Against All Odds

Chapter 12

Lucas

All I've heard for the past hour was complaints, whining and crap. The only exciting moment of this date was when the girl confidently decided to make a move and kiss me.

She's a good kisser but it can't make up for how annoying she's being. It's not like she's doing anything specific wrong but for some reason I don't seem to find her company as enjoyable as I did before.

After our flirting the other evening I'd invited Charlotte on a date. She'd jumped at the suggestion and here we are, having our first date in a Pizza Express.
"Has Stan bothered you at all?" Charlotte questions, taking me out of my thoughts.
"No I haven't even seen him." I admit truthfully.
"That's good but be careful, he's bad news that one." She warns, like I haven't heard that before. "Lola keeps asking me about you. She's really excited about her long lost brother turning up. Although I wish she'd stop pestering Leo, he just needs to move on from her."

I nod, not particularly bothered about my half sister and whoever she decides to date. Leo seems like a decent guy.

"You're not very talkative today." She observes and I sigh.

"Sorry I've just got more important things on my mind than who Lola dates." I admit a little harshly. My date frowns, put off by my hostility.

"I was just making conversation." She retorts and I feel a tad guilty for my lack of cooperation.

"I know, sorry it's just this doesn't feel...right." I wince at how awful that sounds. "Don't get me wrong you're fit as fuck but..."

"The initial attraction has gone." Charlotte finishes for me and I shrug in agreement. "Maybe we'll be better as friends?"
I smile at that, grateful that she isn't pissed off at me.
"Friends sounds good."

~~~

The smoke from my cigarette swirls away into the air as I walk down the street. Against my better judgement the Detective I had met with and agreed to work with had phoned me, demanding to meet. Luckily he didn't expect me to meet him anywhere obvious, so agreed on meeting in the park which is rarely used and falling into disrepair.

On the way, I walk past the café where I'd first met my mum and Lola. Over the past few weeks I'd managed to avoid spending too much time with them but Lola always seems to find me when I least want her company. The good thing about that is Charlotte is often with her. Charlotte's a nice girl and even though it wouldn't be anymore than friends, it's still nice to spend time with her. Although I've had girlfriends I've never really been in love so I don't know what it feels like but with Charlotte something just felt off relationship wise.

I glance in the café window, wondering if the girl next door is working. My eyes scan the café and I quickly notice her. What I see makes my eyes narrow. Stan is sat on a table, gesturing towards his coffee cup. The girl looks around the café, seeing if anyone else could do it instead of her. Apparently luck's against her because she walks towards his table, filling up his coffee cup. I see her tense posture, the fear in her eyes. I can see Stan's eyes drinking in her body mercilessly. It makes me shudder. She goes to turn away but Stan's arm lashes out and grips her waist. It makes my blood boil and I'm literally about to march into the café and floor him when my phone buzzes.

Hurry up I haven't got all day.

It's the impatient Detective. Regretfully, I discard of my fag and leave the girl looking extremely uncomfortable with Stan. Although I feel a little guilty, I tell myself I don't even know the girl. She didn't even thank me when I stopped her dickhead boyfriend at that party. I have no reason to help her.