The Cost of Living

safe european home

We walked out the door when we were stopped by someone.

"Wait up, lads!"

It was Joe and Paul coming after us.

"Oi, thought we'd walk you two both home so you both get home safe"

Joe put his arm around me and I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks"

I said sarcastically.

"Oh, come on it'll be fun all four of us walking home"

"You think that's great? I know what your trying to do here"

We all looked over at Topper and went silent.

"He speaks!"

Joe shouted hugging him.

"Y'know I'm just gonna go"

I said pulling away from Joe.

"What, no come back"

Joe said letting go of Topper.

"No, I'm just gonna walk home myself, thank you"

"Janie, let me walk you home"

"No, I'm ok"

"Janie, come on"

"I said no!"

I shouted at Joe. We all went silent and they all looked at me in shock.

"Goodnight"

I walked over to Topper.

"Come"

I said taking his arm.

"Goodnight Jones!"

I heard Joe shout, I didn't look back at him, I was done with him he was acting like a twat towards everything.

"Well I'll be damned"

I looked up from the ground and saw Glen standing in front of us.

"Shit"

"Janie?"

I heard Aeliana say.

"Are you on a date? With him?"

She said excitingly.

"Uh-"

"Looks like it Aeliana, let's just go"

"Hi, I'm Aeliana I'm here friend it's so nice to meet you! "

She put her hand out for him to shake.

"Yeah, I'm Topper"

He said shaking her hand.

"Headon?"

Glen said.

"From The Clash, right? "

"Yeah"

"Good to finally meet you, mate"

He said smiling.

"So, where ya headed"

"Taking her home"

"Home?"

"Sure"

"No, no how about you guys come with us we're going to a pub right there and it can be a uh double date! "

"Double what?"

"You heard me silly, a double date, aren't you two on one?"

"N-"

"Yeah we are"

I looked at Topper.

"Wh-"

"I mean I guess we could go for a couple of drinks and then go home"

He said.

"Great!"

We walked to the pub, the same one we were just in and got inside. I looked up and saw Joe still there

"Oh, it's Joe"

"And Paul and Mick"

"Mick? "

"Micks the lead guitarist for our band"

"He is now?"

"Yeah"

"Cool"

We sat down and ordered a couple of drinks.

"So-"

Aeliana said. We both looked up from our drinks and looked at her.

"How long have you two been having this going on for?"

She asked leaning back and smiling at me and Glen.

"For some time"

I said.

"Since today"

Topper said.

"Really?"

Aeliana said shockingly.

"A day?"

I whispered to him.

"Just go along with it so we can leave faster"

He said to me.

"Oh wait, your the guy she was talking to the other night outside!"

She said.

"Yes, that is him!"

I said.

"I love that, oh I'm so happy my friend is finally finding someone for herself that isn't Bob Dylan"

"Aeliana!"

"Bob Dylan?"

"Oh god.."

"Bob Dylan?"

I covered my face laughing.

"She has the biggest crush on Bob Dylan!"

"Bob Dylan? Out of anyone? Bob Dylan?"

"God!"

We all laughed at the fact I found Bob Dylan hot.

"Hey! I was fourteen Aeliana!"

"Still!"

She shouted and laughed.

"No wonder your so-"

"So what?"

"Nothing"

"So what?"

"No, nothing"

"Topper, you massive twat"

I said laughing.

"I have to use the ladies room, Janie?"

Aeliana said standing up.

"Let's go"

She said taking my hand.

"I'm stealing your date, sorry"

She said laughing and taking me with her.