The Train To Nowhere

chapter 15 - strangely familiar

        "Can you wake up please?" was the first thing I heard when I woke up that morning. I jumped as I opened my eyes and saw Rosie leaning over me, shaking my arm as her face shaded me from the morning sun. Almost as soon as I awoke she retreated to the other side of the bed. "Get up, Abel. I've been shaking you and telling you for the past ten minutes!"

"Ugh, I'm sorry," I sighed, my voice croaking a bit as I rubbed my eyes. "I couldn't get to sleep for ages last night."

"Oh, why?" she asked, looking concerned. I hesitated.

"Er - no reason. Just you know, when your thoughts keep you up and stuff." Rosie nodded and then started packing up her things. "What's the time?"

"Ten to twelve! That's why I was practically shaking you awake. I have to go."

"Why?" I asked, sitting up and pulling my pyjama top off to replace it. There was a short pause. I turned around to face her, and for a flicker of a second, I thought I saw her looking at my bare torso. Then as quick as a flash, she was back to packing her bags again. I could feel myself blushing ever so sightly, so this turning back around again suited me finely.

"My mum's coming back to take me out to her friend's gathering or some shit."

"Your mum? Now there's a surprise!" I said truthfully, but Rosie was so used to this type of behaviour from her mum that she couldn't be offended. I pulled a fern green sweater over myself and then slipped on some jeans like lightening while Rosie's back was still turned.

"Yeah, it's some event with some colleagues who are bringing their kids or whatever. She said I have to go or she won't pay for my clarinet lessons."

"She's bribing you?" I responded, already as annoyed with her mum as she was.

"Now that's not a surprise," Rosie said smoothly, zipping up her rucksack and then making her way towards my bedroom door. I stopped her with a question. Hopefully she would take my questions as a sign of concern rather than wanting to spend more time with her, because in reality it was both.

"Wait!" Rosie stopped abruptly at my call, spinning round to face me as some of her hair flicked carelessly behind her right shoulder.

"What?" She stared at me expectantly.

"Just - why are you doing what your mum says? I mean, you never do. Why now?"

"Believe me Abel, I really couldn't give a shit about what my mum wants. And yes, on a regular occasion I wouldn't. But considering we have that train trip coming up and I've barely seen her... it wouldn't be too bad to stay on her good side. She is paying for the trip after all." Feeling like I had nothing to counter that, I simply shook my head solemnly.

"Okay," I muttered, "Alright."

Rosie left soon after that and then it was back to me, myself and I; I hated it. It was definitely the extrovert in me that needed people around me most the time to make me feel good, otherwise I'd be lying on my bed, bored out of my brain and watching the day go by. I called Noah and Isaac up to go to the local basketball court near us.

"I just feel like shit. I can't tell you, or you guys'll just..." I trailed off as I passed the ball to Isaac and he took a shot for the hoop nearest him. He missed and cursed. We had the whole court and surrounding area to ourselves. Nothing but the sound of the ball bouncing and echoing across the tarmac, and our voices.

"What?" said Noah, smirking.

"You'll make fun of me."

"Look, it's about Rosie," Isaac said loudly, passing the ball to me. "I know it is."