘Wicked! Let's turn it up girl and get it going eh?’ said Savannah, ‘wait-up and we’ll be back in a jiffy eh?’
Tim and Savannah went and ordered some coffee from the barista counter further in the café.
Chaise looked at Julie curiously.
‘What the fuck was that?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know!’ confessed Julie, ‘it just popped out of my mouth! Just, blah!. She threw her hands out in front of her mouth as if it was projectile vomit.
‘I thought you wanted some time alone?’
‘I do!’
‘Funny way to show it!’ he smirked.
Julie smacked him upon the chest and giggled. ‘Not funny!’
Then they were interrupted by Tim, who was holding an order number in his hand.
‘Hey, are you guys sure it’s okay for Savannah and myself to come around?’
‘Suuurre! No problems at all. It’ll be a blast!’
‘That’s fabulous Julie, you’re ace!’ Tim said, kissing her on the check before returning to the counter.
Chaise turned to face Julie who had a mortified look of stupidity upon her face. He struggled to keep his laughter from blurting out but when she once again mimicked vomit gushing from her mouth he completely lost it and dashed outside onto the street in fits of laughter.
He was wiping the tears from his eyes when she came outside from the shop.
‘What on earth has got into me?’ she exclaimed, ‘I can’t believe I did it again!’
‘You’re hilarious!’
‘Cut it out!’ she shoved him playfully. ‘I just couldn’t help myself… unbelievable!’
Chaise composed himself and gave her a hug. ‘It’s not so unbelievable,’ he said, ‘you’re just so goddamn nice and a real people-pleaser to anyone,’ he kissed her upon the forehead. ‘And you’re always helping friends, so… it’s totally expected.’
His compliment threw off any guilty feelings of incompetence and Julie relaxed with a deep sigh with her check nestled against his bicep. The empty hollow deep in her stomach reminded her how much she was going to miss this.
They stood there and stared up Murray Park road toward the North Sea. Ochre stained buildings framed their view and from their vantage point the could see the coast of Westhaven and steeped cliff faces north toward Aberdeen. The water was unusually calm and a salty sea breeze drifted down the street. It was invigorating for her soul.
‘Strange, isn’t it?’ Chaise asked
‘What’s strange?’
‘How can see something dozens of times, time and time again, but you only notice it when you take it in with someone you care for.’
Julie shuddered at those last words. She glanced up at him from within his arms. She knew how hard the “L” word was for him, and how she hoped one day it would spill from the tip of his tongue. Her lips parted to speak when Tim’s loud voice cropped out of the doorway.
‘Here they are Sav,’ he approached with Savannah close behind hold a steaming cup of coffee. ‘Aww, they off having a sneaky cuddle.’
Julie smiled at the two intruders.
Perfect timing…again.
‘Nothing sneaky about this cuddle Tim,’ said Chaise, looking around the crowded street.
