It was dark out and I stood out by the front door smoking a cigarette I snatched from you. Shit it’s not raining yet.
“The fook you doin’ outside, you’ll catch yer death a cold.”
“If it’s so cold why you goin’ out?” I said stepping back to the slightly warmer inside. “Why can’t you stay?”
“Unlike you I’m off to see a girl,” you say with that godawful smirk of yours. I want to punch it off.
“Since when you into birds Noely?”
“And you wonder why I wanna go out,” he said. “To get away from you.”
I wanted to throw something at you but the closest thing was a vase but our mam would kill us if it broke.
You had already walked away and I was left in the hallway, suddenly feeling all melancholy and all those feelings I don’t like acknowledging.
Fuck, I’m thinking like some girl or summat. But you had that effect on me.
I could hear “All the Mod Cons” playing and I knew you had gone back up to our room. Maybe now I could convince you. I always have the upper hand in our room, I know how to persuade you there.
I made my way upstairs and walked stealthily towards our room. You were impatiently looking outside the window, nervously chewing your already chewed up nails.
“Any moment it’s gonna pour,” I said coming up behind you, poking you gently in the rib, you stayed pensive. “Did you hear me Noel? It’s gonna r-”
“I heard you,” you answered, still not fully there.
I sat on my bed just watching you and we were this way for a few minutes. A few drops started to fall on the window pane helter skelter and I heard you give a little sigh.
“Take a load off.”
“Huh?”
“Come sit with me,” I beckoned and patted the spot next to me.
You sat down still lost in thought, a low rumble of thunder could be heard and then the rain fell hard.
“It’s raining cats and fookin’ dogs, stay home Noel.”
You laid down on the bed, still biting your nails.
“Can’t.”
“Why not?” I frowned, laying down next to him. “Cancel.”
“They’re already on there way,” and you let out another sigh and started on your nails again.
“Who is she?”
“Who’s who?”
“The girl you’re meeting up with.”
“Oh that?” and your face lit up. “I was just winding you up, there’s no girl.”
“Then stay,” I move in closer and weasel my way onto your arm. “Just stay.”
Your eyes were all scrunched up, a bit too pleased with yourself. I wanted to punch you again.
“I’ll stay here,” you say stroking my cheek with your other arm. “Until they pick me up.”
“Fuck you,” and I poke you a bit harder.
“C'mere,” and you squeeze me a bit to hard but It’s perfect.
We stay inert, the sound of the rain beating against the window, the slight howl of the wind, the sound of the thunder rolling away. I place my hand on your chest, I can feel your heart, your lungs filling up. I look up at you and you have that same dreamy look, staring at the ceiling. I poke you again trying to bring you back into this world, our room, here with me.
“Cut it out.”
A car can be heard making its way down the street and it isn’t long before you spring up, knocking me back, when the car horn beeps.
“Noel,” I try in vain to plea, it usually works.
“Liam, you know I gotta go,” you get up and ruffle my hair quite ruffly.
“Just get back home safe.”
“I’m gonna shoot some pool not off to war for fucks sake kid.”
“Just come back.”
“Where the fook else am I gonna go?”
You lean lean down and kiss me on the lips, I crank my head up a bit expeting more.
“Nah nah, enough of that. You gotta wait til I get back home,” you say and wink and your gone.
The sound of the closing door echoes loudly and the storm still rages on. It’s okay I know you’ll be home soon.