In this life

Chapter 8

I'd got to my flat at around midday. The delivery was due to come between one o'clock and three o'clock so I had plenty of time to call Ronnie.
She answered in three rings;
"Speak to me!" She never answered with a normal 'Hello'
"Hi" I said "you ok? You got time for a chat?"
"Yeah I got a few minutes. I'm on my lunch break." Ronnie worked in a supermarket. She hated it, but it was a means to earn money. Her parents were always scrapping pennies together. Her Dad had a gambling habit and her Mum constantly smelt like a brewery, I don't think I'd ever seen her without a cigarette on the go. She didn't really have a good relationship with them and often spoke about how she was a mistake and that she was an inconvenience to her parents. I used to tell her that wasn't true, but unfortunately, we both knew it was. My Mum always felt the need to look after her and consequently never minded that she practically lived at our house when we were kids.
"Ok" I said "well I'll be quick, I just wanted to see if you fancied coming round after work? I need to talk to you about something"
"Yeah ok, sounds ominous though, d'you wanna give me a clue?"
"Well actually I've got so much to tell you I don't even know where to start. But, ok, I've got stuff to tell you about Johnny and.... Daniel!"
"Daniel?"
"Yeah...."
"Ok......? Well I finish at four so I'll come straight to you. Where will you be?"
"My flat. I'm here now waiting for some new furniture to be delivered for your room actually"
"Cool, I'll give you a hand with it later"
"Ok, have a good afternoon, see you later"
"Laters babe"

The furniture came at one thirty-five. I went down to hold the security door open for the delivery man, who turned out to be extremely rude and instead of carrying the goods up to my flat, he'd left them on the ground floor, in the stairwell, muttering something about having a bad back and told me it 'wasn't his problem, love'.
"Yeah thanks mate!" I'd said sarcastically as he walked back to his van "You be sure to have a good day then!"
I stood looking at the boxes. "Right!" I rubbed my hands, psyching myself up to carry them upstairs.
I chose a fairly small one to start with. It was deceptively heavy. I stopped at the second floor to catch my breath and laid it on its side to push it up the rest of the way. Once I'd eventually got it into the second bedroom I grimaced as to how I'd get the rest up on my own. The other boxes were bigger and bound to be even heavier.
I wondered if I should ask Daniel to give me a hand. He did mention he wasn't doing anything today....

New message to: Daniel
Are you feeling strong...?

I went to get a cold drink while I waited for his reply.

New message from: Daniel
Always! What's up?

New message to: Daniel
I was wondering if you might come to my flat and help me with something...?

New message from: Daniel
I'll be ten minutes

I quickly ran to my room and reapplied some make up and squirted some perfume. Prettying myself for his arrival.

The intercom buzzed letting me know he was here. I picked up the receiver and announced I'd be right down. When I got downstairs I could see Daniel standing outside with his back to the door, he turned to me when he heard it squeak open.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"Come in" I gestured my head inviting him to join me in the hallway.
He smiled and stepped inside.
"So what do you need my help with?"
Without saying anything I pointed to the boxes and smiled with raised eyebrows. He laughed.
"They're too heavy for me, I nearly killed myself getting a little one up on my own, but I reckon if we hold a corner each we should be able to manage it easier...." I said as I started examining them.
"You go and put the kettle on" he said, "I'll bring them up to you"
"They're heavier than they look" I protested.
"Milk, no sugar"
I laughed, "Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you..!" I ran up the stairs.
As I was transporting teabags from the mugs to the bin I could hear the coming and going of Daniel hard at work. I felt guilty thinking he must be struggling. I stirred the tea and decided I'd go back down to offer my help again.
The front door closed. I went to have a look and Daniel was standing in my hallway brushing his hands together. The boxes were neatly resting in size order up against the wall. All of them.
"What?" I was beyond surprised "is that all of them? How did you?-"
"Ah well, I have a confession to make"
He said. He wasn't even out of breath!
"Go on...?" Oh my god, I thought, he might actually divulge some explanation as to how he seemed to be ridiculously strong, I almost held my breath.
"I'm actually an alien. I live amongst you humans because my planet has gone. I have super-strength, x-ray vision and I can fly...."
I laughed "hmmm, I'm pretty sure that's Superman!"
"Oh yeah, shit. Oh well, I guess I'm just awesome then!" He gave me a cocky grin.
"Indeed you are!" I flirted as I fetched him his cup of tea.
"Thank you" I gestured my head to the boxes.
"No, thank you" he indicated to his cup and took a sip.
"So what is all this? Where is it going?"
"Second bedroom, it's a wardrobe and something else. I'm not sure what yet. I didn't realise it was going to come flat packed" I sucked air in through my teeth and put my hand on my hip "I'm shit at that sort of thing!"
Daniel smiled, taking the hint, "Come on" he urged "I'm sure we can work it out".