Something Special

Chapter 15

"Alex darling. How was it?" his mother asks when he walks back into the house. He was dressed smartly in chinos, a light blue button down shirt and Russell and Bromley leather shoes. He flings his wool coat on the rack and kicks off his expensive shoes. "Dull. It would of been better if you were there." he replies, going straight for the fridge. She rolls her eyes at him. "He didn't want me. He wanted you. Now come on details." Alex thinks back to what Michael had said. "The main protagonist is this guy who goes walking and finds this dog who had powers. And then like, aliens invade and come looking for him and his dog and him are all kick-ass and they help defeat all the aliens. I'm fairly sure the dog dies though. I wasn't listening at that bit." His mum brushes off any imaginary dust from her power suit. "Well it does sound a bit far-fetched doesn't it." Alex stares at her incredulously. "He managed to make a film about card that turn into robots a global sensation. I'm sure aliens and puppies will be a breeze."

He stomps up the stairs with a cup of coffee and a ham sandwich to satisfy his rumbling stomach. His mother followed him. "So what do you think?" She asks when they get to his room. "I don't know mum. It's early doors you know. They're still doing the script so..." he trails off and follows his mums glance. A silver foil was resting against his lamp, it's contents in the bin. She takes in the rest of the room with wide eyes. The curtains were half drawn, the bed not made. His clothes were scattered over the floor and his shelves were stacked high with mugs of mysterious liquids. By the beanbag were empty crisp packets and half drunk teas. The place was a tip. His mother looks at Alex. "Why does this place look like a drug den hovel Alexander!" she screeches, her voice high. Even Alex had to admit it was pretty rank. "I guess I've been busy" he starts but stops abruptly when he sees her face. She had picked up an empty box of condoms and was holding them as if they might explode.

"Alex." She says quietly. "What is this?"

"Oh come on mum. I'm 18 for Christ sake. I can do what I want!"

"Not under my roof Alex!"

"Your roof," he exclaims. "Your roof. If it weren't for me you wouldn't have a roof." The second he says it he wishes he hadn't. His mum pales visibly and drops the box on the floor. She goes silent, which to Alex is even worse then her yelling at him. "I thought you were a bigger man than that. I hoped so hard you weren't like your father. I guess I was wrong." She storms past him and slams the door with a satisfying noise. He swears lightly under his breath. That wasn't supposed to happen. He puts on some Led Zeppelin and gets to work tidying his room. He fills up a whole black bin bag full of rubbish and stuff he doesn't need. He was stripping his sheets when someone knocks in the door. Reggie wanders in without even waiting for an answer.

"You right mate?" he asks, flopping into the bean bag and picking up a PS3 controller. "Nah. Mums gonna kill me." He says, picking up the other controller. "Why?"

"I basically go, 'Without me you'd be living on the streets." Reggie lets out a low whistle. "That's rough dude."

"I know. I know." He rubs his hand across his forehead as if he could get rid of the things he said. They were Gran Turismo when Reggie finally speaks up. "I think I'm gonna see Tara again." Something stabs at Alex's heart. "Oh yeh. That's cool." He says nonchalantly, trying to keep his voice cool. "Yeh. I mean man, she's amazing. Like, so hot. And in bed..." he trails off but Alex could imagine. He feels tempted to blurt out that she's a hooker but bites his tongue. Jealously clouds over him like a blanket and he feels his heart clench up when he imagine those two together. "I'm gonna call her I think." he says, overtaking Alex.

"Sure." Reggie pauses the game and stand up. "I'm gonna do it now." Alex's heart lurches. "W-what. Why now?"

"Because if I don't do it now then I won't ever do it." Reggie taps his phone and puts it to his ear.

................................................................

"Hello?" Tara was on her way home and had just gotten of the tube when her phone rang. "Hey, it's Reggie." She thinks back to the guy with the dreadlocks and a wide smile. "Oh hey. What are you doing?" she asks nervously, unsure of what to say. "Just playing playstation. Listen, do you want to meet me?" he asks. Tara's heart pounds as she thinks back to saturday night. She didn't want to do anything except get in the warm and never leave. "Umm." she hesitates and chews on her thumbnail. "I wasn't asking. I was telling. Saturday evening, you and me. We're going to the carnival that's going on in Francis park." Reggie's voice sounded so confident that Tara was unable to say no. "Yes. Alright. I'll see you then." She hangs up and clutches the phone to her chest. Did she have her first ever date?! Excitement rushes through her until she thinks of her dad. Icy cold dread fills her system. He'd never let her go obviously. Not that he'd be sober enough to stand. Let alone keep her from getting out of the flat, but still.

She walks onwards lost in thought. She thinks back to Alex and the look on his face when she told him. Of course he believed the lie. She'd grown so used to lying through her teeth about the scars on her body that she considered herself an expert. She was thinking about Reggie when she walks into the flat. It smelt of cheap whiskey and cigar smoke. "Dad. " She calls out, poking her head threw the door to the living room. He was asleep with a half empty bottle of brandy on its side, amber liquid oozing out its open lid. She exits quickly and goes to her room. It was tidy like a monks and she takes a second to appreciate it. Two of the walls were a dark blue colour and the others were plain white. A single bed was pressed up against the wall with a chest of drawers at the foot. A wardrobe sits against about the back wall and her window sill was neatly ordered with makeup. Her favourite part was her bookshelf that was crammed full of novels. She could spent hours a day just sat in her room reading.

That is were she went to now. She picked up a stack of well read paperbacks and throws herself onto her bed. She was reading the blurb of 'Clockwork Orange' when her phone buzzes. She frowns and answers it. "Hello?"

"Hey Tara. It's Alex." She lets the book drop to her lap and inhales sharply. "How did you get my number?" she asks.
"Reggie."
"Ah." there was an awkward silence. "What do you want?"
"Just fancied a chat really." Tara heaves a sigh. "Look Alex. If it's about Saturday night-"
"What?! No Tara, no. It's just..." He trails off. "What is it?"
"Can you meet me?" he ask suddenly. "What, no. Today?" she says, completely bewildered. "No. Tomorrow after school."
"I can't. I have work."
"Before work." He persists.
"No. I have school work and I need to get home-"
"Think about it Tara. My house it closer to your work. You come back to mine after school. We can do the school stuff together. Then you can go and work and the go home. Plus," he adds persistently. "I need your help on the Biology. It's a group project and you consist of half the group."
"Well actually I consist of the whole of the group as you haven't done any of the work so far. We still have a PowerPoint, a poster and a script to do!" she exclaims.
"All the more reason for you to come to mine. Please. I promise I don't bite." Tara takes a deep breath.
"Ok. But only if you promise me one thing."
"Sure." She smiles triumphantly.
"You're doing the presentation."