Getaway

[06] Sic With A C

After a day of DDRing, and after the gig in Glasgow, Jayla finds out that she will get more time with Blu. Even if it is just one more day. Jayla and Blu go out to a boat show that evening, to enjoy the spectacular lights on the water.

Jayla then realises Blu is actually looking for a boat to buy.

"Yeah, they're better here." They both lean out onto a metal railing at the Glasgow pier, starlight dancing on the still black water. "I prefer them. Easier to modify..."

Modify???! She explains she never knew he was actually into sailing.

He explains, "Oh yeah!" And she says how she would love to learn to sail, more than drive. Blu laughs and says to do it. And when she is a pro, call him up anytime, he'll fly her over to America and would be happy to sail with her so she can show off her skill.

She laughs and thinks it's a joke and says, "Okay." Even though deep down, she just wishes like every guy that's ever joked to her about these great things she wishes were true, that this could maybe happen... and how amazing that would be if it did.

Then Blu hands her a little bit of paper he's been scribbling on when she was dreaming over the idea of owning a boat, staring into the water. He leans over and kisses her on the cheek and says, "For real, call me."

She can't believe it, and then he fishes out a wad of notes from his back pocket.

"Now, you best get that plane back to Birmingham and meet your sister, she loves you, more than me, and will be missing you very much."

She knows it's true but she is crying. Blu is so kind. She wants to ask if it's Blu's money but she doesn't dare ruin it now.

"Thanks. Thanks for everything."

"S'alright. Anytime."

She starts to walk away.

"Hey, wait," Blu runs up behind her, hugs her and spins her round.

"I wasn't gonna make ya run to that damned airport by ya'self... Did you really think I was? Did ya? Did ya...ahahah," he is tickling her and she is squirming and trying hard to say no but she is laughing too much.

Blu then smiles and they hop onto the tour bus together and blast up The Maine and more Death to the Skies as they drive off to the airport.

As Jayla hugs Blu for what she thinks will be the final time in her life, a tear sinks into the faded denim jacket covering his left shoulder. Then she waves blindly and walks into the queue to get on her flight back to Birmingham.

Sapphire meets her sister at the airport and after staying the night with their auntie and uncle and an emotional early morning trip to Patisserie Valerie, they get the train back to their family home down south.

---

Biting into a strawberry cream sponge, Sapphire looks up through her dip-dyed golden brown straightened fringe and Hello Kitty hair-grip.

"So," she drops the cake to the plate, and other people in the café start to stare, "Oh my god! You and Blu stole Finn's money, and then you had a dance off on a DDR machine all day and," she is laughing now so hard that she begins choking on her cake.

Obviously curious to hear their conversation, a waitress comes along and clears Jayla's plate, as she is almost crying with joy.

"It was awesome," Jayla smiles at Sapphire, "And you know the best bit?"

"What?" asks Sapphire as they head out the glass doors onto the street facing the train station, Birmingham New Street.

Waving madly the bit of crumpled paper, with the sharpie pen smudged numbers on it in Sapphire's face, she tells her.

"Blu gave me this!"

"Um," says Sapphire trying to read it. Then, breathily, "Oh my God." Time seems to stop for a moment, as people with suitcases and children in prams and handbags clatter past these dishevelled looking teenage girls, who are somehow more full of life than anyone. Enthused.

"And," Jayla says, looking up at the board with the orange calculator screen writing, to check their train time, "He said," Sapphire waits for it, "Call me, for real!"