Killing Loneliness, chapter 5
After a long day of school, Scarlett made her way out of school. She stood around out the back
where she walked home and waited for Mike. He finally came with a big smile.
"Heya!"he said putting his arm up in the air as a greeting.
"Hi," she replied "How are you?"
"Fine really, you?"
"Yeah, I think. What d'ya do yesterday?"
"Just band rehearsal for the comp."
"Good. God next weekend I have to go and visit my auntie and uncle. How totally boring is that
gonna be? Well my Uncle Jim, he's like you know, cool but
when all the adults are together they're so serious. It's really annoying."
Mike chuckled.
"If the rest go out at any point, just give me a buzz." he consolidated.
"You know, I don't even know your number anyway."
Mike slipped a piece of scrap paper out of his pocket and a pen, before
jotting it down.
"If the others go out, just say you don't feel too well." he said really in a jokey mood. "It's
cheap but it works. I mean what are they gonna expect cos you can't exactly do much round there.
Where do they actually live anyway?"
"California. Los Angeles."
"Well there's always the phone." he said tapping her nose. She tapped his back. They ended having
a stupid hitting game. Some other students walked past raising their eyebrows, surprised that
someone like Mike was hanging around with "her". Scarlett just ignored them but Mike looked
at them as if to say "what are you looking at".
They hung around in the same spot, purely messing around and talking before eventually making
their way home.
The end of the week came home and after another twenty minutes of kisses, hugs and jokes, Scarlett
got home, put her stuff in the car and they drove of to Los Angeles.
She had to go through the typical "Oh hello sweetie, aren't you getting big now and it's so
good to see you" ordeal. The patronizing, over protective attitude definately ran through the
family. Her Aunt Judith was just like her mom. Scarlett was 17 but they treated her like an 11
year old.
It was really late but Judith insisted that they ate. Scarlett looked over at Katie who was
joining in with all the conversations and stuff but clearly bored out of her mind. Eventually,
she managed to drag herself up to bed. She slumped onto the bed she was going to sleep in and
curled up. She'd heard something about them going out tomorrow evening. She didn't exactly want
to go out for hours on end to a posh restaurant. Not with her family anyway. They were so
boring! Her dad and uncle discussing politics and her mom and aunt about children's education
and development. Well, she liked Uncle Jim, he was fun, but only when he would just sit and
chat with her when they were alone, so tomorrow wouldn't be a huge miss. If she could avoid it.
They spent the next day, after their hour long breakfast, going into the main city. It was okay
but she couldn't go off on her own so she had to stick and look in places that she didn't like.
They were there for about three hours before they ate lunch, which really pleased her because
she was so bored and starving it gave her something to do.
"So, how's things rockin' and rollin' in Oakland?" Uncle Jim asked in a stupid voice.
"Well," Scarlett started "school sucks, but other stuff's really good."a mischievous smile
grew on her face.
"Oh right, I see." Jim said winking at her "Boyfriend?" he mouthed at her.
A little embarrased smirk gave him the answer. He raised his eyebrows. This was when Jim
was cool. The only one who treated her as if she was a teenager living in present times, rather
than the 18th century. Jim was quite a mind reader though.
As they got home, Katie immediately rushed up to their spare room to put her new top on.
Scarlett just slumped on her bed an watched Katie admiring herself in the mirror. God she's
so full of herself, she thought.
"What?" Katie asked her.
"Did I say anything?"
"No but I can tell by the way you're looking at me, I'm not as thick as you." she said sarcastically.
"You upset cos you don't have anything decent to wear?"
"You know, I'd rather have my tongue nailed to the floor then look like you." Scarlett replied
really getting pissed off with her.
"Yeah, well same to you, so take it all bitch!"
"Do you honestly think it's cool to look like the biggest hooker in town, drink even if you
don't actually know what you're drinking and sleep with men who don't give a shit who you
are?"
"Well it must be, cos alot more people like me that you!"
"Well frankly I don't really care, because you're friends are all two faced cows!"
"Fuck off you bitch! Don't ever call my friends cows!"
"Well like or not, they talk about you behind your back the way all of the tarty people like
you do. You bitch about your friends behind their back, and they do the same." Scarlett was
keeping her voice firm, so as not to let anyone else hear.
"They do not! I know them better than you do so keep all your stupid ideas to yourself, cos
guess what? No one wants to hear them! Why can't you just except than everyone hates you?"
"Because not everyone does hate me." she smiled back in a cheesy way.
"So who does like you then, your imaginary friends that you went out with the other day?"
"Bang on." she mumbled.
Katie had a feeling that Scarlett was telling the truth. She'd been getting home quite a bit
later than usual and had been acting quite happy, but she didn't want to admit it. She liked
it that she was really popular.
Later on, Scarlett was still lying on her bed. Thankfully Katie had gone elsewhere so they
didn't have to continue their stupid argument.
"Ready to go?" Uncle Jim poppedhis head around the door.
"I don't feel well Uncle Jim, can't I just like, not go?"
"Yeah, we all know your not well Scarlz," he answered sarcastically "I know you don't wanna
go. I'll tell the others you're "not well"."
"Cheers Jim!"
"Anytime!"
Phew. got away with that one.
A few minutes later Judith and her mom came upstairs to ask what was wrong with her.
"Leave the kid, ya know, she's just not up to it!" said Uncle Jim poking through the door.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Judith asked.
"I'll be fine I promise."
"I'll leave my number, so you can call if you need anything."
"Sure."
Scarlett waited until she heard the door slam and the cars drive away. Immediately she raced
to the phone with Mike's number. Her fingers tapped in the code and she heard the rings. She
began to feel nervous after that incase she was bothering him.
"Hello." Billie picked up the phone.
"Um, hi, is Mike there?" she mumbled into the phone.
"Yeah, he is, is that Scarlett?" he asked.
"Yeah," she laughed feeling more confident.
"Okay cool, I'll just call him. MIKE!"he yelled moving his head away from the phone.
There was a pause. "Lovebird's on the phone." he said in a slightly quieter voice. "Yeah
he's just coming Scarlett, he's at the top of the stairs naked. Must of been thinkin' 'bout
you!"
She burst out laughing.
"Shut up," she could hear Mike saying whilst snatching the phone from him and Billie laughed.
Scarlett was still laughing.
"Heya, soz 'bout that, Billie's sometimes such a twat. Of course you know I am actually dressed."
"Yeah,"
"Take it the "sick" plan worked." he laughed a little.
"Well okay, Jim didn't believe me, but you know he's cool. Told you about him, didn't I?"
"Yeah, I think. So what you been up to?"
"Oh nothing special, went into Los Angeles, which could have been fun, but obviously isn't when
you're with boring sods like your mom and sister, um and eaten and argued with my sister and..
that's about it!"
"Oh right." Mike wasn't really sure what to say.
"So what about you?"
"You know, I'm so glad I've called cos I've basically done band practice, taken a shower,
drink coffee and since then, absolute buggar all! Where's everyone now then?"
"Some posh place for dinner, I'll just get myself some stuff when I'm hungry."
They talked for over half an hour.
"Um by the way, I've just thought," Mike started "Maybe I should ring you, cos this is gonna
cost alot."
"Well I don't think Jim'll mind but I'm not sure about Judith."
"Give me the number, and I'll ring you instead."
Scarlett passed it on and they both put the phone down before it rang again.
"Hello!"
Scarlett laughed
"Hi, long time no see!"
They continued to talk for another hour, before he heard Billie in the background.
"God Mike you're turning into a woman, all these hourly conversations!"
"Piss off!"
"Yeah, so what are you guys talkin' about hmm?"
"None of your business, now can you just go!"
"Mmmm forbidden romantic stuff, naughty Michael!" Billie said in a stupid first school teacher's
voice.
"Romance? Why would we be talking about romance?"
"Because incase you didn't realise yourself, Mike, aren't you two going out now?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we talk ABOUT romance. Dumb ass""
"You know what I meant, well anyway you gonna be done like in five cos I gotta make a phone
call too?"
"Yeah, five, now go away please. Sorry 'bout that." Mike apologised.
"No prob, it was funny listening to you. So I guess it's goodbye time now!" she replied.
"Yeah, see you Monday."
"Yeah, bye then."
"It's been good talking to you."
"And you. Can you uh, put the phone down first please?" Scarlett asked him.
"Oh I don't like doing that, can you?"
"No please, you."
"Ok then, bye. See you Monday!" he said finally before putting down the phone.
By the time the other five got back, Scarlett was just sat upstairs reading. Uncle Jim came up
to see her.
"Hiya,"
"Oh hi, Jim. Have fun?"
"Yeah ta, so what did you get up to?" he asked "Speak to this boyfriend?" his eyes twinkling
and his eyebrows raising.
she looked at him.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"Oh, just guessed, but I take it that was true." he chuckled to himself. "So, I'm judging Mom
and Dad don't know about this mysterious boyfriend, hey."
"No."
"How do you get to see him then if they don't know about him?"
"Well, we've only been going out for, about two weeks. But I stayed out really late the other
week so I told them I'd been with friends. Except that's not a lie, cos his friends are my
friends. I just skipped facts, that's all! But they weren't too pleased when I got back.
Eventually they let it drop though. It's just gonna be hard to get away with it in future you
know."
Jim nodded.
All of a sudden Judith called up for Jim and Scarlett. They made their way to the kitchen.
"You know, you could always try the "baby sitting" technique, that would work." he commented
as they walked down the stairs. Scarlett thought about it. "You know, he wants you to baby sit
so you have to stay out late tonight!" That could work pretty well, she though, thanks
Uncle Jim, things are gonna be alot easier now.
After a drink of tea and a little discussion she went back to her room to go to bed. She
was so pleased with the baby sitting idea. No more ridiculous excuses now! And more Mike!
where she walked home and waited for Mike. He finally came with a big smile.
"Heya!"he said putting his arm up in the air as a greeting.
"Hi," she replied "How are you?"
"Fine really, you?"
"Yeah, I think. What d'ya do yesterday?"
"Just band rehearsal for the comp."
"Good. God next weekend I have to go and visit my auntie and uncle. How totally boring is that
gonna be? Well my Uncle Jim, he's like you know, cool but
when all the adults are together they're so serious. It's really annoying."
Mike chuckled.
"If the rest go out at any point, just give me a buzz." he consolidated.
"You know, I don't even know your number anyway."
Mike slipped a piece of scrap paper out of his pocket and a pen, before
jotting it down.
"If the others go out, just say you don't feel too well." he said really in a jokey mood. "It's
cheap but it works. I mean what are they gonna expect cos you can't exactly do much round there.
Where do they actually live anyway?"
"California. Los Angeles."
"Well there's always the phone." he said tapping her nose. She tapped his back. They ended having
a stupid hitting game. Some other students walked past raising their eyebrows, surprised that
someone like Mike was hanging around with "her". Scarlett just ignored them but Mike looked
at them as if to say "what are you looking at".
They hung around in the same spot, purely messing around and talking before eventually making
their way home.
The end of the week came home and after another twenty minutes of kisses, hugs and jokes, Scarlett
got home, put her stuff in the car and they drove of to Los Angeles.
She had to go through the typical "Oh hello sweetie, aren't you getting big now and it's so
good to see you" ordeal. The patronizing, over protective attitude definately ran through the
family. Her Aunt Judith was just like her mom. Scarlett was 17 but they treated her like an 11
year old.
It was really late but Judith insisted that they ate. Scarlett looked over at Katie who was
joining in with all the conversations and stuff but clearly bored out of her mind. Eventually,
she managed to drag herself up to bed. She slumped onto the bed she was going to sleep in and
curled up. She'd heard something about them going out tomorrow evening. She didn't exactly want
to go out for hours on end to a posh restaurant. Not with her family anyway. They were so
boring! Her dad and uncle discussing politics and her mom and aunt about children's education
and development. Well, she liked Uncle Jim, he was fun, but only when he would just sit and
chat with her when they were alone, so tomorrow wouldn't be a huge miss. If she could avoid it.
They spent the next day, after their hour long breakfast, going into the main city. It was okay
but she couldn't go off on her own so she had to stick and look in places that she didn't like.
They were there for about three hours before they ate lunch, which really pleased her because
she was so bored and starving it gave her something to do.
"So, how's things rockin' and rollin' in Oakland?" Uncle Jim asked in a stupid voice.
"Well," Scarlett started "school sucks, but other stuff's really good."a mischievous smile
grew on her face.
"Oh right, I see." Jim said winking at her "Boyfriend?" he mouthed at her.
A little embarrased smirk gave him the answer. He raised his eyebrows. This was when Jim
was cool. The only one who treated her as if she was a teenager living in present times, rather
than the 18th century. Jim was quite a mind reader though.
As they got home, Katie immediately rushed up to their spare room to put her new top on.
Scarlett just slumped on her bed an watched Katie admiring herself in the mirror. God she's
so full of herself, she thought.
"What?" Katie asked her.
"Did I say anything?"
"No but I can tell by the way you're looking at me, I'm not as thick as you." she said sarcastically.
"You upset cos you don't have anything decent to wear?"
"You know, I'd rather have my tongue nailed to the floor then look like you." Scarlett replied
really getting pissed off with her.
"Yeah, well same to you, so take it all bitch!"
"Do you honestly think it's cool to look like the biggest hooker in town, drink even if you
don't actually know what you're drinking and sleep with men who don't give a shit who you
are?"
"Well it must be, cos alot more people like me that you!"
"Well frankly I don't really care, because you're friends are all two faced cows!"
"Fuck off you bitch! Don't ever call my friends cows!"
"Well like or not, they talk about you behind your back the way all of the tarty people like
you do. You bitch about your friends behind their back, and they do the same." Scarlett was
keeping her voice firm, so as not to let anyone else hear.
"They do not! I know them better than you do so keep all your stupid ideas to yourself, cos
guess what? No one wants to hear them! Why can't you just except than everyone hates you?"
"Because not everyone does hate me." she smiled back in a cheesy way.
"So who does like you then, your imaginary friends that you went out with the other day?"
"Bang on." she mumbled.
Katie had a feeling that Scarlett was telling the truth. She'd been getting home quite a bit
later than usual and had been acting quite happy, but she didn't want to admit it. She liked
it that she was really popular.
Later on, Scarlett was still lying on her bed. Thankfully Katie had gone elsewhere so they
didn't have to continue their stupid argument.
"Ready to go?" Uncle Jim poppedhis head around the door.
"I don't feel well Uncle Jim, can't I just like, not go?"
"Yeah, we all know your not well Scarlz," he answered sarcastically "I know you don't wanna
go. I'll tell the others you're "not well"."
"Cheers Jim!"
"Anytime!"
Phew. got away with that one.
A few minutes later Judith and her mom came upstairs to ask what was wrong with her.
"Leave the kid, ya know, she's just not up to it!" said Uncle Jim poking through the door.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Judith asked.
"I'll be fine I promise."
"I'll leave my number, so you can call if you need anything."
"Sure."
Scarlett waited until she heard the door slam and the cars drive away. Immediately she raced
to the phone with Mike's number. Her fingers tapped in the code and she heard the rings. She
began to feel nervous after that incase she was bothering him.
"Hello." Billie picked up the phone.
"Um, hi, is Mike there?" she mumbled into the phone.
"Yeah, he is, is that Scarlett?" he asked.
"Yeah," she laughed feeling more confident.
"Okay cool, I'll just call him. MIKE!"he yelled moving his head away from the phone.
There was a pause. "Lovebird's on the phone." he said in a slightly quieter voice. "Yeah
he's just coming Scarlett, he's at the top of the stairs naked. Must of been thinkin' 'bout
you!"
She burst out laughing.
"Shut up," she could hear Mike saying whilst snatching the phone from him and Billie laughed.
Scarlett was still laughing.
"Heya, soz 'bout that, Billie's sometimes such a twat. Of course you know I am actually dressed."
"Yeah,"
"Take it the "sick" plan worked." he laughed a little.
"Well okay, Jim didn't believe me, but you know he's cool. Told you about him, didn't I?"
"Yeah, I think. So what you been up to?"
"Oh nothing special, went into Los Angeles, which could have been fun, but obviously isn't when
you're with boring sods like your mom and sister, um and eaten and argued with my sister and..
that's about it!"
"Oh right." Mike wasn't really sure what to say.
"So what about you?"
"You know, I'm so glad I've called cos I've basically done band practice, taken a shower,
drink coffee and since then, absolute buggar all! Where's everyone now then?"
"Some posh place for dinner, I'll just get myself some stuff when I'm hungry."
They talked for over half an hour.
"Um by the way, I've just thought," Mike started "Maybe I should ring you, cos this is gonna
cost alot."
"Well I don't think Jim'll mind but I'm not sure about Judith."
"Give me the number, and I'll ring you instead."
Scarlett passed it on and they both put the phone down before it rang again.
"Hello!"
Scarlett laughed
"Hi, long time no see!"
They continued to talk for another hour, before he heard Billie in the background.
"God Mike you're turning into a woman, all these hourly conversations!"
"Piss off!"
"Yeah, so what are you guys talkin' about hmm?"
"None of your business, now can you just go!"
"Mmmm forbidden romantic stuff, naughty Michael!" Billie said in a stupid first school teacher's
voice.
"Romance? Why would we be talking about romance?"
"Because incase you didn't realise yourself, Mike, aren't you two going out now?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we talk ABOUT romance. Dumb ass""
"You know what I meant, well anyway you gonna be done like in five cos I gotta make a phone
call too?"
"Yeah, five, now go away please. Sorry 'bout that." Mike apologised.
"No prob, it was funny listening to you. So I guess it's goodbye time now!" she replied.
"Yeah, see you Monday."
"Yeah, bye then."
"It's been good talking to you."
"And you. Can you uh, put the phone down first please?" Scarlett asked him.
"Oh I don't like doing that, can you?"
"No please, you."
"Ok then, bye. See you Monday!" he said finally before putting down the phone.
By the time the other five got back, Scarlett was just sat upstairs reading. Uncle Jim came up
to see her.
"Hiya,"
"Oh hi, Jim. Have fun?"
"Yeah ta, so what did you get up to?" he asked "Speak to this boyfriend?" his eyes twinkling
and his eyebrows raising.
she looked at him.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"Oh, just guessed, but I take it that was true." he chuckled to himself. "So, I'm judging Mom
and Dad don't know about this mysterious boyfriend, hey."
"No."
"How do you get to see him then if they don't know about him?"
"Well, we've only been going out for, about two weeks. But I stayed out really late the other
week so I told them I'd been with friends. Except that's not a lie, cos his friends are my
friends. I just skipped facts, that's all! But they weren't too pleased when I got back.
Eventually they let it drop though. It's just gonna be hard to get away with it in future you
know."
Jim nodded.
All of a sudden Judith called up for Jim and Scarlett. They made their way to the kitchen.
"You know, you could always try the "baby sitting" technique, that would work." he commented
as they walked down the stairs. Scarlett thought about it. "You know, he wants you to baby sit
so you have to stay out late tonight!" That could work pretty well, she though, thanks
Uncle Jim, things are gonna be alot easier now.
After a drink of tea and a little discussion she went back to her room to go to bed. She
was so pleased with the baby sitting idea. No more ridiculous excuses now! And more Mike!
