Echoing love

Chapter 1 Part 3

They stayed late in London. It grew dark, but the number of the people along the river didn't seem to lessen. When they caught the train back home a crowd was gathering at the river. Nobody wanted to go home without knowing whether or not Britain was at war. Lavender checked her phone, the time on the front of the screen told her it had gone ten o'clock.
'The Ultimatum expires at eleven,' Kyle said. 'Let's wait and see what happens.' Lavender could feel the suspense; it sparkled in the air around her. She'd had the perfect day and wasn't ready to go home. There was nothing she wanted more than to stay out for another hour with Kyle.
'I can't,' she groaned. 'Mum'll be worried sick by now, a bag of nerves, I just wish she could afford a phone for herself, then I'd be able to ring her, she'll probs think I'm lying dead in a ditch by now.'
'She knows you're with me.'
'She won't see that as safe. I need to go home.'
It wasn't easy to push their way through the gathering crowds. Kyle clung to her arm, just as reluctant to let her go as she was to leave him. He walked her home again. In the gloom behind the front door he kissed her, his tongue licked her lips, asking for entry to her mouth, when the door opened. She pulled apart from Kyle feeling shaky with passion. She looked up at the door to see Ellis framed against the light. 'I'll go, see you, lavender.'
'Hello,' he said, and she guessed from his manner that he'd seen her and Kyle.
She didn't think of Ellis as hot. He had straight dark hair and a rounded chin and good teeth. He was strong and made muscular by the heavy lifting he had to do at work. He had a bit of a limp that he did his best to hide, the result of an accident when he was younger. He'd jumped out of a taxi straight into the path of an oncoming car. The limp was more pronounced when he was tired.
What was attractive was the look of transparent honesty on his face. Ellis didn't try to hide anything from anybody; they all knew what he said was the whole truth. He'd never let anybody down.

She thought him far too intelligent to be cooking in a restaurant, but like his mum and hers, he thought himself fortunate to have regular work which allowed them all to have enough to eat and a roof over there heads. Everybody said that one day, if he were lucky he might be promoted to managing supervisor. He was the steady sort who would.

But Lavender knew Ellis was ambitious and was aiming higher than that. He talked of setting up his own business one day- a restaurant that would work the same way Robinson's did. He wouldn't make the same foods; he didn't want to put himself in competition.he had some excellent recipes, and make the sort of food everybody likes.

For months she'd felt like she was being torn in two. One day she decided to cling onto Ellis; the next she felt more drawn to Kyle. It was as though she didn't know her own mind.

When she was fifteen and a new cinema had opened in town, Ellis had started taking her there on Saturday nights. He'd been so careful, spelling out very seriously his intentions and saying he didn't want to rush her into anything she might regret.

He said he knew she was too young to tie herself down and must have time to grow up first; that he'd wait for her answer for as long as it took for her to make up her mind.

Ellis was as teetotal, a huge recommendation as far as mum was concerned. Mum had married an alcoholic, and so, it seemed, had Tracy. That was a shared history that drew them together. Nothing would please both mums more than that Lavender settle down with Ellis.

When she turned sixteen, Lavender had made up her mind and told him she'd be happy to be his girlfriend. For ages she'd been happy with that; she was almost engaged to him. He'd talked of giving her a ring for her nineteenth birthday, and perhaps in another year or so they could afford to marry.

Ellis inspired trust; she knew she'd never find a more devoted man. There couldn't be a person she admired more. He told her he was saving a little every week from his wages. He wanted money behind him for two things: to marry her and to set up his own business. He was the sort who had his life already mapped out in his head.

Lavender expected they'd be married when they'd saved enough, but saw his business ideas ass a fantasy, something to visualise for the distant future; to get his spirits up during the long years of working for others. Looking at their life logically, Lavender saw it as being filled with work as much as it was now, they'd have to carry on working in order to survive.

The films they saw at the cinema showed her a life that was very different. A life where girls could have nice clothes and a bit of fun. It made her see her lot with Ellis as boring and a bit shit.

She still liked him. Even recently, she'd had days of doubt when she thought to marry him would bee the best thing to do, and certainly the safest. It would please everybody and she wouldn't have to hurt him. Until today, when Kyle had said straight out that he loved her. That changed everything.

'Hi, Ellis.'
Even in the semi-dark she could see his face working with anxiety. It made her burn with guilt. She hated what she was about to do, but it had to be done. It was only fair; he had to know there was no longer any hope for him.

Hesitantly she said: 'I've been out with Kyle.'
His jaw jerked. His chin went up. 'I know, I saw you two together. It's over then, me and you?'
'Yes.' A whisper was all she could manage.
'I was afraid this would happen. I suppose I should wish you well, but it's... It's hard.'
Lavender cringed. He was making no fuss, letting her go more easily than she'd expected, yet his pain was clear to see. 'I'm sorry.'
'Wouldn't be any good,' he choked. 'Not if your heart wasn't in it.'

He was gone, closing the door quietly, leaving her in the dark. Lavender felt terrible. She'd ended it with Ellis. He couldn't have looked more hurt if she'd stuck a knife in him. She felt so guilty; she'd destroyed his dreams. As she stumbled up the last flight of stairs she wiped away a tear.
But for her there was Kyle. In some ways he was more of a risk, but his love was more exciting. With him she'd have fun, and a very different way of life.

Her mum was waiting for her and was pissed that she'd stayed out so late.

Layla said firmly: 'you must put Kyle Robinson out of your mind. It's no good thinking anything will come out of it.'
'You're wrong, mum.' Kyle had came to her home. He'd made it plain how he felt about her.
'He's no business to come here, raising your hopes. It will all come to nothing. It's better if you just stay with Ellis.'

That brought another wave of guilt. She wanted to forget Ellis now.

'I've told Ellis it's over.'
'What? He's a decent christian man who'll make a good husband. He really likes you, Lav.'
'I know, that made it harder. I don't want to hurt him.'
'But you have. You stupid bitch, you must have done.'
Lavender knew she has, but she loved Kyle and he offered so much more than Ellis ever could. He could lift her out of the daily grind of working in that restaurant . With Kyle, she'd be able to live where the air was fresh; away from these horrible streets.
Mum said a lot more and kept on at her half the night.

By the time Kyle retraced his steps to the river, the crowd had grown. The party atmosphere had increased too, helped when the pubs began to close and put there punters out on the streets. Sailers came of the ships moored in the docks to join in.

The Sheffield City Police were there to control them, many sat in there cars. Beggars arrived to 'try' and entertain them with guitars and mouth organs, and the crowd started to sing popular songs. The all-night fast-food vans were doing good business.

To Kyle, the air seemed electrified with excitement and expectancy. The crowd was waiting for America's reply to the British ultimatum. Kyle guessed the news reached people through there phones, because shortly after the deadline, word went around that Britain was at war.

Kyle saw the crowd ripple and surge, wound up to a patriotic high. He joined in the singing of 'a day in the life' and the national anthem, straining to make his voice heard in the swelling crowd. His throat was sore by the time he caught the bus home, but his head swam with patriotism.

Cast list:
Emilie voe: Lavender fray
Lena Headey: Clara fray
Gerran howell: Kyle Robinson
Keith-lee castle: Michael Robinson
Ellis Ferry: Daniel gillies(any tvd fans out there?)
Tracy Ferry: Alice Evans