I slowly sip my hot cocoa,half of my attention on Sas,who's already meshing and shaping her newly acquired playdough,the other on the light drizzle outside.We are in the only good coffee bar we could find after the rain started,but at least they serve good cocoa.
"Are we going home when it stops raining?" Sas asks,taking a sip of her own warm milk.
"Yeah,I suppose.Unless if there's some place else you still want us to go to?"
I ask back,curious at her question.She shakes her head.
"I was just wondering if maybe we might find Daddy still at home...or if maybe Mum calls us when we get back" she says,with a hopeful expression on her face.I plant a firm smile on my lips,meanwhile my mind is reeling as I try to come up with something as close to the truth as possible.
"I don't really think so Sas,you know,Dad might already be at the hospital,he said its busy today...and if Mum really wanted to talk to us,she could have called either one of us on our phones,don't you think?"
I say quietly,but you can hear the slight edge to my tone.Sas' lower lip starts to tremble.....ok,so maybe I said the wrong thing.
"Buuut....here's what we are going to do.We'll go home as soon as the rain stops,then we can call her from the house phone,yeah?"
I suggest,making my voice as chipper as I can.Sas immediately lightens up,nods,before drinking up the rest of her milk.The milk moustache she gets as a result makes her look so adorable,so I start laughing.A pretty blonde,the waitress who served us our beverages comes back to our table,looking amused as well at my sister's antics.She takes our empty mugs and puts them in a tray.
"Your sister?" she asks me,and I nod as she smiles.
"She's cute.You look new too.I'm Fiona Rose.You must be Colleen Matthews?"
she says politely,but her smile seems to have gotten bigger.I can tell already that she is one of those overly sweet and kind types,you know,the ones that act like they were fed on a diet of sugar beet whilst growing up.Harsh,I know,but who smiles that much,to a stranger no less?
"Its actually Jenner,and this is my sister Sasha"I introduce,and Fiona's smile brightens up even more as she turns to greet Sas,who now looks supershy.
"Well its nice to meet you both.I hope you come and hang by here more often.If not,we can always see each other at uni "Fiona says,and I look at her curiously.She's a varsity student?I could have sworn she was fifteen.
"You're at Greenwich?"I ask,not necessarily out of interest,and not out of politeness either.
"Yes.I'm doing my Honour year in Photography...a pity that,cause I would have loved to be your tutor" she grins,and although I hate the fact that there are clearly no secrets in this naffing town,I can't help but be amazed by her over friendly personality.
"However,my boyfriend is doing his Masters in the same programme as you,Zoology major,yeah?He's a bit of a genius too.He'll help you out"
She suggests,and I take note to admire her complete self assurance.I have never met any girl who willingly offers her boyfriend's services,however platonic,to a random stranger.Is it supposed to be an indirect message of some sort?I ignore my errant thoughts,about to ask her who her boyfriend might be,when a sudden tall figure appears by her side.Its a guy with tousled brown hair and huge green eyes.
"Hey babe" his deep drawl comes,before smacking lips with the wondrous Fiona Rose.She smiles hugely at him.
"Ah!Just the person we were talking about..". she says to him,but he doesn't even look at us.
"You've been talking about me?With who,I wonder?" he has a mildly strong Irish accent.No wonder she fell.
"Yes Adam,Sasha,Jenner,this is my boyfriend Adam..love,this is-"
"Colleen" his voice is laced with humor as he finally turns to look at me,and I glare up at him.
"Its Jenner" I say between clenched teeth,heavily tempted to bite his nose off.Yes,I have violent thoughts.
Sas,good ol' Sas,decides to finally break out of her shy induced muteness at this point.
"But your name is Colleen.Why are you telling him its Jenner?" she asks suddenly,with real curiosity.Really Sasha?Of all the times you could have asked,you choose now?
I can see Adam's smile growing as he blinks at me expectantly.I turn to frown at Sasha.
"When I'm at uni,I use my second name,Jenner,not Colleen.And since I go to uni with-"this effing imbecile "-Adam,over here,he has to call me Jenner"
I explain.She scrunches up her face.
"But why?" she asks again,and I suddenly am not very impressed with my sister's inquisitive nature at this moment.I grab my coat and the shopping bags.
"I'll explain later.Let's go home" I say in a terse voice,and she looks at me with big apprehensive eyes.I sigh.
"Its okay Sas,let's just get home" I say,as soothingly as I can.Someone clears their throat,and I suddenly remember our audience,the reason we're leaving.Adam's expression looks bored.
"You know,its raining outside.I have a car-"
"How nice.Now if you'll excuse us" I cut across his stupid offer.Sasha quietly takes my outstretched hand and comes to my side.
"It'd be nice if you could stop by again.."Fiona Rose's voice comes,just as chipper,as if nothing happened.I ignore her,I ignore him,and focus on getting my sister and I home.
Once we're outside,in our raincoats and under an umbrella,Sas looks up at me curiously.
"You don't like that boy,do you?" she comments,as accurately perceptive as ever.I watch the rain as it drips down around us.
"No,not really Sas.."I mutter,and I'm glad when she doesn't ask me why.Because I honestly don't have an answer as to why I get annoyed when I see that self-satisfied smile,or those big green eyes,or hear that stupid,stupid drawl.I really don't.
I take a huge sigh,then focus on getting Sas and I home.
*************
Le gasp!...another update.I'm surprised myself.Please vote,comment,tell me what you think?
God,Love and Music
Rach
