Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (29 page)

“Well about that, I was thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea” I tried not to look at her but she turned fully facing me with her arms folded. I looked into her eyes and she looked confused and hurt. I felt like the child catcher out of Chitty
Chitty
Bang
Bang
!

“Why, I don't understand, is it me?” What! How had she come up with that reason?

“No
,
no, of course not, it's just.... I think that it would be easier if I just stayed downstairs, your brother looked really hacked off about the idea of it and well....” she smiled and cut me off
mid-sentence
.

“Don't worry about him, he's already warmed to the idea. Our family is very private and he doesn't trust new people. But it's no reason not to take the job, he just needs to get used to you being there.” She relaxed as though this had convinced me.

It hadn't.

“Still, I think that it would be best...” Again she jumped in.

“It will be fine, look we really are desperate for some new staff and you haven't been tainted by all the lies and gossip of this small town, plus it's a lot more money.”

“It is?” I didn't want to sound shallow but I really did need a car soon and if I could do it without dipping into my life savings that would be a plus.

“Oh yes, it
over thirty bucks an hour.” Wow
now that was a lot more than I was expecting. I wondered why it was so much. Did you have to donate organs and bone
marrow at the end of each month or something?

“Ok, that is something to think about,” I said and she smiled at her near triumph.

“You saving up for anything?” What, was she reading my mind!

“Yeah I really need my own car. I'm relying on my sister and her husband at the minute and well they don't mind but I don't think it’s fair.”

“And on friends?”

“Yeah sometimes, I mean
,
me and RJ ride together here most days but it would be nice to be able to drive as well, so it isn’t always her that does it.” I was kind of getting the feeling that she was digging for information but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why?

“And from work, does Jack usually drive you home?” For a minute I was considering if she could be a spy for Libby. What was it with all the questions?

“No, I wait for Frank my brother-in-law to pick me up.”

“But not last night.” This wasn't a question. Had she been watching me? When I didn't answer she continued.

“Sorry to be nosy but I saw you last night with your friends and noticed you walking out with that Jack. I just wanted to make sure you were getting home ok.... you can see a lot from up there.” She looked down as though guilty of being caught out watching me. I found it a little strange sure but otherwise it was kind of sweet.

“
It’s
fine, yeah he drove me home but he wasn't drinking or anything. He's very responsible like that.” I felt as though I had to clear that up now so as not to give a bad image of him.

Just then Reed came racing in all red faced and panting. He had what looked like oil down his shirt in little spots and his trousers had marks at the knees as if he had been changing a tyre. I smiled to myself as I thought of a little thing I like to call...

KARMA.

When the class finished, RJ was standing waiting for me, ready to walk me to my next class. It was so sweet the way she did this but whenever I thanked her she just waved it off as no trouble, she had a free period. When the truth was she was worried that I would still get lost. I knew this because whenever she walked me anywhere she would always point out ways to remember, like pointing to a water fountain, room numbers and posters on the wall. One day it was a broken tile on the floor. Saying,

“See that tile, if you just remember to turn left there then you’ll be fine, otherwise you've gone too far.”

Sophia was still behind me so I decided to introduce them.

“Sophia this is my friend RJ, RJ this is Sophia Draven.” I didn't really have to say her last name as RJ's eyes looked as though they would pop out of their sockets.

“It's nice to finally meet you, Kaz has said nothing about you to any of us. I think she was trying to keep you to herself.” I frowned at her but Sophia looked more pleased at this.

“It's nice to meet you too, but Keira has told me all about you, I love your hair.” RJ was all ready to sell her soul to this girl just for the compliment alone. RJ was a sucker for flattery but to have someone as super humanly stunning as Sophia, this
must have been classed as an honour.

“Thank you so much, the colour’s called passion for pink.” Sophia nodded and continued to say,

“Yes I was admiring it before. I have seen you in the club a few times.” At this I couldn't help the snort that escaped. This was a huge understatement as RJ practically lived at Afterlife. But I couldn't help notice in Sophia's
responses the
cautious replies and how she was always careful on how she worded things, wanting to create the illusion she was just like the rest of us. The way she had said “In the club” instead of “My club”. After all it was a family business.

They continued to make small talk and RJ beamed over everything she said. I was the third wheel of course but I didn't mind. I just wasn't looking forward to the ride home knowing it would be
nonstop
Sophia this and Sophia that. But she was smart. Even after RJ's bombardment she never really revealed anything about herself. She just kept the conversation casual and kept enquiring about RJ, reflecting each question back on itself. Of course RJ didn't notice.

As predicted all the way home RJ talked
nonstop
about Sophia but it was sweet really and I didn't have to tell her about my new role in Afterlife as I just didn't get the chance. She was still talking about Sophia Draven when she dropped me off. It was only then that panic started to set in.

Thankfully no one was home yet so I didn't have to hide my worries. I decided to cook Spaghetti Bolognaise as it was quick and Libby and Frank could just heat it up in the microwave. I got the mince beef or ground beef as they called it here out of the fridge and heated a little oil in a frying pan ready to brown it. I chopped an onion and some peppers.  I was like a robot on autopilot. I was cooking without even thinking about what I was doing.

My mind was in full panic. Why hadn't I just said No? Or maybe subconsciously I wanted to work up there, just to be closer to him. I was most definitely a glutton for punishment. I stirred the meaty mixture with the sauce and cooked vegetables after I had drained the fat and added herbs and spices to give it a little kick. But I still wasn't concentrating and burnt my hand on the stove. It woke me out of my zombie state and I ran over to the sink to put some cold water on it but it was too late, it was already starting to blister. Great that's all I needed.... more scars!

I heard keys in the door and realised the time was getting on. I dried off my hand and examined the big red blotch on the side of my palm near my little finger. Thankfully Frank walked in instead of Libby. 

“Oh hey Frank, how are you?” I hid my hand before he could see it, which I really didn't need to because the smell of a freshly cooked meal was enough to draw his attention.

“Hey, yeah I'm good, better now I've come home to this... mmm.” He went straight over to the pot and lifted the lid releasing the aroma of Italian herbs and tomatoes.

“All she needs to do is cook the pasta, ok, and try not to let her burn it.” I patted him on the back as I walked past making my way upstairs.

“Are you kidding that woman could burn ice cream!” He laughed at his own
joke sounding like Doctor Hibbert off the Simpson's. I was running up the stairs when I remembered I was starting earlier and would have to get a lift so I went back downstairs into the kitchen where I found Frank burning his mouth with a spoon in his hand.  

“Ah caught ya!” He dropped the spoon and held up his hands

“Ok you got me, I'm busted. What time you working tonight?” He was such a great guy, like a real brother. And that wasn't just because he would do anything for me. My sister was lucky but if you ever told her that, it was always him that was the lucky one! Which I would have to agree, he was too.

“They asked me to come in early, at seven if that's ok?” I prayed there wasn't a game on tonight or one that he would miss because of me. It was one of his favourite things to do.

“That's perfect, cause I wanted to watch the highlights at eight and now I will have loads of time, that is if your sister’s not watching Desperate Housewives or any crap like that...umm but don't tell her I said that!” I smiled and made a lips sealed gesture across with my hand. It was time to go and get ready, so I jumped in the shower and let my worries continue under the warmth of the water that rained down on me.

Because I knew that this would be yet another night I was never going to forget.

Chapter 16 – First night take two

I got to work in a fluster having only five minutes to spare. I wasn't sure what to do so I went up to Jerry who was behind the bar with Mike. As soon as Mike saw me he walked off to the other end without even so much as a head nod. What was his problem? Was this it now, was I forever going to be the outsider. I knew this was a bad idea but was this just adding yet even more proof to my theory. Jerry came round from behind the bar and pulled me off to one side.

“What are you doing down here, you should be up there already...at least you remembered to wear black!” He was not happy, but he kept his voice steady although a little strained.

“Well I didn't know if I should look in with you first or just go straight up there.” He nodded as if this was normal but he just kept looking around nervously as though not wanting to be seen. This was making my already tense state worse.

“Ok, well you just go up the staircase that you went up last night and they will be expecting you...but go…go, you don't want to be late!” At this he turned me round almost pushing me out of sight. Then he walked off with his phone vibrating and once again he looked as though he didn't want to answer it. I shook off the feeling of dread (or at least tried to) and took the same steps as I had done last night. Only this time I knew I wouldn't be coming back down them as quickly. I kept telling myself that just one night and if it was that bad then I would leave... Yeah, I would just turn around and walk out. I could do that!

This little prep talk I was giving myself wasn't helping much but it was the only thing making my legs move in the right direction. The club was quieter at this time, which made it easier. Not as many staring, gossipy faces as last night. The band members setting up however eyed me up as I went by, near the door closest to the stage. One guy winked at me but then his friend came and whispered something in his ear and he quickly looked away. I wonder what it had been, something like, “There goes that freak who’s been asked to join the cult upstairs.”

The same huge guys stood watch but they didn't even look down at me this time, they just automatically opened the doors to let me in. I decided once inside to run up the stairs otherwise I might not go through with it and the last thing I wanted was to
draw any attention to myself by being late. This time there was no music and no comforting hum of people from down below. It felt more like I was entering a portal to a different dimension instead of just working the VIP. Maybe if there weren't as many weird looking people that were drinking up here or a least some normal looking ones then it wouldn't feel quite so scary. It made me wonder even more about the type of businesses that the Dravens were into that would warrant such a strange array of people.

I walked through the doors at the top after taking more than enough deep breaths, even though as I walked through I was holding them rather than releasing them calmly. As before everybody turned and stared but only for a split second, as if someone had flicked a switch that made them all turn back together. The noise they made sounded like a wave at a football game.