UltraViolet

Part 22

A chill ran over my body as a gentle breeze wrapped around the loose tendrils hair close to my face, nipping where it could at any exposed skin. I wrapped my too thin coat closer around my shivering body and rapped on the door with three sharp knocks.

It was late into the afternoon, the sky a mixture of deep purples and reds, as the door swung open revealing Luke's dad. It was clear from the look on his face that he wasn't expecting me.

'Violet! Well this is a nice surprise.'

'Hi Mr Collin's.'

Luke's dad was a nice looking man, if you looked past the rather large beer belly he was currently sporting. I suppose you could say he was a little ruff around the edges in comparison to his clean cut son. His beard perhaps a little too long and his clothes had seen better days but he had kind eyes, warm hazel that his son also shared.

Those same eyes currently narrowed in my direction as he shook his head.
'How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Alan.'

'Sorry, force of habit.' I said sheepishly, wrapping my arms around myself subconsciously, in an attempt to try and retain some amount of warmth emitting from my body. Mr Collin's noticing this, jumped back from the door and opened it wider, inviting me in.

'It's cold enough out there to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' An almighty laugh erupted from his chest making me jump back in surprise.
'You know I never could stand the cold, especially since the year Luke's mum locked me out the house during a snow storm. I suppose it was my fault for spending the money meant for the lads school uniform on 100 tents that Tricky Trev sold me. Told me I'd make a profit on them didn't he. That's what I get for trusting him again after the industrial sized toaster incident.'

I hadn't got a clue what Mr Collins was going on about but he was on a role and I was convinced he'd follow me to carry on the story even if I did try to leave.

'So I come home to an unimpressed wife, 100 tents that turned out to be missing all the poles and the likely hood that the poor sods going to be wearing one of my old work shirts to school instead of the actual uniform. The wife didn't seem concerned locking me out, I had the tents to keep me warm after all. Lost a toe due to frostbite but all in all ended up a good story.'

He looked at me hopefully, waiting for the laugh he expected to escape from me but instead I just stared at him, wide eyed.
'Oh ha...that's..wow. A toe, really?'

'Just a stub now actually.'

'Well that's...Cool.'

Unimpressed by my response he sighed in defeat.
'I suppose you're looking for my son then.'

'I am yes, is he here?' Please god say he's here, I don't think I could listen to another Alan story.

'Hiding out in his room like always. Nursing off a hangover I think, boy was steaming when he got home this morning. His mother's not happy though, he puked in one of her antique vases.'

I grimaced.
'Oh..well that's a shame.'

'Can't say I'm annoyed. Ugly thing those jars. Don't see the point in 'em either but hey, apparently I haven't got the eye for these things. Anyway, head on upstairs.'

'Thanks Mr Collin's.' I said, before correcting myself when he gave me a stern look. 'Sorry...Alan.'

I think you can understand why I couldn't get upstairs quick enough, but as soon as I got outside Luke's bedroom door I froze.

It was stupid really, what did I have to be nervous about? This was Luke after all, sweet, charming, wouldn't hurt a fly Luke.

I shook my head. Knocking a few times before pushing the handle down and opening the door. Before I could say anything Luke groaned from beneath his bed covers.
'Mum how many times do I have to tell you? I swear I didn't throw up in your favourite vase on purpose, it was that or all over the new cream carpet.' His voice was thick from sleep and alcohol making him sound like he'd been on an all night bender, which, I suppose he had.