It started as a Game

Making Up.

Declan went to work in a grumpy mood on Tuesday. He still hadn't heard from Ant. But he also knew that it was only logical, seeing as it was 7.30am and Ant had most likely been travelling for most of the night. When Declan saw Rebecca Winterbottom enter the office, he immediately saw that she was in a bad mood. And when Rebecca Winterbottom was in a bad mood, everyone was quick to get out of her way.

So Declan lowered his head and hoped she didn't approach him. Of course he was wrong.

"Was my husband with you yesterday evening?" she practically yelled at him and everyone turned their heads. That was until Rebecca took a look around. Everyone was quick to look back down again.

"Mrs Winterbottom" Declan said in an overly friendly tone. "If I remember correctly, you said that you wanted us to be friendly towards one another. Well, you see, I don't think that this is a friendly tone you are using and I feel quite offended. Thank you."

Declan didn't know where he had plucked up the courage to say something like that. But he didn't care. Maybe that was the reason. He just didn't care. He could see that he had made her blood boil. Her face was becoming redder with every passing second and for an instant, Declan thought she would physically attack him. But instead, she rested her hands in front of him on his desk and only glared at him.

"Was he with you?" she repeated. Completely ignoring his remark, eyeballing him all the while.

"Yes, but he left at around 10pm" Declan stated blankly and acted as if he was concentrating on his work again.

"Where did he go?" Rebecca asked him very firmly.

"Listen, I don't know, okay? I am not his babysitter, am I?" Declan now snapped and that seemed to do it. Rebecca turned on her heel and walked to her desk where she sat down angrily.

Declan knew she was angry at herself for losing control. He knew she was angry because obviously Ant hadn't gotten in touch with her either. And he knew she was angry that Ant hadn't come back home in the first place. Because Declan knew from Anthony that Rebecca liked to be in control. Just like Jacob. That was it. Rebecca was like Jacob. Not Ant. She was controlling. And she couldn't cope with the fact that she wasn't in control. The look on her face reminded Declan so much of Jacob and he gulped hard at the thought. He saw her fetching out her phone and dialling a number, only to throw it back on her desk a few seconds later when no one answered.

Declan fetched out his own phone and typed in another message.

I know what it's like. Believe me. I have seen that look on her face before. I think you know with whom. It is nasty. Please talk to me. This is ridiculous. And you know I'll keep my promise if you don't answer, right? D xx

Declan set himself a deadline. If Anthony hadn't gotten in touch by Thursday morning, he would get into the car straight after work and he would drive up there. So he had two more days. That's all Declan would give him. He understood that Anthony needed time and he respected that. But he could at least get in touch. He could at least tell Declan to back off. Or tell him that he was alright. Or accept his apology. That was all he needed.

Anthony had gotten home late the night before. He was lucky because he always had his spare key with him on his key ring. Just in case. Well now was such a case. And he was happy that he hadn't had to wake his mother in the middle of the night. But that also had meant that she had gotten quite a shock when she had seen her son sitting in the kitchen that morning. But she was of course over the moon to see him. At the same time she wanted to know what had happened. But Anthony didn't want to talk. And she respected it. Just like Dec.