Fairly Normal People

-Chapter Seven-

The streets around them had also become much quieter as the night had gone on, most of the bars and restaurants had thinned out into small intimate groups of people and a few places along the strip had begun to close down. Waiters idly cleaned tables and stacked chairs to take inside. Andy had not realised how quickly the night had actually passed, he was having more fun than he had in years, minus the moments of teenage angst. He looked fondly at Lucy who was darting around and listening intently to the sounds of the night or more than likely eavesdropping on the conversations of the people left.

"So no one's talking about us anymore, I think now is the time to make a move." Lucy said as she instantaneously took off across the street but Andy quickly closed the distance.

"Anymore?" Andy asked as their pace turned brisk in the direction of Mrs Applebottom's house.

"Yeah more people just assumed I was a prostitute for you than I was comfortable with." Lucy said with a chuckle.

"Oh, gross." Andy said as he took the lead.

"'Oh gross'? Andy that's a little harsh." Lucy said. "I'm totes pretty enough to be a prossie."

"Lucy, first of all it was at the assumption and second, don't talk like that." Andy said with sour expression.

"Sounds like straight edged Mr Sandman has little respect for the world's oldest profession." Lucy said as she bumped him with her elbow.

Andy looked down at her and noticed she had begun shaking and rubbing her arms from the cold. Without much thought he took off his coat and wrapped it around her without breaking stride or slowing down. She nodded thanks and gave him an appreciative little smile.

"And of course I don't, it's demeaning. People turning themselves into objects to satisfy someone else's primitive urge for monetary gain. It should be beneath them." Andy said harshly.

"Sure that's one way to look at it, or it could be two consenting adults performing a pleasurable act that equally satisfies them both." Lucy said before she decided to rile him up. "Just two people getting all sweaty and greased up to roll around like hogs doing the dirty and then swapping dollars afterwards."

"Ugh." Andy said with disgust.

Lucy let out a small laugh and then quickly stifled it as a bellowing roar could be heard from a street or two away from them.

"We're getting close." Lucy said.

"We don't need super hearing to know that, Lucy." Andy said sharply.

Lucy rolled her eyes in response and flipped him off while his back was turned. Andy knew exactly where he was and moved with a deliberate precision through the shadows and alleyways in complete silence. Each step they grew closer and the snoring grew louder. They peeled around the corner and stood staring at the apartment from across the road, the source of the sound, the lair of the Applebottom. They skulked across the street and delved once again into the safety of the shadows. Andy's mind flashed back to the last time he had been there, the fire escape was just as dilapidated and damaged as the way he had left it. He slunk over the ladder and tested it and it replied with an all too loud cacophony of screeches and groans of metal on metal and rust scraping concrete. Andy winced but the snoring did not falter and he eased back into the comfort of the silent shadows.

"So do you even have bits?" Lucy whispered and Andy all but leapt out of his skin.

He turned and put his finger to his lips before he leant in close to her.

"Now's really not the time." Andy whispered sharply. "We're not getting up this way."

"Well you're not." Lucy said as she flittered and sparkled and shrunk to her pixie size, flying off and up towards the window.