Game

Chapter Two

When Andrew and his friends made their way to the petrol station the weather turned much colder.

"Remind me when we pull up to fetch some extra de-icer." Cameron said.

Eve, scanning through the radio stations, briefly gave a thumbs up. She found Talk National Broadcast, her favourite station, and let the dial rest there. She looked in the rear view mirror and thought how Andrew cut a lonely and lost figure as he sat watching the scenery.

Levi and Vicky sat in the blue and white VW camper van eating chips, freshly nuked of course, outside King's Oil N Go petrol station.

Levi's stomach growled. "Remind me about extra toilet paper," he said.

"Classy", Vicky rolled her eyes. She didn't much fancy eating after that request. Her blonde hair was fastened with bright pink clips which had cartoon butterflies on them. she had been carefully eating chips with a fork. She hadn't wanted her freshly painted nails messed up. She wiped her hands with a wet wipe. Her appetite, unlike her nails, was ruined. Levi continued eating while watching out for Cameron and co to arrive. Flame patterns were freshly cut into his short hair. It was a new thing for him. He was pleased with new hairstyle. Thinking about it he thought it accentuated his square jaw pretty well. In fact he thought it gave him the Wesley Snipes look. He grinned at that idea. He worked for his uncle's mail order company. This afforded him the means for his van and the holiday. His mother always drummed the work ethic home. There was more to life than just work though. And for Levi life was about the moment and he lived it as much as possible. With balance of course.

Two black transit vans drove onto the forecourt.

Levi watched as the drivers got out of the vehicles. There was nothing to note except they were both fitted out in olive coloured overalls. He thought they looked like plumbers, only there was no advertising on either of the vans.

"Look," Vicky said. "Here they are."

Levi, turned his attention from the plumbers and watched as Cameron turned off the road and eased into a parking space by the pressure washer.

Vicky scrunched up the remnants of her food, gathered stray wrappers, and followed Levi out of the camper.

Andrew was first out of the car. he walked a little way towards the bin thankful that he could at last stretch his legs.

"Cold enough for you ya?" Levi said as Cameron stepped out of the car.

"Call this cold?" He said. "Brass monkeys are crying." He closed the door.

Levi grinned. He saw Vicky speaking to Andrew as he stretched his legs.

"So, how's he doing?" Levi asked lowering his voice.

"He's the same as ever," Cameron said, "which is what worries me."

"Don't sweat it bruv, we'll keep an eye on him." Levi smiled assuringly.

"Hello." Vicky dropped the rubbish in the bin.

"Alright." Andrew managed a half smile. He felt uncomfortable again as he always did. He didn't know either Levi or Vicky that well but they had been at gatherings around Cameron and Eve's house often enough so that he was at least familiar with them enough to hold conversations with.

"Looking forward to getting away from it all?"

"Getting away, yes." Andrew said.

Vicky nodded. It was as though she understood. She looked past what would have been seen as sarcasm by most. In her job as social worker she made it a point of pride that she was able to get past the body language and see the real problem a person might have or be experiencing.