The Million Mile Hallway

Chapter 9 - Louise

The morning that I spent with Jason was one of the best I'd had in recent memory. For a start I thought he was mad that I'd woken him up but I think the food cheered him up. I first discovered the cafe one day when I was heading to work (before the mugging banned me from travelling on foot) and I'd paid it a visit on a number of occasions.

Every time I spoke to Jason, I felt like I learned so much more about him. The man was a mystery yet I got the feeling that he'd answer any question that you put to him. What initially started out as a purely physical attraction was quickly turning into an emotional one as well. He was unlike any boy I'd ever spoken to before. Where the ones my age were constantly bragging about how cool they were or how perfect they were, Jason was very quick to point out his mistakes, something I've never seen a man do, not even my dad. There was a maturity to Jason that spoke volumes about him, telling me that he truly learned something from everything. I knew that I liked him, that much was obvious. But before it was just a passing feeling, like having a crush on someone on TV. Now Jason was a very real person who was living just a few yards away from me. He was literally the boy the next door. So now that's two clichés that have made their way into my story, if you're keeping count.

I offered to help him clean up the mess from his party but he insisted that he did it himself. Yet more evidence to show how grown up he was. Our conversations that day made me believe that we really did have something of a spark, and I couldn't wait to talk to him again. Unfortunately I would have to wait for that though.

The next few days were the most hectic I'd had in a long time. I got back from breakfast with Jason to find that the plasterer had finished in our house and now my dad was freaking out about how little time he had to paint it.

"Why is it such a big deal?" I laughed at his panic.

"It takes a few days to dry before I can paint onto the plaster and now I'm going away next weekend too. With work and Brandon's practice, I have no idea when I can fit this in" He paced the still dusty kitchen.

"Wait. You're going away?" I asked. "Going away where?"

"Oh, we got a call while you were out. Brandon has been accepted to play in a tournament in California so I'll be heading down there with him. I think your mom is going too"

"That's awesome!" I cried. "I've always wanted to go to Cali!"

"I'm sorry Lou, but there's no way you're coming with us" Dad condescendingly told me.

Disgusted, I asked "Why not?"

"Because we won't get back until Tuesday and you have some huge assignments coming up at school. You can't miss them"

"Two days isn't going to hurt"

"It isn't going to help either" He reasoned, but I was having none of it.

"This is so unfair! You'll do anything or go anywhere for Brandon but do absolutely nothing for me!"

"Your mother and I do plenty for you Louise. We take you to and from work every time you have a shift"

"Yeah! Because you won't let me go myself! I bet if Brandon wanted to walk to the store at night alone then you'd let him wouldn't you?"

"He is older than you"

"And twice as dumb! I bet Anna is walking alone every night but you never bat an eye at her do you?"

"If you keep yelling at me like this then I'll send you to stay with her and Clark while we're away. Is that what you want?" Dad cried. I wanted to continue arguing but I'm smarter than that. Despite my disappointment at being left at home, I'd still be living alone for a few days. I saw how much Jason was enjoying his freedom and figured that now it was my turn. So instead of shouting at my dad again, I simply growled and stormed to my room, where I stewed for the rest of the day.