Chim - Tiny Dancer

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

After staying another night in hospital, fluids being pumped into her body, Cheryl was finally allowed home. She was told by the doctor to drink plenty of liquids, rest, and most importantly . . .  eat!

After getting home, the Geordie soaked in a long bath, and then headed to her bed.

***

It was dark outside when Cheryl woke. She had slept most of the day. Yawning she got out of bed, and flung on a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a tank top. She then made her way downstairs, and into the living room.

"Ohh sorry," she apologized. It seemed she had walked in on Kimberley and a man kissing.

"Cheryl," Kimberley said, pushing the guy away. "It's ok."

The man looked up and smiled at the Geordie. "Hey," he said. "I'm Kimberley's boyfriend Justin." Extending his arm, he waiting for Cheryl's response.

"I'm Cheryl," she smiled back whilst shaking his hand. She really didn't know what she was though. Was she the blondes flatmate, her lodger? "Kimberley's . . . "

"Flatmate," Kimberley cut in, sensing the girls uneasiness.

"Well it's nice to meet you Cheryl," Justin said. Turning he kissed his girlfriend once more before getting up. "I'm goin' to go now sweetie. I'll phone you later."

"Ok babe," Kimberley replied.

As the couple disappeared down the hall, Cheryl sat down on the sofa. 'She never told me she had a boyfriend,' she thought to herself. But the brunette knew if she had given her the chance she probably would have.

"Are you ok Cheryl?"

The girl looked up and smiled. "I am. Sorry for walking in on you there. I wish I'd of known . . . I would of just . . . "

"Aww don't worry about it," Kimberley smiled back, cutting her off. "He was just leaving anyway."

Still with an apologetic look on her face, Cheryl smiled. "Ok."

"So . . . what brings you down here?"

Yet again the Geordie apolozied. "I'm really sor. . . "

"Cheryl!" Kimberley said. She watched as the girl stopped, but still gazed at the floor. "Cheryl?" she said again, wanting the her attention.

The Geordie looked up, her eyes coming to rest on Kimberley's face.

"I was joking. I get why you were distant now. Don't worry about it . . . ok?"

Cheryl smiled again. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had actually smiled so much. "I was wondering," she started. "I'm kinda hungry. Do you wanna get a takeaway?"

"Sounds good."

***

"So Kimberley . . . tell me about yourself?" Cheryl said, forking a mouthful of curry into her mouth.

Both girls had decided to order an Indian. They were now sitting at the kitchen table eating it.

"Well . . . I'm 28. I moved here ten years ago with my family . . . "

"I know all that stuff." Cheryl butted in. "I mean . . . what do you work as? What's your hobbies? What do you dislike. All that kinda stuff."

Kimberley smiled while pouring herself a glass of wine. "Refill?"

"Please?" Cheryl said, handing her glass over.

"Well . . . " Kimberley started again, filling the glass up. "I own my own cafe near the centre of London. My hobbies are . . . erm I dunno actually . . . I love musicals," she shrugged. "And I dislike mushrooms, criminals, and perfect people."

The Geordie laughed. "Perfect people?"

"Yeah," Kimberley smiled back, her eyes watering a little at the spiciness of her curry.

"There's no such thing." Cheryl said, generally intrigued by the girl.

"Exactly!"

Picking up her glass, Cheryl took a sip. "Then how can you dislike them?"

"I dislike people who think their perfect."

The younger girl laughed. "I dislike them sort of people too."

"Then I propose a toast," Kimberley winked. "To disliking people who think their perfect,"she giggled, raising her glass.

Cheryl smiled. Picking up her glass, she clinked it against the blonde girls. "I'll drink to that."

***

"I really should get a dishwasher!"

Cheryl sat at the table watching the girl as she filled the sink with water, and soapy bubbles. "Here I'll get them." Standing up she walked over.

"Don't be silly . . . I'll get them. The doctor said you were to rest."

Cheryl ignored her. Walking up, she picked up the tea towel. "Washer or dryer?"

Rolling her eyes, Kimberley rolled up the sleeves on her cardigan. "Washer."

"You said you owned a cafe?" Cheryl smiled as she began drying the wet dishes kimberley was passing her.

"Yeah. It's not that big but we have our regulars, and people seem to like our food, so we do alright. I love being my own boss."

The brunette nodded. "I love being me own boss aswell," she said, taking a few cutlery items from Kimberley. "Is it just you that runs it, or do you have workers?"

"I have a few workers. Nicola, Sarah and Nadine. They're just like my bestfriends really. You should meet them som. . . "

"Sh*t!"

Dropping the plate, that she was holding back into the dishwater, Kimberley turned to see Cheryl holding a knife in her hand, blood slowly trickling from her finger.

"Sh*t Cheryl!" Kimberley cursed. Quickly she grabbed the knife from the girls hand, and sat her down on one of the kitchen chairs. "Sit there." She then rushed over to the cupboard, where she kept all her medicines, and dug out a box of plasters. By the time she got back to the girl, she found her crying.

"I hate blood," she sobbed.

Kimberley knelt down infront of her, inspecting the finger, which only had a small cut on it. "Shh . . . it's ok. It isn't that bad." Gently she began wiping the blood away with a clean, damp cloth, before applying the plaster. "There," she smiled.

Cheryl looked down, examining the injured digit. "Thanks," she sniffed. "I really hate blood ya know," she said trying to justify why she was crying.

"It's ok," Kimberley laughed. She could tell the girl was embarrassed. "You weren't joking when you said you were a cluts."

***

After she sorted the Geordie's finger out, Kimberley told her she would finish the washing up off, and sent her out of the kitchen as the bloody tea towel, and cloth were making her queezy.

As she stood, washing the rest of the dishes, she gazed out of the window, and into the garden. There was so much she wanted to ask the Geordie, but figured she would wait. Wait until she had broken down some more barriers.