Fourteen
Elijah
Just after fivein the evening, there was a knock at the front door of my two-bed cottage, knowing who it would be, I shouted.
“It’s open.”
The only visitor that came over to my place was Johnny nowadays. A few years back, I would have been more careful, as he may have had Harlow with him but with her away, I hadn’t bothered in simplicities as welcoming people into my own house. I wasn’t a traditional guy. Maybe I should have revaluated that theory though now she was back on the scene. I wouldn’t have cared though if she saw me half naked and my chest on show. To be honest, I quite craved that thought of being able to see her reaction to that scene. As those damn sinful thoughts presented in my mind, I seriously needed them to evaporate with the ever-presented company.
Johnny came bounding in, in a different light from earlier. It seemed as if the whole world had been lifted from his shoulders as he waved a trusted six-pack of bottles in his hand, letting me know that his chat went surprisingly well with Harlow. He had let her know he was planning to catch up with a few television shows and chill here tonight, after not remembering the last time, she actually had some time away from a shift.
I was proud of her tenacity, to be honest, in this day and age, so many twenty-year olds didn’t have the drive she had, but she wasn’t just an ordinary woman. She had been dealt this card in life and wasn’t scared to own it, even despite the shit hand she had been dealt.
A few beers and the sports highlights, followed by football, seemed a drab end to the evening with Johnny heading out of not just the town but the country. After Harlow’s call and our recent night out ruined by her arrival, it felt we deserved to let loose a little. A few drinks for sure in the local area, then if either of us were required, we were close enough to get back quick enough. It meant Johnny wouldn’t get too wasted. The last thing I wanted was for him to have slept his afternoon away and ruined his plans with Harlow before he left. It seemed as if we were both on the same wavelength after I had eaten the first slice of double pepperoni pizza, making sure I had lined the base of my stomach, whilst I took a slug of beer. Johnny quizzed me before I could get a word in.
“Fancy Murphy’s?”
“Thought you would never ask; I had the same thought. Let’s finish these up. Watch the highlights of last night’s Premier League match and head out. Best of both worlds. Before you say it, no, you’re not getting dressed up. It’s the fucking local.”
As we clinked our bottles together, we analysed the formations and which players fucked up the match for the next hour.
Fifteen
Harlow
Illusion proved a great trickery;I had a hot soak in the bath before Johnny left. I primed and prepped myself before I threw my cosy pyjamas on and dried my hair. I took the seat on the far edge of the sofa, grabbed the remote control, the pile of takeaway menus and pulled the fur throw over myself. Just as Johnny announced he was heading out at a little before five, he blew me a kiss that I caught, and I waved goodbye.
On tenterhooks, I threw the blanket back and placed the menus back on the table in front of me. I watched the window in case he had decided he had forgotten anything. He had a habit of leaving his wallet or mobile phone at home and ended up having to run back for them at the last minute in the past. I wasn’t sure if he had become less forgetful in the time I was away, I just knew I didn’t want to be disturbed now I had come up with this fantastic idea.
Earlier on, he had mentioned Murphy’s. I used to love going to the place, especially for lunch with Johnny. Sundays were my favourite, that roast dinner they created was to die for, especially the pork crackling. Johnny had tried recreating Mum’s for me, but he never seemed able to master the same effect himself. That snap, yum… it just never seemed to meet the same expectations. It had been a high time in my childhood. I used to love that in the day a different special hit the board, no matter the occasion. I missed those days.
Just as I left for Finolock, they decided to open the doors to a live band and drinking venue in the evenings. Apart from Friday nights, which of course was this evening, which meant karaoke time. What the guys didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them, they knew I had planned to drink tonight. If I decided to have left the house, would that be such a crime?
I headed up the stairs after twenty minutes of having watched the window, being certain he would have arrived and settled at Elijah’s, I moved. The bath was a ruse, stage one achieved earlier of preparation. I’d already managed to hide my clothes that I’d planned to wear, folded behind the draped curtains on the window box. Knowing that if Johnny had checked the room, they would’ve been out of eye view, unless he came and sat at that edge of the room.
As a local establishment, I couldn’t see a dress code being in place for karaoke. Of course, I needed a little sparkle in my eyes, but I didn’t want too much attention drawn to my outfit. If the gossip was the same as it had been before the time that I left, I knew I would be talked about by morning. Thankfully not long after, Johnny would be on a plane.
So, my favourite dark denim, booty hugging jeans were a certainty, they managed to hold my curved look as they should. The minute they came off though, that was a different story, I’m sure they were a magical illusion but one of the best created on the planet. A camisole in a pale pink, glitter would be perfect, if they had any disco lighting, I thought the reflection would be gorgeous, thrown over with my black suede, blazer cut jacket. The only thing left was the shoes and make up.
Shoes in the area were a nightmare honestly, to get to Murphy’s you had two options; the back windy, cobbled alleys, which then linked onto the front. Or travelling along the harbour front, but with a hill to contend with. With my look I had decided on, I needed some sort of heel too, so the nemesis hill would have to be my option. Light make-up with just a slight blush, gloss, and a slick of eyeliner, and I was good to go.
My conscience questioned whether I had done the right thing, as the little devil and angel fought away on either side of my shoulders about going out. Deep down though, I knew I was officially now going to be a local again, it was only right that I made acquaintances with them. After all, people changed a lot in a few years not just physically, but mentally too. I needed to get my eye candy checked out without any guys in tow cock-blocking me. If I didn’t take the chance tonight, then, when would I?
Sixteen
Elijah
Pizza devoured,drinks consumed and even though I’d told Johnny there had been no need to get changed, he wouldn’t listen. Saying he had to fix his hair at least, but when he left the bathroom, he looked the same as when he first entered. Except slightly more sheepish. Maybe something to go into at a later date but the name Ria had been mentioned a lot of late and not just in a business sense.
Thinking he was going to be hours like normal, I managed to clean up and made the place seem like no-one had even been here. I had a thing about cleanliness and ensuring things went in their correct places, not in an obsessive way but more of a routine. If where I stayed was clean, then my mind could be cleansed also of all its unwanted burdens. Well, that was my assumption behind it.
After locking up, we finally made our way over to Murphy’s. It was packed out tonight, not unusual on a Friday with the resident karaoke night on. It was more the bantered excitement from the local guys that had made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Wayne was on the door tonight and attempted grabbing Johnny’s attention. Having gone through school with us, he just seemed focused elsewhere and avoided the confrontation.
My gut screamed when we arrived that something was amiss but when I turned back and glanced at who was behind me, I knew something was about to go down tonight. Wayne had followed us, which meant whatever was beyond that second set of doors, someone’s temper was about to flare up. The fact Wayne wanted to speak to Johnny my money would’ve betted it was him. If he did this in the local, then I guessed I wouldn’t be too far behind. Whatever riled him up normally meant I was going to be pissed, too.
Nothing would have stopped the buzzing excitement of a karaoke night. Alcohol was flowing well between everyone, until the room faded and pinpointed to the one, brown haired girl with her back towards us. Barely able to stand and wrapped around the bar stool for support. I knew those curves anywhere; my body screamed to run my hands down her body, but I knew this fantasy needed to cease before someone cottoned on.
Wayne gave me a cautious look, as he realised Johnny hadn’t laid sight on her yet. To be honest, I had no idea how he hadn’t, as I had been drawn like a moth to the flame by her. Until his head jolted, and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull, when he heard her giggled laugh radiating the air.