Gate 24

Chapter Five

The raps against my door cause me to jump out of my skin as I run my fingers through my hair in the mirror. Sighing, I leave my vanity at the dressing table and make my way over to the door. It's six o'clock already?

Pulling open the heavy fire door, Frankie stands there with Osmond and two other guys. "Hey Raymond," Frankie smiles before pulling a goofy face. "Do you prefer Ray to Raymond?" She seems a little anxious as she asks.

"Either is fine," I say truthfully. Honestly, if you call me either, I'm not gonna feel offended. Raymond sounds pretty high class, whereas Ray sounds badass. Both names are nice, I think. "I'm not fussed."

"Nice clothes," Osmond coos, staring at the plain blue button up and chino shorts I'd stolen from lost property. Everything else had been washed and left on the balcony to dry, ready for tomorrow.

"Thank you," I reply, smiling at the short man. "So, d'you lot wanna come in, or are we heading straight for dinner?" Dinner sounds good, considering I haven't eaten a single morsel since, I don't know, the airport? It's been an entire day since I had food?

One of the other men just laughs. A larger lad with that short-side long-top haircut; the one in style right now. "Nah," he smiles, out stretching his hand - I shake it, naturally. "I'm Chuckie, but please, call me by my last name, Barlow. My first name makes me want to... Chuck."

Immediately, I double up at the pun, trying not to laugh too loudly. Puns are terrible, but god, they make me so happy. "Nice to meet you, Barlow," I giggle, pulling my key card out of its slot. "Now, what's your name?" I ask the other bloke.

The other guy is lanky, assisted by pointy, defined features. "Stop laughing, you'll make Barlow... Chuckle," the other man says, staring me directly in the eye as I barely recover from the last terrible pun. "My name is Hugh, nice to meet... Hugh."

Frankie and I are in tears at the men as I close my apartment door and slide the key card into my pocket. Already, I know I'm going to have fun with these people. "Thanks for all being so friendly, guys," I smile. For once, cigarettes don't sit on my mind - or in my mouth. Having one before they arrived was a good idea.

Dinner is the only thing on my mind as we make our way down the steps past reception, but I know these people will be teaching me the ways of entertainment. As an introvert for the most part, I'm petrified of the idea of prancing around on stage with puppets, dancing to stupid song.

"Ray, you get your dinner first, you deserve some food," Hugh says. "What you want to drink?" Telling him I fancy a glass of apple juice, he shrugs and goes up to the booth, asking for the drinks the four of us want.

Meanwhile, I trail off to the buffet area and load my plate with the good pasta stuff they have. Well, today, they have spicy rice - by far my favourite thing here for dinner. Topping the spiced carbohydrates off with the chicken and sauce in the next tray, I make my way around the large kitchen.

Obviously, I get some chips, as does nearly every resident here. The ketchup and vinegar are scooped up by mini ladles - something that makes me smile every time I help myself to a spoonful of the stuff.

They also appear to be doing your average vegetables, chopped up and mixed in one: sweet corn, carrots, peas, beans. Helping myself to a spoonful of that stuff, I let myself saunter over to the meat area before the queue becomes unbearable and help myself to a slice of today's meat - I think it's pork.

Heading back to the table, I'm surprised no one has called out on me being greedy. Then again, I've eaten nothing in the past twenty four hours; people stare at me as my stomach growls louder than the soft track playing in the background.