The Repents

Chapter 10

"The hardest part of saying goodbye, is having to say it again everyday."

Every single day we face the same truth that our time here is short and to honour the fallen we must live our lives well.
"Do you ever feel like breaking down,
Do you ever feel out of place
Like... Somehow you just don't belong
And no-one understands you."
I listen to the chorus sing, the situation sounded familiar so I let the song play while I sat at Starbucks sipping my latte into the cold the sun felt good and I wasn't in a mood to work.
"Do you ever wanna run away
Do you ever lock yourself in your room.
With radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming."
That sounded familiar too. And kinda uncomfortable. Just when I was gonna ask the waiter to change the song.
"Excuse me...?" Said a familiar voice.
I looked up and saw a face I wasn't so sure of. It was Chad Randolph. I tried to curtain lecture him by asking him who he was.
"Well.... I suppose you might know....as you felt pretty comfortable hugging me." He teased.
"I'm sorry about that I took you for someone else."
"I'm sure you did," he seemed relaxed. "Why is a gorgeous, young girl mourning.?"
"I'm not mourning,." I snapped "It'll be nice if you leave me alone please."
"Okay, I'm sorry.... I wanna make it up to you. How about have dinner with me?"
"No.. I'm buzy." I said rudely.
"I promise its not a date... And I wont annoy you."
"Date? Where did that come from?" I stared at him. " Please leave."
"I'm sorry... I really am I was trying to make u smile. Ok here's the deal you come with me n I wont ever annoy u again."
I sighed,"okay... If thats what takes to get rid of you."
"Okay," he said dully. "Saturday night, you decide then."
"Okay" I smiled, childish yet arrogantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was Thursday Morning. When the telephone rang. I jumped in a startled reaction. By an action of will I reduced the furious pace of my heart, took several breaths.
"Hello?"
"Hi! It's me.....What's wrong?"
It was Alex.
"Nothing."
"You sound funny"
"I'm buzy."
"Buzy daydreaming again."
"No... I'm going out with that guy we met in the lobby that night."
"You're kidding!" Alex squealed "with that lobby guy?"
"His name is Chad Randolph, and it's just a dinner as he wants to make up for his rudeness." I ensured before she jumped to conclusions.
"Mavi.... I knew he liked you from the way he looked at you. OMG. Finally......"
I cut her short, "Alex, its only dinner."
"Really? Remember every single, scintillating detail."
"Alex.... Just dinner."
" which, if you play your cards right can last through breakfast."
At my outrage gasp, Alex said, " Don't get all huffy. It's about time you started living some of your fantasies. Have fun, just don't fall in love with the waiter."
She hung up laughing. I took out my phone to learn time and to my disbelief I was surprised to see that I'd kept the shop open 20mins past closing hours. I was too late.
Because of the rain, traffic was a nightmare. Then before I could even get out of the car at home, Jamie closed in on me with a problem.
"Mavi, something terrible happened to Ed." He said theatrically.
Edging him, I got out of the car and shut the door.
To my learning Chad lived next door and he was also looking for a job at Caravan's.
"Now what's this about Chad?" I asked Jamie who would have made a professional mourning duo look cheerful.
"I think he's dead or something," he was so somber.
I covered my laugh with a cough, "What gave you that idea?"
"Because his car is there, but he doesn't answer his door when we knock."
Chad, (a.k.a) Ed, lived alone in his house as his all-so-rich parents were always buzy on business tours away from home. Rarely there for him, but a big, juicy cheque always reached on time. Ed, was a gentleman not the kind rich boys are but rather elegant and decent.

"He could be out on his motorbike."
"It's in the garage."
"Well, maybe he doesn't want company."
Jamie was shaking his head, "I can see breakfast dishes on the kitchen table. He doesn't like a mess. He told me when I went over."
"He probably didn't feel like cleaning up today."
"Or maybe he's dead. Maybe somebody came in and stabbed him or something. Then it'll be our fault for not checking."
Where did Jamie come up with these macabre ideas? Easy, I thought, he took after me.
"Come on, Mavis, let's go see."
"Jamie, isn't anyone else home for you to annoy?"
"Well actually no, Mom and Dad had a dinner party, they'll be late, and Drake has a football match so it's just you & me."
Little annoying thing, I thought.
He grabbed me by my hand and pulled me across the yard.
"I'm sure there's a logical explanation." I dug in my heels, but Jamie was genuinely worried. If I didn't relieve his concern, he'd bug me about it until I relent. "Oh,alright."

The wisdom of my decision was again put to test when I raised my hand to knock on his back door. I hesitated, but one glance at Jamie prompted me to knock firmly. I waited several seconds and hearing no sound of approaching footsteps, knocked again.
"See, he doesn't answer. He's dead."
"He's not dead," I emphasised on my morbid brother. "in fact, I'm sure there's nothing wrong." Cupping my hands around my eyes, I peered through the screen. As Jamie said; the kitchen tables, which I could see through the connecting doorway, was cluttered with what appeared to be dishes of several meals.
"Go in and see. The door is unlocked."
"Jamie, I cant just walk into a man's house."
"How come?"
The inquiry in his eyes was so innocent & earnest that I found myself groping for an answer.
"It isn't polite, that's why."
What I couldn't explain Jamie was that Mr. Randolph wouldn't want to be disturbed if he was with his girlfriend or..... Few other possibilities came immediately to my mind. Inspite of myself, I was mystified, what was he doing in there?
"What if Ed is sick & you don't help him," he insisted. "He might die and it'd all be your fault . Your fault Mavis."
"Alright!" I cried. Laying on a guilt trip worked every time and how well my brothers knew that. I opened the screen door and then the wooden one, finding both, as Jamie had told me, unlocked. I took one step inside. Jamie followed close on my heels.
"No, you stay here."
I didn't want him to see his idol in a compromising position - or any kind of position.
"I want to come."
"No. Stay here. I'll find out if anything is wrong & then come right back."