The Dark Shadow of Thursday

by H P Steven

  “Thanks bro, I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s night tonight,” I joked.

  As Drew started to laugh. “Cam use to say that all the time before he headed over to here,” Drew commented.

  “Yeah bro, one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met,” I replied. “He ran into a bit of trouble over here one night and just about put someone in the ground, he warned me when we first went out what to look out for,” I added.

  “Yeah he was saying to me once there’s a lot of randoms taking drugs that don’t stay down,” Drew commented.

  As we finally got home and set up some plates for some ice cream. As I go to my room and chuck my PJ’s on. Hannah takes charge in the kitchen as I’m about to leave my room. Anna comes in and told me she’s gonna get ready for bed as well.

  “Cool I’ll see you back out there,” I whispered.

  “Yeah I won’t be long,” Anna replied.

  Oh man, this should be good. I go to grab myself a plate as Hannah offers me a spoon.

  “Hey Drew you all sorted man?” I asked.

  “Yeah bro, I’ll smash this and grab my stuff once Anna’s finished getting changed,” Drew announced.

  “Yeah man, early start tomorrow,” I added.

  “Yeah, I’m not sure I’ll get up to see you both off, but it’s been great to meet you Drew, you’re so much like Cam it was great having you stay here,” Hannah announced.

  “Thanks Hannah you’ve both made me feel so welcome, I couldn’t thank you guys enough,” Drew replied.

  “The one thing we didn’t do is clear out some of the stuff from Cam and Susan’s apartment,” Drew added.

  “Oh I’ll take care of that when I get back. I’ll need to get Margaret back up as well. She said something like that at the church,” I mentioned. “But I was too worried about my speech to really-listen,” I added.

  Just as Anna comes back out wearing my extra set of PJ pants and that bloody Burt and Ernie t shirt. I must admit she looked good in it.

  “All right I won’t be long,” Drew commented getting up and heading to my room to pack some of his stuff.

  “So Hannah’s not getting up to say good bye to us tomorrow,” I commented to Anna.

  “Oh really, how long are you going for again?” Anna asked.

  “Oh only three weeks or so, under a month either way,” I insisted.

  “Oh right, it is pretty early as well,” Anna commented.

  “Okay I’ll get up, sheesh,” Hannah responded.

  “Cool, I’ll put Mike’s number on the fridge. Just in case you need someone to take you to go and see Devin,” I said.

  “Yeah thanks Phil, that’ll be great,” Hannah replied.

  We sat around for a while longer as Drew re-joined us. We sat and talked about everything, till I see Anna yawn and we all decide to go to bed. I helped Drew set up the couch bed and walked off to my room.

  “Try and keep the noise down aye bro,” Drew said laughing.

  “Yeah bro to easy, I’m pretty tired too,” I replied.

  Finally getting into bed with Anna I play the role of big spoon and we share another night together. It’s not the last night I was thinking about, I just couldn’t believe we didn’t go and clean up Cam and Susan’s apartment. What the hell were we thinking, was the last thoughts to cross my mind as I dosed off to sleep.

  Waking up by my phone going nuts, I rolled over and pick it up off the floor noticing its Audrey. Wow I felt like I had only just closed my eyes.

  “Morning Audrey,” I commented.

  “Morning Phil, how are you feeling?” Audrey asked.

  “Good, I signed those papers just for fun and I’ve got some more work for you,” I replied getting up and buzzing her in then leaving the door slightly open and heading to the kitchen to put the jug on which wakes up Drew.

  “Dude is it morning already?” Drew asked.

  “Yeah man, Audrey’s here to pick us up and take us to the airport,” I replied.

  “All right do I have time for a shower,” Drew asked.

  “Yeah man if you hurry, you know where the spare towels are aye,” I commented.

  “Yeah,” Drew said. Jumping up and running to the bathroom.

  “Hi Audrey good morning,” I announced as she comes through the door, I’ve put the jug on so we can have a quick coffee before we set off. “Drew’s just having a shower,” I explained.

  “Ah cool, do you want me to put the documents in the car now?” Audrey asked

  “Yeah that’ll be good, I’ll put my bag in at the same time,” I replied.

  “Oh I can do that, just make me a coffee and I’ll be back soon,” Audrey remarked.

  As I quickly go to my room as Anna started to wake up and grabbed my bag and the papers for Audrey taking them back out to her then heading back into the kitchen to make the coffees as she quickly ducks outside to put them in the boot of her car then heads back in.

  “Well, that’s one thing less to worry about,” Audrey commented.

  “Yeah should be an interesting trip home, I’ll send a few more pieces via email I’ve outlined and should have time to finish,” I announced.

  “Yeah no hurry, just get your ass back here as soon as possible, I’ll email you when I hear what the publishing date will be,” Audrey insisted.

  “The coffees are ready to go either way,” I replied as Anna comes out of the room, ready to go to the airport and walking straight to the coffee I made for her on the bench. A few moments later Drew comes out of the bathroom and packs his bag, which Audrey takes out to her car and he grabbed the coffee made for him. As I walked out of my room all changed and ready to go, Hannah comes out into the lounge and hugs me and Drew.

  “Have a safe trip loser,” Hannah remarked.

  “Ha, I will,” I said.

  “Nice to meet you, again Drew,” Hannah yawned.

  “Thanks for letting me stay here, again Hannah,” Drew commented.

  “Yeah no problems,” Hannah insisted before giving Anna her number and a spare key, so she can pop around whenever she wanted. I laughed it off and thanked Hannah just as Anna did.

  “I’ll try and pop back later today for the clothes I’ve left behind,” Anna said to Hannah.

  “Yeah no worries I might be at work later this afternoon,” Hannah replied as I look at Drew so he wipes the big smile off his face.

  “All right are you guys ready; we need to meet up with Cam and sign a few forms before he’s allowed on the plane,” Audrey insisted.

  “Yeah let’s go,” I replied.

  “See ya in a few weeks Hannah,” I remarked giving Hannah a massive hug.

  “Bye again Loser,” Hannah laughed.

  As we leave and jumped into Audrey’s car. It doesn’t take us long to get to the airport but I was a little surprised when we ended up at a private airport.

  “Hey, are we going private Audrey?” I asked.

  “Yeah of course, I called in a few favours,” Audrey announced.

  “Holy shit really?” I asked again.

  “Yes, it’s that jet over there with the hoarse parked next to it. We have to go over to the building over there and get your passports stamped and get a few papers signed,” Audrey replied.

  “All right cool,” I remarked leaning back in my seat trying to wipe the smile from my face. With a surprised look on Anna’s and Drew’s face.

  Just as we pulled up to the building I still thought I’m about to have someone jump out at me and say just joking. This was more random than I would have ever thought. I was expecting Emirates cattle class, not this. I thought to myself.

  Either way we get out of the car the three of us just looking at each other in total shock as a guy comes out and asked us for our bags and takes them in to be scanned. Once that’s all done I took my passport out and get it stamped.

  “Hey did you nearly forget about me again?” Anna asked.

  “No, I’m just a little in shock,” I replied. As we stood outside and watched the conveyor belt pick up Ca
ms coffin and lift him into the planes luggage area. Even Drew’s speechless.

  “Wow, you’ve out done yourself,” I remarked to Audrey.

  “Yeah it pays to have friends in high places,” Audrey laughed.

  “Wow please thank them for me,” I insisted.

  “Yeah will do,” Audrey replied “Ring me when you’re ready to come back and I’ll send it back to get you,” Audrey announced.

  “Wow, cool, totally will do, thanks Audrey,” I replied.

  When the stewardess comes up to us, and told us we could board whenever we are ready.

  “Thanks for everything you’ve done,” Drew told Audrey, then added, “Great to meet you Anna.”

  Before smiling and running on to the stairs and smiling the whole way up the stairs and on to plane.

  “Wow, thanks Audrey. I don’t know what else to say,” “I’ll talk to you soon,” I added.

  “Yeah I’ve got a bit of reading to do and a book to get published. You’ll have a few people to meet when you get back as well. I’ll email that to you, have a great trip,” Audrey insisted before taking a step back to her car so I had a chance to speak with Anna.

  “Wow this is crazy,” I commented just as I reached out to Anna to give her a kiss to remember me by.

  “I’m gonna miss my favourite player,” Anna said with a little tear in her eyes.

  “Hey don’t cry I won’t be gone long and I plan to annoy you with a bunch of drunken text messages,” I joked.

  “You’d better,” Anna replied as a tear falls down her cheek and I catch it with a finger.

  “I can absolutely guarantee it,” I whispered. “Hey, you make me feel, well,” I remarked smiling. Just about to finish off that sentence when Anna just leans in and we make out for what seems like forever.

  “You should go,” Anna whispered.

  “Thank you Anna,” I replied.

  “For what?” Anna responded, smiling at me.

  “For giving me a chance to prove to you that I’m not a player,” I whispered, smiling back.

  Leaning in, seemed liked the best thing to do. As we parted I turned and walked a few steps before I turned back and can see her walking up to Audrey. Within a few seconds Anna started crying on Audrey’s shoulder. The longest walk of my life happened after that, as I got to the top of the stairs I turned around and waved to them both and they both waved back. I bobbed my head down and stepped into the airplane, grabbing a seat so I could see Anna through one of the windows as a tear, fell down my own cheek.

  “Bro, put your seat belt on mate, you’ll see her again before you know it,” Drew commented.

  “Thanks mate,” I replied.

  As we taxied out to the end of the runway. I could still see Audrey and Anna. I watched them as the plane thundered down the runway and took to the air. While I thought to myself, I can’t wait to get back. But I need to say farewell to my friend back home. What will be, will be? I smiled and thought of Anna as we levelled out.

  Remembering that one thing that, Cam had said, “I could do a lot worse.”

  What was to come could wait. For now, I needed some sleep.

  Acknowledgements

  To all my friends and people I’ve looked up too; who have inspired a character or story line or filled my world with creativity. I thank you.

  Natalie Jordan, Dan Pene, Sammy Smith, Gavin Old, Tina Grossman, Kalliope Kyranakos, AJ Bisset, Phillip Huhu, Carol Buchanan, Carl Donaldson, Debra Donaldson, Lisa Harvey, Jeffrey Harper, Linieta Harper, Paul Eades, Steve Hamer, Jase O’Driscoll, Tracy Allan, Cameron Moyle, Shane Arkinstall, Margaret Mahy, Ian McNeil, Hannah Hopkins, Nick Lowe, Anne Troy-Sheehan, Andrew Morrell, Kevin Haugh, Alex Naylor, Abraham Hirini, Sönke Hilbers, Mark Hunter, Kelly Gee, Damian Clarke, Gillian Sharp, Linda Johnston, Kylie Clemens, Ann-Marie Sabatier, Cameron Croad, Brett Mckeown, Mandy O’grady, Erica Toft, Aydan Sturgess, Daniel Leong, Adam Manson, Andrew Schneider, Emma Boccalatte, Maren Whittaker, The Dingo’s, the Bouncers at Thai Square, the people of Croatia, the guys from Waikato, the people of Putney, London. And the staff at the Duke’s Head.

  If you enjoyed reading this book, please take a moment to thank the author by posting a review.