Midnight Message

Chapter 6 - Unexpected help

Gemma puts the last piece of chocolate in her mouth and throws the empty wrapper in the kitchen bin. Trent’s call had well and truly removed her from ‘the zone’, so she had left her room in search of a snack.

After finishing the chocolate in her mouth, Gemma pours herself a glass of water and brings it to the kitchen table. She holds the glass in her hand, occasionally sipping the water, while staring off into space trying to come up with a suitable topic for her essay. The sound of the front door opening causes Gemma to turn her head.

‘Gemma’ her mum remarks as she walks into the room ‘you’re home early’.

Gemma smiles weakly at her mum. She’s about to speak when Zack, dressed in his school uniform, with his school bag slung over his right shoulder, enters the kitchen.

‘I’m starving!’ he says. He dumps his bag on the tiled floor and opens the fridge. Gemma laughs as he emerges from behind the fridge door a minute later. He has a tub of yogurt in his left hand, a bowl of last night’s left overs in his right and an apple clamped in between his teeth. With his hands full, Zack uses his elbow to push the fridge door shut.

‘Slow down bro’ Gemma says with a laugh ‘leave some for the rest of us.’

Zack grunts in reply, still holding the apple between his teeth.

Their mum looks at Zack and shakes her head. ‘He certainly is a growing boy’ she mumbles under her breath. Out loud she says ‘you better eat your dinner young man’.

‘When have I ever not eaten dinner mum?’ Zack grunts in reply, his mouth stuffed full of food.

Their mum smiles and shakes her head again. She turns her attention back to Gemma. ‘Did Uni finish early?’ she asks.

Gemma sighs. Then she explains the day’s events to her mum (leaving out the part about her phone call from Trent. She hasn’t told anyone, except Emily, about her communication with Ego Boy).

‘Oh no Gemma that’s terrible’ her mum says sympathetically when Gemma has finished talking. ‘Here, take this block of chocolate.’ Gemma’s mum hands her an unopened block of chocolate. ‘Go to your room, get in your zone and write your essay. You can do it sweetie! Dinner will be ready at 6pm, but I can always reheat it for you later if you like’.

Gemma smiles gratefully at her mum. She knows just what I need. Gemma almost tells her mum that she’s just finished snacking on chocolate, but thinks better of it. She smiles and accepts the chocolate gratefully. ‘Thanks mum’ she says.

‘Good luck’ Zack grunts, food tumbling out of his mouth. Gemma laughs at the disapproving look on her mum’s face before heading back to her room.

Gemma touches a button on her laptop to get rid of the screen saver. The Word document is still open. The cursor is still flashing. And Gemma is still stuck for ideas. Frustrated, she snatches her phone off her desk. 1 new message from Trent (ego boy).

Gemma sighs and taps open the message.

How’s the essay going Gemma?

Gemma’s eyes narrow and she types a quick reply.

Terrible. Thanks a lot for interrupting me. I can’t even think of a topic.

My voice often has that effect on the ladies. Once they hear it, all they can think about is me.

Gemma blushes as she thinks about Trent’s strong, deep voice. After a moment, she shakes her head. Get a hold of yourself Gemma. She types a reply.

Get over yourself. I was struggling for ideas, even before you called.

Whatever you say, babe. Here’s an idea for a topic: sex.