Rescue - N.E.M Sequel

Four

RESCUE

FOUR:

When I woke up the next day - yes, I had managed to finally get a few hours sleep last night - I found myself not wanting to hang around in bed for as long. I rolled myself out and got straight into the shower, cleansing my body. My mood was no different, I was still as moody as I was yesterday and the day before but I was up for trying a bit more than usual. I went down into the kitchen and got myself a bowl of cereal, sitting at the table to eat it. As I chewed on my cornflakes, I spotted the familiar papers underneath everything that was scattered across the table. It was the funeral papers I had to fill in and organise. For the remainder of the time of me eating, I would take a glance at them every now and again. I was tempted to take them out and go over them.

I put my bowl into the dishwasher before taking the risk and getting out the papers. I sat back up at the table and looked through them. I had to plan what flowers, how Hannah would get there, whether she was cremated or not. There was a lot of responsibility for me. I still couldn't manage to fill them out but it was a small improvement that I had at least looked again. This time successfully without breaking down into tears. I took a deep breath, getting my phone out after tucking the papers away. I stared down at Nicole's number, wondering whether I should text her. I could really do with a chat and some company.

After some small debating, I decided just to go for it and compose a blank text to her.

[Hey, it was really good to see you yesterday. Fancy meeting up for a coffee?x]

Within the minute, I got a text back..

[Sure! Tell me when and where and I'll be there x]

[Mine? And whenever you're ready *inserts address* x]

[On my way x]

I put my phone away and quickly started to tidy up the house as it was still a mess from my lack of cleaning. Just as I was about the sit down the house phone blasted through the silent house, startling me. I rushed over to it and answered it, putting the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hi love, its Mum,"

"Oh, hey Mum. Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, I was just wanted to know if you'd like to come out for some lunch with us today? It would be good for you to get out and see your family,"

"I would but I'm actually meeting a friend today,"

"Oh you are?"

She sounded so surprised and delighted all at the same time.

"Yeah, I bumped into an old friend from school who I hadn't seen in years,"

"Well thats okay, don't change your plans! We can do it another day,"

"Yeah, sure, Mum,"

My door bell went off while I was halfway through the sentence.

"That'll be her now,"

"Her?"

"Mum its not like that, I just lost my girlfriend,"

"I know Ast, I wasn't suggesting anything, I was just wondering who it was,"

"She's called Nicole and I better go, I don't want to leave her waiting,"

"Yes of course, you go! Speak to you soon,"

"Bye Mum,"

I hung up the phone and dashed towards the front door, pulling it open to see Nicole stood there and just about to ring the doorbell again. We both laughed slightly at the awkward situation.

"Sorry, I had my mum on the phone," I said to her, stepping aside and gesturing for her to come in.

"No worries, I know how mums can be," She giggled, turning around to watch me close the door.

"Go straight through," I told her, nodding towards my living room after she had kicked off her shoes and took off her coat.

"Thank you," She said and walked inside. I followed her quickly, making sure she didn't get lost.

"Wow, you have an amazing house," She gasped, looking around at the decor of my house.

"Thank you," I chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Coffee?" I asked after a few moments silence.

"I'd love one," She smiled, "Milk with one sugar please,"

I nodded and went into the kitchen to start on our drinks. Once finishing them, I carefully picked them up and went back into the living room. Nicole was stood up, looking at pictures that were stood on the fireplace. I placed the two mugs on the coffee table and the noise made her aware of my presence.

"She was beautiful," Nicole said. I walked over to where she was standing, holding a picture of me and Hannah on a holiday a few years ago.

"Yeah, she was," I sighed, remembering back to the holiday and the fun we had, "That was our first holiday together, we'd only been together a couple of months then,"

"Really? It looks like you'd been together for years!" She gasped and as I looked down at it again, I couldn't help but agree. We were both glowing, both so in love and it had only been a short amount of time.

"I'm so sorry Aston, this must be so hard for you right now," She whispered, her eyes turning sad as she put down the photo.

"She was the love of my life, what more can I say?" I gulped, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

"Oh, Ast," She sighed and pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms tightly around her as a few tears strayed and fell into the material of her shirt.

"I'm sorry," I sniffed.

"Don't be stupid, you just lost your fiancée," She said, rubbing my back. She pulled back from the hug and we came face-to-face, our eyes staring into each other's. Thats when I noticed how similar she looked to Hannah. Although her eyes didn't have the distinctive colour Hannah's did. The eyes that got me stumbling my words and falling every time she looked at me.

"Come on, lets sit down and have our drinks, we can have a long chat,"

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