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Chapter 3
ONE OF THOSE DAYS
You can usually tell how a day will work out by how the day starts off.
I worked Thursday night till 11:30pm. When I got home I just fell into bed and went straight to sleep. It was a peaceful sleep and when I woke up the next morning I was feeling quite content with myself. That was until I realized I forgot to set my alarm clock.
It was after 9am and my first lecture was at 8:30. I threw on whatever clothes were on my floor, grabbed my bag and ran to Uni. I figured that if I was quick I could make my next lecture. Just my luck that it started pouring with rain once I was a few meters from my flat and I didn't have time to go back and get an umbrella.
I just managed to get to the lecture on time. Unfortunately I forgot we were having a short mid-semester exam. It was only multiple choice - on one of those sheets where you colour in the circle and then they put it through a computer to mark it - but of course I didn't have a pencil. The third person I asked had a spare, but now I owed them a beer. The exam itself wasn't too bad. I just hoped that it could be marked seeing as water was dripping on it from my wet hair. Knowing the luck I seemed to be having today the paper would dry funny (as it does anyway once it's been wet) and won't be able to put it through the computer. Maybe I can write down the bottom why it's wet. But then again it says at the top not to write or mark the paper in any other way. Bugger.
Lunchtime came, but I had no time for it. I was busily tracking down someone from my first lecture that I missed in order to get the notes for it. I finally found someone who gave me 5 minutes to run to the library, photocopy the notes and get them back to him. I owe that person a beer too.
You know how when certain clothes get wet they start to smell funny, well that was happening too. I had dried off and was finally warm, only now my jumper smelt like a wet dog.
After my last lecture I started the walk home. I was completely warn out and starving. I was standing on the side of the road reflecting on the marvelous day I had had and was thinking things were starting to pick up (the rain had finally stopped). I shouldn't have spoken so soon. A long came a car and sprayed water all over me. Great. I'm having a real good day.
I walk up to my flat, which is on the 3rd floor. When I get in I find Liz sitting on the couch.
"Hey. I need to talk to you about something"
I dropped my bag on the floor and whipped some water from my face "Did you get caught in the rain?"
"Yes" I tried my best to smile "Well sweetie," Liz said as I sat next to her, "you know that me and Steve have been seeing each other for a while now"
"Yeah" I didn't like where this was headed.
"And, well, he's here basically every second night, and I know that really isn't fair to you" She paused for what seemed like minutes "We've decided to move in together" She paused again so she could take in my reaction. I was shocked. I nodded. "I'm going to move into his place. I don't want to leave you high and dry without a roommate to share the rent. I've already moved some of my stuff out. I want to give you my half of the rent for the next month. Steve owns him place so I don't need to pay rent there"
"So this is final. I can't talk you out of it?"
Liz shook her head. I know I couldn't stop her. It was just something I wasn't expecting, even on a day like this.
I walked to my room in a daze and stripped off from my dog smelling, and now slightly wet, clothes. I grabbed my towel and had a shower.
I didn't want to leave the shower. I figured nothing could go wrong in here, but then I thought of a few things that could and got out, carefully. I went back in my room and put on my underwear. Liz knocked on my door. I told her to come in. She handed me the phone.
"It's Mark"
I took the phone from her "Hey sexy, how are you?"
"I'm good" he chuckled "Don't tease me like that" I did the chuckling this time. "Ash, I'm having a party at my place tonight. I've got about 50 people coming. You up for it?"
"I haven't really had the best day, Mark. I might pass this time"
"No, you can't!" He whined and complained for a few minutes.
"Ok, I might come by later for a little while"
"Danny will be there."
My ears pricked up. "I said maybe"
"Well, I got to fly. See you later"
"Bye"
I was pretty tired and the last thing I wanted to do was be around a bunch of drunken people. But if Danny was going to be there.
In the end I decided I was going to go to the party. It was just on 10pm when I got there.
I drove and had promised myself that I wasn't going to get smashed. I know I had promised myself before and it had never really worked. I took my car as a back up so I wouldn't drink seeing as I was driving. I also thought I could stay at Mark's for an hour or so and then drive down to the river. I had my camera in the car. I had recently brought a new wide-angle lens for it and hadn't had an opportunity to try it out.
I went into Mark's house to find many drunken guys jumping around and shouting comments at a bunch of girls. I got a glass of water, I figured that if I had a drink in my hand, even if it was only water, I would be less tempted to get an alcoholic one. Though it would have been nice to have just one drink. I had had such a shit day.
I sat down on a chair out side. I was already regretting coming. I put my legs up. I could feel a headache coming.
"You've made yourself right at home" I knew that voice, it was Danny "I saw you walk in, but you were too quick for me to catch you inside"
I opened my eyes "Hey"
She put her hand on my forehead. "You don't look too good. Are you feeling ok?"
"I just had a bad day. But it's getting better" I smiled at her. She put her hand in mine and I closed my eyes again.
"I see you're on water this time"
I laughed lightly "I thought I'd give it a go"
"You'll feel better in the morning for having it"
Mark came over to us. He had clearly had quite a few drinks. "Ashley! I started to think that you weren't coming. Here, have a drink"
He held out a beer in front of me. I started to think that one beer wouldn't hurt. Just one.
Danny must have seen that I was considering it. I could see her out of the corner of my eye as she opened her mouth to speak. "No thanks Mark. Maybe next time" I said quickly.
I wasn't getting drunk this time. I wanted Danny to see me at a party not completely off my head.
Danny squeezed my hand gentle. "Do you want to dance?"
I smiled and nodded.
We made our way to the area were people were dancing. The music was fast and had an intense bass line. We started to dance. Our bodies maneuvered around each other, moving to the beat. Occasionally they touched, which would send a shiver through my spine. I wondered if she wanted me as much as I wanted her? The next song was slower, so Danny put her arms around my neck and pulled me a little closer to her. I could feel the heat radiating from her body. She brought her mouth to my ear.
"I like this song"
We danced for a few more songs. Eventually we retired to where Mark was sitting. She sat next to him. She patted the seat beside her.
I hesitated. "Actually, I'm going to head off now"
She looked disappointed. "You haven't been here that long"
"Yeah, I know, I'm just not really in the party mood tonight"
"Oh, ok"
I was turning, about to leave, but I turned back.
"I was going to go down to the river and take a few photos of the city. I've got a new lens. You could join me if you want?"
She smiled "I would like to, if that's alright?"
"Sure it is" She stood up. I tapped Mark of the shoulder "See you later"
In the car Danny hummed and sang to a couple of songs on the radio. She had a few drinks at Mark's and was tipsy. But I liked it. She was so cute.
At the river Danny was the first to get out of the car. I got my camera from the back and joined her. I handed Danny her coat, which she put on. It was quite cool at night. It was already after midnight. A blanket of light was cast out over the river from the city buildings.
Danny sat down on a bench and watched me as I set up my tripod and attached my camera to it. I looked out over the water. I loved looking at the city lights at night.
I turned around to find Danny still staring at me. I went and joined her on the bench. She put her arm around me.
"So, are you going to tell me about this bad day of yours?"
I smiled to myself and looked up at her. "If I must"
I grinned. And then I told her all about my day.
I got up after I finished, and went back to my camera. "How was your day?" I asked as I continued to set the aperture and a slow shutter speed.
"Not bad" I turned around to see that she was now lying down on the bench. She had one leg up in the air. "I went and had a look at a few flats. My lease runs out in 2 weeks so I need a new place"
I took one photo. The quiet atmosphere enhanced the click from the closing shutter. She continued to talk while I reset my camera.
"The first place I looked at was ok, I guess. I didn't like the second one though"
I took a second picture. As Danny kept talking I remembered that Liz was moving out - I had forgotten all about it and hadn't mentioned it to Danny when I was telling her about my day. I thought that maybe I should ask Danny if she wanted to move in with me. But I wasn't sure.
I moved my camera down the path a bit to get a different angle of the city. When I returned back to my original spot I found Danny asleep on the bench where I had left her minutes before. The light from a neighboring streetlight washed over her. I took my camera off the tripod and turned it towards her. Click. Click.
I went back to the car and put my stuff away and then went back to Danny. I knelt down in front of her so our faces were level.
"Danny" I spoke gently, "wake up" I ran my hand over her cheek and then through her hair. She moaned quietly before opening her eyes. I smiled at her "How about I take you back to my place and put you to bed. I'll take the couch and you can take my bed" I ran my fingers through her hair again. "I'll cook you breakfast in the morning. Although I'm not exactly the best cook, in that I can't really cook"
"Sounds good" her voice was quite, a little crackly, but still sexy.
She smiled and I took her home.
At my place Danny wouldn't let me sleep on the couch and said she would. Of course I told her that she wasn't sleeping on the couch but in my bed, and that I would tie her to it if I needed to. I was quite happy to take the couch. But in the end we decided we were both mature adults and could sleep in the same bed.
I woke up the next morning to find my arm across Danny. I looked up at her. She was already awake and smiled at me. I put my head back down under her arm, hiding my face from the bright sunlight. I could feel the side of her breast on my cheek. She had one of my t-shirts on with no bra.
I pushed myself up on my elbows "How long have you been awake?"
"About 20 minutes"
"You should have woken me up. Or just have pushed me off you" I yawned.
"No, I was comfortable". She smiled at me and ran her fingers through my hair. I rested my head on her chest.
There was a knock at my bedroom door and Liz came in.
"Ash, I was wondering if" Liz stopped mid sentence after she saw Danny in my bed. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "Oh, I'm sorry" Liz quickly walked out of my room.
I moaned and got out of bed "Liz" I yelled after her, "what do you want?" I found her in the kitchen.
"I didn't mean to interrupt"
"You didn't"
She looked at me "I didn't know you liked women in that way"
I nodded "Well, you never asked. But Danny and me are just friends. We couldn't agree on who would sleep on the couch"
"Oh, ok then" she picked up her bag. "I'm bringing the rest of my stuff over to Steve's and I was wondering if I could borrow your car for the morning?"
I threw her my keys that were on the table. She thanked me and left.
I was looking forward to hopping back into bed with Danny, but when I turned around she was standing in the doorway, tying her hair back.
"I'm going to cook you breakfast" she walked towards me "I thought I was doing that?"
"I thought you couldn't cook?"
I mean I could cook, but I would never really advice you to eat it. It never really looked that appetizing, or eatable. I was envious of all those cooks on TV like Jamie Oliver.
They made it look so easy.
I smiled "Well, at least let me help you"
She nodded and we cooked.
After we finished breakfast I washed up and then went and got changed. I came back out to find Danny on the couch reading one of my uni books.
"Interesting?" I asked, sitting down with her.
"Yeah. A little confusing though. I don't know any of this technical stuff"
It was a book on films for my screen studies class.
I thought for a while. "You mentioned last night that you're looking for a place to live"
"Yeah" Danny stopped reading and looked at me.
"Well, Liz is moving out - well she basically has already - and I'm in need of a new flat mate" I paused. Why was I so nervous? Danny smiled (well she never really stopped smiling, her smile just got bigger).
I continued. "I was just wondering if you wanted to move in with me. I mean I understand if you don't want to, I just thought that seeing as you need a place to live, and I have a place for you to live that it might be a good idea" I stopped.
Danny was quiet. She spoke after what seemed to me 5 minutes.
"I would like that. I would like that a lot".
So I guess things turned out good in the end. I always did like a happy ending, or a sweet ending to a shit day.
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