The Day I Died

The Day I Found The White Stuff

Chapter 20

The Day I Found The White Stuff

The next morning, I'm sat at the breakfast table doing a crossword with the cat.

This is what my life (or death) has come too.

Liam's Dad went to work early so Liam had to take Maisie to school. He should be back soon but until then, it's just me and the cat. I've never been particularly fond of cats. In fact, I kind of hate them.

As if sensing my thoughts, the devil herself hisses and crawls on top of the newspaper.

I throw my hands up in frustration, sending the pen flying towards the cooker. What am I going to do now?

The clock on the wall reads 8:50.

The clock on my wrist reads 9 Days.

After spending 20 minutes attempting to turn the TV on, I gave up and found this newspaper. To my surprise I was in it! A moving piece about the dangers of texting whilst driving.

Hmm. I wonder who hit me? I can't believe that hasn't crossed my mind! Omg! They're a murderer! Jeez, that's slightly terrifying.

I scan the article for a name but come up with nothing. Hmm. Interesting...

The cat coughs up a furball before letting out a solemn 'Meow' and leaping off the table. I'm just about to resume the crossword (Like the hip teenager I am.) when I realise my pen is under the cooker.

I get up of the hard chair and walk over to the cooker. It's old and worn and a definite fire hazard but it makes brownies so it can't be that bad.

Speaking of which, my brownies have gone missing! I suspect it was Maisie.. Or the cat! Damn cats!

I get on my knees and press my head to the floor. My eyes instantly land on a small, wrapped package stuck on the bottom.

Then the pen.

But that can wait.

I reach out and grab the package, pulling it off with a tacky squelch noise.

A hand goes over my mouth as I recognise the white powder.

Why is Liam keeping icing sugar under his cooker? This would have been great on brownies! I'll ask him about it later, I guess.

Turning it over, I notice a name written at the top. Keith? Kevin? Whoever wrote this has awful handwriting. It could say Dave for all I know.

Maybe he owes Dave/Keith/Kevin some icing sugar?

I push the package back into it's place and grab my pen.

Back to the crossword!

I've just sat down when the door goes and Liam walks in, he nods at me and picks the kettle up.

"Do you want a cup of tea?" He asks, turning the sink taps on.

"Oh, no thanks. I don't like tea." I scrunch my nose up in disgust and put the pen down.

"What? How can you not like tea?" He exclaims, grabbing smug from the cupboard.

I smirk and point at the mug. "I didn't know you were a my little pony fan."

Liam shrugs but doesn't swap it.

"Omg you are!" I giggle, flicking through the newspaper.

Houses for sale.

Dog lost.

Footballer on drugs.

Celebrity on drugs.

Drug raid.

Motorbikes stolen-

Wait a minute...

I open the page wide and see the sleek black motorcycle. Hey! That looks just like the one Liam had, before I turned it red.

It's only when the kettle flicks off that the dots connect and I gasp.

"You steal motorcycles!" I shout, causing Liam to drop the kettle.

The water sloshes out onto the floor and Liam's hand before sending a stream of steam flying up into the air.

He lets out a cry and I jump up.

"I am so sorry!"

I run over to the taps and turn the cold on.

"Just put your hand under there, I'll be back in a minute."

I run upstairs and into Liam's room, trying to locate the laptop. When I do find it, I search how to treat burns and it says to use cling-film?

Right, well okay.

"Do you have any cling film?" I shout, running back down the stairs.

Liam is say at the table, his arm wrapped in said cling film and drinking a cup of tea.

"Yes I do." He grins and I sit opposite him.

"As I can see." My eyes flick to the open newspaper and so do Liam's.

"Care to explain?" I close the paper and raise my eyebrows.

Liam just sighs and takes another sip of his tea.

"Technically, I don't steal them.."

I give him a pointed look.

"I don't! I just keep them in the garage and pass them on. I'm the middle man. Someone steals them, I hold them, Ben buys them. I get 20% of the money and I'm fine with that."

"Who steals them?"

Liam scratches the back of his neck and laughs.

"The guy you nearly killed with a frying pan. He was angry because of the colour mix up. He thought I was trying to sabotage his career or or something stupid."

I stay silent, taking it all in.

It's nearly 10, I should get going soon.

"I need to go freshen up... We'll talk about it later."

I get up and walk upstairs.

Liam's a criminal. Great.

I go into the bathroom and frown.

No reflection. Even greater.

I do my best to fix my hair and brush my teeth. (With a spare toothbrush. I'm not using Liam's.. Eww germs)

When I walk downstairs again, (I could be a YoYo at this rate) Liam is watching TV and it's 5 to 11.

"Do I look okay?" I ask, standing in the doorway.

"I have no reflection so..." I shrug and Liam nods.

"You look perfect." He grins, and I can't help but blush.

"Thank you. Ill be gone a few hours and oh! I can't believe you didn't tell me that we had icing sugar!"

"Icing sugar?" Liam repeats, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah, under the cooker. I found it this morning."

Liam's eyes go wide and he laughs,

"Icing sugar! Really?" He shakes his head and I frown.

"Yeah, I've got to go. Bye."

"Bye, Scarlett."