Everything I Didn't Say

e i g h t

EIGHT

"EVERYONE I HAVE some news!" Pearl announced.

Matt and I looked up from where we were helping one another re-stock the non-fiction stacks. The store had just put up its closed sign for the afternoon, shooing out the last people trying in vain to escape the cold weather outside.

Pearl was stood by the counter, a beam stretching across her face. "I'm pregnant!" she declared. "Three months now."

Immediately the staff rushed around her, cooing and offering their congratulations. Matt and I lingered behind, waiting for the crowd to die down.

"That's amazing, isn't it?" I said to him.

Matt shuddered visibly. "I'm sure she thinks it is. But when that baby's keeping her up 24/7 with its teething and crying and shitting, then she'll regret it" he responded.

"Don't you like babies?" I asked.

"No. My new stepmom - who is only like seven years older than me by the way - has just had a set of twins a couple of weeks ago. They're a living hell, they never stop crying" Matt explained.

Matt's dad was a wealthy entrepreneur with his own range of successful microwaves. It wasn't a secret that he loved his money with a side of woman. Usually, every few months, Matt would come into the Cosy Corner with a face like thunder and a new story to tell about the next mistress in the running.

But about nine months ago, maybe more, Matt's father met Matt's stepmom and they got married in a shotgun wedding. A few weeks ago the stepmom gave birth to a set of twins and Matt began coming into work with huge bags under his eyes and a restless attitude.

"Well, I think they're adorable" I replied to him, slotting a book on Sharks onto a stack.

"Because you've never witnessed them in their destruction zone" Matt shot back evenly.

"Yes I have!" I retorted.

"What happened?"

"I took my baby cousin off my aunt's hands for a couple of minutes and he'd done a big crap . So I offered to clean it up and I took him to my aunt's pristine white bathroom, lay him down next to the sink. As soon as I'd took off his diaper, he decided to do another one and poop was all over the white surfaces. I wanted to cry" I explained.

"No way is that a real story!" Matt accused.

"It is too! I was scarred for life. My aunt and Mom seemed to find it funny though" I said, shrugging.

"You're weird Isla" Matt chuckled. He took a book I was in vain trying to slot onto the higher shelves from me and inserted it himself. Despite his attitude, I knew Matt was a softie really - especially towards me.

A rap on the window sounded just behind us, making us both jump. Matt resulted in knocking possibly ten different books off the stack and swore at the top of his voice: "oh fuck no!"

I glanced over my shoulder and was astonished to see Link outside, hand resting on the window, wrapped tight in a coat. For a moment I wondered why he hadn't just come in through the entrance but then I remembered that we'd closed for the day.

I wandered to the window, surprise reflected upon my face. "What are you doing here?" I mouthed in confusion.

"Are you finished for the day?" Link called, distantly through the thick glass.

I nodded and lifted up a finger, signalling for him to wait. I turned and patted Matt on the shoulder fleetingly. "See you!"

"It's fine, just run to your crush, don't help me" Matt joked sparingly from behind me.