Flo

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

I really hate those people who are completely different in public.

Like when someone goes on a phone and their voice rises an octave.

All smiles then BAM! It looks like someone stole their fluffy bear.

Well my dear friends meet Alfie.

I don't know who stole his teddy, and why the hell they blamed it on me, but I'm pretty sure two people in this room wish they had a magic wand to make me evaporate.

And I don't think its anything to do with my crap first impressions.

"You're very quiet, seeing as though you came from the city." Dylan frowns comically, "but then again that's the impression I get from all townies, Ollie moved here 2 years ago from Nottingham, didn't speak to us for months."

"Actually, you never said hi!" Ollie pouts and laughs slightly.

"More like you were a wimpy loner!"

"I was not a wimpy loner!"

"Where were your friends then, mr popular?"

"Up the coast in a town way better than tis one! where people actually know how to do their hair..."

"Hey do not insult the hair!"

"Whatever"

"Hey guys break it up!" Anna smiles bouncing on the sofa.

"You can't talk!" Dylan rolls his eyes at her "what colour even is you hair?"

"Hey!" Anna glares at Dylan "I was standing up for you," she twirls a piece of reddy, purpley-brown hair around her finger "and FYI its burgundy" she pushes herself off the sofa, displacing Alfie slightly. "hey Flo, can you help me get some drinks?" I nod and follow her to the kitchen.

"You okay?" Anna glances up through her eyebrows while filling her glass with water, "hey, can you go ask them who wants elderflower?" I nod.

I manage to navigate my way back to the living room, "who wants a drink" I say ducking my head.
"What is it babe?" Dylan looks like a lost puppy.
"Elderflower. and I don't just respond normally to babe so change your language" He raises his his eyebrows and nods, I'm guessing that was a yes then.
"Um, no thanks" Ollie smiles and me, "I'm guessing thats only one" he adds as he looks over at Ava and Alfie who I guess are shaking their heads; I haven't had the courage to look. I smile and slip out of the room.

"One elderflower for Dylan," I say to Anna. "and also just water for me"
"An elderflower for Dylan?" I nod and move to help her "but he hates that stuff. I'm just giving him water."
I hear conversation pick up in the other room, my impactive drinks order must have finally worn off.Or perhaps its just my presence.
"You know, if you looking for a job over the summer, you can work at the ice cream store." Anna looks at me, "I am getting continually pulled in to work their, and to be honest i just don't want to be seen near it. but it would be great for someone like you, y'know." my facial expression stays the same as she studies my face "not meaning anything about your character or that." She laughs to her self, body rippling through the chuckles.

"I better go," I say, pushing myself off the sofa again.
"Really? its only 9 o'clock" Dylan sticks out his bottom lip.
"I promised my aunt that I would be back at nine." I lie, Rachel would rather me stay over than come home early.
"You're joking right? ms. Nagle would never say that!" Great. Anna knows Rachel better than I do.
"Its the baby, it is making her tired and she doesn't want to be woken up" I say moving to the door.
"Fine. but let me give you a lift."
"No please, it will ruin you night, i will get home by myself."
"Okay. goodbye Flo." she smiles at me and turns away, Burgundy tail bouncing.
My ears are met with another chorus of goodbyes. Or rather just Dylan's enthusiastic squeal and Ollie's courteous 'farewell'.
I open their front door, slipping my dried muddied shoes on, closing the door softly behind me and sliding down the wood, sitting on the mat and waiting for the rain to stop.