“Sorry, you must be in a lot of discomfort,” replied Kevin as he held back the laughter. Eve watched as Kevin looked away, trying not to laugh herself.
“Here have a coffee.” Eve poured the water and passed Kevin a coffee. He took it and went through to the lounge. Kevin burst into laughter, Eve followed. Every time they went to speak, the words were usurped by fits of more laughter.
“Oh bloody hell, they’re still here,” Stephen shouted.
Eve poured the rest of the coffees.’ She took two through to the lounge. Ryan and his one night stand were still lying there naked. The woman was about thirty five with mousy hair and fake tan with streaks. She was still asleep. Ryan was sprawled out naked without shame wearing a grin, with his drinking hat still in tact. She wondered how he'd managed to remove all his clothes in the state he’d come back to the villa in but still keep the hat on. The woman stirred and prised one sticky eye open. She turned and looked at Stephen who still wore his big grin then turned once again to look at all the strangers around her.
“Coffee?” Eve offered.
The woman bolted up to a sitting position, grabbed the sheet that had slipped to the floor and ran out of the room and up the stairs.
“I think you scared her off with your psycho stares,” Ryan laughed as the slight bend in his nose was lit up by a dusty sun beam. “Oh well plenty more where she came from. Stephen, I’ve found a MILF prime hotspot. Me and you, we’re going there tonight. I’ll sort you out mate. Thanks for the coffee by the way,” he said as he took the cup from Eve. Stephen did not respond, he hadn’t heard. He was more preoccupied with scratching his mosquito bites.
Banging travelled across the landing. Doors slammed and footsteps were heard entering every room. Then more doors slammed. Then there was a loud scream; Selina. Ryan grinned enjoying the havoc that he had created.
Within seconds Selina ran down the stairs, Rachel followed behind her. “What the .... Why has some deranged woman just ran into my bedroom and who the heck is she?” she shouted.
“That was Ryan’s bird,” Stephen replied as he scratched his boils. Ryan laughed, still enjoying the attention.
“You’re such a knob.” Selina shouted as she flung a cushion at his head knocking his drinking hat to the floor.
“Look what you’ve done to my hat sis.”
“I’ll make it your head next time.”
Rachel got onto the sofa bed next to Ryan, leaned on his chest and closed her eyes. “Wake me up when something interesting happens,” she mumbled as she pulled her crumpled night shirt over her pants.
“Ha ha, I lose one then gain one,” Ryan shouted. Rachel slapped him with her eyes still shut.
“There’s coffee in the kitchen,” Eve said. She had hoped they would all start waking up and want to go out. “Shall we do something today? I mean, we can’t just sit around nursing hangovers all week. It would be good to say we’ve done something.” Eve was met with silence. She pulled out a chair that had been tucked under the dining table and placed her mug hard down.
“Do you have to make so much noise,” cried Rachel. “Trying to sleep around here is hard work. With her screaming and not to mention all the other noises of the night.” Eve blushed.
“Excuse me, I did have that weird woman barge into my room looking like something dredged up from the jungle,” Selina shouted.
“Whatever, I wasn't referring to your noises,” replied Rachel as she prised herself from Ryan and sat up. “Maybe we should do something though. I need to take some photos for my course work. What shall we do then brains?” She asked as she stared at Eve. She then took one of Ryan’s cigarettes from the floor and lit it.
“Do you have to do that in here? It's gross smoking in the house.” Selina said.
“I’m too knackered to move. Where’s the ashtray?”
“Outside, in the garden.” Selina replied.
“Ha bloody ha,” Rachel said as she flicked ash into her cupped hand.
The tensions were rising. When they had booked the villa, it seemed big enough, now it felt cramped and full of bodies all wanting and needing their own space. “Let’s go out for breakfast,” Eve suggested.
“But it’s one in the afternoon Evie, they won’t serve breakfast.” Selina replied as she untangled her hair with her hands.
“Okay lunch. Let’s go for a bite to eat and decide what we are going to do for the last few days. Does that sound good?” No-one answered. “We could do a boat trip, or get on a bus and go to a city or .... well .... anything that isn’t drinking or baking on a sun lounger. Let’s go out and make some memories,” Eve said. She hadn’t realised she’d been standing. Sitting down she blushed, she had just delivered that speech as if she were running for a parliamentary election.
“I think that sounds good. Well are you all going to get dressed and we’ll head out?” Kevin said. Everyone nodded and gestured in agreement.
“The café across the road in one hour. I need me something greasy,” Ryan said as he took the cigarette from Rachel's mouth and took a drag.
“Sounds like a plan,” Rachel said as she hauled herself off the sofa bed and up the stairs. “I’m first in the shower,” she yelled as she began to sprint.
Eve smiled at Kevin, he smiled back. He held out his hand and she took it, then he led her upstairs. “One hour, that’s loads of time,” Kevin smiled. Eve followed him knowing exactly what he meant.
Chapter 9
“I’ll have a chicken sandwich and a coke please,” Eve said as the waiter noted down her request on his pad. With all their orders complete he went back into the cafe. Sweat already began to form around Eve's hair line. “I wonder how hot it is today.”
“It reached over forty yesterday, I would say it's hotter,” Kevin replied.
“Don’t my bites know it? That stuff they sold me from the chemist is crap. I’m sure they’ve done me. Probably sold me something for nappy rash. I didn’t like the way that woman grinned at me when she took my money,” Stephen said as he rubbed the contents of the little tube onto his arm. All six of them were sat around the table, lounging back with sunglasses on. Around them, children ran; people gathered pace to get to places. Others laughed and were so full of energy as they headed to the beach carrying their various inflatables. Eve looked at her friends, they looked dead. Rachel’s head was leaning back over the top of the chair she sat in. With her arm hanging down, her cigarette had burned to the filter leaving an ash trail that was just about to drop to the floor.
The waiter returned with one plate of food. He handed the fried breakfast to Ryan. “Way hay, just what the doctor ordered. Who said you couldn’t get breakfast this time of the day?”
Rachel stirred and the ash dropped to the floor. “What a waste,” she said as she placed the nub end in the ashtray. “Have we decided what were doing?”
“No, not yet,” Eve replied.
“I should say now; I really hate boats. I get sick on a paddle boat going down the river. I’ll do it if I’m out-voted but I’m warning ...” Selina paused. “Why hello,” she smiled as Mehmet approached. He went over to Selina and kissed her cheek.
“You look beautiful today. I’ve missed you since we went up town the other night.” He smiled. Ryan ignored him as he tucked into his food. Eve watched as Mehmet pulled up a chair and wedged it under the end of the table; he nodded to the waiter and ordered a coffee.
“I’ve made a full recovery now so maybe we could do something.” She smiled as she twined her hair around her index finger. Mesmerised, Mehmet watched. “Do you want to do something?” she asked. He looked up.
“I would love to do something with you,” he smiled.
“I bet you would,” shouted Ryan as he spluttered out a few flecks of toast. “You watch out for my Sis.”
Mehmet stared, “I will look after her, just take her out. I promise.”
Ryan burst out laughing. “Seriously mate, she’ll have you for breakfast. Watch out for her. It's a warning for you," he said
loud and slow.
“Oh just go walk in front of a bus,” Selina said as she kicked Ryan under the table. The waiter emerged with the food and handed out the plates. Moments later he came back with the rest of the drinks.
Eve tucked into her sandwich and took a swig of coke. She flinched as she felt something tickle her leg. Kevin smiled; his hands were buried under the table cloth. She placed her hand over his and weaved her fingers in and out of his.
“Do you actually go on these trips you sell?” asked Rachel.
“Sometimes, I stay here most of the times but I can help if I want. It is my father’s business.”
“What are they like? I need to take some photos for my photography module at uni and I’d like something special.”
“My father has found a wonderful spot. We take you if you want, that is to the most splendid waterfall. It is one of the most beautiful and secluded spots around here. It takes about one hour to one hour and a half in the jeep. It is up the mountains and it’s nice and cool with the roof off,” he smiled.
“Did you say you could do us a good deal? Only some of us are poor students.” Rachel asked.
“I can do the best deal you will get. We take you to a gold shop also, you can have watermelon on the roadside; we drive through a traditional village and take you for a wild drive for a bit of excitement.”
“I like the sound of the wild,” Selina said.
“Then of course you can swim by the waterfall, we also do a barbecue dinner and provide soft drinks. You can of course bring alcohol if you wish.”
“That, we would do. Fifty pounds for the jeep, for only us, for the day” Rachel shouted.
“You are a hard bargain,” he replied. Eve laughed at his garbled language. But less than ten pounds a head would be a good deal if he agreed. She watched as Mehmet went silent and kept looking over towards the stand outside his shop. Stood outside was a man with a short sleeved shirt and jeans on. He sat on a stool under a canopy.
“Well? Is it a deal?” Rachel asked.
“Rachel, don’t you think-" Selina flinched as Rachel kicked her under the table.
“Wait one moment. I will just go and ask my Uncle Sadik as he may not be very happy with me.” Mehmet left the table, Eve watched as he nearly tripped up a curb in his flip flops as he ran to his shop.
“That was a bit of a cheek, he seems a nice guy and you want to rip him off,” Selina shouted as she pushed her half eaten sandwich away from her.
“It’s alright for you lot, but I’m here on a budget. You’ll thank me in a minute when he comes back and says yes,” she smiled.
“If you sleep with him Sis he’ll probably take us for free,” Ryan laughed as he placed his knife and fork onto his empty plate. Selina flicked a piece of cucumber at him; he lifted it off his arm and ate it. “Throw me some more food, why don’t you.”
“He’s coming back,” said Selina as her angry face turned to a big smile. She sat up straight and flicked her hair.
“Yes, we can do for fifty. But we need it in cash now for tomorrow.”
Rachel grinned. Eve looked at her; she certainly knew how to drive a bargain. “How much is that then brains?” she asked Eve.
“I don’t know, about eight pounds.”
“It’s eight pounds and thirty three pence recurring. Two of us are going to have to pay an extra penny,” Stephen said as he rubbed some more lotion into his arms. He started scratching the spots, some of them were bleeding.
“I’ve got no chance of fixing you up with a MILF or even a desperate, you anal,” shouted Ryan.
“Oh just shut up and get your money out. If what you were to fix me up with looks anything like the monster from the deep that you brought back last night, I think I’d rather keep the appointment I already have with my right hand,” he shouted.
“Can I get you another coffee Sir?” The waiter asked. Stephen began to redden.
“No, I’m fine. Here’s my eight pounds and thirty three pence sterling,” he said as he counted the money out of his pockets. He left it on the table before leaving.
“You’re such a knob; I am so right,” Selina said as she opened her purse.
“We can only take notes, sorry” Mehmet said as he looked at them. Kevin placed a twenty on the table; Eve smiled at him and squeezed his hand. The others placed their share on the pile and swapped the coins for notes.
“What time do we leave tomorrow and where do we go?” Eve asked.
“Pick up is at twelve, we leave from the shop and we will see the night in. We like to show you how beautiful it is at night. A lot of people like to swim in the evening and take lovely photos of the sun going down,” he replied. Rachel smiled for the first time since they’d been on holiday.
“Sound good,” said Eve as she stroked Kevin’s hand once more under the table. “I can’t wait.”
“Me neither,” Kevin replied as he looked into her eyes. They were going on an adventure. Eve’s stomach fluttered, she and Kevin could enjoy a day of being together in the woods. They could swim, caress each other, and play little touchy feely games when their friends weren’t looking. Kevin could sense her excitement; he leaned over the table and kissed her. Again, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled and her senses heightened. She was sure Kevin could sense the effect he had on her. She touched his face and his kiss lingered. She knew she had the same effect on him. “Let’s go and get an ice cream,” he whispered.
“Yes, go. I’m about to regurgitate my fry up,” Ryan shouted as he made vomit noises before bursting into fits of laughter. A couple with three children sitting at the table behind them cast disapproving looks at Ryan before continuing to eat.
Kevin and Eve placed some money in the middle of the table before leaving. He held out his hand, she took it and followed him.
Chapter 10
Selina sat on the cool plastic sun lounger and listened to the gentle waves lapping next to her. The lights of the distant bay in Marmaris reflected elongated forks of oranges and yellows into the blackness of the sea. Occasionally these soft tones were harshly interrupted by neon colours, purples and greens, the flashing signs from bars and restaurants. She loved to watch the lights. The lamps and fairy lights from the boats at sea and docked were like a mass of stars.
In the background she heard music, exotic and sexy Turkish music. She had spotted the belly dancer in various hotel grounds performing to her admiring crowd but Mehmet’s eyes had been on her only. She lay back, satisfied. Moments earlier they had been romping underneath an upturned boat on the edge of the beach. She smiled as she hitched her dress down; knowing from the moment she saw him on that first hot sticky day, she had to have him.
“Shall we get a drink? My treat,” Mehmet asked, sitting up on the sun lounger to her left.
“In a moment, I’m just taking all this in. It’s so beautiful.”
“You are beautiful,” he said as he slid off the lounger, onto his knees and leaned over Selina. She could smell aniseed from the Raki they had sipped with their steak meal a couple of hours earlier. He touched her breasts over her dress.
“Maybe tomorrow; if your lucky,” she laughed as she took his hand from her breast and held it in hers. “Anyway, I bet I’m not the first and I won’t be the last.”
“First, last. What do you mean?” he asked.
“Lots of girls before me and a new one next week. It’s okay though, you don’t have to answer that,” she said as she dropped his hand before stroking his thick dark hair.
“Not lots before. It is my first week here. I came from the North of Turkey last week. No work for me back home. I had a girlfriend for two years but we not get on, we grew up,” he replied.
“I didn’t realise, I thought you’d have been here longer. You seem so confidant.”
“I’m just like you, a long way from home.” Selina held his hand and placed it back on her breast.
“Tomorrow,” she smiled. “Are you with us on the jeep?”
“I begged my Dad
to let me go. I will be working of course, but at least I can look at you while I work.” He said as he bent over and kissed her. In bliss she accepted, invited him in, his kisses, his touch. She was on holiday after all. It was early, another hour and she would head back, get some sleep, ready for the day to come.
Chapter 11
Opening her bag for the third time, Eve went through her check list in her head. Water – check; sun cream – check; phone – check; emergency money – check and her sun hat. She took the floppy cream coloured hat from the beach bag and placed it on her head.
Kevin laughed, “You look like a big flower.” Eve peered over her sunglasses and gave him a stern look before breaking into a smile. He leaned forward and kissed her. “A beautiful flower.”
“That’s okay then,” smiled Eve.
“What time is it?” Rachel asked.
“Just gone twelve,” replied Selina as she looked up and down the road. Every time a car came around the bend she tensed up only to be disappointed.
“They’ve got our money and now they’re not coming and what can we do about it? A big, fat nothing,” said Rachel.
“They’ll be here. Mehmet said he was looking forward to taking us,” Selina said as she paced up and down the curb.
“Let’s hope your boyfriend wasn’t just saying that to get into your pants.”
“Firstly, he’s not my boyfriend. Secondly, he already said it after he’d been in my pants.” Selina shouted as she turned away.
“That’s my Sis,” laughed Ryan.
“And you can shut the hell up. At least I don’t pick up men that are old enough to be our father.”
“I don’t pick up men,” he laughed.
“Women. You know what I mean.”
A loud rumbling vehicle came around the bend. It was a large green jeep with a turned down canopy and metal frame. Mehmet was sitting in the driver’s seat with his sunglasses on, hair slicked down and his toned torso bursting out of a khaki vest top.
Whispers Beneath the Pines Page 6