The Troubles

Unchartered Territory

Setting off a little late so as not to seem eager, Elliot shut the front door on his way to Daisy's house. 

"Oi, where the hell are you going?" 

He looked up to see Fred open the front door again, bewildered at the fact he was leaving the house so late. It was already pretty dark since the winter weather had started. 

"Daisy Richard's house," he answered, climbing on his bike, ready to ignore whatever snarky remark came next. But all that Fred did was laugh in response, dropping his cigarette on the ground and crunching it under his heel.

"Sure. Nice one," he said in amusement, shutting the door again.  

'Last Train to Clarksville' was blasting as Elliot pulled up on his bike, knocking on the door to Daisy's house. It was opened by Sarah Wiles, taking him back by surprise a little. 

"What are you doing here?" she asked in utter dismay. 

"Daisy - Daisy invited me -" he started, but Daisy kicked open the door from Sarah's grasp as she walked past. 

"Come in, Elliot!" 

He could feel Sarah's icy gaze burning through him as he stepped into the house, the music flooding into his ears. 

"Is Joe coming?" Daisy asked, waving him into the lounge, where she leant back into a leather red chair, sipping coke through a straw. 

"I was going to cycle with him, but he'd already left. I reckoned he was here."

She frowned a little, shaking her head. "He's probably stopped off to pick up some records or something," she shrugged, leaning forwards to turn down the volume a hint, so that Elliot didn't have to speak so loudly over it. He nodded, unsure. She handed him a can of coke, and he accepted it, quite in awe of who was in his presence. Sarah positioned herself on the couch opposite Daisy, still glaring at Elliot, god knows why. He'd probably intruded on some girly chat that was not suitable for his ears. God knows how he'd even managed to intrude. Sarah flipped her hair and knelt down to change The Monkees, for Bees Gees 'I started as a joke' resulting in an unexpected snicker from Elliot, who quickly covered it up. Sarah shot him a look of death. 

"Anything funny?"

"No just - y-you turned off the Monkees for this?"

Sarah opened her mouth, and then stopped, like a fish trying to remember how to breathe. Daisy's mouth lifted into a smirk of agreement, and Elliot sheepishly looked down, regretting speaking out. 

"Yes," Sarah snapped. 

"I just -" he trailed off, at a loss for words. "Sorry. No, keep it playing." 

"No. Why don't you tell me what you think of this song?" Sarah tilted her head, venom dripping from her words.

Elliot shifted uncomfortably. "I mean - it kind of describes itself."

"How?"

"As a joke."

Daisy let out a cackle of laughter, bending over so she didn't spill her drink. Sarah's face clouded over with anger, and she snatched the record off the player, discarding it onto the table, before marching into the other room to get some 'alcohol'. 

"Sarah - I'm s-"

"Don't apologise," Daisy sighed, waving him away. "She always gets like that when her opinion isn't considered high and mighty. I agree with you actually, wonderfully put." She flashed him a smile and his insides melted with glee, although all he managed back was a small one in return.