Chapter 9

As soon as I accept the call Ailsa’s loud voice blares through the speaker loud enough for everyone in a five mile radius to hear. Ok, a slight exaggeration, but Miss Jerries and Mr Hastidal, who were listening to me just a moment before (when I apologised for my phone interrupting Miss Jerries) definitely hear what Ailsa says, which is awkward.

“Oi what the fuck you twat?! How dare you not call me and worry me like that! I thought you had another episode or something!”

I spring from my seat, glancing at my two coworkers who are looking very confused, before bolting out the door to calm my raging sister. “Ailsa! What the fuck are you so angry for? I literally texted you saying I was fine and yada yada!”

“No you fucking didn’t! I was bloody well glued to my phone for like an hour waiting for you to call me! I kept thinking ‘it’s fine, he’ll call soon. He’s ok, nothing happened, he just forgot’. You know you have to call me, Fyfe! We agreed on this!”

Sighing, I clasp my phone between my chin and shoulder so I can trace my tattoo, taking a few breaths before replying to her. “I texted you though…” clicking off the call, I go into my texts to find that I never pressed send. Nice one, Fyfe.

“I’m sorry for making you worry, and I- I’m not doing great, to be honest. The big changes have fucked me, and I- I had more dreams last night. I can’t stop shaking today, and- for fuck’s sake, just this morning my coworker touched my arm and in that moment I was certain he was going to stab me.”

Ailsa sighs on the other end of the line, and I rest my head back against the wall, closing my eyes. “When’s your next therapy appointment?”

“On Monday.”

“Will you be ok until then? I can come stay with you this weekend, I don’t have any clients booked for the weekend.”

Rubbing my eyes, I shove my free hand deep in my pocket. “I don’t want to inconvenience you though. It’s not a short trip to get here. It’s fine, I should be ok, it’s only the weekend, so I don’t even have to work, just plan some lessons and then I can relax.”

“Fyfe, it’s literally no trouble. You’re really struggling, and you shouldn’t be having to go through that on your own. I’m coming to stay, just come pick me up from the train station, ok?”

I smile, hugging my arms around myself. “Thanks, Ailsa. You’re sure it’s not too much trouble?” The bar door opens, and several of the teachers step out, including Miss Jerries. She waves them off, helping one lady who’s a little too tipsy for her own good get into a cab, before sending them all on their way.

She glances over at me, waving gently, and I smile back, nodding as Ailsa says tenderly “you’re never too much trouble, Fyfe. Love you, see you tomorrow.” My smile becomes more genuine, and I softly say “I love you too, see you tomorrow.”

Miss Jerries waits for me as I put my phone back in my pocket and we walk back into the bar together. “That has got to be the most tender look I’ve seen a tattooed and pierced bad boy ever give; you going on a date with your girlfriend tomorrow?” she says with a playful elbow in my ribs, and I try to conceal my flinch away as me speeding up walking.

I’m guessing Mr Hastidal saw it though, based on how he’s looking at Miss Jerries, and how he’s now whispering (not so quietly) about how she’s an idiot for doing that. Clearing my throat, I nod in the direction of the now empty table around us.

“So, everyone else is gone?” I say, and Mr Hastidal speaks up. “Yeah, most of them are…on the older end of things, and prefer to get early nights,” he says with a small smile, taking a sip of his drink - beer maybe? I don’t like alcohol.

It makes me lose control - I could easily be attacked and injured, or worse yet, I’ll get overtaken by memories. It also impedes my ability to memorise things quickly, so I made sure to never drink whilst undercover.

Not that I didn’t get forced to do it before, but that was fairly obviously always going to happen, I mean, I was working with a smuggling ring - not the nicest of people.

And that time I got forced to drink, cemented my hate for alcohol, because it just so happened to be another time I got stabbed. In my left shoulder blade this time. Luckily, it didn’t mess with the tattoo, as the leaves mainly stay on my shoulder, rather than going onto my back.

“Mr Ardis? You’re doing that thing with your hands again - are you alright?” My eyes zip to Mr Hastidal’s face, and I grimace. “Yeah, sorry. What were you saying?” He leans against the back of the booth seat, glancing at Miss Jerries.

“Oh, I was just asking about your girlfriend, but you don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to,” she says, glancing at Mr Hastidal and me. I hate how cautious they feel they have to be around me, and I hate how they do in fact have to be cautious around me.

“Oh no, I uh, I don’t have a girlfriend. I was talking to my sister, she’s coming to stay with me for the weekend.” Miss Jerries looks surprised, and Mr Hastidal looks…well. He’s hiding part of his face behind his hand, making it look like he’s leaning on his palm, but I’m pretty sure he’s smiling.

“Oh? No girlfriend huh…what about a boyfriend?” Miss Jerries wiggles her eyebrows and Mr Hastidal chokes on his drink. She instantly starts slapping his back, laughing, before taking another gulp from her own drink.

“Sylvia! Stop assuming everyone is gay!” Mr Hastidal says, but he’s laughing as he says it, and I’m starting to realise that these two are less sober than I originally thought.

“No I’m genuinely curious, tell us about your romance life,” she drawls, elbowing Mr Hastidal in the ribs as she begins dissolving in to giggles.

Raising my eyebrows, I lean back in my seat. “I’m single, if that’s what you’re asking?” Miss Jerries claps her hands, slapping Mr Hastidal on the back. “Great! So is Dray.” Oh my God, I thought she didn’t want him to ‘go after’ me, but she’s out here playing matchmaker?

Smiling slightly, I rest my arms on the table. “Wow, how interesting. Are you also single, Miss Jerries?” I ask, despite having heard her say herself that she has a boyfriend. She shakes her head, draping an arm over Mr Hastidal.

“Nooope, I have an incredible boyfriend, the sweetest guy everrr, and he’s totally great with my little girl too,” she says, reaching for her glass again. I’m starting to get a little uncomfortable around the alcohol, and luckily, Mr Hastidal takes charge before she can get any more tipsy.

“Sylvia, that’s quite enough for you, I really don’t think Stevie would be terribly amused if I send you home absolutely smashed.” Miss Jerries grudgingly obliges, grumbling and mumbling and occasionally bursting out laughing.

“Let’s get you home, ok?” Mr Hastidal says, trying to lift her off the table, where she’s currently face planting, laughing at nothing in particular. “Jesus Christ Sylvia, help me out here,” he says with a bright laugh when he doesn’t manage to move her at all.

I gingerly place my hand on his shoulder, and Mr Hastidal turns to look at me in surprise. “I um, I can carry her outside to a taxi?” He smiles, tentatively patting my hand where it still stays resting on his shoulder. “Thank you, that would really help.”