“Hiya Pete,” I chirped.
“How did you know it was me?” my boyfriend Pete Quaife asked.
“Female intuition,” I replied. He laughed.
“Look, hun, you want to go out tonight?” he asked. I always wanted to go out with him!
“Course I do, but I’m washing my hair!” I joked.
“Well, what if I told you that we had to double date with Dave and his new girlfriend?” he asked.
“I’d say I’m definitely washing my hair!” I answered.
“Come on, it’s for Dave!” he pleaded.
“Peter, I don’t want to double date, I hate it! Remember when Mick took that girl out and we double dated?” I reminded him.
“Well, yeah, but…” he began.
“But nothing, I’m not doing it,” I answered firmly.
“Please?” he asked.
“No,” I replied.
“I think you already know her,” he told me.
“Do I? Who is she?” I asked.
“She’s called Emily Leitch, she works in your firm,” he replied. I racked my brains. Emily Leitch, Emily Leitch, Emily Le –
“Oh yeah, I know who you mean. Yeah she’s really nice. Okay, but just this once, and you had better make it worth my while when we get back to your flat!” I bargained with him. He laughed.
“But of course!” he agreed.
“Well then, it’s a deal. When are you picking me up?” I asked.
“Say around seven ish,” he informed me. “Dave wants us to go to the pub with him first. Dutch Courage,” he explained.
“Okay,” I agreed. That sounded just like Dave, always in need of a bit of the old Dutch. Poor thing, his nerves were a wreck, though you wouldn’t know it to look at him! “Speak to you later, sweetheart. I love you,” I smiled.
“I love you too. Bye!” he answered and then put the phone down. I sighed. I didn’t know Emily all that well but what I did know of her was that she was genuine and down to earth. So many girls wanted to date Dave just because he was in The Kinks, and it was the same with Mick, so I was glad he’d got a date with her. She seemed really nice. Pete and I had been going out together for about a year before they got their recording deal, and now it was 1966, The Kinks were a household name. I knew one day he’d ask me to marry him, but we were still young and didn’t want to be tied down. I made myself a cup of coffee and wondered what our double date would be like. ‘I hope I’ve got at least something in common with Emily…” I thought.
Part One: Sp-ev's POV
The telephone rang. I knew who it was before I answered for some strange reason.
"Hello," Dave smiled slowly. He looked down at my green silk dress and raised his eyebrows.
"Hi," I sighed back. "Do you... like it?"
"I like it lots!" he agreed enthusiastically. "And you know we're double dating, right?"
"Yeah, you told me, with Heather Burdon and Pete Quaife?"
"That's it," he replied. Dave seemed kind of shy, in a way! It was amazing. "Well, let's get on down to that pub, The Sun!"
"Sounds fab!" I nodded my head.
"You're not turning into a Beatle fan on me, are you?" Dave winked.
"Not in the slightest," I grinned as I took his hand.
Eventually we had gotten down to the pub. It looked very cozy. I loved it merely by the way it looked! Dave ordered a whiskey and I got a brandy and ginger. We sat down on the old stools and waited for Heather and Pete to come. A few moments before seven, they entered.
"Hey!" Pete greeted Dave like they hadn't seen each other in ten years. Heather and I smiled at each other. I didn't quite know her, but I heard she was a nice girl, which was very refreshing to see someone like that going out with a Kink.
"Hello, Emily," she beamed.
"Hi, Heather!" I replied. We shook hands and then started laughing. "It's so formal!"
"Well, to cease the formality, you can call me Heath."
"Great; you call me Em."
"Well she's very pretty and seems very nice, but I prefer the brunette myself," he replied. I smiled to myself. That was my Petrov!
"So, Em, when did you start working at this dump?" I asked.
"About two months ago, I moved over here from Bath about five months ago and I worked as a barmaid for three months before I got the receptionist's job," she told me.
"Oh, wow! I used to be a barmaid too!" I told her.
"Did you?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was one for about two years while I trained to be a secretary, I just got the PA's job about six months ago. Well Pete said that I didn't really need to work cos he'd support me when we got married, but we're not married yet, and even if we were, I'd still want to support myself, you know how it is," I explained.
"Yeah, I'm the same. So how long have you and Pete been dating?" she asked. I looked up to the sky in deep mathematical concentration.
"About three years now," I replied. "I think so, anyway, I'm rubbish at Maths!" I told her.
"Oh, tell me about it!" she laughed.
"Hey! Are we EVER going to get a word in edgeways?" Pete asked, wrapping his arms around my waist. "You've been talking here for half an hour, and the table's booked for five minutes ago!" he told us. I blushed.
"Sorry, the time just flew by!" I explained, getting up off my stool. Emily got up too and took hold of Dave's outstretched hand. I looked up at Pete who winked at me.
"Love you," he mouthed.
"Love you too," I whispered. I held his hand and followed him out of the door. "Pete?" I asked.
"Yes, darlin'?" he replied. I stood on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear.
"Don't tell Dave, but Emily's a Beatles fan as well! She's got a picture of George Harrison on her desk!" I giggled. He burst out laughing.
"Well, well, well..." he answered in mock severity. He smiled slowly and we caught up with them.
"Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been!" he started to sing. Emily almost without thinking sang along.
"Lives in a dream, waits at the window, wearing a face that she keeps in a j- oops," she blushed. Everyone laughed. Dave squeezed her hand tightly.
"You could be in our backing vocal band," was all he said about the Beatles song. Emily sighed and looked at me. I grinned at her reassuringly. Of course nobody really minded if she was a Beatles fan or not, it was all one big joke between us. I was glad I had another girl to share it with though, being the only one for three years had started to become a drag.
"Come off it, let's get to dinner," Heather smiled. "I mean, I don't know about you, but I'm famished!"
"Actually, yeah, I am too," Pete agreed and smiled as he hugged Heather. We all walked to a lovely little steakhouse, called The Porterhouse. I smiled. Dave knew I liked steak... how very sweet of him!
"Party of four," Dave told the waiter and the waiter showed us to our table. I could tell that this was a very classy place! I blushed a little as I sat down next to Dave. It seemed like he was putting on airs for our first date. I felt so happy! I really liked Dave a lot. Sure, it was nice that he was in The Kinks, but I think I would have liked him even if he hadn't been.
We all had a fantastic dinner, just basically chatting and laughing. I had no idea that Dave was so funny! It was just a totally fab evening. I even found a fellow Beatles fan! (Most of the people at my work were older than me and I didn't have anyone to chat with about them.) I was so happy. Heather and I really seemed to hit it off as friends! Pete was a very nice bloke as well.
"So... do you want to come back to my house?" Dave asked me with a glint in his eyes. "Pete, you and Heath can come too if you want, we can have a nice big party! I'm sure Mick's probably got someone over..."
"Mick?" Heather and I asked at the same time and then laughed.
"Why Mick?" Heather continued.
"We share a house," Dave shrugged nonchalantly.
"Oh," I said. "Well, that sounds like a fantastic idea. I'm all for it!"
"Yeah, us too!" Pete said for himself and Heather.
"Well, let's get going then!" Dave proclaimed and then he and Peter went to pay the check.
"Get me out of here NOW!" I mouthed at him.
"Are you okay?" he asked. I shook my head. I looked at Emily who also looked quite shocked.
"Do you want to go back to Pete's instead?" I asked, shakily. Emily nodded her head vigourously. She, like me, knew that there'd be no 'surprises' like that awaiting us at his house.
"What's wrong?" Dave asked.
"Dave, I think the girls are a bit nervous of what Mick's up to. I mean, I'm not too keen on the idea of having a cup of coffee down here while who knows what's going on up there. We should get going really," Pete explained.
"Oh. Okay, well I'll come too then," he decided, draping an arm around Emily and escorting her outside. "Sorry about that," he apologised to us.
"It's okay, you weren't to know!" Em reassured him.
"No but still..." I muttered. Pete looked down at me and smiled. "What?" I asked.
"Just you," he replied.
"Strange boy!" I told him, annoyed.
"I'll give you strange!" he laughed, looking over at Dave and winking.
"What?" I asked, a bit worried. Pete looked at me and wrapped his arms around me. Then I felt my feet lifting off the floor. "What are you doing, Greenie?" I asked, worried, as I locked my arms around his neck while he put one arm underneath my knees and the other around my waist and lifted me up fully. I could tell he had started running somewhere with me. "Put me down!" I pleaded. I heard Em and Dave laugh and I felt Pete snigger. "You'll never hear the end of this!" I threatened. "Put me down!" I ordered.
"Okay, you asked for it!" he replied and then I thought I'd started to fly. When I landed in a prickly bush I knew what he'd done. I scrambled out as quickly as I could, getting more and more needles in my hands the harder I tried not to hurt myself. Finally, I came out, humbled and far worse for wear.
"You..." I began, glaring at him, yet unable to control my giggles. "Idiot!" I guffawed. I fell on the floor laughing, and had to be helped up by Pete. "I'm sorry!" I laughed.
"Well, don't do it again!" he reprimanded me, wrapping his arms around me. "Did I hurt you?" he asked, concerned. I pointed out the small cuts on my hands and he kissed them all gently. "Sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay, but I expect a large brandy when I get back to yours!" I answered. "Come on!" Emily looked at me. "What?" I asked.
"You're truly insane," she told me. I burst out laughing.
"I know!" I replied.
"Think of what poor Pete has to put up with!" Dave joked.
I wouldn't have it any other way," Pete assured me.
"I know!" I repeated. I took hold of his hand and we carried on back to his house
"Hmm,"
I was mildly surprised when Pete did remark, "Young love!" and smiled knowingly.
"Come off it, just cos you're about three years older than me and Em are doesn't necessarily make us 'young love,'" Dave half-scoffed.
"Sure it does!" laughed Pete as he sat down on the other couch with Heather again. "Being born 27th December, '43 and 3rd June, '44 is better and wiser than being born 3rd February, '47 and... when's your birthday, Em?"
"18th July, '47," I answered, nodding.
"See? We're older and wiser," Pete finished.
"Maybe older, but not wiser!" Heather giggled. Then she and Pete went to get coffee for the four of us.
"Ah, don't listen to him!" chuckled Dave. "Besides, you've got me..."
"Yeah, Dave. Have I really got you?" I asked with a wink. It took a second to sink in, but then Dave smiled widely.
"Girl, you really got me now, you got me so I can't sleep at night!" he sang, kissing each of my fingers.
"Sorry," Emily coughed, jumping three feet away from Dave.
"Ah, shut it, you're just jealous!" he told me, pulling his tongue out at me.
"I am not! Fine, then," I answered, turning to Pete.
"What?" he asked.
"I guess if you can't beat 'em, you may as well join 'em!" I giggled, kissing him.
"That's what I love about you, you're always full of good ideas," he smiled.
We were sat up until about 2:30 a.m. chatting and laughing, until Pete started yawning.
"Ooh, I'm tired. I might go to bed, you lot can stay here if you want," he told us, glancing at me with a look only I would catch onto.
"Oh, well, we'll go then," Emily answered like a little angel.
"Yeah, come on, I'll walk you home," Dave offered.
"Well, no taking her to any bus shelters, I know what you're like, Davies!" I joked. He raised his eyebrows at me and I laughed.
"Come on now," he began, and Emily burst out laughing. He looked at her and then got the joke.
"Well, it's gettin' late an' we'd better go!" she sang. I nodded.
"Yeah!" I giggled. "Are you in work later on?"
"Well, no, it's Sunday..." she began.
"So it is!" I agreed, rolling my eyes. "It's my age..." I explained with a wink.
"Anyway, see you Monday, okay?" she answered, being dragged out of the door by Dave, who was being pushed out of the door by Pete.
"Yeah, see you then, bye!" I called through the crack in the door as Peter shut it and locked it. He turned to me and sighed.
"Hm,
"Oh, come here, I've been wanting to do this ALL NIGHT!" I told him, grabbing hold of him by the front of his jumper and pulling him towards me.
"Ooh, this looks promising!" he began. I reached a hand up and brushed an eyelash away from his cheek.
"It's been annoying me all night," I explained. He laughed.
"Nothing else you wanted?" he asked. I shrugged.
"Like what?" I asked. He kissed me. "Oh, like that? Yeah, sounds nice!"
"I love it when you say that," he giggled, kissing me again.
"Hmm
Dave's eyes lit up as if I'd spoken magic words. "Sure, I'd be glad to!
"Oh, well, let's see... I just bought a new record that I love and maybe you'd want to listen to..."
"Put it in, then!" he smirked at me as I got up and got a record out from my collection. I hid it so Dave couldn't see what it was. He tried to peek over my shoulders and see what I was hiding.
"No no no, you'll hear in a second!" I scolded him as he rolled his eyes playfully and sat down on the couch again. "Well, actually, the album is a little un-new... but I think you'll like it nonetheless!" I grinned.
I put the needle down and sat next to Dave. He held me as we waited for the music to start. The familiar riff and rhythm of "Milk
"I'm not all that clever," I laughed.
"Oh, but you ARE!" Dave told me. We sat there, listened and kissed all throughout the duration of the album. "Come on now... well, it IS getting late, but I don't want to go... that is, unless you want me to."
"Please stay," I replied.
"I'll sleep on the couch."
"If you must."
"Yeah."
"Morning," I murmured sleepily.
"You're awake?" he asked.
"No, just talking in my sleep," I replied. He laughed and that woke me up completely because I had lain my head on his chest and his whole body moved when he laughed. "Don't do that!" I complained, sitting up.
"Why, what're you going to do about it?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at me.
"I'll think of something, don't you worry," I promised with a smile. "I wonder how Dave and Emily got on without us," I thought aloud.
"If I know Davies, which I do, she'll be waking up in his room about now!" he joked. I scowled.
"Don't talk like that, it's obscene!" I reprimanded him.
"Why? You woke up in my room!" he pointed out.
"Yeah well we've been going out together for three years, it's expected. And I bet people don't talk about us like that when we're not there!" I argued. "Plus the fact I know where I'd rather be," I continued, grinning at him.
"I love you!" he told me for at least the thousandth time that week.
"You've mentioned," I replied. "Good job I love you too, isn't it?" I asked.
"Very," he agreed, kissing me. "Heath?" he asked, looking at me straight in the eye.
"Yeah?" I replied, looking back at him. He paused. "What?" I asked.
"You know, you know we both agreed we were too young to settle down?" he asked, nervously.
"Yeah, I remember," I answered. "What about it?"
"Well that was about six months ago now, and I feel as though we've both grown up quite a lot in that time. I mean, we spend all our spare time together, we practically live in each other's houses, we've started acting a lot more like an old married couple than we used to," he explained.
"Pete, what are you getting at?" I asked.
"What I'm trying to say, well, what I'm trying to ask you is, would you marry me, darlin'?" he asked. I gulped.
"I -" I began, shocked. "I hadn't thought about it," I spluttered.
"Is that a 'no' then?" he asked, sadly. I looked up at him and kissed him.
"It's a 'yes'," I replied. His face lit up.
"Yes?" he repeated. I nodded.
"I can't think of anything I would rather call myself for the rest of my life than Mrs Heather Quaife," I told him, truthfully. He kissed me so hard I thought he'd break my jaw! Although to be honest I don't think either of us cared, we were so happy.
"I love you SO much, Heath, and I'm going to love you forever now!" he giggled happily.
"I love you too, Pete," I replied. "Oh shit!" I realised.
"What?" he asked.
"I'll have to nip back home, I forgot to let the cat out last night," I told him. "I'll be ten minutes, don't worry!" I smiled, jumping out of bed and getting dressed quickly.
"Don't be any longer," he made me promise. I looked at him and winked.
"Come on, show me to the door like a gentleman," I requested. He got out of bed, put on a pair of boxer shorts and came over to me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me.
"Heather Quaife, it sounds beautiful, just like you," he told me. I blushed.
"Come on, I've got to go," I changed the subject hurriedly, going downstairs. He opened the front door and I went outside. "See you in ten minutes!" I promised, turning and waving to him.
"Bye," he began. I went into my own little world as I stepped off the pavement. I heard him yelling at me but it took me a while to cotton on that he was trying to catch my attention. "HEATHER!" he screamed.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"CAR!" was all he could answer as he ran down his front path, still in his boxers.
"Huh?" I asked, turning around. I saw a car two yards in front of me and froze in fear. All I heard was the screeching of brakes and Pete's strangled scream of "NO!" before the lights went out.
"What is it, love?" he queried with a yawn. He reached up and pulled me onto the couch with him.
"I dunno, I've just got a really weird feeling inside," I told him honestly.
"Maybe you need a kiss," Dave suggested and held me in a tight embrace as he did what he thought was a good cure. "How do you feel now?"
"Not that it wasn't lovely, cos it really was, but I still feel worried," I replied. Dave rubbed my back.
"Would you care to tell me what it is?"
"I don't know, really. I'm not sure. But... I don't know."
All of a sudden, the phone rang. "I'll get it," Dave volunteered.
"Dave, it might be my mum! That wouldn't be good! I'll get it," I said firmly. "Hello?" I questioned as soon as I picked up the phone.
"Emily? Oh thank GOD you're here! I tried to call Dave's house but I got no answer so I called here!" It was Pete, obviously in a very distressed state.
"Pete? What's the matter? What's happened?!" I shouted at him.
"It's Heath," he sobbed. "She's... I just called an ambulance, she was going to go back home and let the cat out! She, she got hit, oh God Em! She's... can I talk to Dave?"
"Of course!" I yelped, thrusting the phone into Dave's hands. "It's Pete, Heather's..." I couldn't finish my sentence. I wasn't exactly sure what had happened to Heather but it sure didn't look like like it was good. Dave gave me a worried look and then talked into the phone.
"Pete, what's wrong with you, man?" he asked. Then his face went very pale as he listened to everything Peter said. "Sure. Sure. Of course, yeah. Definitely! Oh yes, yes. We'll be over in an instant. What? Oh... where will they take her? Central Middlesex? Alright, we'll be there in an instant! Right. Okay. Right. Goodbye." Dave hung up the phone and turned to me. "Get dressed, quickly! We've got to go to Central Middlesex Hospital. Heath was hit by a car and we've got to go and see her, cos they're bringing her there!"
"Pete?" I whispered after about five minutes of trying to talk. He jumped out of his skin.
"Oh my god, oh Heath, I tried calling you but you couldn't, and I saw it hit you and... oh Heath, I love you, don't die on me, sweetheart, you can't die on me, please, I love you!" he begged, tears streaming down his face. I didn't understand a word of it.
"What happened? Where's Odzy?" I asked, trying to sit up or at least move but I couldn't. "Ah SHITE!" I screamed in pain, then I started to cry.
"Oh sweetheart, don't cry, please, I hate to see you like this," he told me. He was a wreck, neither use nor ornament. "The bloody cat is at your house. You tried to cross the road to get to it when a car hit you, and it just carried on going. We brought you to Central Middlesex Hospital, you've been here for two weeks," he told me.
"Who fed Odzy?" I asked.
"I did, darling, I did," he assured me. I smiled.
"Good," I murmured. "Pete?" I asked, suddenly panicking.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I can't feel my legs, babe," I told him, nervously.
"Don't worry, I'll do that for you," he tried to joke. I looked up at him.
"Seriously, Pete," I answered. "I've no feeling in my legs." He shook his head.
"No," he answered. "No, don't say that, don't, NO! You can't, this can't happen to you, no, I won't let it! You're going to be okay, I don't care what I have to do but you are NOT going to do this to me, Heath, you're going to bloody well walk out of here!
"Please can you calm down, Pete, you're scaring me," I pleaded. He looked at me and wiped a hand across his face.
"I'm sorry, darling," he answered, sitting next to me and taking hold of my hand. "Look, I'll just go out and tell the others you've finally come round. Ray and Mick are here as well. Emily's stayed with you all the time, she's been great, really. She's such a good friend to you, Heath, I don't know how I would've coped without her," he told me. I smiled weakly.
"She's a nice girl. Good for Davies," I murmured. I shut my eyes and felt myself drifting off to sleep.
"Heath? Heath, wake up, HEATHER!" Pete called. I couldn't open my eyes but I could feel beads of sweat falling down my face, even though I was freezing cold. I blacked out.
"Where's Pete?" I asked, so worried I thought my head would burst.
"Probably still in with Heath," Mick remarked quietly.
"Don't worry, love... Maybe she's woken up!" Dave reassured me. We'd only been going out for two weeks but, wow, it felt like the longest time. I think I loved him.
"Dave, I've never been so worried!" I told him and wrung my hands. He gently stroked my hair and whispered soothing words into my ear. Suddenly Peter dashed out and talked to us.
"She woke up for a little bit but she's just fallen back," he said in a deeply saddened tone. "You guys wanna come in too? She may wake up again..."
"Yes, I'd love to," I told him, jumping up.
"Where Emily goes, I go," Dave agreed.
"Sure, I want to see her," Ray said quietly. It seemed like he always kept his feelings to himself, and he certainly wasn't going to let anyone know how much he cared this time.
"I want to see her," Mick added. He was obviously a man of very few words, but when he spoke, he got his point across.
"Well, let's all go in, then," Pete replied to us all and led us into Heather's room.
She was lying there, on the bed, looking as though she were asleep. I knew that she wasn't just sleeping, though, and I felt a wave of emotion overcome me. I quietly sobbed into Dave's shoulder. He just held me close and we walked up to her bed. "Heather, it's me," I managed to whisper. No response. "Please don't die, Heath. Please don't. I couldn't take it," I told her. Dave nodded.
"I couldn't either," he murmured.
"Please wake up," she begged. "Come on, we've just made friends, I don't know what I'd do without you," she wept.
"I'll be fine, I promise!" I tried to tell her, but couldn't open my mouth.
"Dave, please can you take Emily out of here, it's obviously too upsetting for her," Pete asked.
"No, I'm fine, honestly," Emily tried to tell him.
"Em, you're not doing Pete any favours like this. Come with me to get some coffee," I heard Dave tell her.
"Okay. Heath? Just, please, for me and Pete, please wake up," she pleaded. I fought with my eyelids to open but they wouldn't. 'Come ON, dammit, open. TALK TO SOMEONE, say SOMETHING!' I screamed at myself. I burst into tears, well, I would have done had I been capable of. I was trapped in a useless body, and it was breaking my fiancé's heart.
"PETE!" I very finally managed to yell. The yell came out as a hoarse whisper.
"What is it?" he asked, grabbing hold of my hand.
"I love you," I mouthed. I heard him laugh with relief.
"Open your eyes and I'll believe you," he told me. I tried to. I tried so hard I got a headache, but I couldn't. In the end I got so tired I gave up.
"Tell Emily," I whispered with much effort. "I'll be fine."
"I'll tell her. Ray and Mick are here," he told me. "Ray, say something," he pleaded with him. I heard Ray clear his throat.
"Look, Heath, Pete's a wreck without you. He misses you like crazy. You have to come back, just for him, if for nobody else," he told me. He leaned over me and whispered in my ear, "I need you to come back."
"Pete? Pete, I think I saw her eyes flickering," Mick told him, urgently.
"Heath?" Pete asked. Mick sighed.
"Come on, love, open your eyes!" Mick begged. I won my fight against my
"What have I done to you, Pete?" I wept.
"Nothing, darling," he assured me.
Just then, Emily and Dave came back in to find me far more active than I had been five minutes ago. Emily wasn't sure how to handle it, but smiled so widely I thought her face would get cramp in it!
"You're back!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"Heath," I gasped, near tears. I rushed to her bedside and saw her give a weak smile.
"I'll be okay," she told me. It was odd, in a way--I had not known her for a long time at all, but I felt as if she were a long-lost sister or something. "Don't worry about me," Heather whispered. Peter squeezed her hand tightly.
"It's hard not to," he remarked, "but we'll do it for you, Heath."
On the other side of the room, I thought that I saw Ray wink at Heather. I thought about this for a second, and decided that Ray had probably just had something in his eye. I could never be certain, though. "We'll be by your side for however long it takes, Heath. No matter what," he pledged.
"Thank you," Heather barely mouthed.
Dave made his way over to me and stroked my side. "You know you mean a lot to all of us," he made his thoughts clear to Heather.
It seemed as though she would respond but unfortunately she had drifted off once again.
I sat on my bed, writing a story and singing Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight? while Pete went to get us a cup of tea, when my peace was interrupted.
"Hiya, love!" a cheery voice called. I looked at the doorway and Ray was stood there with a bunch of flowers.
"Raymond Douglas Davies!" I declared happily. "How are you?" I inquired, motioning for him to come and sit next to me. He did.
"Fine thanks, you?" he returned my question, handing me the flowers. "These are for you, didn't know which ones you liked best, so I guessed!" he explained. I tried to look enthusiastic at the bunch of I-don't-know-whats, but I may have failed. Pete would never have bought me flowers, he knew I didn't understand the point in giving and receiving them. Well, Ray wasn't to know that, was he? It was so kind of him to think of me anyway!
"Thanks, Ray," I replied genuinley, smiling at him. "I'm... so... very... BOOOOOOORRRRRED!" I complained. "Pete's just gone to get us a cup of tea. Did you see him?" I asked.
"No. Heath, I, er, need to tell you something," he began.
"You're not dragging Pete off to play a gig in Luton are you?" I joked. "He doesn't look as though he could pick a bass up at the moment, never mind PLAY one for an hour and a half!" I teased. Ray shook his head.
"No, I need to tell you something that's been bothering me since the accident," he replied. "I'd always been friends with you, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, course you have!" I agreed.
"Well, I was so worried about you, it made me realise that, well, that I-" he began, blushing. I furrowed my brow, confused, when Pete walked in.
"Alright, love, here you go! Saw the doctor outside, he said they're trying to get rid of you!" he informed me, handing me a cup of tea. I sipped it slowly, it was a bit too hot. "Alright, Ray?" he asked, tersely.
"Mm," Ray replied with a nod. "Oh, I'd best be going," he declared, looking at his watch, "I promised Dave and Emily I'd meet them."
"But you were just-" I began, frowning in total confusion. "You've only just got here!" I protested.
"Yeah, it was only a flying visit, really. I'll, er, see you later, yeah. Bye then," he muttered, half-running out of the door. When he'd gone, I looked up at Pete.
"What's the matter with him?" I asked. He shrugged.
"He's Ray Davies, that's what's the matter with him," he retorted, coldly.
"Have you two fallen out again?" I inquired. He shrugged. "Pete!" I began.
"Well, he asks for it, y'know, sayin' stuff," he told me, angrily.
"About what?" I inquired.
"Well, stuff about you, and, oh, he's just so far up his own arse..." he replied, shaking his head.
"Like what?" I inquired.
"Heath, will you just drop it?!" he pleaded. I looked at him, totally confused. "He's just a pain in the backside, just forget him, you just concentrate on getting better, okay?" he finished.
"Okay, love," I replied, shrugging.
"Heath?" he asked.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Do you think Ray's better lookin' than me?" he asked. I burst out laughing.
"You are SO funny, you know that?" I giggled. "Of course he isn't! Look in the mirror a bit more often!" I instructed, carelessly.
"You wouldn't go out with him?" he pressed. "I mean, if he asked you, you wouldn't go out with him, you wouldn't cheat on me with him, would you?" he asked, seriously. My jaw dropped open.
"WHAT?!" I squeaked, not believing my ears. "What on EARTH would I want Ray for when I've got you?" I asked. "Now, finish your tea," I ordered. He smiled at me but said nothing.
"I know, darling, I know.
I held my breath. "Yes?"
"Well, we've been practically living together since the accident, and I was wondering if you'd mind too much if we bought an
"Have I EVER been one to turn you down?" All he had to do was give me that look of pure satisfaction and I was in Heaven. Dave pulled me tightly to him and gave me a warm kiss. I didn't know if things could ever be more perfect. "Let's go see Heather," I begged.
"Okay!" Dave answered with a ready grin.
Soon we were at Central Middlesex once again, in the same room as always. Today, though, Heath looked a tad confused. "I thought Ray had to meet you?"
I didn't understand at all. "Not that I was aware of," I shrugged. "Why, did he tell you he was meeting us?"
"Pre
As Heather and I chattered on to one another, Dave dropped into the background and conversed quietly with Pete. I only overheard the last bit of their conversation.
"How long does he think he can keep this up?" Dave whispered.
"I don't know," Pete grumbled.
"Hmm
"Alright," I told him. "Love you, Heath!"
"Love you, too," she answered as she gave me a hug. As I left, my mind was wondering... about Raymond Douglas Davies.
“Anything you want me to get you, honey?” he offered, plumping up the cushions behind me for the ninetieth time. I rolled my eyes.
“A bit of piece and bloody quiet wouldn’t go amiss!” I snapped. He pouted and I nearly fainted. “And please don’t pout… I’m still an invalid!” I begged. His eyes gleamed and he sat down next to me and kissed me.
“Tried any alternative health remedies?” he inquired, grinning cheekily. It had been a little over three months since I’d tried anything more exotic than sugar in my tea…
“No, no I don’t believe I have,” I replied, grinning back at him. “Any suggestions?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, you know, one or two, one or two…” he trailed off, kissing my neck gently.
“I’ll bloody bet,” I giggled.
“God, I missed you,” he whispered.
A while later, Pete had left me while he went out to buy something for our tea. There was a knock at the door and I took about five minutes to answer because I still wasn’t completely mobile. I was walking using a stick, I felt like I was about 93. I opened the door to find Ray stood there.
“Ray!” I began, a bit bemused. “Erm, come in,” I invited, stepping aside to let him in.
“Heather, I’ve got to tell you this, it’s been annoying me for ages,” he began. “I keep trying to say it and I can’t and now I know I’ve got to or else I’ll burst,” he informed me.
“Woah, woah, hang on, back up a bit… What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, completely confused.
“I’ll lay it on the line for you, you’re always honest with me, I can only repay the favour,” he told me.
“Eh?” I inquired.
“I love you. I think deep down, I always have. I love you, Heath, I love you so much more than a friend should love his friend,” he blurted out. I blinked once or twice to make sure I was actually there and it wasn’t just one of those weird dreams you sometimes get…
“What?!” I just about managed to splutter.
“Can you feel the same?” he wanted to know. I just burst out laughing through shock more than anything else.
“You have to be kidding?” I begged. He shook his head.
“I’ve never been more serious. I love you. I want to be there when Pete’s there,” he told me. I shook my head.
“Ray, no. I don’t love you any more than I love Dave or Mick or even Emily! Pete is mine, I’m Pete’s. We love each other more than life itself and there is no way on this earth I would ever EVER want to not have Pete in my life. I’m sorry you feel like that about me, I don’t know if I led you on or anything but I know I sure as hell didn’t mean to. There’s only one man in my life and there’s only one man I want in my life. And he’ll be back any second so can you please leave before he comes back?” I asked, opening the door for him. He looked at me.
“No, please don’t shut me out like this, Heath, please don’t,” he pleaded.
“Ray I don’t want you here, please leave,” I ordered. He bent his head down to kiss me. I pushed him away and as I turned my face away I looked over and saw Pete staring at me in horror.
“What the fuck’s going on?” he demanded.
“No, Pete, he just… I didn’t… he…” I began. “Don’t get mad, I didn’t…” I stammered. He glared at Ray with a look of blood in his eyes.
“Get out of my house, keep your hands OFF my fiancée and if you don’t want to be where she’s been for the last three months I suggest you keep away from me for a good long while,” he began coldly, shaking with trying to conceal his emotions.
“Pete, I’m…” Ray began. Pete wordlessly punched him in the jaw, and Ray staggered back.
“If you get blood on my carpet I’m sendin’ you the cleaning bill, now GET OUT!” he roared. Ray left hurriedly and Pete turned to me, totally appalled.
“Pete, HE kissed ME, it wasn’t the other way round, he kind of just… I was trying to throw him out,” I tried to explain.
“I don’t want to hear another word from you. What I want you to do is get out of my house and don’t come back,” he told me, furiously, tears welling up in his eyes. I reached a hand up to dry his tear away and he pushed it away gently. “No,” he whispered. “You’ve betrayed me.”
“Pete, Pete, I didn’t, I wouldn’t, there’s no way I could if I tried to, PLEASE,” I begged, biting my lip to force the tears back.
“GET OUT!” he yelled, pushing me to one side as he stormed into the living room and slammed the door in my face. I fell with a thump onto the floor. My legs hurt like hell but they were the least of my problems. I heard Pete sobbing quietly in the front room, his sobs interspersed with him yelling some unrepeatable four letter words and throwing various breakables at the wall. With all that was going on, and the confusion I was in, it took me about five minutes to get up, but when I did I left in tears and headed straight for Dave’s house. I knew Emily would be staying there. She’d tell me what to do. I couldn’t lose Pete, I wouldn’t lose Pete. He was everything to me. If I lost him, that was it. And Ray Davies was NOT going to take him away from me. I knew that the usual five minute walk would take me at least half an hour but I had literally nowhere else to go. I hoped to God that she’d be in…
"Oh God, Em, Pete's thrown me out, and..." She couldn't say any more, she just kept crying. Dave and Mick both dashed over to us and we guided her to a comfortable chair
"Don't tell me he's asked it," Dave mumbled, getting a very dark look in his normally happy, bright-coloured eyes. Mick shook his head in disbelief.
Heather could only nod. I didn't know what to say, so I just hugged her and wiped her tears away.
Mick didn't look angry, but his voice relayed the fact that he was. "Would you all KINDLY mind informing me what in fact has happened here? I'm not blaming you, Heather, because I know you're upset; but Dave, if you know what's going on then I'm SURE that Emily and I would also like to know, please!"
Dave bit his lip. "Well..." he began, "Ray's been 'in love,' or so he calls it, with Heather for 'as long as he could remember,' he says, and now he's apparently gone and told her, and Pete found out, which is why, I'm presuming, she's here." Poor Heather could only nod.
I blinked, not able to get the thought through my mind
Heath sobbed, "He only saw Ray kiss me, and said I betrayed him! I'd never do that in a million years! I love him too much!" She buried her face in her hands.
Mick couldn't take seeing her like this anymore. "Heath, I've known you forever, and I have to say that there's no way we can send you back to your house in this condition... Look, you stay here with me and Dave and Emily, and we'll be here for you whenever you need us."
"Yeah, I'll be here for you--I'll take time off at work--" I began to say, before Heather stopped me.
"Thank you, Mick... Em, don't do that, you've taken off enough time for me as it is! Besides that, I wouldn't want you to lose your job," she cried.
"Don't think twice about it. I'm your best friend, I'm meant to be there for you, right?" I asked gently. Heather nodded and wiped her eyes. They were still bright red from crying, but I could tell that she was on her way to being alright.
"Oh, how bloody stupid of me," Dave said suddenly, then went back to the table and brought Heather a hot, steaming cup of tea. She took a sip and then set it down.
"Thank you so much," she whispered.
I smiled weakly at Heather as she drank her tea. "Don't worry. You've got us and we're never going to let anyone or anything hurt you, ever."
All of a sudden, the phone rang. "I'll get it," Dave offered. "Hello? No. No, you can not come over. Why not? Well, Heath's over here, not in a very good condition thanks to you, Ray! No! Pete threw her out of the bloody house! Is that what you wanted? All you were after? I'll bet!" He slammed down the receiver, and I shrunk back a little in fear. I had seen Dave mad at his brother before, obviously, but never to the point of his shaking with rage. "That idiot!" he bellowed. "Wants to come over here, after what he's done..." Dave then muttered, under his breath.
"I'm sure he didn't mean to do all that harm," Heather spoke, sounding amazingly and eerily calm, after having been crying only a few moments ago. She took another swig of tea, which seemed to be what was calming her down a bit. "He probably didn't even think it would happen like this at all."
"I don't know what I mean, Em, I just don't want Dave
to be angry at Ray. I don't want Pete to be angry at
me. I just want to go home," I told her, starting to
cry again. Emily hugged me tightly, trying to calm me
down, but it wasn't helping at all. I'd lost Pete, no
amount of kind words could get him back to me.
"Heath, do you want me to talk to Pete for you?" Dave
offered gently. I shook my head.
"If he's that bothered he'll get in touch himself.
When he's calmed down a bit. I know him, he'll be
angry for a while and then he'll calm down enough to
talk," I explained. Suddenly there was a knock at the
door. I beamed at them. "That'll be him now to take
me home!" I told them confidently. Emily stood up.
"I'll get it," she decided, standing up and going to
the door. She opened it and I heard a shocked gasp.
"But, Ray, Dave said not to..." she began to protest.
"I don't care what he said, I'm not here to see him,"
he answered brusquely, dashing into the front room.
Dave glared at him.
"I told you!" he reminded him through gritted teeth.
"I'm not here to see you, Dave," Ray repeated. "I'm
here to see Heather."
"Me? Don't you think you've caused enough damage for
one day? Ray, Pete's thrown me out of home because of
you!" I told him sternly. "Didn't ANYTHING I said to
you register? What's it gonna take to get through
that thick head of yours, I do not love you! I am in
love with Pete, and I am not in love with you," I
continued slowly and meaningfully.
"Please, let's just talk about this," he begged.
"TALK?!" I squeaked. "I don't even want to see your
face right now, let alone TALK to you! Now get out,"
I ordered angrily, turning away from him, signalling
the end of the conversation and as far as I was
concerned, the end of any friendship we'd already had.
Just then Pete burst through the door.
"Dave, Dave I need to talk to - Oh I see. Very cosy,"
he finished, looking at me and Ray. I turned to him.
"We've just asked him to leave. He wasn't invited," I
tried to explain.
"What IS it with him? What is it you'd rather have
about him than me?" he wanted to know.
"Nothing!" I protested. "Pete, you should know by now
how I feel about you," I began.
"I should, but I don't think I do," he finished.
"PETE!" Dave yelled at him. "Sit down and shut up.
Ray, get out of my house NOW. NOW DAMMIT!" he roared.
Emily sat down next to me, shaking in fear. Neither
of us had ever seen him like that and it was really
rather unnerving. Ray quietly left, although if looks
could have killed, Pete would have been up for murder
charges. As soon as Ray had gone, Dave turned to
Pete. "Pete, Heather's explained everything to us,"
he began.
"Lied, you mean," he corrected him.
"Shut up, Pete, you know she's not a liar," Dave
interrupted. "She's explained everything, and I've
never known you to over-react so much about anything
in my whole life, and I've known you since I was
eleven years old!" he finished. "Now either you grow
up and forgive her or you're gonna lose her forever.
And I know that's not what either of you want."
"Don't you fucking tell ME to grow up, it's your
brother who CAUSED all this in the first damn place!"
Pete yelled. Dave tried to keep calm but failed
miserably.
"I know that, but I AM NOT MY BROTHER!" he yelled back
at him. "So don't bloody take it out on me, cos I
ain't DONE nothing! I'm trying to be a friend to you
AND Heath, and you're acting like a big kid about the
whole thing!"
"You wanna fucking come here and say that?" Pete
threatened. Pete LOVED picking fights with the Davies
brothers. I think it was because he was shorter than
them and he wanted to feel dominant. Dave didn't have
the time or patience to humour him this time.
"No I'm not in the mood, now shut up and make up or
I'll get mad," he answered calmly.
"Heath," Pete began, looking at me for the first time
since he'd come in.
"What?" I asked, nervously.
"Your stuff's still at my place when you want to come
and pick it up," he finished coldly, standing up and
leaving. He slammed the door behind him so hard the
floor shook. I looked up at Dave and Emily and burst
into tears again.
"Sip your tea, love," Mick implored Heath. "C'mon, it'll make you feel a bit better, right?" He smiled a little at her, trying to cheer her up. Unfortunately, it wasn't working very well. She just sat there, looking deflated, her shoulders heaving with every sob that came from her.
"Heath," Dave said, dangerously quiet. She turned to face him, her eyes all swollen and red, momentarily quieting herself. "I will never forgive my brother for what he's done to you, and to Pete. You can stay with me, Mick, and Em as long as you'd like, you know that?"
Heather shook her head emphatically. "I was staying with Pete, and by staying with him I've gotten myself into this mess. I can't afford to have it all played out again--especially since I need you three so much. Oh, I need Pete so much..." she trailed off, more tears springing from her eyes. I couldn't bear to see her in this state, and so I began crying, too.
"Not you, too!" Dave moaned. "Blimey, I hate it when one girl cries, but with the both of you, aww, what am I going to do?" He gave me a big hug. He attempted to hug Heather as well, but she pushed him away.
"It's not you, Dave. It's not any of you. It's me. I have to go and live in my own house for a little while, I guess... Don't worry. I'll be fine." She paused, wiping tears from her still-damp eyes. "This isn't going to be easy, but it has to be done. By living by myself, I may learn some things... so I'm going to go."
I stopped her as she stood up. "You shouldn't walk far in your condition, sweetheart; let me drive you, okay?"
My eyes met hers, and I knew that she could not possibly turn me down at a time like this. After all, Heather was my best friend, and she knew that I only wanted to look out for her.
"Alright," she relented. "Will you come and help me pick up my things from Pete's later, then, too?" she asked.
"Of course," I said, giving her a hug. "Of course. Now, though, shall we be on our way?"
Mick walked up to us. "Not yet. Rest here just another hour or so, please. It'd put my mind at ease, honestly."
We were helpless to refuse him: Mick asked so little from either of us, and we knew that it was important to him that he watch over us for the time being. Heath and I both nodded in unison. Dave, however, was pacing like a caged tiger.
"What the hell do they think they're doing?!" he shouted to no-one in particular. "I can't stand it when they're like this. And they're like it so often!"
"Hey, Dave, 's okay
"Let's hope so," Mick mumbled, a sad glint in his eyes.
"Don't take too long, will you, I've got to leave in a minute," he told me quietly. I shook my head.
"I won't," I promised, giving him a slight smile. He smiled back at me and I walked upstairs as quickly as I could - i.e. not very - to get a few of my records that I'd left at his house, the few clothes that he'd brought over and finally the picture I had of us on his window-sill. I came downstairs again and showed it to him. "May I keep it?" I asked.
"What for?" he asked. I looked up at him and shrugged.
"Because I love you," I replied clearly and honestly. He looked away from me and I heard him catch his breath.
"Well, if it means so much to you, then take it," he told me quickly, opening the front door and letting me out. I went outside and looked at Emily.
"How did it go?" she asked, holding a hand out to me.
"Worse!" I sobbed.
I soon settled back down at home, though, and before I knew it I was immeasurably more mobile than I was when I was with Pete. More mobile, more independent... but still missing him like crazy. It was terrible to not have anyone to say goodnight to over the phone, nobody to kiss you to make you feel better when you were upset, nobody to just be there if you needed them. I had Emily, Dave and Mick, of course, but it just wasn't the same. Nothing was the same anymore. Every time the phone rang I used to pray it would be him, every time the doorbell rang I brushed my hair quickly just in case - but he was never there. Emily had told me that he'd even found a new girlfriend, which devastated me beyond all comprehension. Apparently her name was Ellie, and he was completely mad about her, and she was mad about him too. I was glad that he was all right, but I couldn't help but wish that I was the one making him happy, not her, whoever she was.
I was feeding the cat one afternoon and had just changed his water bowl when there was a knock at the door.
"Hang on!" I yelled, putting the water bowl down and rushing to the door. Through the transluscent glass I saw a male figure, but far too tall to be Pete, so I guessed it would be Dave. "Alright, mate, what brings you - RAY?" I squeaked in shock, opening the door. I immediately tried to slam it in his face but he put his foot in the door and pushed it open.
"No, I need to speak to you," he told me firmly. I sighed heavily, stepped aside and allowed him to go through to the living room.
"Cuppa tea?" I offered in my most civil tone. He nodded.
"Please," he replied with a smile. I went out into the kitchen and quickly made two cups of tea, then for reasons completely unbeknownst to me, I got out a packet of biscuits and put some on a plate for him. I brought the lot back into the living room on a tray and set it down on the coffee table.
"Help yourself," I offered. He grinned at me again and I sat down. "What... well, what do you want?" I asked.
"I wanted to apologise," he began.
"Apologise?" I asked, my temper starting to flare up. "APOLOGISE?" I yelled angrily. "Do you know that the man I love has now got a new girlfriend and there is never going to be any chance of me getting him back? Do you know that I'm now unemployed because I'm still too ill to go back to work? I've lost everything that I loved, but YOU are responsible for me losing Pete, and you seriously think that a SORRY is going to make it all fucking well BETTER?" I demanded.
"No... but it's a start, right?" he asked, looking up at me with big brown puppy dog eyes. I sighed in resignation.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, spreading my arms out. "I have nothing to give you and nothing to offer you," I told him.
"Yes you do," he replied.
"Ray, I've already told you..." I began.
"Can't you try to love me?" he asked.
"Can't you get the message?" I shot back at him. "I am in love with Pete and I always will be. I've always valued your friendship, but you broke my trust and by Pete splitting up with me like that, you broke my heart. What makes you think I could ever have any feelings for you after that?" I asked as calmly as was earthly possible.
"Because I need to find out for myself," he began.
"Find out what?" I asked. Without any warning, he moved forward and kissed me. I started to move away but he pulled me back to him and kissed me more deeply. Almost without thinking I started to return his kiss and before I knew where I was, I was all over him like a rash. 'What are you DOING?' I realised, then pulled away sharply.
"What is it?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I can't do this. Not to Pete," I began.
"Do you want me to tell you what he's been doing to Ellie?" he began. I looked away from him and stood up slowly.
"I think it's time you went, Ray," I told him firmly. He stood up and looked down at me, then nodded.
"Okay. But you and I both know that you're fighting against this, don't you?" he asked. I remained silent. "It's only a matter of time before you realise how you feel about me. When you do, let me know, eh?" he finished, turning on his heel and walking straight back through my door. I looked around the room in a daze.
"He didn't even finish his tea," I muttered hazily.
It had been a while since my last visit to Heather's house, and I certainly was glad to be going there. Maybe I should have called her, but somehow it seemed like a better idea to just drop in as a surprise. I ran
"Are you not talking to me?" was the first question Ray asked.
I felt a little surprised by that, but replied quickly. "What do you mean? Of course I'm talking to you!" He looked at me with narrowed eyes
"I don't know whether to trust you or not," he said cooly.
I blinked in disbelief
Ray shrugged. "Maybe."
"What's with this interrogation, anyway?" I asked. "Look, I'll talk to you later... if you've got a problem, call me or something. If there's something wrong with Dave, talk to Dave. As it is, I'm going to see Heather."
"Fine," he said smugly and walked off. I continued down the street and knocked on her door. Almost instantly it opened.
"Emily!" Heather shouted, her eyes going wide. "Oh, come in... I haven't seen you here in ages!" She pulled my arm
I sat down on the couch and noticed the tea already set out. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt your company?" Heath began to blush slightly and I felt puzzled once more
Heather cleared her throat. "No, no... I don't have company anymore. Ray was just over here, though."
"Oh!" I gasped
She looked at me squarely in the eye. "Nothing happened, really." An awkward pause followed.
"Look, Heath, I know that's not the full story. If you like Ray and whatnot, I don't want it to come between us. You're my best friend!" I pleaded. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but, come on. You know I'll support you no matter what!"
A sigh came from Heather. "You know me too well! I don't really know exactly what's going on with Ray at the moment, but maybe I can tell you soon."
I nodded, hoping that 'soon' would mean 'within the next two minutes.'
"I dunno how to explain it, Em
"We all know you're missing Pete," she answered. "But what about Ray?" she asked.
"I don't know about Ray. Do you know, this time next week, Pete and I should be getting married?" I asked. She looked at the floor. "I'm stuck at home every day because I'm too ill to go back to work, I can't work so I can't go out because I've no money. The only regular company I have is the cat, the man I love is going out with some other bird who is probably very lovely but she isn't me
"What do you want me to do?" she asked.
"You know, I think Pete does miss you," she told me. I looked up at her.
"But what about his new bird?" I asked. "What's she like?"
"She's the living image of you," she replied. "Do you want me to talk to him?" she asked. I looked away. "I'll talk to him for you," she offered. "If you want him back, I'll help you get him back," she promised, hugging me again.
"He's all I've ever wanted," I answered, quietly.
"And Ray?" she asked. I shrugged.
"I dunno. Maybe I was just lonely," I tried to brush the matter aside.
"I tell you what I'll do. I'll talk to Pete for you, and make him listen, and you know he will listen because deep down, he's never stopped loving you," she told me with a smile. "But you have to talk to Ray. For his sake. You can't just kiss him and ignore him, it isn't fair on him, is it? You wouldn't like it if he'd done it to you," she explained.
"Where the hell did you learn to be so bloody lovely?" I demanded
"Just comes naturally!" she replied with a wink.
"Let's go out for a drink, eh?" I suggested. "I've got to get out of the house, I'm getting cabin fever!" I joked. She giggled.
"Great idea," she replied, standing up. "I'll get them in," she began.
"Thanks," I smiled, opening the front door and leading the way out.
Soon we found ourselves in the pub, and who would be the first person I saw at the bar but Mr Peter Alexander Greenlaw Kilby Kinnes Quaife!
"Shit," I whispered.
"We can go if you want," she told me. I shook my head.
"No, I'll be okay," I promised. I looked around but couldn't see that he was with anyone else, well, at least no brown haired brown eyed female, anyway, and that was all that mattered at that moment in time! I sat down behind him, in a corner of the pub where I hoped he wouldn't see me.
"Heath?" he asked, coming over to me a couple of minutes later. 'Bollocks', I thought.
"Hi," I replied, nervously. "What're you doing here?" I asked, defensively.
"Same as you, having a drink," he answered. "Not seen you in a while," he pointed out.
"No, well, I've been ill, dunno if you remember," I answered, almost bitterly.
"I remember. Nice to see you again," he told me. I looked right at him.
"Is it?" I asked, sharply.
"Yes," he answered with a slow smile. I smiled back at him.
"Nice to see you too," I replied. Soon Emily came over with our drinks. "Will you stay?" I asked. He looked at Emily and then looked back at me.
"Umm, no. No, I promised Ellie I'd go and pick her up from her place about fifteen minutes ago, I'd best be going," he replied. "It was good to see you, swee... umm... Heath," he told me. He stood awkwardly for a few moments, not sure what to do, then he turned to Emily. "Tell Dave we're in the studio at half eight in the morning," he instructed.
"Will do," she replied with a smile. He smiled back at her, looked at me for a few moments, and the next thing I knew, he'd gone. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Tell me it'll get easier," I pleaded. She smiled.
"Course it will. Leave it with your Auntie Em, she'll sort everything out!" she promised.
I only hoped she could.
Part 7: Sp-ev's POV
"Hey I've just had my tea, I'd like to keep it in my stomach for a little while, Dave!" I complained jokingly.Part 8: Sp-em's POV
"Well, Em, I had a really, really wonderful time tonight," Dave smiled at me as he stood in my doorway.
Part 9: Sp-ev's POV
I woke up the next morning next to Pete. I knew he was awake without even looking up at him because he was whispering almost inaudibly to himself. He had a tendency to do that from time to time. Part 10: Sp-em's POV
I woke up with a start and walked out to the living room. "Dave?" I asked. "Dave?" He rolled over and faced me. He was only wearing his boxers and I very nearly fainted then!
Part 11: Sp-ev's POV
My eyes slowly flickered open. I had no idea where the hell I was, all I could hear was Pete sobbing next to me. I tried to move my head to look at him but it hurt too much.Part 12: Sp-em's POV
I paced the waiting room for the fifth time that minute. "Em, will you PLEASE sit down, it's driving me insane!" Ray pleaded. Dave pulled on the back of my shirt and sat me down next to him. I started to nibble on the skin around my nail.
Part 13: Sp-ev's POV
I heard every word that Emily was saying, I heard every tear that fell but I could not open my eyes. I could not move. I could not do ANYTHING at all.Part 14: Sp-em's POV
I grasped onto Dave and hugged him tightly. "Em, I'm glad she's back too, you don't have to kill me over it," he tried to make light of the situation.
Part 15: Sp-ev's POV
I was bored. BORED with a capital B. I'd been stuck in hospital for over two months and I felt heaps better. The feeling had started to come back into my legs again and the doctors had told me I'd be up and running in a couple of months. Pete had burst out laughing and said that I'd never run anywhere before the accident, so what made them think I'd want to now?! I'd completely regained consciousness about two or three weeks previously, and now I was almost mobile, I was climbing the walls with boredom. Pete helped a lot, he was a little angel, I fell in love with him more and more every day, especially when we decided to start arranging our engagement party. We both decided to just invite loads of people to the Marquee and have the brandy flowing all night. Dave even offered to ask around to see if any of the bands we knew would play for us. My eyes lit up at that prospect but Pete evidently read my mind and decided against the idea. "We can just get a DJ to play some records," he'd informed me, huffily. "I'm not havin' my fiancée eyein' up another bloke at our engagement party!"Part 16: Sp-em's POV
"Dave, I'm so happy Heath's so much better!" I exclaimed for the fifth time that day. Dave just sighed and smiled at me.
Part 17: Sp-ev's POV
I was home! Home at last! Well, I say home, Pete had insisted I moved in with him for the duration “until I was back feeling good as new and if I wasn’t then I wasn’t to go home.” He got more and more like my mother every day. Only better looking.
Part 18: Sp-em's POV
Dave and I were sat having tea with Mick when Heather burst through the door, looking positively awful.Part 19: Sp-ev's POV
"What do you mean?" Emily asked. I shrugged.
Part 20: Sp-em's POV
My body shook with anger at Ray. I ran over to my best friend, hugged her once more and then Dave and I guided her back to her seat. "How could he?" I whispered to myself. "How could he?"
Part 21: Sp-ev's POV
The most tense moment of the following month was when I had to collect my few things from Pete's house. I took Emily with me, but she'd said she would rather have waited outside for me, if she'd had to spend any time with Pete she probably would have hit him.
Part 22: Sp-em's POV
Part 23: Sp-ev's POV
Emily looked at me expectantly. I just shrugged and shook my headPart 24: Sp-em's POV
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