by Kiki Archer
‘Not bad thanks,’ he did not sound convincing as he huffed into the cosy apartment. ‘Sorry I forgot my key.’ He had come straight from work and Kat looked at the name tag still fastened to his bright orange t-shirt - Gary Peters Customer Service.
‘Jess isn’t in, do you want a drink?’ she asked walking towards the sparkling kitchen. Lucy could be slightly messy at times, but all three of them took pride in their apartment and always cleaned up carefully after themselves. ‘I was just about to make myself a coffee,’ she lied.
‘Is it Boxercise or Zumba tonight?’ Gary adjusted his fold of hair and looked like he was about to burst into tears.
Kat watched him in the reflection of the chrome cooker hood. What if he asks me? She took her time to fill the oversized red kettle. ‘Lucy dragged her off to her new Zumba class for an honest opinion.’ Trying to lighten the mood she added, ‘... she thinks it might be too provocative for the older members of her group.’
He stood awkwardly, neither drawn to the inviting black leather sofa whose red bobbly cushions still held the imprint of Kat’s outstretched body, or the tall red leather breakfast stools. ‘Oh,’ he managed.
Kat turned round and clapped her hands, ‘Tea of coffee?’ This felt incredibly strange. Gary was behaving like a complete newcomer to the apartment that he pretty much lived in. Each member of the gang had their own special place to sit when snuggling in for the weekly DVD night. Lucy and Kat shared the black leather sofa, Kat always on the left, Lucy on the right. Jess tended to lounge gracefully on the matching single sofa seat, stretching her short legs onto the pouffe, leaving Gary with the red bean bag and wooden floor.
‘Do you know?’ He finally spoke and make his way down onto one of the red leather breakfast stool that Jess had to hoik herself up into; their height difference was incredible, but they looked great together, they always had done.
She turned the kettle off and gave up on the drinks. ‘Know what?’ She sat down beside him and swivelled round so that their knees were nearly touching.
Gary studied her. Everybody knew that she could not lie, that her eyes gave away the true story. ‘What’s going on with Jess?’ He watched them flicker. ‘She has been a different person these last few weeks and I am just so worried that she is going to finish things.’
Jess and Gary had been childhood sweethearts and Kat could not recall a single serious row - yes Jess could be moody like all girlfriends - but Gary seemed to compensate and compliment with his relaxed and loving, laid back persona. She slid off the stool and stood next to him. ‘Oh come here.’ Wrapping her arms around him she felt a warm tear seep through her shirt sleeve. She sighed; Gary was such a nice guy and so in touch with his emotions -maybe too much - always the first to cry at their often romantic films. She did not know what to say.
He sniffed back a tear and messed with his thinning mousy hair not quite knowing where to start. ‘It’s just that I love her so much and I could not bear to think of my life without her. We have been together five years now and I love her; I love her so much.’ His comb-over flap was now truly ruffled.
She was unsure of her words, ‘Do you think something is going on?’ She paused, ‘I mean is there something going on between you two?’
Gary pulled a thin brown hair between his fingers, one that had no doubt recently given up the ghost and fallen from his bowing head. ‘I have no idea. I just know she is not talking to me, she doesn’t want to be around me. She is touchy and snappy and I can’t do anything right.’ He looked up and pleaded, ‘Tell me the truth Kat.’
She looked away.
‘Is there someone else?’
She turned and stared directly at him, ‘No, I can promise you that. She loves you.’ Kat was a firm believer that proper communication solved all issues. ‘Just talk to her.’ She realised how hypocritical she sounded given that neither her or Freya were daring to mention the enormous elephant present in every single room they ever found themselves in. Their meeting in Gail’s and subsequent skin tingling kiss had literally never been mentioned.
‘So there is something then?’ Gary pulled away sharply, quickly straightening on his stool.
‘I am not saying that, I just know that talking and talking properly always solves everything; not that I’m an expert on relationships!’ She tried once again to lighten the mood. It failed.
He took a deep breath defeated. He had heard enough and smiled weakly, ‘I will have that coffee if it’s still on offer?’
She knew exactly how he liked it, milky with three sugars, ‘I’m doing it now.’ She switched the warm kettle back on, relieved that he did not want to probe her further. ‘What have you got planned for the weekend?’ Jess would usually have him over every evening of a half term that was free from early starts but so far this week this was his only visit.
‘Nothing.’
‘Well they should be back soon and we could all get a film or something? Ben is with them, poor thing. Lucy brought him some men’s leggings and, again it’s not something that I’m an expert on, but he need to be careful with his hip thrusts!’
‘Lucy said he was a donkey!’ He smiled and exhaled, relief brought by Kat’s kind gesture. ‘A film would be great.’
‘Singin’, do wah diddy diddy dumm diddy do,’ thrust. ‘Did you see it that time?!’ wailed Lucy as they piled through the apartment door with Ben prancing around thrusting his incredibly mobile third leg.
‘Singin’, do wah diddy diddy ... Oh hiya Gary,’ muttered Jess noticing him settled on his red beanbag.
Gary looked up. ‘Nice to see you having fun,’ he meant it.
‘I needed a pick me up.’ She walked over to the lounge, bent down and nuzzled into his chest, they looked good together. ‘I’m sorry babe, I have been a nightmare. Forgive me?’ Her bright red cheeks were still burning from the hardest Zumba workout of her life.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Come here,’ they hugged lovingly and he rubbed her moist back. He loved every inch of her, especially her ample, cuddly love handles. ‘Kat thought we could all watch a film tonight?’
‘Sounds good to us,’ shouted Lucy and Ben half naked on the way to the shower. ‘Give us five.’
‘Ten if I have my way!’ growled Ben chasing her with his leggings and their pointy contents.
One hour later and they were all sat in the dark lounge watching The Notebook. Kat observed the way Lucy and Jess became entwined in their men, comforted by their arms. She shivered and hugged her own knees, gently wiping the slow tear that was sliding down her cheek. A lovely film, she thought.
Bea linked Freya’s arm, ‘You still have the marks from the glasses.’ She touched her nose gently as they walked away from the brightly lit cinema complex towards Coldfield Park.
‘So do you,’ said Freya looking at Bea’s dark brown eyes, now more of a mystery than ever.
Bea took a deep breath, ‘I just want to say sorry for what I told you. I shouldn’t have said what I did, I realise that I have put you in a really awkward position.’ She had analysed and debated over and over in her head. Maybe she had misjudged Freya and the schoolgirl infatuation she thought she spotted with Miss Spicer. ‘I just thought, or maybe hoped that you were the same.’
‘What do you mean the same?’ asked Freya as they slowly descended Coldfield Park hill towards the dark and poorly lit path back through to Five Oaks. On a warm summers day the park was beautiful. There was a large lake with pedal boats for hire that gently rocked alongside families of Moorhens, overfed Ducks and elegantly graceful, yet viciously fierce, Swans. The paths and trails, all of different, clearly coloured, magnitude, wandered through areas of birch, bracken and heather, taking the walker through areas of wide open space, followed by pockets of shrubbery filled enclosures. Freya had a favourite private place just off the blue nature trail; a perfect suntrap whose small grassy hollow was protected by heather. She called it her sand dune and had spent many an afternoon revising, sunbathing and relaxing, sheltered b
y its secret nesting.
Bea had noted the tone. ‘Nothing, sorry, you know me I spend so much time thinking about something that I end up convincing myself of something completely different.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well you know I like you,’ Bea looked apologetic about it, ‘and I don’t know, I guess I just tried to look for signs that you might like me too.’
‘Did you find any?’ asked Freya genuinely intrigued.
‘I don’t know. Not really I guess.’
She stood still, their arms were still linked and it forced Bea to do the same. ‘You know you are my best friend, don’t you? You know I think the world of you, I admire you, I envy you sometimes and I value you so much. I value us. I just don’t know what I am thinking anymore.’ She looked across the moonlit lake.
‘I am so sorry to have confused you.’
‘You haven’t.’ Freya watched a small circle ripple on the water and thought of Kat.
‘Look I am here if you want to talk, or so is my dad!’ They both laughed and resumed their slow walk huddled closely together protecting themselves from the winter weather that was fast approaching and giving each other some much needed reassurance with their gentle touch.
Chapter 11
Kat was sat at the breakfast bar in her favourite warm pink and white checked pyjamas, sharing Lucy’s thick buttered toast. Last night’s heart warming film had been long and she was determined to make this final holiday weekend a relaxing one. ‘I am so pleased that Jess seems to have cheered up,’
‘I know. I think it is just the relief,’ Lucy spoke with her mouthful.
‘What relief?’
‘I thought she told you?’
‘Told me what?’
Lucy took another huge bite. ‘She asked me to help her.’
Kat was getting anxious and placed her toast back down. ‘What has happened? Lucy? What have you helped her with?’
She swallowed her mouthful and spoke clearly for the first time that morning. ‘She asked for my help. We booked into a clinic. You saw her last night, she was a different person.’
Lucy was right, why hadn’t she noticed? ‘What about Gary?’ she paused and whispered, ‘... how could you?’
Lucy pushed away her crumb filled plate, suddenly taking in Kat’s quiet anger. The sudden silence was broken by the click of her bedroom door and both paused as Ben wandering into the kitchen looking completely dishevelled in a pair of grey pyjama bottoms and pink slip on slippers. ‘What’s up ladies?’
Kat stared at her plate and said nothing.
Lucy felt sick, ‘I think I have done the wrong thing. I have haven’t I? I have got it wrong.’
Ben yawned and rustled his bird’s nest hair eager to salvage the left over toast from Kat’s plate. He grabbed a piece and started to chew. ‘Why? What’s happened?’
She took a deep breath, ‘I helped Jess,’ inhaling sharply, suddenly realising the enormity of her actions, ‘I helped her; she was pregnant.’
‘What?’ Ben suddenly came to dropping the toast back onto the plate.
‘She asked me to help her sort out where to go. She is my friend. I am not going to tell her what to do. I don’t know what is best for her.’
‘Does Gary know?’
Lucy shook her head.
‘Well what about what is best for him?’ spat Ben.
Kat was so cross that Jess had not come back to her, why on earth had she gone running to Lucy?
‘Gary doesn’t know? You helped Jess abort his kid without him knowing?’ He was incensed.
Lucy’s bottom lip quivered and Kat was taken aback, she had never seen Ben angry, not even with the worst class of bottom set boys.
‘I didn’t think about that.’
‘You never do,’ he shouted, turning his naked back on the pair of them. ‘You fucking women, you are all the same! It’s always all about fucking you!’ He shook his head violently in disbelief.
‘I just did what she wanted me to,’ Lucy was now crying, trying to call him back. ‘She didn’t want me to come so I didn’t. She said it wouldn’t take long and that she would be back later.’
‘It is today?’ roared Ben turning back around. ‘When? Where?
Lucy was in pieces.
He shook her arms roughly. ‘Lucy! Where?’
‘Down at the Trust League Unit in Mormley, at ten.’
Ben looked at the oversized clock and raced to the hall shoving on his old trainers and brown bomber jacket. ‘For fuck’s sake!’ he shouted as he grabbed his keys and slammed the heavy apartment door.
Gary stood motionless in between the laptops and the blank DVD’s, it was a quiet morning and the plinky repetitive store music had sent him into a trance.
‘Gary, mate!’ Ben rushed through the electric doors looking absolutely ridiculous.
Gary didn’t even notice his jumbled attire, ‘Hiya, what are you in for?’ He signalled with two hands to the shelf after shelf of discounted electrical equipment.
‘You have to come with me. I will explain in the car.’ Ben grabbed his arm, ‘NOW!’ and marched him out of the store, shouting a vague message about a family emergency that was not quite understood by the underwhelmed supervisor. He pushed him into his blue battered Golf that was sitting directly outside the store with its driver’s door still open. He jumped back in and sped towards the car park exit, desperately trying to navigate his way out of the retail outlet maze. ‘She is having an abortion’ he spluttered trying to stay calm.
‘Lucy?’ Gary was hopelessly trying to plug in his seatbelt but the sharp turns and sudden screeches made it difficult.
‘No, Jess.’
‘What?!’ His seatbelt pinged back up to his left ear.
‘I’m sorry mate, I just found out. It’s at ten; we might get there in time.’ Ben was fuming with Lucy. ‘I had to get you. These fucking women don’t give two shits about anyone but themselves.’
He was dumbstruck, ‘My Jess?’
‘Yes your Jess, your kid. Come on. Where the fuck is the exit?’
Ben skidded into the Trust League car park as Gary jumped out of the car. Twenty past ten, too fucking late, he thought as he flattened his wild hair in the rear view mirror. He breathed a sign of despair, not just for Gary but for Lucy, his Lucy who he thought he knew, his Lucy who he wanted to love, his Lucy who had let him down.
Gary slowed to a halt as he approached the buildings huge white doors and watched as Jess pushed through from the other side out into the sharp biting air, out into the cold dull morning where he stood motionless. ‘Jess?’
‘Oh Gary!’ The white doors slammed shut behind her and she raced into his outstretched arms as tear after tear streamed down her face.
He held her for an age before sinking to his knees. He clung to her waist and placed his ear against her stomach. ‘How could you?’ He looked up in total despair.
‘Gary -’
‘Our baby?’
‘Gary -’
‘I would have loved you both forever, you know I would. You know me Jess. How could you?’
‘Gary, I -’
‘How could you? How could you?’ He was shaking.
Jess wriggled down beside him and held his head in her hands, ‘Gary I couldn’t.’
His eyes filled with tears. ‘You haven’t?
She shook her head.
He’s here, our baby’s here?’
Jess nodded, ‘He or she is here.’ She held her stomach, ‘I love you Gary. I am so sorry. Forgive me?’
A cold burst of wind took Gary’s breath and he paused, looking deep into her repentant eyes. ‘Marry me, please, I love you Jess, marry me? We can be a family.’
She smiled gently and in that instance Gary knew he could not be without the one thing he never even knew he had. He lifted Jess up and shielded her under his forgiving arm turning their backs on the building and making their way back towards her car.
Chapter 12
Freya sat on Jodi’s red
satin sheets, half term history paper in hand, ‘She gave me this back today.’
Jodi swiped it from her grasp it and read it out loud, softly, sexily, ‘71/75. Grade band A. Freya this is a testament to your hard work, aspiration and intelligence. You should be incredibly proud of yourself. A performance like this in six months will give you the grade you strive for and deserve. Keep up the good work. Proud of you.’ Jodi threw it down on the bed, slammed herself against her red suede headboard and screamed, ‘Oh my God Freya she wants you!’
‘No she doesn’t,’ said Freya despondently, her attention drawn to Jodi’s huge Jessie J poster blue tacked to the wall. ‘I just feel so stupid.’ So far this term Kat had hardly spoken to her and their encounter at the tennis club made Freya worry that she had spoilt everything. ‘I stood in front of her in my sports bra and tennis skirt and asked her to take a shower.’
Jodi had requested exact minute by minute, second by second, details of the birthday encounter and had yet to tire of hearing it repeated.
‘It is just so cringe worthy, what on earth was I thinking?’ Freya shook her head still not wanting to acknowledge her own stupidity. ‘She just left, walked out and left me standing there feeling so childish.’ She reached for a black cushion and buried her face, eventually surfacing for air. ‘I was so sure I felt chemistry,’ she paused and clutched the cushion against her aching heart, ‘no, I know I felt chemistry and I was sure she had too.’ She threw the cushion back down, ‘I must have been wrong though .What an idiot.’
‘What did she do that gave you the impression she felt it?’ probed Jodi loving every moment of the deliciously juicy, but heartbreakingly painful scenario.
‘We just get on so well.’ Freya smiled in remembrance. ‘We laughed all through the game - I know she was taking it seriously though and I could tell she was really trying to win -but we laughed and we chatted and I don’t know we just had fun.’
