Alicia and I (Lesbian Story)

Chapter Five

I’d showered, dressed in my favourite pair of jeans with boots, a t-shirt and a brown leather jacket; out to impress. Although, deep inside, I hated myself for wanting to impress Alicia - and I hated her for having to impress her. But I put on my best smile, a touch of mascara, lipgloss, slung a bag over my shoulder and breezed out my bedroom door.

Luke was splayed out on the sofa, one arm dangling over the side, the other clasping a remote control. He was watching the morning news, I deduced from the serious-looking figure, reporting something from the steps of a building.

‘Something going on?’ I asked look, transfixed by the person on the screen. I realised the building they were standing in front of was St. Vincent’s, the hospital near King’s Cross. ‘What’s happened?’

‘Some poor boy was murdered, I heard,’ said Luke gravely. ‘Or, well, an attempted murder - he died in hospital a little while after they found him.’

‘Jesus,’ I murmured. ‘Died? Of what?’

‘Well,’ Luke twisted around on the couch so he could see me. ‘What they’re saying is that they tried to drown him in oil or something, and he almost died before the police busted ’em, but he had that toxic tar in his lungs, so...’ Luke trailed off, looking at me with an expression somewhere between questioning and shock. ‘Is something wrong, Emily? Why d’you look like that?’

I didn’t know what I looked like, but I had a pretty good idea - the warmth had drained from my face, I was standing completely frozen, eyes widen, lips quivering ever so slightly...

‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost,’ remarked Luke, almost in a whisper. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine,’ I managed, swallowing down the lump that had formed in my throat and pushing away the dark thoughts that were forming out of my mind. ‘I’m fine. I’m going out, okay? I’ll be back... soon.’

‘Where are you going?’ he asked.

‘To a friend’s house. She lives close by.’

Luke sighed through his nose, his golden eyebrows furrowing over his tumultuous, gray eyes. ‘Jillian will murder me,’ he muttered.

‘I know,’ I breathed, ‘and, really, I’m sorry. I just want to get out. I promise, I’ll take my phone. Please.’

Luke grimaced. ‘You need to apologise to her. Apologise to my wife. I don’t blame you for what you said, but...’

‘I know that it was wrong, Luke, and I know I was rude and ungrateful. I will apologise, when I get back,’ I pleaded. Maybe if it was Jillian, I wouldn't have shown such humility, but... this was Luke. Luke was nice. He stood up for me.

But right now, Luke was pursing his lips. ‘Well...’ he heaved a heavy sigh and said, ‘okay, Emily. I’ll let you go because I know you didn’t mean it. But -’

‘I’ll apologise when I see her, I swear,’ I promised with enough conviction to convince him. Luke gave me a curt nod, dismissing me. ‘Thank you,’ I added.

I walked to the front door - so tantalizingly close to freedom, until the white, wooden door swung on its hinges and was left gaping open; leaving none other than Jillian standing in the doorframe.

Jillian arched an eyebrow, examining me coldly. ‘Going somewhere?’ she asked.

I took a deep breath and braced myself. ‘As a matter of fact, I am,’ I replied coolly, but remembering Luke, I added (with less sass), ‘but first I wanted to apologise. I’m really sorry for swearing and being so horrible to you. I promise I’ll be more responsible next time, if you give me a chance to prove it.’