Ahead of the Darkness Page 10

“Well, no. There are a few different circles. You just happened to have involved yourself in the biggest one. How are you liking the job?”

  “It’s okay. There isn’t a lot of choice around here, and I’ve worked in bar before, so it’s easy enough.”

  “That is true, not a lot of choice for someone your age. What do you have planned for today, then?” Anne places my tea in front of me, and seated herself on the other side of the island bench.

  “I’m not really sure. What does one do here?” I hadn’t seen anything of interest other than the gym, which I currently couldn’t attend.

  “When the weather isn’t so bleak, the water is rather pleasant.” Pass. I wrinkled my nose and she smiled. “There is a local picture theatre at the other end of town, and also a library if you like to read.” I smiled and finished off my tea. “How about I drop you off on my way?”

  “Oh. I can walk, the fresh air will do me some good, I think. Thank you for the tea.” I smiled, and left Anne to finish hers.

  The library became my new favourite place to waste away the day. It wasn’t very big, but I’d found a little corner I could occupy for a few hours undisturbed. There was also a cosy coffee shop a few doors down. It wasn’t as good as Maria’s, but I was less likely to run into Drew, and that made it infinitesimally better. I spent most of, if not all, my free time there over the week as I continued to avoid Drew outside of work and, consequently, the gym.

  Work. I wished I didn’t have to go to the stupid club and considered getting a new job, only briefly. The nights had been uneventful so I put up with having to see Drew every night. Funnily enough, Mac seemed to leave me alone, mostly, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because Drew did the same thing. He was always polite, of course, but that in itself I felt was out of character and frustrated me more. He didn’t seem to go out of his way to avoid me, he just hadn’t been his normally playful self—not with me, at least. Jules, on the other hand, took it upon himself to make up for it, going out of his way to try and make me laugh. He seemed more than willing to make up for Drew’s lack of presence around the club, but he fell short. The end of the week came and he still hadn’t managed to make me laugh, only eliciting the occasional eye roll.

  “Mi, you need a little fun. Say, what are ya up to the morrow then?”

  “I, ah, what?” I was a little thrown.

  “A few of us are going to the beach. Ya should come?”

  “Tomorrow? Won’t it be too cold” I couldn’t swim, but I wasn’t about to tell Jules that.

  “Nah, it'll be twenty-three tomorrow, that's almost summer weather.” He laughed. “Well, at the moment it's just my sister, Georgie, and her boyfriend. We could make it a double date.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

  Drew inadvertently saved me. “What's this, then? Ye all going to the beach without me?” We turned to see Drew standing in the doorway of his office, and I couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d been watching the exchange between Jules and I.

  “Like you'd let me get Mia half naked without ya. I was just waiting for you. Keen, then?” Drew looked at me with a raise of his eyebrow. What did that mean?

  “It's settled. See ya all after lunch. Oh, and bring some bevvies.” He walked off, muttering about needing a date. I turned in time to catch Drew's smirk of satisfaction and frowned at him.

  “Right, best get the cozzy out, then.”

  “What was that about?”

  “I’ve nae idea what ye’re talking about.”

  “Don’t play daft. It doesn’t suit you.” He chuckled lightly.

  “He fancies ye, like.”

  “Jules? No he doesn’t, he’s just friendly. Friendlier than most.” He didn’t seem to notice the implication.

  “Aye, too friendly. He knows the policy, mind.”

  “Your policy?”

  “Aye, well, no. The club’s policy.”

  “Oh, so it’s the club’s policy now? So, by the club’s policy, Jules can’t be friendly with me, but you can take me to lunch, which ended up being completely non work-related, and pretend I was your ‘girl’?” Not to mention the shower/towel incident, not that I’d been thinking about that all week ...

  “Aye, that was for the wee lad’s benefit. Ye were getting his hopes up for naught.”

  “You’re barking mad. That’s some hypocrisy, right there.”

  “I’m the boss.” He shrugged as if to say what are you going to do about it? “I’ll pick ye up around noon, then?”

  “What? Why?”

  “For the beach. Ye cannae back out now. Jules will be right disappointed.” I couldn’t work out why he was being so, busy.

  “I’m not going.”

  “Ye just told Jules you were.”

  “I did no such thing. I don’t even own any bathers, and your double standards are giving me whiplash. I’ll be in no fit state to swim.”

  “What do ye mean, ye don't own any?”

  “I lived inland. I didn't swim.” Much. At all. Ever ...

  “Ye cannae swim?”

  “Yes. Well, no.” Damn it.

  “Aye, well, we’ll have to do something about that, then.”

  “I'll just sit on the beach and, ah, sunbathe. Wait, I’m not going.”

  “Aye, ye could, but Jules would pick ye up and throw ye in, fully-clothed and all. The wee prick.”

  “Even more reason not to go.”

  “I’ll pick ye up and take you early, teach ye how to swim. It's not hard, like. Just wear shorts and a T-shirt. Then, I'll drop ye off so ye can shop for some swimmers. Problem solved.”

  “I’m not going.”

  “Aye, ye are. I cannae go by myself now.”

  “We can’t go together.” What the hell?

  “I’m just picking ye up. Ye don’t drive, remember?”

  “No, I’ll just meet you there.”

  “No, I’ll pick ye up. Ye do remember yer address, aye?” Son of a ...

  “Real funny. What time, Drew?”

  “Let's see, ye’ll need some beauty sleep, so how bout eight o'clock?” I might just drown him.

  “Fine,” I spat out. I chewed my bottom lip while I scribbled down the address on a scrap of paper and handed it to Drew. “Don't be late.” I walked out of the staffroom.

  “Cannae wait,” Drew yelled through the open door. I gave him a backward dismissive wave as he watched me leave. I was quietly dreading the morning to come.

  ~~~~~~

  The clock read 7:47am, and I couldn't sit still. I had been pacing for the last twenty minutes and had hardly slept at all the night before, trying to decide what to wear, or how to cancel. I put it down to a mix of excitement and utter terror at getting in the water with Drew. Not to mention it would be bloody freezing.

  I settled on wearing tight boy shorts and a tank top, quickly covering them up with my hoodie and sweats. It was too bloody cold, but they were the only things I could think to wear that wouldn't drag me under. Still, all I was really concerned about was what if I really couldn't swim? I could drown, and then, then what? Drew would have to give me mouth-to-mouth? The thought made me pause, and a small smile broke out on my face.

  I had been lost in the fantasy of Drew's lips bringing me back to life when a soft rumbling sound shattered it. It increased in volume slightly, but stopped instantly outside Anne's house. Oh, God! I checked my phone for the time just as it changed to 8:00am, and rushed to the front door. I opened it and there was Drew, standing in one of those hoodied leather jackets and jeans. One hand was raised at the ready to knock, the other holding a helmet.

  “Oh, no.”

  “Good morning to ye, too. I’m not late, so what's got yer knickers in a bunch, now?”

  “Let’s not talk about my knickers, shall we?”

  “If you insist. Come on then, let's get a move on.”

  “I am not getting on that.”

  “On what? My bike? Ye cannae be serious, like.”

  “I don't even like getting in cars, and you're tr
ying to convince me to get on the back of your bike with you? You cannae be serious. You don’t even have a spare helmet.”

  “I dinnae have time to get a spare. For now ye can wear mine, and I’ll get a spare for next time.” I scoffed at the next time.

  “Ye dinnae swim, ye dinnae drive, and ye willnae ride on my bike?” I looked at him expectantly, waiting for the point. “Ye don't live at all. Stop faffing about, and let’s get a move on. Yer being daft.”

  “Did you just call me stupid because I don't want to get on a death wagon?”

  “Aye, yer being a right daft cow. Now put this on before I put it on ye.” He handed me his helmet and I stood there, flabbergasted, not moving fast enough. Drew grabbed my hand, tugging me towards the motorbike. He threw his leg over and settled on, kick-started it and waited for me. I took the outstretched helmet and put it roughly on my head. Damn him.

  “How ...”

  “Aye, woman. Just throw ye leg over like I did, and we’ll be on our way.”

  I tentatively tried to swing my leg over without holding on to Drew, but failed miserably, over swinging my leg, I almost missed completely. I gripped on to his shoulder so I didn’t fall on my arse. Drew helped steady me with one hand while I swung my leg over a second time and sat as far away from Drew on the vibrating bike as I could.

  My heart raced a million miles per minute. Drew let go of the handlebars and put his hands behind my knees. Gripping them tight, he pulled. I slid in tightly behind him with a small gasp. His chest vibrated with his laughed as he placed my trembling hands securely around his middle. He left his hands on mine and stroked them softly until they stilled. It was the first time in more than a week we’d been even remotely that close, and I was furious with myself that I’d missed his scent and his touch.

  “Aye, now that's better. Hold on tight. Ye dinnae want to fall off the back, mind.” I squeezed him even tighter as he revved the engine again and drove off, his laughter lost on the wind.

  I should have enjoyed being pressed so close to Drew for twenty minutes straight. I would have, if I hadn’t been a bundle of nerves the whole time. I worked myself into a complete frenzy, my whole body shaking by the time I got off the bike. We hadn’t even gotten near the freezing water yet. I couldn’t do this, I told myself, it’s crazy and I’m going to drown, but then I saw Drew’s reassuring face, and I stupidly took his outstretched hand. Damn that handsome face ...

  He dumped our stuff on the sand and started to strip off his outer clothes. I watched as Drew removed his shoes, then pulled his jacket and shirt over his head in one go, but I quickly looked away before he saw me. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. A half-naked wet Scot? Yeah, it could be worse. I chewed on my lip, remembering the fully-naked Scot I’d seen only the week earlier. Sure, it was brief, but that wasn’t something you forgot easily.

  I distractedly removed my hoodie and shoes, taking them off slower than normal. I felt Drew's eyes on me, but when I turned, he looked instantly away. I smiled, quickly removing the last shoe.

  “Ready?”

  “As much as I ever will be. Just don't take advantage of me while I'm wet and venerable. I know where you live.”

  “Come on, then.” He chuckled and took my hand, headed for the waterline. I gripped Drew’s hand tighter when the water reached my thighs and he gentle squeezed back. “I've got ye. We’ll make it fun ... play a little game.”

  “W ... what did you say?” A sick sense of déjà vu had my muscles locking up, and my vision began to blur.

  “Mia?” I tried to pull my hand free as I desperately tried to focus.

  “Amelia, are you listening? We're going to play a game”

  “What game, Papa?”

  “Let's show Maman how long you can hold your breath.” I clapped enthusiastically, jumping up and down on the spot

  “Oh, I like games. How do we do that?”

  “Like this, take a huge breath in.” He breathed in deep, puffing out his chest, and in a strained voice he spoke again. “And hold it. Don't breathe in or out for as long as possible. Now you try.”

  I excitedly sucked in as much air as my little lungs could hold. My cheeks puffed out with the effort, and I laughed at the game, expelling all the air. Papa's eyes darkened.

  “Now, we do it underwater.” And I was under, my head roughly pushed below the surface before I could take a breath in.

  I started to panic, thrashing as what little air in my lungs came rushing out of my mouth and was quickly replaced with salty water.

  I can't breathe, I can't breathe. The water burns. My eyes are stinging ... Please, Papa, let me up. I don't want to play anymore. I screamed in my head, afraid to open my mouth for fear of swallowing more yucky water.

  The water continued to burn my eyes, and black dots clouded my vision. In the distance I could faintly hear noises. Voices, yes, it was voices. Loud, jumbled voices. One voice was getting louder and louder. Screaming ... What was it screaming? My eyes were getting so heavy, and I couldn't feel my legs anymore. Was I still kicking?

  “Amelia!” Hmm?

  The burning in my lungs slowly faded, and I felt sleepy, so sleepy. I was tired ... I ... I'll just ... rest, for a little while ...

  “Amelia!” Maman?

  “Mia?” Mia?

  “What?” I blinked a few times as my eyes refocused and found Drew’s gentle gaze. His warm hands held my face as his eyes flicked back and forth between mine. I pulled free and took a deep breath, the salt air clearing some of the haze. It was a dream?

  “Hey. Where did ye go? I was talking to ye, and then all of a sudden, ye just ... stopped. For a minute ... I thought I'd have to give ye mouth to mouth,” he said with an uneasy grin. I was still a little unsure of what had happened.

  “I ... gee, don't looks so disappointed. If you're so desperate to kiss me, go on. Get it over with so we can get out of the water. I'm not drowning just so you can kiss me.”

  He laughed, as much as he looked like he didn't want to. I smiled weakly, desperately trying to suppress the shudder that kept trying to break free, and hoping I deflected well enough. I just wanted out of the water, but Drew's squared his shoulders, looking resolved.

  “Ye aren't giving up that easy. If it's the last thing I do, ye gonna learn to swim.” Well, damn it.

  “Fine.” We went a little deeper, the water now up to our midriffs.

  “Let's try the breathing, alright?”

  “I know how to breathe, Drew. In my nose, and out my mouth.” I demonstrated to prove my point, and inwardly cringed at how snarky I sounded, even to myself.

  “Aye, but ye don't wanna be doing that in the water, mind. Ye'll breathe it in.”

  “No shit, Sherlock.” I couldn’t seem to stop being a bitch.

  “Smack talking doesnae suit ye. Now hold ye tongue or I'll bite it.”

  “We both know that's an empty threat.” My heart rate spiked at the thought ... and he looked tempted to prove me wrong.

  “Take a deep breath,” he moved on without comment, “duck ye head under the water, and exhale through ye nose. When ye run outta air, pop ye head back up.” I bit my lip and nodded, but I was less than confident.

  “But, what if, what if the water goes up my nose?” I whispered. I sounded like a small child, but I was too panicked to care.

  “Hold ye nose, love. Like this.” He pinched his nose and dropped under. It was silly, but I gasped. A second later he reappeared, shaking his head like a dog, spraying water all over me. I smiled as I tried to hide from the spray. He seemed to know just how to diffuse me. It was bizarre, to say the least, but I was a little grateful.

  “Yer turn. Do you need me to hold ye hand?” And sweet Drew was gone. He was back to his usual self.

  I scoffed at that offer. “No.” But it might have been nice.

  “One. Two.” I pinched my nose, and my pulse beat a million miles per minute. “Three!”

  And I was under.

  Oh God, oh God, breathe, no, don't breathe, just .
.. don't breathe.

  So I counted. I counted to ten and that was enough. I broke the surface, and gasped for breathe.

  “Ye did good. Just next time, breathe first, aye?” Oh, yeah.

  “Yeah, okay. Now what?”

  “Now ye try holding yer breath for longer.”

  “Really?”

  “Aye. The fun comes later.”

  I raised an eyebrow. The boys had clearly started to rub off on me. He smirked in return.

  “How long can you hold your breath?”

  “A while. Why? Ye want to challenge me?”

  Do I? “Always.”

  He smiled, and shook his head.

  “One. Don't forget to take a deep breath in. Three!” I sucked a huge breath in and we ducked under the cool water.

  I watched a little in awe as tiny bibles left Drew's nose. His hair sort of hovered in the water. He looked so beautiful that I found it easier to be still, just staring at him. He wiggled his eyebrows at me and it took all my strength not to laugh, expelling all my air. I did, however, poke my tongue out at him. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do, as when I pulled it back in, it tasted like manky seawater, and I wrinkled my face up in disgust. Surprisingly, I still managed to hold the little breath I had left in. Drew, however, lost all control at my tongue poking or face pulling, I wasn’t sure which, probably both. He laughed heartily, expelling all his air in a great, big, gust, and had to go back up. I broke the surface to hear Drew coughing and spluttering.

  “Ha! I won.” I’d be lying if it didn’t give me a little satisfaction that I sort-of won, by default but a win all the same.

  “Ye’re a pisser. And ye didn’t win, ye cheated.”

  “Oh, and you weren’t trying to cheat by wiggling your eyebrows at me? All’s fair in love and war, baby!”

  “Which are we?” he asked softly, and my heart stuttered.

  “Ah ... definitely war.” I tried to defuse the moment with a giant splash to his face.

  “Oh, game on.” I squealed as Drew pelted me with wave after wave.

  I tried to reciprocate but gave up shortly after, and dived under the water for some reprieve. He was relentless, but he stopped the instant he saw me duck under. I stayed under a little longer, waiting for the all clear, but Drew ducked under before I could resurface. He grabbed me around the waist, lifting me up and out of the water.