A Month To Live - Extras

The Flamingo

'I need you.'

'Ellie, you know I have a boyfriend,' I replied, sticking the end my pen in my mouth so I could quickly type out quite possibly one of the longest addresses I'd ever seen.

'I need him too.'

'He's all mine, sorry,' I managed to get out.

'You're so annoying,' Ellie laughed, snatching the pen from my mouth. 'Now, what're you doing Saturday night?'

'Um,' I said, drawing the word out before looking up from the screen.

We were in the back office of Jojo's garage. It was the only place with working AC and today was a scorcher. My favourite kind of day - except when I was working. I'd rather be outside eating an ice cream or swimming. Both at the same time in fact.

'We're still sorting out our new place,' I told her. 'Haven't had much time to unpack yet. Bradley doesn't finish the semester for another couple weeks and I've been here most days.'

'I forgot you just moved in. How're you doing for furniture? You know I've got a whole apartment's worth in storage you can have. I'll only end up giving it away if not.'

'What? Really? Why?' I asked, realising only after that I sounded like a jabbering parrot.

'Long story short - moved in with my boyfriend last summer, moved out after three days. Now an ex boyfriend. People are really fucking different when you live with them. I have hope for you and Bradley though,' she added, sipping at her soda.

'You have to tell me the long version at some point,' I replied.

That sounded like a very interesting story indeed. I wasn't worried about me and Bradley moving in together anyway. We practically already lived together the past year or so. It would just be more official now.

'We'll need a drink or eight for that,' she grinned. 'So, you want the furniture? I've been hanging onto it for close to a year. It'd be nice to have some storage space back again.'

'That'd be awesome,' I nodded enthusiastically. 'We were just going to check some second-hand stores for some cheap stuff. At the moment, we have a bed and... well that's about it,' I laughed. 'We haven't brought any of Bradley's stuff over from his house yet... But, Ellie, we can't take it for free-'

'Oh, shut up. You'll be doing me a favour by getting rid of it,' she snorted, waving her hand. 'Anyway, back to my original point. I need your help. If you're free.'

'Shoot.'

'Saturday night... want to come to my dad's charity ball? He hosts one every year at our house - very hard to get an invitation. That's mainly because he's a bit of a snobby bastard but still... Good food, good drinks...'

'What's the catch?' I asked suspiciously, narrowing my eyes at her.

'Joe doesn't want to go,' she grumbled, crossing her arms in front of her. 'I brought him to this other event back in Spring, some harvest dinner or whatever... he hated it.'

'Well, Jojo isn't exactly the most social of guys,' I pointed out.

'He can be with the right people. I think he felt awkward. I won't lie, the crowd is sort of... meh at these kinds of things. I think maybe he just felt uncomfortable. But if you and Bradley were to come,' she trailed off. 'He'd probably feel better around some familiar faces.'

'Why us?' I frowned.

'I need a couple ideally. George and Tara aren't in town and Cole is... I don't think Cole would be the best person to bring. You know him, he'd insult half the people there within thirty seconds,' she snorted. 'And who knows what kind of girl he'd bring with him?'