Made From Greater Stone (Book one in the Stone Series) - SAMPLE ONLY

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

With my head hung low in disappointment, I make my way back to the apartment. Joseph sits at the table, papers still scattered everywhere.  I can't believe he is working this late; the Joseph back home would have never turned a night out down.  He used to date a different girl each week, nothing serious but he loved to party.  I guess being passionate about his work made him grow up.

Following a successful exhibition Joseph quit college as he had been offered an illustrators job for a series of Children's story books- ‘Phoebe Jones - The Detective of Magic'.  He could be incredibly determined, even stubborn at times, but his gamble paid off.  Despite the author being unknown at the time, the books went on to become an international hit, with a cult like following, they are currently being developed into movies, and Joseph is involved in the artwork.  He is a much sought after freelance illustrator.

"Hey you" he smiles. "Good night?”  I must look a mess; carrying my shoes and my wet hair clings to my face.

"Mmm… kind of” I shake my head, I can't hide my disappointment from Joseph, he locks me in a tight embrace, but we stay silent. 

"I’m going to get changed” I force a smile. 

 "Good you’re bloody freezing Liv" he smiles back at me releasing me from his hug.

When I come back from my room Joseph has packed his work away, I make my way over to the couches and pull the chunky knit blanket that's draped across one of the arms around me.  The rain has made me cold.  Joseph hands me a much needed cup of hot cocoa and my favorite chocolate spread on toast.  I tell him all about my night, my new friends Mitzi and Scarlett, Club Noir, Scarlett's history with her buddy Tom and finally about Mr Hot.  He sniggers "Jeez Liv you didn't tell him that's what you call him did you?" His grin widens as he laughs.

"No!" I reply my eyes narrowing.  I carry on about the rest of the evening.  He finds me leaving the rest rooms showing my ass hilarious.  Finally, I tell him about my ride home and the bizarre way Mr Hot had left me hanging.

"So he thought I was your boyfriend?"  He asks laughing.

“I’m not sure, I think so." In truth,  I had no idea what he thought. 

"It’s a common mistake" he laughs. 

My college boyfriend had accused me of being with Joseph, although I later realized that was just his way of feeling less guilty about sleeping with half the campus behind my back.

I’d never had much experience with guys at school.  I was quite unnoticeable; girls only wanted to know me because I hung around with Joseph.  I wasn't popular, more of a wallflower that no one noticed, no one except Joseph that is and he was more like family.

 “I almost forgot” he says, placing a large scrapbook on the table.  The front is red and in the middle sits a photo of Joseph and I eating sticky buns at Burt's bakery, we must have been around eleven years old.