Learn to Love Again - Stampy and Squid

Chapter 13 - Danger

Squid's POV

My hands slide around Tess's shoulders as we sit there on the couch together. For the past hour, we've just been snuggling and watching TV. It's been nice, though.
My life has gotten so much better since I got with Tess. She's completed my life, no matter how cliche that sounds.

Tessa's lips meet mine unexpectedly, making me lean back in surprise. I relax and kiss her back passionately, pushing her back onto the couch. She leans into me, curving with my body. I pull away from her, panting slightly.

"I love you, Tess." I freeze. I hadn't meant to say that! It was true, but... It's only been a week since we got together. I wanted to tell her soon, but not now! I await her reply nervously.

"I love you too... Squid." I smile in relief. I'm pretty sure that's the first time she's used my nickname. I'm so lucky to have her with me.

I kiss her again, harder this time. She lets out a small groan, face reddening. I smile into the kiss, pulling her up with me as I do so. I push her over to the wall, gripping her as if I'll never let go.

"Ahem...?" I pull away immediately only to see Stampy looking at us with something like amusement on his face. His eyes aren't focussed though, as if his thoughts are somewhere else. How long has he been here?

"Sorry mate." I turn to Tessa. "See you tomorrow?" She smiles at me.

"I'd love to," she says, kissing me quickly once more. She flips around and steps out the open door, her braid swinging in the evening breeze. I smile again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately.

"Sorry about that mate. I got a bit carried away." He laughs, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"I'm going to bed, anyway. Night!" He walks up the stairs, leaving me alone in the lounge room. I shake my head.

He's been acting strange lately. Sometimes being overly cheerful to the point where he would be annoying, sometimes being quiet and thoughtful, and sometimes looking depressed.

I diminish the thoughts. Whatever's up with him, it's his business. If he wants to tell me, then I'll be there for him.

Stampy's POV

I slam my bedroom door behind me and sink onto my bed. He loves her. Not me. Her. I let out a strangled sob. I need to stop acting like this. It's just been such a strange two weeks. I'm not sure I can handle it anymore.

Netty had had to go straight after the short conversation at the hospital, but her advice had helped a lot. I'm glad to have a sister, even if I didn't know she existed until a week ago. Just another thing to add to my list of crazy things that have happened this week. Including that visit...

I lean back on the wall and look up at the ceiling. I haven't heard from my mother since she texted me saying that she'd seen me at my house, and I hope to keep it that way. As if on cue, my brand new phone buzzes. Thinking it'll be Netty, I open the screen and stare in dismay at the message.

I'm outside.

I shiver. My mother is here, whether I like it or not.

I look out the bedroom window and sure enough, there's a dark figure standing somewhere off to the left of the house. She's here.

Why does she have to come now? Just as I was starting to move on, she has to come and ruin it. I slam the window closed, shattering the glass. I curse. Great.

I walk down the stairs again, my stomach doing nervous flips as I see my mother out the numerous windows.

"Squid?" I call softly as I reach the bottom, peering around the corner. We make eye contact and he looks surprised.

"I thought you were going to bed," he says. I look away.

"There's someone outside that I... She's my mother." I look back at him sideways. He looks confused.

"So...?"

"She abuses me... I haven't been able to escape her." I remember telling him this, but he's obviously 'forgotten'.

"We should call the cops." I nod mutely. I knew this would be his reaction, but I'm scared. He sung to me once, before the accident. The words of the song come back to me now.

Did you lose what won't return?

I did lose something. I lost Squid.

I shake my head to clear the memories. Focus on the present, not the past.

Squid holds out his phone to me. I don't take it.

"Could you please... Ring them...? I'm not sure I can do it." He nods, before dialling.

A loud bang in the door startles us both.

"Joseph! I know you're in there, you piece of shit!" I shudder. Please hurry.

I sit down on the couch just as another loud band resounds through the house. Please...

A shattering noise makes me jump up and spin around so fast I crick my neck. She's in the freaking house! A shadow looms threatenly across the door way. Squid looks over to me.

"It'll be ok, Stamps." I start. That's the first time he's used that name since the accident.

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Sorry it's so short, but I wanted to get a chapter out. Please don't murder me! Hope you enjoyed, anyway. Also, I spent today drawing potatoes on my maths book. What is life?