Chapter 8
Dani
I fasten my necklace as I try and slip my foot into my shoe at the same time. I’ve kept it simple tonight, jeans and a white shirt, casual but smart and, most importantly, not giving the impression that I’m trying to impress.
Warren seems like such a nice guy and heartbroken about his girlfriend. He told me how this ex-girlfriend of his had set him up so that it looked like something had happened, only, it hadn’t, then she’d dumped him and he was devastated.
It made me think of Luke and how reactive I’d been. I really should have given him a chance to explain, but no, I had to go steaming in and destroy everything to the point that I am now too afraid to return home. I would just have to hope that he would eventually forgive me and that I could go back to the place I love. It had freaked me out him turning up like that, but credit to him that he left and hadn’t come back. Hopefully, that would be the end of it. Those lips though, and eyes, I fell into them and drowned every time I looked at him, the bastard!
I hate being away from home. It’s strange how I took my surroundings for granted, but now that they’re no longer there, I miss them terribly. I’d underestimated how much I would miss the things that I passed every day back home, like houses, road signs, shopping centres and supermarkets, simple things really. I’d come to the conclusion that as a human race, we must function in some sort of programmed robotic state, always rushing, too busy to stop and see the beauty around us, never enough time to walk in the park and smell the flowers or sit by that tree next to the river and listen to birds talk to one another. I could picture the routes that I used to drive back home, and even see people out walking, jogging or dragging their kids along, so I guess somewhere in my brain something had registered, I just wish I had the chance to go back and see it all again, through more appreciative eyes.
At first, it’s kind of exciting being in a different country, but now, I’d give anything to see shops and signs in English, as opposed to German which I can’t bloody speak.
I even missed my ice maiden of a mother and that’s not something I thought I’d ever do! Well, if I’m totally honest, what I miss is the choice to go and see her if I want to. Instead, I’m stuck in this godforsaken city mixing with a bunch of druggies because there’s nothing else for me to do. I’ve discovered that I’m definitely not cut out for domestic duties anytime soon because I hate cleaning with a passion. Olivia is cute though and I do care for her, and Alicia is OK as well, reserved but always approachable and kind, even when Leo is around.
I grab my bag, check I have my phone, money and a lip-gloss and I run to answer the door.
“Hi, Warren,” I beam at him. It’s so good to hear an English accent; even though Michael speaks fantastic English, I know he’s not English and that does make a difference.
“Hey, thanks for meeting up with me. I hope you don’t mind me offloading my relationship problems onto you, it’s just nice to talk to someone who is a good listener and I’m hoping you can point me in the right direction and help me win her back.”
“Aww, you are so sweet. I wish my ex had been like you. Anyway, it’s no problem and any excuse to go to the pub and drink. Really, you are doing me the favour,” I laugh. What Warren doesn’t know is that I also plan to bend his ear about how I might win Luke back, but that could wait until he’d had his heart to heart.
“We’ll walk through the park, Bex, because it’s way quicker and, to be honest, I just want to get a drink inside of me. I came here on a courier job and to get a clear head, put some space between us. I’m hoping that a few days of no contact will soften her a little. I’m not sure that’s the right way to go about it though and that’s where you come in. You can be my sounding board, if you don’t mind, of course. Now I need a drink so let’s get a move on.” He jokes as he smiles to himself.
“I know that feeling well. Listen – I’ve got a joint in my bag, so if you want, I could light it up on the way, you never know, it might help you relax.” I shrug my shoulders in an attempt to try and judge his reaction. “Have you ever smoked before?”
I watch him hesitate, almost stumble over his words as if he finds it amusing somehow. Maybe I should have kept that to myself, I start to panic a little and my confidence starts to fade. I keep getting myself in situations by being too honest; I wish I could buy a filter and stick it in my dumb ass brain.
“Just between us, I’ve taken a lot more than dope but that’s our little secret,” he whispers, tapping the side of his nose. “Maybe I could offer you some coke free of charge, call it payment in turn for listening to me bleat on. It’s pretty good shit though, so maybe you’d be better off declining if you’re just used to smoking green.” He raises an eyebrow, questioning me without having to speak.
I laugh out loud, a big belly laugh, keen to be a cool kid for once instead of a rich one.
“Well,” I say tapping the side of my nose, “Between us, I’ve pretty much tried most things so let’s rack it up on that wooden fence over there and get this party started.”
Warren looks around to check that there’s no one else behind us and he takes out a slim white paper from his back pocket then rolls up a ten-euro note. He sets two lines out and then snorts his quickly before handing the rolled note to me. I sniffed the wholesome party powder up my nose and feel that rush as it hits my system; usually, it leaves me feeling high but able to function without being off my face, however, this really was heavy shit and I felt myself stumble backwards. Luckily, Warren reached out to steady me.
“Whoa careful, I told you it was good stuff.”
I shake my head, hoping it will steady my fuzzy brain, but I just feel spaced out and unaware of my surroundings.
“Let’s walk, Bex, and by the time we reach the pub you’ll be fine, I guarantee it.”
“OK. Wow, that’s some serious dust there. Where did you get that? I’ve never experienced a hit like that before! I’d like to score some more of that.”
“Steady on, little lady. If you play your cards right I promise you that you can have another hit tonight. It will be like nothing you’ve experienced before.” He smiled or smirked, I wasn’t quite sure, but one thing I was sure of is that we would have an intense night tonight. I was grateful that my only duty tomorrow was prepping dinner and collecting Olivia from school at three pm.
“Can’t wait,” I said a little louder than intended.
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