Love Again

THIS IS JUST A SHORT SNIPPET OF MY FULL BOOK. READ AND ENJOY. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND VIEWS I AM VERY MUCH OPEN TO THEM

ORIGINAL SCRIPT BY ASTRID O'BRIEN

 Cathy

I cursed under my breath as I made a spelling mistake for the fourth time. Heads turned towards me to see who had made the noise in the silence. I quickly looked down to my laptop, even though the words on the screen were not remotely interesting. The Manager quickly made his way into the pale room in a fluster and then started a speech about about the company's profits and downturns. Tani stared at the Manager with the same glass-eyed look we had adapted at business school, it meant pretend-you're-interested-when-actually-you're-not. My mind wandered to my dreamland where Hugh (my husband) stood [with the kids] waiting for me. They were waving and laughing. I felt immediately grumpy and guilty that I couldn't join them. but I sighed then slowly filtered back into reality as Mr.Selford   asked:

"A question, Mrs. Bronze?"

"No,no!" I replied, a little bit to panicky compared to my usual self.

"Then, you are all free to go" He said in his squeaky voice. I quickly packed my things then marched out in the trickle of people. 

"That was so boring!" Tani sighed as we left the meeting room.

"I know but I don't care about all that because it's not my job"

"You're right..." she paused  "how about we go to Cafe Sol?"

Cafe Sol was a chilled-out place with lounge seats, blazing fires and comfy, soft cushions thrown everywhere. The look was supposed to be set around the 1960s. The men wore leather jackets and the ladies wore pink sugar candy dresses and they skated around on baby blue roller-blades. When you are on a diet, Cafe Soul will be sure to put you off it with its yummy foods at low prices. The usual lunch-time customer were already lounging across sofas. I snuggled into my sofa as Tani looked at herself in her compact mirror.

"Tani!" Tyler [tani's waiter-boy-crush] came bounding to her at first sight.

"Hi Tyler hows life?"she was litterly bouncing on the sofa with excitement.

"Can I get you anything?" I raised my eyes at the double entendre his words.

"Yessssss!" she breathed, then shook herself and said  "Two coffees and two muffins pleassssee" she looked up with longing at the please. 

"Now" I said sharply because they were staring into each others eyes.

"Coming right up" he muttered staring at me with a look that could freeze coffee.

"You really think he likes me?" She whispered when he was gone.

"Sure" I muttered enthusiastically, but in my head I was saying it with sarcasm. 

Sure! He probably has a wife and kids at his oh-so beautiful house. NO ONE could look that handsome and not be married......at his age as well! 

"I'm back!" he sang the last word. He had two hot coffees in each hand and two chocolate muffins balanced on each arm.

"Enjoy" he said mainly to her.

"I willlll enjoy" she murmured then she blushed and looked down into her steaming coffee. When he bounced away smiling and blushing I blurted out:

"You act far too obvious" 

"I know........." she murmured dreamily. 

"HEY! HEY!" I shouted snapping my fingers in front of her eyes. "It's so not going to happen."

"You wait and see!" she said sulkily. Then she got up and walked out. My mouth dropped open and I flustered about in my head trying to remember how to close it. I groaned, then quickly paid for both of our things. Such a waste of good money!

"TANI! TANI!" I called after her as she strutted down the street.

"What?"

"II'm so sorry i didn't mean it!"

"I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOU!" she shouted in my face "just because you by chance met up with Hugh at a business meeting doesn't mean you own the world................ You are acting as if the whole wide world revolves around you!"

I was speechless. 

"HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?" I raged. "I was lucky enough to get Hugh because HE LIKES ME, no, wait, LOVES me. Nothing like Tyler who you've never even met properly you know nothing about him. He could have a wife and kids for all YOU know!"

" FOR GOOD'S SAKE CATHY JUST SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONCE  AND GIVE ME A CHANCE IN LIFE!" she shrieked then she stormed off.

                         

Chapter 2

 

I got home to crying children.

"Great just what I need" I muttered.

Hugh hugged me. He always new when I had  had a rough day. He was alway there for me.  I hugged back.

"Thanks hugh" I murmured.

"anytime honey"

" All right KIDS!" I shouted "Time to watch Barney the dinosaur!" 

Kimmy [who was 6] tugged on my coat shouting,

"DONT WANNA WATCH IT!"

i sighed then said calmly "bedtime, bath time or barney...choose 

She huffed then grumbled "barney"

Cassie [who was 3] trotted up to me and reached out her hands for me. I picked her up.

"hello darling"

"Moma!" she reached out her chubby fingers to stroke my hair.

I sat in front of the TV and watched one boring episode of barney the dinosaur.

When it was over they both were asleep so hugh and I carried them to bed.

...

Clack, click, clack. I was working on my computer.

"pssss"  Shona  my  friend's head popped beside me. "tani is dating this guy called Tyler" she paused  "They asked each other out YESTERDAY" 

I pretended to be shocked 

"REALLY?" 

"FOR REAL! Is this Tyler guy hot?" 

"Totally! She should marry him" I said sarcastically.

Someone called Shona. 

"Sorry! Ill be back in 5!" but II I knew I would not see her again today.  I sighed then plinked back down in my swivel chair.  I looked at my stomach. It was gurgling. Tani shuffled in blushing and sat  in her chair beside me. 

"Well, well, well look who it is......Tani Fletcher... I wonder where you were last night???" I mocked sarcastically "is his apartment nice???" I added innocently.

"Shut up and yhea his apartment is nice and he has no wife or kids!"

"Whats his name again Tyler ....?" 

"macadam"

I swiled round and looked up his name on google.  I scrolled down the list of suggestions until I saw  a court case with his name on it. It was labelled private. Wait, hugh used to be a lawyer maybe i could get in on his account? i logged in and typed in his password : kimmy. 

"yes!'' i whispered.

"Wow" I muttered as I read about his divorce with his late wife. She was the one who got custody of their four kids. I put on a poker face as I swirled round to Tani.

"listen I'm really sorry...." i said. "  i just wanted to protect you" with that her face softened as she said 

"So am i.," we hugged.

...

The manager once again, made his way into the meeting room.

"Good afternoon everyone, now please be seated, " he said in his familiar squeaky voice.  again he gabbled on about the company's loss in wages, which meant there would be a small pay cut for the unlucky ones. I smiled to myself because I knew it would not be me. I worked hard after all.  Yet again my mind wandered off to my dream world, but instead of Hugh with the kids it was Tyler with his skates. He shook his floppy blonde hair at me, winked then and skated off  into the clouds.  When I drifted back down to earth I found out that I was embarrassingly calling out his name. EVERYONE was staring at me. Even Tani who had her eyebrows raised at me in a mocking fashion. 

"Damn" I muttered then explained "sorry Mr.Selfridge, but I am not feeling well, I think I have a head cold," I said quickly with a fake cough to top it all off. I hastily packed my things then ran out of the room blushing. How could I have dreamt of Tyler? Tani likes Tyler not me! I tried to drop the subject out of my head. But I couldn't all I could think about was Tyler................ It was like my mind was deciding for me.  I shivered then walked out of the freshly scented reception, with my head held high. Until I smelt something that smelt between the lines of wet dog and a person who hasn't showered in weeks. 

"ew" I spluttered.

"G'Day Sheila"  the Australian homeless guy greeted. 

"Thats not my name" I snapped. A vivid flashback appeared in my head reminding my self about before I managed to get my dream job. I was squatted on  the streets with a dirty towel wrapped around me. I hadn't showered in days, my mother had seemingly disowned me because she found me sleeping with an older man. When she found out she kicked me out of the house and hasn't spoken to me since. Boy did I regret doing that. A tear sprung to my misty eyes as i thought back to those spine chilling days. i changed my tone to a softer voice, then said;

"hi"

 He smiled showing me his rows of rotting teeth. I really wanted to get sick.

I popped a five euro note in the plastic cup he held in his held.

"thank you" 

"You're welcome," I paused, smiled then walked off.

 

Chapter 3

 

Hugh stood at the door waiting for me with a grim face.

"Are you all right?" he asked. " I got a call from the office telling me that you are unwell..i was so worried"

 I shrugged, then said "i'll live"

"Mommy!!!!" Kimmy squealed.

"Hello Kimmy, Cassie did you have a good day?"

"It was AMAZING" Kimmy replied. "We went to a very big fun-fair! I got to ride on the merry-go-round!"

I felt  pang of jealousy and guilt. They were growing up with Hugh not me! Anger boiled inside me.

"Hugh I'm going to take a day off tomorrow" I said through gritted teeth.

"Sure honey" he gave me a wired face then walked back in to our house.  I watched Hugh closely as i was making dinner. Did he purposely want to make me jealous?

"alright children sit down for dinner" i called. they squealed as they saw the mushroom soup.

"yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!" they screamed in unison.

" here darlings have my dinner. He cut his favorite steak into little pieces and plopped them in there mouths' until it was finished. i gritted my teeth then grumbled:

"fine YOU can bust a gut to make dinner tomorrow... SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!" i shrieked the last bit. They all looked gobbsmaked. Then Kimmy's lower lip started to wobble. 

"oops... darling I'm sorry" she then ran sceraming crying from my arms. 

....

 

That night as I lay in bed listing to the precious silence (and Hugh breathing) all I could think about was Tyler. Tyler, Tyler,Tyler and Tyler.

"SHUT UP!" I told my brain. I silently crept out of bed to get my phone and make a cup of coffee. My alarm clock read 5:36. I grabbed my Iphone and sleepily crept downstairs. I dialled Tani's number, (I knew she would be awake because of work) as I made my cup of coffee.

"Good morning tani" I mumbled as I yawned.

"Hey" she sounded shattered. Then she giggled "stop"

'Stop what?"  I mumbled. It was too early for her games.

"Nothing" she giggled again.

"Will you tell the manager that I am sick please?" 

"Sure" she groaned. " bye then" she hung up on me.

Bleep, bleep, my phone went off to show I had a text as message. It was from Shona and it read:

"girls nite out tonight get our gd clothes on cause we are going PARTYING in club mars! whoo hoo! "

....

The pulsing lights and the bang boom of the music was just too much for me. We were at a local club. The mixture of sweat and grinding bodies was excruciating. I am too old for this, i thought grimly.

"Whoo hoo!" Shona was drunkely dancing with a 20 year old. What age did she think she was? 

"all right!!!!" the d.j screamed into a mike. "time for our dancers"

I spotted Tani before she disappered into the crowd.

"at least she still alive!" i muttered

Hunky men strolled out of a curtain to the side. The ladies all screamed. It was hard to see anything. I scanned the crowd for Shona. I recognized a face of a male hunky dancer.

"Tyler" I breathed. There he was, blindly dancing with a 15 year old. I fumbled for my phone, then quickly snapped a shot of him dancing. I grinned just as Shona strutted by. i grabbed her.

"hey" i said "lets get out of here; i'll drive you home, besides it's getting late."

"get off me gatecrasher" she half screamed and slurred. 

She wretched my hand off her arm and stalked off.

"fine then get trashed i don't care." i was about to walk out the door when brain suddenly told me:

"hey this is your chance! Go dancing with Tyler"

my legs brought me towards Tyler. 

"Hey Tyler!" i shouted. " didn't expect to see you here"

he looked surprised.

"niether, lets get a drink" 

he dragged me towards the bar. Shona was half naked behind the bar because she was flirting with the bar tender. Tyler gave her a disgusted look.

"two vodkas please" the bartender nodded and started fixing up our drinks.

"no, no thank you, but i'll just have water please" I cut in.

"oooohhh!! Cathy!! Im glad you came! Ill fix up your water" She giggled at the bar tender who winked back. i started to chat to tyler.

"Here you gooo!!" Shona slurred. I took the water before it spilled from her shaking hand.

He smiled as i looked at his washborad chest.

"will you give me a moment please?" i asked politely.

"yes sure"

I grabbed my glass and quickly searched for Tani. I found her wildily dancing with another girl. i pulled her to the side.

"hey"

"oh, its you" she didn't look too pleased.

"yhe-" i was about to ask if it was o.k if she was up for the dinner but she cut in.

"thank god! i was parched!" she grabbed my water from me and took two mouthfuls.

"it WATER" she gurguled, outraged.  She paled then sprayed it all out on the floor. "I thought it was vodka"

"No Tani, WATER!"

"stupid drink" she said drunkley.

"Have you had anything to drink Tani?"

"yhea i have! i've had LOADS mother!" she sneered. then rolled her eyes to heaven.

"whoa! whats with the attitude?"

"as if you don't know" she snapped.

"the thing is that i don't" i said carefully.

"tyler! tyler!" she mimiked me in the meeting. "I always knew you had the hots for him! ever since you got jealous, you've had it in for me.'"

i opened and closed my mouth like a dying fish. how could she?

"fine then" i said. then marched back of to Tyler to make her jealous.

i smiled my winning smile.

"why are you here?" i queried.

he looked uncomfortable.

"it is my scond job...................... i needed the money."

my heart ballooned to the size of a football. i really did like him. it was hard not too. NONONONONONONONO!!!!!!!! I will not like him!!! I'M ALREADY MARRIED!!! snap out of it!! I need him for the plan! i gulped my water nervously. 

"listen i have to go" i snapped just as his drink arrived.

"wait here is my number" he jumped up from his barstool, i grabbed him and couldn't help kissing him on the cheek as a goodbye.

i quickley left the pumping music. i spotted Shona trampling out, the bartender was off his shift so i saw them getting into his wreked car. she sloppily kissed him and attempeted to take of her bra before he zoomed off.

As i drove home I saw the police doing check points and breathalsing people. thank god i hadn't drank anything!but for some reason my eyesight was getting fuzzy. huh? i rubbed my eyes viciously just as the police pulled me in.

"hello mam', don't be alarmed! we are just doing our usual breath check" A police officer said. the world started spinning uncontroably. 

i stepped out of the car unsteadily and breathed in to the tube. 

"please wait here" he said politely he said as he delved into his car . i started to panic. My brething got shallower. 

"any problems officer?"i slurred. it felt as if i was drunk.

"no, no one second please" i waited impatienly , tapping my foot quickly. he came 

"where are you coming from Miss?"

"Mars club" i whispered

he nodded.

" 'ave you had any drinks Miss?" He winked.

"NO" I snapped.

"no? my handy breathaliser here says you've one too many."

"WHAT? I POURPOSFULLY DIDN'T TOUCH A DRINK BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS DRIVING HOME!" I  raged! how dare he? "maybe it's lying?" i added.

"nope definetly no! it has never ever lied"

"help!" i whispered as the ground rushed up to meet me.

then i remembered. when tani gabbed the drink off me she had slipped some sort of powder into it. how did i not realise!? why would she do that? i watched the ground rush up to meet me. faintly in the distance i could hear the blair of a siren. i was slipping away. it felt nice and sad at the same time. who would take  care of the kids? oh yhea hugh. there was really no need for me anymore. thats when i fell into a deep sleep that i wasn't sure i would wake up from.

...

in, out, in, out. i concentrated on my breathing. 

"shes awaking" a voice that sounded about ten miles away said faintly. i needed my mom. i really needed my mom. i missed her so much. i felt a reasuring warm tear trickle down my face.

"mom....is that...you?" i whispered.

"no honey..... your mother couldn't........make it"hugh sighed.

of course. i remember now. she disowned me.

i groaned. then fianally peeked through my lashes. four faces were staring down at me. Kimmy and Cassie cheered and gave me sloppy kisses whimpereing things like:

"mommy we missed you"

i smiled gravely up at them. i was too weak to do anything else.

"ALRIGHT GET THEM OUT OF HERE! YOU'VE HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES!" A burly looking nurse shouted. she had blotchy spots and was a bit on the podgy side.

i wanted to say to her ' leave them here please... i need the company' but number 1 i was too weak and number 2 i didn't want to argue with her. so Hugh kissed me goodbye and they reluctantly left. i had a million questions on my mind. how long had i been unconcious for? as if she read my mind she rumbled:

"you've been down for two days. you had a nasty dose of drugs that if the police officer hadn't been there you would be dead by now....... why did you take drugs sweetie?" her tone sofened at the end. personally not to be rude or anything i think that the whole softenting thing wouldn't happen.  i waw s a bit surpised.

"i dont know...

" i managed to whisper as she said:

"now i'm going too inject you with this serum. you will just go to sleep for a few hours" 

i wanted to scream: 'wait NO!' but she had already plunged the injection deep into my arm. the last thing i saw was the nurses's face bearing down at me.