The library

February 10th 2004 - Alex

I couldn't remember the last time I spoke to Lottie. Actually I could.

It was that rehearsal. Why is it that every time me and Charlotte fall out, the guys are there to witness it all.

After I dropped Charlotte off that day, Jamie wouldn't give me a rest - kept taking the piss out of the whole situation. I swift smack 'round the back of his 'ead when he got out the car put an end to that though.

It was one of them days. Completely grey. No rain, no shine just the dull in between. I was currently sat in one of the dark corners of Mortomley park with Andy, listening to and mixing rap songs on cassette. Bottles and cans of various different alcohol were littered around our feet.

I mean, Andy wasn't quite eighteen just yet but three days is close enough.

Either way, we were both absolutely shitfaced. As in, I genuinely couldn't tell if the grass beneath me was actually solid or if that was only something it liked to do from time to time.

As hard as I tried, I just couldn't focus on the rhymes Roots Manuva was currently spitting through the cassette player.

"Are you drunk?" I turned to Andy. I thought me words came out perfectly clear but they must've been a slur of a sentence.

"No... you?" Andy swayed on the small wall we were sat on.

"No." I shook me head and instantly regretted it as the world began to spin heavily on its axis, making me groan. I somehow stayed on the wall.

"Isn't that your bird?" Andy spoke slowly and pointed with a shaky finger towards an approaching figure I couldn't make out.

"Alexander David Turner what do you think you're doing?" Yeah that was Lottie alright.

"Lottie! Hello darling!" I drawled, trying to make a coherent sentence out of the alphabet soup that was me intoxicated mind.

"And Andy? I expected better from you!"

As she marched towards us I realised she wasn't happy. She was wearing the face.

"You're wearing that fookin face." I groaned.

"Excuse me?" She snapped.

"That face that says you're annoyed." Andy spoke up.

"He gets it." I nodded and held my hand out to Andy for a handshake which he promptly missed and stumbled off the wall, landing on the floor with a dull thud and a loud groan.

I watched as Lottie covered her mouth and turned around. Even when pissed I could tell she was laughing which brought a dopey smile to me face.

"What the fuck." Andy grumbled from the floor as he tried to stumble to his feet.

I took this opportunity to slide down the brick, landing, shakily, on me feet. I spread my arms and grinned at the girl who was watching the scene unfold with an amused smile, a complete opposite to what her face resembled just seconds ago. "Give is a hug Lottie. It's been too fookin long."

She looked at me. Uh oh. The face was back.

"I wonder why?" She frowned.

"Sarcasm is t' lowest form of wit, darling." I spoke the loosely formed sentence with a smirk.

"Is it really?" Charlotte responded with a widened eyes.

Touché.

"Fookin 'elp me." Andy groaned from the floor.

Lottie groaned herself as she bent down and grabbed Andy, pulling the heavy bastard to his feet.

"Thank you." Andy mumbled as he brushed himself down.

Lottie payed no attention to the pair of us as she marched past us and up to the wall. She grabbed the cassette player and turned it off. She clutched it at her side as she returned to us.

What took me off guard however was when she dug into the right side pocket of me jogging bottoms, bringing out my car keys. She knew me so well.

"Come on. Let's go. I'm taking you both home." She snapped.

"Thank you." I muttered as I started to stumble in the direction I thought the car was in.

"You're so fucked." Andy laughed behind me.

"You're not even eighteen you daft c*nt!" I called over my shoulder.

"Oh fuck." I could practically hear Andy's face go pale.

Then Lottie laughed. She actually laughed. It was music to my ears - and I make music.