The Million Mile Hallway

Chapter 6 - Jason

I was almost finished with the Lane's lights, and having a good laugh with Louise. Everybody else was away out, leaving just the two of us. I thought she'd want to avoid me at all costs but she stayed and spoke to me for ages. We were in the middle of having a joke about how old I was before we fell into some sort of silence. I can't explain what brought it on but it wasn't one of those were you'll say anything to fill the void. I was quite content with the quiet when we heard the front door opening and her dad calling out to tell us that he was home.

"Wow this is looking good" He said upon arriving in the kitchen and surveying my handiwork.

"It's just about there. You might need to get a plasterer in to touch up some of the holes though; and to fill in where the old light was" I explained.

"That's totally fine. Thanks so much for this" Keith nodded. "I hope Louise wasn't too much trouble?" Louise gave him a stare that I definitely wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of.

"No she was totally fine. You have a great daughter Mr. Lane" I said, bringing a smile back to her face.

"Please, call my Keith. You're making me feel like a teacher" He joked.

I finished off and Keith gave me my money (with quite a generous tip I might add) and then I tidied up what little mess I'd created and headed back home. It wasn't a lot that I had made off of them but it was enough to make me want to celebrate. I called Scott and we arranged to meet at the bar that was a couple of blocks away from my apartment.

He was already there when I arrived and had a beer waiting for me. He got up to greet me and we did that weird half-handshake, half-hug thing.

"So two weeks in and you haven't burnt the place down yet. I'm impressed!" He said after we were back down sitting.

"Thanks. I think"

"I'm still waiting on that party invite though"

"Is that all anyone thinks about?" I laughed.

"Seriously though, how are you finding it?" He asked.

"It's pretty good! I quickly realised that food and stuff doesn't last as long as you think but apart from that I think I'm doing ok. The neighbours are cool" I shrugged. The truth was there wasn't really anything for me to tell him. I hadn't done anything lately. I began telling him all about the Lane family across the hall and he suddenly became incredibly excited.

"Wait, Brandon Lane the tennis player?" He asked in disbelief.

"That's right. He's alright. A little bit of a snob but then I probably would be too if I was famous"

"Wouldn't we all" Scott shrugged. "I'm amazed his parents aren't either"

"At least they don't seem to be anyway. His dad's always coaching him by the sounds of things so he might be. Louise seems to think he is anyway"

"Wait, who's Louise?" Scott asked curiously. I hadn't gotten round to telling him about her yet. "Do you have a girl on the go that you didn't tell me about?" He was suddenly very animated.

"No! She's Brandon's sister. She's a really cool chick though" I explained.

"Do you talk to her a lot?"

"Every now and again. She works at the grocery store so she oversees my shopping. I spoke to her loads today too"

"So when are you going to ask her out?" He winked.

"She's sixteen"

"Ah" All of his excitement seemed to die right then. Why was he so desperate for me to get a girlfriend?