Running with Scissors

Chapter 5

“Okay, well I guess you can’t think of anything so Merry Christmas.”  She hung up.

“You’re still getting those calls.”

“No shit, Sherlock!  I hadn’t realised.”  She slid the phone onto the windowsill with a sigh.  “There’ll probably be another one in a minute or two.  They seem to travel in packs.”

“Any idea who it is?”  She shook her head.  He picked up the phone and waited for the next call as he continued to smoke.  The phone didn’t ring and he replaced it on the windowsill.

Robert flicked the remains of his cigarette out of the window.  He stared at it for a moment as it lay on the flat roof of the porch immediately below the window, a thin tendril of smoke rising straight in the still air until the dampness of the roof extinguished it.  “Get your stuff together and I’ll go have a chat with your Dad” he told her as he pushed himself of off the windowsill and grabbed his jacket.  Nicky smiled and picked up the ready packed holdall at the foot of her bed.

Nicky stared sullenly at the glass of cola in front of her.  She could hear Robert and his friends laughing over their game of snooker but she refused to look at them.  It wasn’t fair!  “Nic, come out with us for a Christmas drink!” he had said.  Why did he bother inviting her to the pub if he wouldn’t let her have anything stronger than cola?  It wasn’t like she wanted to get drunk or anything, one beer wouldn’t kill her.

She was still brooding over the injustice of the situation when she realised that someone was speaking to her.  She looked up to see a man who appeared to be in his early twenties. 

“Is it okay for me to sit with you?” he asked.  Nicky glanced over at Robert.  He was still busy with his game.

“I… Yes, its fine,” she answered.  She went back to the study of her drink and tried to pretend he wasn’t there.

“I’m Gary,” he told her.  Nicky didn’t respond.  After a moment Gary picked up his drink.  “I can find somewhere else to sit.  I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Nicky looked around the pub; it was pretty crowded in here tonight.  It was unfair of her to take out her bad mood on a complete stranger.  “It’s fine.  You’re welcome to sit here.”  She smiled to show him she meant it.

Robert had noticed the man sitting with Nicky and walked over to the table. “You okay Nic?” he asked her.  He was looking at Gary.  He hadn’t seen him in here before. 

“I’m fine.”  He looked at Gary for a moment longer, not even trying to hide the unfriendliness in his gaze.

“You sure?”  Nicky nodded.  Robert took a long swallow from his bottle of beer and then returned to his game.

“I’m not causing any trouble am I?” Gary asked her.  Nicky shook her head.  “Your boyfriend thinks I am.”  He nodded towards Robert.  Nicky followed the direction of his nod and saw that Robert was still watching.

“He’s my cousin,” she told him, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance.  “Maybe if we ignore him he’ll go away.”

“We could give it a shot” he agreed with a smile.  As Nicky smiled back she looked at him properly for the first time.

She noticed how his short fair hair was slightly untidy.  His skin had a health tanned appearance and he had amazing blue eyes.  She felt her cheeks flush again as she realised that she was staring at him.

After a hesitant start they were soon deep in conversation and Nicky had forgotten her embarrassment.  Before she knew it what had looked like being a boring night out was over.  Robert stood by the door looking at her impatiently as Nicky did her best to prolong finishing her drink.

“I’d better go,” Nicky said reluctantly.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” he asked, running his hand over his short hair.  She was amused to hear the nervous note to his voice.

“We’ll probably be here.  I’ve got to go.”  She grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and walked to the door as Robert held it open for her.

For the rest of the week Nicky spent each evening with Gary while Robert watched from the opposite side of the pub.  Robert even invited him to one of the parties that they had to go to.  Nicky had the feeling that her cousin only did this so that he could keep an eye on them.

By the end of the week Nicky had found out a great deal about Gary.  She had been surprised to learn that he was 10 years older than her, if she had been asked to guess she would have said he was no older than Robert.  He lived fairly close to the village and from what he had told her she guessed he was pretty much his own boss as far as his job went.  She didn’t really understand what it was he did but it sounded like he arranged removals and deliveries.  

All too soon the week was over and Nicky had to return home.