The Busker: A gripping psychological thriller

by M. J. Patrick

  Someone was joining her.

  27

  Sally didn’t need to turn around to know who had stepped on the balcony. His cocky presence permeated the air, the same dominating presence.

  Charlie.

  She felt his presence as he leaned in over her shoulder, inches away. His arms reached out to rest on the balcony railing, his face towards the view. He was copying her posture. She didn’t move.

  ‘You can dance,’ he said, his voice cutting through the silence.

  Sally cocked her head to one side so she could see him better in the light flooding from inside. ‘So, I guess this time it was you who was the one staring?’ she asked. He was very good looking in this light. The shadows danced on the sharp edges of his jaw and neck. His eyes were dark in the night.

  ‘I guess I am.’

  ‘I hope you enjoyed it. I try my best,’ Sally replied. The vodka was affecting her. Giggles rose in her throat, and she wanted to laugh for no reason.

  ‘Your best?’ Charlie mulled over her words. He faced her. ‘And how do you know how to dance so well?’

  ‘You’re complimenting me? That’s new.’

  ‘Don’t get used to it,’ he said. ‘I’m not usually this nice.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘So, how can you dance like that?’ he asked.

  ‘My Dad sent me off for lessons when I was a kid, and I got addicted,’ she said. She played with her fingernail, picking at a spot of dirt. ‘I guess he didn’t know what to do with a little girl, so he outsourced me to dance lessons.’

  ‘You still do lessons?’

  ‘I lost interest, and so I stopped.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Teenager,’ she explained, smiling.

  He laughed. ‘Fair enough.’

  ‘But thanks for the compliment.’

  Charlie shuffled. ‘I want to ask you something,’ he said. He slicked his hair back. His hand twitched, nervous.

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘It might sound stupid, though.’

  ‘What is it?’ she asked, intrigued.

  Charlie sighed and shook his head. ‘Forget it. It’s nothing.’

  ‘No,’ Sally said. ‘What is it? What did you want to ask me?’

  ‘It’s nothing. Something stupid.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Forget I even spoke.’

  Sally felt uneasy. She’d upset him in some way. ‘How were your friends?’ she asked, changing the subject. ‘I saw them with you.’

  ‘They’re fine,’ Charlie said. ‘They’ve left now. This party wasn’t for them.’

  ‘You didn’t think about introducing them to me?’

  ‘No.’ Charlie appeared confused by her question, and Sally regretted saying it, like she’d overstepped a line. She suddenly had the urge that she didn’t want him to go. The realisation hit her that this was probably their last ever conversation. He could turn away and leave at any moment. If she pushed him away then he’d be out the door, gone. She didn’t want that, she wanted to know more about him.

  ‘Your friends were talking to you pretty intensely,’ she said, trying to move the conversation on. The alcohol was giving her a kind of bravery her sober self would never have, and she was still dizzy from the dancing. ‘Was it anything interesting?’

  ‘It was nothing,’ he said.

  Charlie turned back to the view like he was trying to hide from her. Sally gripped the balcony railings, scared he was losing interest in her. ‘Isn’t it funny how we always seem to end up in places where there’s a cliff?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah, I was just thinking that,’ Charlie replied. ‘Maybe it’s because there’s a sense of danger involved. Maybe we both secretly like a bit of danger.’

  ‘Oh, yeah, that must be it.’ Sally gestured back through the sliding glass door. ‘Whose apartment is this place anyway? It’s so fancy and, like, posh.’

  ‘It’s some friend of a friend of mine. I don’t know them,’ Charlie said.

  ‘Whoever it is, they have a pretty view. You can see a lot of the city from here.’

  ‘A pretty view of the city? The city is a shithole.’

  ‘You think?’

  ‘It is,’ he said coldly.

  Sally didn’t like the city either, but something about Charlie's directness made her annoyed. The view was beautiful. He was trying to mess with her about it, so she decided to push back. ‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ she replied. ‘The harbour was alright, and I like the beach.’

  ‘The harbour’s a good place to busk for money. I hate being here in the city though.’

  Sally scowled at Charlie. ‘Then why are you here?’ she asked.

  He continued to look at the view, showing her only his profile. ‘Money. I come here sometimes, only when I have to. Mostly to get some cash, like the gig tonight.’

  ‘What do you do normally?’

  ‘I travel,’ he said.

  Sally laughed. ‘So, what you are saying is that you’re homeless?’

  Charlie winced. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t say it like that.’

  ‘Okay, how would you say it?’ she asked.

  ‘My home is everywhere.’

  Sally shook her head, dismissing him. ‘Sure. That sounds like some corporate slogan.’

  ‘It isn’t. Cities grind you down. I hate it. Everyone looks so miserable all the fucking time,’ he replied.

  ‘Oh, right,’ she said. ‘Back home I live in a city. Do I look miserable to you?’

  ‘I’m not trying to insult you. You know what I’m trying to say.’

  ‘I don’t, no.’

  ‘You do know.’

  Sally tittered dismissively. ‘I don’t.’

  ‘It’s a philosophy I live by, and that’s to never be stuck. Never be stuck in one place when there’s a world out there. I want to do it all, Sally.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘I want to do whatever I want,’ he said. ‘I want to have no commitments.’

  ‘It sounds ambitious, but I guess people aren’t all like you.’

  ‘Really? What do you think they’re like?’

  ‘I think they just want comfort in their lives,’ she replied.

  ‘Not for me. That’s boring,’ he said. ‘I want to keep moving. No place can keep me. I’ve got no home anywhere. I’m free.’

  Despite teasing Charlie, Sally was curious. He lived in a completely different world. He had a different perspective, and it thrilled her. She wanted to know everything about him. ‘I think I understand you,’ she said.

  She could see his pain. There was something there, behind his eyes. He’d lost someone as well, she could tell. There was that same kind of resignation behind his smile, the same kind of cynicism she had. She hadn’t met many people with that condition. It made her want to open up to Charlie, knowing he could understand her. He needed comforting too.

  Charlie nodded. ‘Good,’ he said.

  Sally leaned over the balcony railing again, seeing how far the drop was. Again, she regretted her boldness in this conversation. The vodka was playing with her mind. Her head still spun from the dangerous combination of alcohol shots and dancing. What if she jumped? Would it be painless? ‘I’ve ever met anyone quite like you, Charlie.’

  He copied her, raising his head over the railing as well. ‘What can I say? I’m unique,’ he said, face close to hers. ‘You’re different as well, Sally. I know you are. You’re like me. You want more from life. You want to live.’

  ‘You’re being dramatic, and now you’re really sounding like some corporate slogan,’ she mocked.

  ‘Probably. But, I know what I see in front of me.’ He moved towards her. His face was so close now, so close they were nearly touching. Was he going to kiss her? Would she kiss him back? His lips were right there. All she had to do was move an inch closer. The alcohol was flooding her head. She didn’t know what to do.

  Sally broke away before their lips touched. The blush rose in her cheeks. She pretended to cough, and he flinched.
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  ‘You talk a lot, Charlie,’ she said, hiding her face from him. She didn’t trust her expression.

  ‘You think?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah.’

  Charlie sighed and leaned back, thinking. ‘I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m getting out of the city. I need to get out of here,’ he said.

  Sally picked at her nail again. The dirt wasn’t getting off. ‘Where are you going to go?’ she asked. Her quiet voice surprised her.

  ‘I’m going hiking in the bush,’ Charlie replied.

  His response made Sally want to cry. What a perfect time for him to tell her this. She was scratching at the dirt on her nail now. It was hard to see it fully in the dim light. ‘That sounds like fun,’ she said, trying to mask her sadness.

  ‘I think so,’ Charlie said. She didn’t dare turn around to face him, in case he could see the tears in her eyes.

  ‘You’re going tomorrow?’ she asked, even though she knew the answer.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said, and he paused. ‘Fuck it, I’ll ask you.’

  ‘Ask me about what?’

  ‘What I was going to do ask you just then, but I chickened out of it,’ he explained. He took a breath in. ‘Do you want to come with me hiking?’

  ‘What?’ Her heart skipped. Was this what he wanted to ask her when he’d stepped on the balcony? Was this what she wanted?

  ‘You. Come with me hiking. Don’t worry. I have a spare tent.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be dangerous?’ she asked.

  ‘No. It’s actually freeing,’ he said.

  Sally bit her lip. ‘Let me think about it,’ she said.

  ‘You won’t have to do anything. I can set up the tents and do all the boring manual work.’

  ‘Sure,’ she replied. What did he mean by asking her on this trip? Did he fancy her? Was this a date? She’d only come to the bar today to see his band and get some cash from him, but now he was offering her to go camping alone with him. A minute earlier she was upset she might never see him again, but now they were moving fast in the opposite direction. She wiped away her tears.

  ‘Your friend can come too,’ Charlie added.

  She swirled around. ‘Ashley?’

  ‘Yeah, Ashley. The scary one.’ His eyes met hers. They didn’t look away. ‘What do you say?’

  ‘This is pretty unexpected.’

  ‘I know.’

  She shook her head. ‘What can I even say to this?’

  ‘You don’t have to answer right now.’

  ‘Well, I don’t know,’ she said.

  ‘Think about it.’

  She tried to sound casual like it wasn’t a big deal. ‘I might have to pass up on it,’ she said.

  ‘You don’t have to decide now. I’m leaving tomorrow, you’ll have all night to change your mind.’

  ‘Why do you even want me to come?’

  ‘You’re different to anyone else I’ve met, Sally, and I want to get to know you more.’

  ‘I want the same,’ she said. Her voice was quiet again.

  ‘So, come with me,’ he said.

  ‘I can’t,’ Sally replied. ‘Ashley would kill me.’

  Charlie shrugged. ’She can come.’

  ‘She won’t.’

  ‘But you should.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Charlie,’ she said. ‘But it’ll have to be a no.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Thanks anyway.’

  ‘That’s your loss, Sally. Can I at least have your phone number, in case you change your mind?’ he asked.

  ‘Okay. Sure.’ Charlie pulled out his phone and Sally entered her number into it. The phone was at least a decade old. ‘It’s like you’re a drug dealer with a phone like that,’ she said.

  ‘I wish I was, there’s probably more money in it than busking,’ Charlie replied as he pocketed his phone. ‘You can always message me if you change your mind. I’m leaving in the morning.’

  ‘Don’t expect anything,’ she said.

  ‘You’ll come round.’

  ‘Ashley will have something to say about that, I reckon.’

  Charlie squinted through the glass back inside the luxury apartment. ‘This party sucks,’ he said. ‘I’m heading off. See you around, Staring Girl.’

  ‘You still owe me that cash,’ she said.

  ‘Come camping with me, and you’ll get it back,’ he replied.

  ‘That’s manipulative.’

  ‘But it’ll work,’ Charlie said, sliding open the balcony door and stepping into the light. Like the drunk woman at the party, he gave Sally a wink before he disappeared into the white corridor. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow then.’

  ‘Don’t count on it,’ Sally replied, but he was already gone.

  They’d nearly kissed, and then he invited her camping. And, deep down, she wanted to go with him.

  Sally turned back to the view of the city. It could be the alcohol saying it, but she knew she’ll be seeing him again.

  28

  Ashley wasn’t asleep. She was waiting for Sally.

  She was sitting on the edge of her bed, fiddling with something in her hands, when Sally opened the door to the hostel room. Ashley put what she was holding on the bedsheet next to her. It was like she’d rehearsed the movement, practising for this moment. She’d been waiting for her.

  Sally didn’t move from the doorway into the room. She spied what Ashley had played with, what she’d placed beside her on the bed. The black casing was unmistakable. It was a phone.

  ‘Is that a new phone?’ she asked, hesitant of her friend’s potential reaction. It was nothing good if she was waiting for Sally like this.

  ‘Yeah,’ Ashley’s tone was sharp and low. Her curt reply alarmed Sally. Ashley was not happy.

  ‘You bought a new one?’ Sally asked.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I was going to get you one today.’

  ‘Well, you didn’t, did you?’ Ashley replied. ‘I went and got one myself. Think of it as a gift for you. Now you don’t have to buy me one.’

  Sally knew Ashley too well, and she knew Ashley was waiting for her to apologise. Sally was always the first to start with the apology. Sally exhaled and gripped the door handle tighter. She might as well get into it. She didn’t want a confrontation, but she wanted to sleep.

  ‘Look, Ashley’ she said, uncertain, anticipating an outburst.

  Ashley cut her off with a quick reply. ‘Sally.’ A bolt of emotion was charged behind the word. ‘I’m going to ask you something, but I don’t want you to lie to me.’

  ‘I won’t lie,’ Sally replied.

  ‘Please answer me truthfully.’

  ‘What is it?’ Sally asked, her heart sinking in preparation for the worse.

  Ashley took in a deep breath. ‘Where have you been all day?’ she asked.

  ‘Ashley,’ Sally started again, but her friend cut her off.

  ‘I’ve been waiting for you. I went looking for you again, just like last night. I walked all over,’ she said.

  ‘Ashley,’ Sally said. She could feel the alcohol in her system slow her down, her thoughts sluggish. ‘I was doing my own thing. I needed to be on my own today.’

  There was a long pause as Ashley fiddled with her hands. She reached over to the new phone on the bed and put in in her lap. She left it there, not doing anything with it. When Ashley looked back up, she was struggling to hold back tears. ‘You’ve left me all alone,’ Ashley said.

  Her voice was softly breaking. Ashley’s unexpected vulnerability made Sally involuntarily let go of the door handle and step inside. Desperate, Ashley appeared so small, so fragile. Sally sat on the bed where the new phone had been, next to her friend. She wanted to reach out her arm and grab her. She tried to find words to express what she was feeling, but she couldn’t hang on to anything meaningful. Instead, she started to ramble. ‘Okay, look, really. I needed some time to myself. You know what I’m like. It’s just that last night wasn’t good for either of us and it really affected me. That’s why I left t
his afternoon and why I haven’t come back until now,’ she said.

  ‘You’re drunk.’

  Sally chortled. ‘I’m not.’

  ‘You went and got drunk somewhere?’

  ‘Kind of.’

  ‘You’ve been drinking all night? The whole time I’ve been looking for you?’

  ‘It wasn’t anything serious,’ Sally replied. ‘Only a few drinks.’

  Ashley glared at her for a long time, and Sally felt faint sitting on the bed next to her friend. ’Last night wasn’t good,’ Ashley eventually said. Sally noticed how tense her friend’s lips were. It was like she was holding in pressure.

  ‘No, it wasn’t.’

  ‘We are supposed to be travelling together,’ Ashley said.

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ Sally replied.

  ‘Then why do you want to get away from me? Why did you leave me today?’ Ashley asked.

  ‘We were travelling together,’ Sally said. Ashley was beginning to push her now. She was playing the innocent angel, and of course, Sally was the villain. ‘I thought we were doing that. That was our plan. But what do you call the other night, then? You left me. You left me to sleep with a complete stranger. You left me outside there in the corridor,’ she said, her anger rising.

  ‘Are you talking about Sam? You can’t shame me for that. Don’t you dare.’

  ‘I’m not shaming you for that, but you left me alone with your cousin, Ashley.’

  ‘Yeah, and you ran off. You actually hit him, that’s what he told me.’

  ‘I didn’t hit him,’ Sally protested.

  ‘You embarrassed me. They laughed at me.’

  ‘Yeah, he’s not a nice guy,’ Sally replied. ‘He tried to force me to kiss him.’

  ‘Stop it. He’s not some bloke you can lie about, I know him. He’s my cousin. You can’t just say bullshit about him. You’re trying to prove your selfishness with all this. The truth is you never think of anyone else and you never have.’

  Sally was glad now that she hadn’t embraced Ashley earlier. She blew out air from her lips and held on to the underside of the bed, restraining herself. ‘So, are we going to have the same argument as yesterday, then? Is that what you want?’ she asked her friend.

  ‘No.’