CHAPTER FOUR
________
EMMA
The next day, I woke with a sudden start. Confused by my surroundings, it took me a few minutes to realise I was in Amanda’s spare bedroom. Despite the soft yellow glow coming through the curtains and the cheery colour of the walls and soft cushions, it wasn’t long before the gravity of the situation dawned on me. This was the bright new start to a bright new day.
I didn’t have much time to dwell on my insecurities because the alluring smell of coffee and bacon invaded my nostrils. I followed the scent, not really thinking about my next choice, just focused on the growling in my stomach. I raced down the stairs towards the kitchen where Amanda sat in her work uniform. She was swallowing small bites of scrambled eggs with calculated precision, separating each bit and soaking them in sauce. She was neat even when she ate. Nothing like me; I inhaled food.
“Good morning,” she said, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
“Morning,” I croaked back, my throat raspy and dry. It was in desperate need of moisture.
I downed a pint of water and spilled some on my T-shirt. Amanda frowned and handed me a paper towel to dry myself.
As she cleared the table, she asked, “What are your plans for today?”
“Not a clue. I’m not working, so I might visit my parents,” I said. The idea wasn’t that appealing though.
After thinking about it and wanting to make a start with the move, I said, “Actually, I have to organise a move. Clean the old place and hand in the keys to the estate agent.” I had just a month left on my lease, so I wouldn’t be missing out on too much money. I would see if there was a chance of them renting out sooner rather than later to try to get some money back if I could.
Cleaning wasn’t my favourite pastime, but the thought of emptying the flat and starting a new adventure did kind of excite me.
“I’ll help if you want,” Amanda offered.
If you needed anyone with excellent organisation skills, Amanda was your girl.
“Yes, please!” I agreed. “Meet me there after work?”
Amanda’s smile was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile back. She had lifted a ton of weight from my shoulders and given me an option to start over.
Without waiting for me to reply, she collected what she needed and shouted, “See you later. There’s a spare key under the mat,” then closed the door behind her.
I slung myself on the couch and clutched a small pale-blue cushion, hugging it.
Last night was the best laugh I’d had in a while. Friends that I hadn’t seen for ages, and admittedly had ignored over the last four months while I’d been a hermit, had shown up. They didn’t mention or ask about my moments of self-pity. It was as if nothing ever happened, and I was thankful for it.
We drank, gossiped, and sang to cheesy pop music until the early hours. Eventually, I’d passed out with exhaustion in Amanda’s spare room. My room now.
I smiled at the thought.
________
When we finally arrived home, it was dark outside. I had been packing and separating everything into unwanted and wanted items.
For whatever reason, the unwanted pile grew more than the things I was keeping. I planned to take these to the charity shop on our way back.
Thank goodness the furniture wasn’t even mine and we could leave it behind.
As soon as we returned to my new home, I sat on the couch and closed my eyes, the muscles in my back relaxing. Amanda went straight to the kitchen and made some tea.
When she came back, she huffed and nudged me.
“How much crap did you have in that flat?” Amanda asked as she handed me a mug and picked up the remote control.
“So much rubbish, I couldn’t think it was possible. I think the poor woman from the British Heart Foundation will agree with you,” I replied.
Amanda burst out laughing. “Her face was priceless! She almost had a heart attack.” I snorted at the irony. Still holding the remote, Amanda sat beside me and suggested, “Do you want to watch a film?”
“Yeah, why not,” I replied and then took a sip of hot tea.
Amanda asked, “Do you want something to eat?”
As soon as she said that, my stomach gurgled in protest. We both heard it.
“Come on then, let’s get stuff from the kitchen.”
She stood up and I followed, carrying the mug.
Armed with ice cream, and every other single snack Amanda’s cupboards held, we sat to watch the film.
“What is it about?” I asked, as I grabbed a handful of popcorn and tried not to drop any.
“You aren’t one of those people that talk all the way through the film, are you?” Amanda asked, already popping the top of the Häagen-Dazs, holding the spoon like a weapon.
“No, but at least tell me who’s in it.” I smiled.
Only Amanda could threaten me with a dessert spoon.
“James McNair and that other whose name I can’t remember,” Amanda replied.
She crossed her legs and placed the ice cream tub on top of them.
That’s when his face came on screen, with the same blue eyes I remembered.
“Oh God, he’s so yummy,” she muttered while licking cookies and cream off her spoon.
“The ice cream or the actor?” I said, watching her. She was holding the tub like a baby, not letting me use my spoon to get some.
She took her time to answer. Either she didn’t know herself or she was just savouring the flavour of the ice cream.
“Both,” she said with her mouth full. “I would lick the ice cream off him.”
“You dirty little minx.” I threw a cushion at her.
“Come on, Emma. You can’t tell me you would kick him off your bed. Look at him. He’s delicious!”
This time the spoon was safely tucked inside the pot while she pointed at the screen.
I stared at it. At that precise moment, he was taking a wet shirt off, revealing an amazing, sculpted six-pack. He did look delicious and, for whatever reason, he made me feel guilty for appreciating the scene.
“He didn’t always look like that,” I said, looking away from James and taking the ice cream off her. I needed a sugar fix.
“What do you mean?”
“Well….” I tried to find the correct words. “He was a scrawny kid, glasses…. You get the picture,” I answered, the creamy sweetness melting in my mouth.
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read in magazines,” she said, this time cradling a bowl of crisps.
“I didn’t read it. He went to my school. He was my next-door neighbour.”
After a quick glance at her face, I couldn’t help but laugh. Her mouth was wide open and her eyes were practically bugged out of their sockets.
She snorted. “I don’t believe you.”
“I swear it’s true, on my life. I still have pictures in my mum’s attic. I’ll bring them over so you can see them.”