Eastern District School

Chapter 52 - Introduction

The pace of her heart quickened as she neared the pub. Tracey was still caught up in whatever she had been speaking about for the past four minutes. All of which, Rose had not heard. She knew he was there waiting for her, and now Tracey was walking up with her towards this stranger, that had been in town this time last week. As they turned the last corner, Rich came into view. His grey trousers and pale blue shirt stood out like a sore thumb in a town like this, despite the sleeves being rolled up to the elbows. He was leaning against the bonnet of his car,  which was parked directly outside the pub, he had his phone to his ear, with what looked like a serious conversation. The strain in his face and the way he ran on his hands through his dark air was a sure sign of stress. 

As they approached, she watched as his head lifted up and he obviously caught sight of her. She watched his lips move 'I'll call you back' he mouthed, as she was still not in hearing distance, but there was no mistaking that she had read his lips well enough just then. 

Rich lowered the phone from his side, as he held her gaze and she walked ever closer. 

She may not have been listening to Tracey, regrettably, but it was clear she heard the last word she said just before they entered the close proximity of hearing distance.

"Hello!"

It wasn't what she had said but they way she had said it. Rose was familiar to the tone Tracey probably unknowingly took on when someone of interest passed her by. Words along the lines of 'eye candy' usually followed, but not this time.

"Hi." Rose said simply. 

"Hi," his brief smile, not hiding the strain on his face she noticed moments before. 

Rose could feel Tracey's questioning eyes boaring into her, but she wasn't focused on her right now.

"Is everything okay?" she asked softly. She felt the urge to reach out to him, but didn't. For fear of the reaction from Rich as well as Tracey. Rich seemed he would recoil from anything right about now, and Tracey? Well, Tracey wanted to know who this guy was and how she knew him. 

Rich didn't answer, but took a deep breath and tapped the bonnet of the car. "She's all clean, all fulled up and ready."

He was avoiding the question!

He looked to Tracey then, and Rose noticed out of the corner of her eye that her mouth was slightly open, but she closed it quickly as Rich held out his hand. 

"Rich Stork," he said with a smile. Hiding his worries a little better this time.

Tracey seemed taken aback at first, then quickly transferring all the bags to her left hand, she extended her free hand and shook his. 

"Tracey Davis!" she said. She couldn't help but smile enough. Rose could almost see the questions forming in her mind, as she shook this strangers hand. "You must be Rose's ride?" she asked, although it was more than obvious. She glanced to Rose. Oh yes, there were those questions!

"Er, yeah." he paused for a brief moment, looking kind of unsure what to say. He took his hand back and then folded his arms, a sure sign of looking uncomfortable. "...but erm, well something has come up." Then turning to Rose he continued, "Do you mind if we get going?"

"Sure," Rose said quickly, seemingly a little too keen to get away from her best friend. She turned to Tracey, the disappointment so plain to see on her friends face. "I'll catch up with you later." she gave Tracey an awkward hug amongst the bags that were squashed between them. 

"Here, let me get the boot, you can put your bags in here." Rich said, jumping up from the bonnet. He opened the bonnet, and Rose followed him to the back of the car and put her bags into the boot and Tracey handed her the rest. "They're all yours?" he asked in shock.