Chapter 3 3

The sound of the phone woke Louise.

'Lou, Lou wake up.'

'I'm awake already.'

'Phone.'

'Who is it?'

'Chris.'

'Tell him I'll be there in a bit.'

'Sure.' Louise's mom replied before talking to Chris on the phone 'She'll be with you in a sec.'

'Thanks.'

Louise pulled herself up out of bed, getting herself dressed. She dragged herself out of the bedroom and into the hall, she picked up the receiver. 'Hi.'

'Hi. Sorry I woke you I know yo probably haven't had much sleep but couldn't wait till tomorrow.'

'That's okay.'

'Is it okay if I come around yours?'

'Yeah sure.'

'I'll see you in a bit.'

'Okay.'

'Bye.'

'Bye.' Louise replied replacing the receiver.

'So are you seeing him today?' her mom asked curiously.

'Yeah he's coming round in a while.'

'Okay. Well I'm off to work don't get doing anything I wouldn't.''

'I wont'

'I'll be back late so make sure you eat.'

'I will bye mom.'

'Bye Louise.' She said closing the door behind her.

The knock on the door alerted get, she pulled her weary body up answering the door. 'Gee babe you look like shit.'

'So do you.'

'Lack of sleep.'

'Snap. Come in.'

'Thanks.' Chris replied walking into the house.

Chris followed Louise into the living room, he looked around the room. 'On your own?'

'Yeah, mom's gone out.'

'Oh right. Well at least we can get to know each other better.'

'Yeah.' Louise replied. 'Would you like a coffee?'

'Sure.' Chris said slouching onto the sofa.

Louise returned into the lounge, she placed the mugs of coffee onto the table.

'Thanks.' Chris said smiling. 'Come and sit down.' He said tapping the empty space besides him.

'Okay.'

Louise sat down nervously next to Chris, he draped his arm around her, a cold shiver made its way down her spine.

'What's the matter?' Chris asked curiously.

'Nothing. Just cold.'

'Why didn't you say.' He said, pulling her closer to him, hugging her. 'Is that better?'

'Yeah.'

'This is nice just sitting here with you, cuddling you, it just feels right don't you think?'

'Yeah.' Louise replied closing her eyes.

'Lou wake up!' Chris said nudging her.

She slowly came round 'Did I fall asleep?'

'Yeah.'

'Sorry.'

'It's okay.' Chris said pausing. 'So what did you dream about?'

'Nothing.'

'Oh okay....shall we go out for a bite to eat?'

'Sure.'

Chris and Louise are sitting in the restaurant.

'So tell me about yourself.'

'There's nothing to tell.'

'Sure there is, there's got to be.'

'You already know my friend is that's all there is to know.'

'There's got to be more to you than that.'

'Okay me and Sasha went to primary together we clicked first day and we've been freinds ever since. We both decided to go to college we didn't expect to get onto the same one.'

'And meet me.

'Yeah.'

'So any deep dark secrets?'

'No why?'

'Just asking, just everyone has skeletons locked away.'

'Well I haven't. Guess that makes me a square!'

'No you're just perfect the way you are.'

'So what about you?' Louise asked. Quickly changing the subject wishing not to bring up the past, and what happened in the graveyard a year ago.'

'Well, me and Jodas are like brothers we lived next door to one another we have no secrets we tell each other everything.'

'What do you mean everything?'

'Everything, no secrets.'

'What about me?'

'You mean me and you?'

'Yeah.'

'Everything that happens between you and me is between us and that's the way I'd like it to stay. I want that part of my life all to myself.'

'Oh. Okay, so there's no deep dark secrets?'

'No what you see is what you get.' He lied knowing what lay behind the mask he wore.

Chris walked Louise home after the restaurant. He leaned over placing his lips on hers kissing her. He pulled away. 'So have you any plans after college ends?'

'Not sure Uni maybe.'

He smiled.

He pulled away. 'Come on we've only got an hour to kill before college and we all know how long it takes you to get done!' he smiled.

She shoved him playfully he took almost as long as her and they were usually running late even if they were up on time.

They pulled themselves up each taking turns to freshen up and change into their jeans, tee - shirts, under garments and trainers, Louise talking that little bit longer as she applied make up at the beginning of every college day or when they went out on the tiles.

He looked at her and smiled he was so lucky to have someone that understood him as she did, she just needed to let him in a little more than she did, after all they'd been dating for six months now and spent every weekend together, why didn't she trust him enough to let him a little closer to her? 'So are you ready?'

'yeah.'

He took her hand and opened the flat door leading her out locking and closing it behind them. 'so you up for today?'

'i guess.'

'so we still meeting at lunch?'

'yeah me and Sasha are meeting for a coffee first.'

'oh that's the geeky kid right?'

'she's not geeky just misunderstood. It's her family background not her, her parents live in the sixties and thinks she has to too.'

'Don't she get a say in how she looks?'

'No. Her parents are so square she'll even tell you that. She's a type of kindred spirit she believes that you have your own voice and opinions, but she keeps her distance from all that involves pain.'

'she should meet Jodas he's sort of the same.'

'maybe.'

'ask her to come out with us this weekend I'll call him.'

'doesn't he come here?'

'when he can be bothered yeah.'

'sounds appealing.'

'maybe if he had something to come here for then he would.'

'you really think that he'd like her?'

'who knows just give it one shot twist her arm dress her if you have to.'

'okay I'll ask, but I'm not promising anything.'

'sound I'll text him I'm sure he'll be glad to get out of the hell hole.'

'I thought he had his own place?'

'he flat shares with friends they're a little weird.'

'oh.'

'well I'll talk to you at lunch okay. Don't forget to talk to your friend about it.'

'i won't.'

He kissed her quickly loosing her hand. 'i'll see you at lunch babe.'

'Sure.'

'bye babe.'

'later.'

They veered off to the left and right of Darlington College a large complex with over five hundred rooms it was how they met getting lost through the winding corridors that were at least three miles long.

She opened the door to the conference room, the seats on tears like in the cinema, a girl with glasses rimmed to her perfect bone structured face wearing an oddly coloured jumper waved at her. She smiled walking up to the back of the room. The girl wore those really weird purple kick flares and adidas gazelles. 'so you finally made it on time?'

'yeah. Sasha.'

'yeah.'

'i want to ask you something.'

'right everyone settle down.'

'maybe later.'

She smiled.

The two friends walked out of their seminar a little heavy headed. They walked into the cafeteira for a coffee and a cake, they sat down. 'so what did you want to ask me.'

'what are you doing this weekend?'

'nothing why?'

'how's about you come out with me at Chris.'

'i don't know Lou.'

'please Sasha he's inviting his friend.'

'i can't.'

'why not?'

'mom.'

'tell her your staying at mine i'm sure she'll be cool.'

'i don't know Lou i'm not really sure. It's just.'

'look i'll lend you something okay.'

'but the guy.'

'chill okay see how it goes.'

'but me and guys don't mix.'

'you never know you might with this one.'

'i don't know.'

'please Sasha you never let your hair down just one night okay.'

'okay.' She sighed.

Louise smiled hugging her friend. 'thanks you wont regret this.'

'i hope not. '

'you wont.'

'can you loose me now you're suffocating me.'

'sorry.' Louise said dropping her arms from round her. 'we'll choose something really nice i swear no one will recognise you.'

She smiled unsure she'd never been out before and especially where boys were.

'come on we best be getting back.'

'yeah my head hurts.'

'mine too only an hour left.'

They pulled themselves up throwing their rubbish into the bin on the way out of the cafeteria.

Chris looked up and smiled as he spoke on the mobile. Louise returned his smiled walking over to him. They kissed cheeks. 'right i'll see you then bye.' He ended the call slipping his mobile in his pocket.

'so who was that?'

'Jodas.'

'so what did he say?'

'not much just wanted a few details on your friends took a little arm work but he's coming.' He looked at Louise. 'did you talk to your friend?'

'yeah.'

'what she say?'

'same she took a little persuading, but she agreed to come. I hope it don't go wrong Chris what i remember of this guy he aint going to dig on her.'

'i'm sure he will with your help.'

'and after? What if he sees her for who she really is?'

'chill babe he knows what to expect.'

'so are we meeting you there?'

'yeah give you girls chance to do what ever it is to change your whole fucking appearance.'

'i'll try my best but i aint promising a miracle.'

'i know.' He pulled her close. 'just enough for her to get noticed aye.'

She smiled unsure she could even do that. He pressed his lips on hers kissing her. He moved away. 'so are you finished now?'

'yeah.'

'you fancy coming back to mine?'

'i can't I have an assignment due in for tomorrow.'

'an hour babe.'

'okay but i have to be back before six.'

'sure come on.'

He took her hand and they walked away. He closed the door to the flat, turning pressing his lips on hers kissing her erratically. He pulled her into the bedroom undressing kissing hungrily falling to the bed making love.