The Game Of Lust

Someone To Call

A few minutes after I hung up I took a deep breath, hoping Huey wouldn't see me in the state I was in, I wiped my eyes vigorously and eventually wiped my entire face with my hands. I wanted to be the man most nen thought they were; unshakeable and strong, I wouldn't shed a single tear but would my shoulder to whoever needed to cry. I would be calm in bad situations and strong in hard times but I was the opposite. I would cry whenever I got angry or upset. I would hyperventilate when I got scared and mess up in hard times worsening the situation for myself.

the day was already taking shape. The dinner had opened though there were no customers yet, afterall it was barely six in the morning. From where I sat I could see the cleaners mopping and wiping down the windows. I wasn't sure if I had told Huey my whereabouts and I wandered how exactly he would find me. I got out of my car and looked around, peering into every vehicle that drove pass though I knew well enough that Huey no longer had a car and didn't actually own one in the passed four years. “Why didn't I just Jimmy instead? ” I sighed.

“Cause Jimmy isn't your best friend, you ditz!”

I turned quickly and found Huey standing behind me.

“How did you know I'd be here?”

“You're at Bonny's,”

“Huh? Really? ” I turned to the signboard and saw "Bonny's recipe." in bold block lettering.

“It's right across the street from my gym and besides how could I miss that height?” he pulled the knot at the back of my hair and loosened my hair into my face. I pushed his hand aside and wrapped my hair back into the knot.

“ Seriously mehn, you need a hair cut.”

I rolled my eyes before noticing his outfit which caused me to roll my eyes even further. He looked as shabby as ever in brown cargo shorts and a black worn out T-shirt that had "t**s Lover" printed boldly on it.

“t**s lover? Are you kidding me?”

“What? it was my size,” he replied, “Why'd you call me anyways?”

I paused and realized that I felt better all of sudden, perhaps it was seeing Huey that took away my suffering.

“Just drive me home,” I said handing him the keys. He didn't bother to ask which home I spoke of instead he got into the car and just drove. I sat at the back seat and peered out the window in a drifted state.

“ Hey … Freddy?” Huey called.

“Hmh what is it?” I slurred the word between my lips.

“Are you okay?”

He was watching me from the rearview mirror, I could tell he was worried regarding my tone on the phone call. “I'm gonna be alright,” I answered. He reluctantly returned his focus to the road.

The car pulls into the driveway and holts, from the unpleasant looking gray walls, I quickly realized that we were at his apartment. I was relieved somehow.

I was welcomed in by the smell of lavender air spray, Huey came in after me looking for Lola who surprisenly wasn't in her room.

I scanned the place then advanced to the kitchen when I heard the sound of something scrapping against plastic. Fortunately, I found Lola sitted on the floor facing the wide open fridge with a giant container of ice cream and another container of cookies between her legs. She had on blue pajamas and her hair was weaved into two messy pigtails.

“Alfred!” she jerked up, exclaiming through her cookie stuffed mouth.

“What are you doing here so early?” she asked and quickly swallowed the contents in her mouth. Before I could answer, Huey rushed in barking,

“What are you doing with ice cream so early?”

Lola close the lid and returned the ice cream back into the fridge as she grumbled stubbornly.

“And go get ready for school I've got..”

“A million things to do this morning!” they said in unison. “That's what you always say.” she muttered and shuffled away with cookie crumbs around her lips.

“You've got…”

“Huh!?”

“On your face” I pointed but she couldn't seem to know what I meant so instead I pulled her back, towards me and dusted off crumbs carefully from her puffy cheeks before pushing her out of the kitchen.

I nodded off on the couch and placed my legs on the table, exhausted from sending most of the night driving around aimlessly. I felt I tap on my leg that went on and on till I opened my eyes and found Lola sitted on the table in front of me. “Alfred,” she whispered as she continued to tap on my leg. She leaned forward and hugged me tightly, I covered her in my arms happily.

“Huey says you're not feeling too well.” she whispered,

“Yea … but you shouldn't worry about me, Lola.”

“You know that's impossible … Dad!” she smiled as she released me from her embrace. I was stunned by her words and stared speechlessly at her. It quickly hit me, it was our little inside joke from when she told everyone at her school that I was second dad just so they'd quite asking her about me. We both began to laugh heartily at ourselves.

“Come on, come on … No time to waste,” Huey yelled from the door.

“Oh I made you breakfast by the way,” She jumped up and ran towards him, she was all dressed up, ready for school in denim shorts and a green sweat shirt. She waved goodbye as they hurried out the door.

I tried to close my eyes for a few more minutes before I realized the time was eight o'clock. I recalled my promise to pick Margret up from the airport as my mother had intensly ordered. I sprung up from the couch and dashed into the kitchen where I had the omelettes that Lola had made.

Immediately afterwards I showered and headed out. I felt drowsy somehow and everything began to distort. I sat at the drivers seat and rested my head on the steering wheel, hoping it would all came together eventually .

I suddenly remembered the things that happened the previous night and as overrun by a deplorable sadness.

I started the car and pulled into the street before speeding off. I finally reached the airport but I was an hour and fourty minutes late. “Mother's going to kill me if she hears of this,” I sighed. I looked for Margret in the crowd, l could hardly tell anyone apart as it all became distorted. I robbed my eyes and continued to search through the people who had only just arrived, so much could have happened in the time I spent in traffic, perhaps Margret grew tired of waiting and got herself a ride instead.

I turned around and to my surprise, it was Margret, she looked different or rather, she looked at me differently, she had on black pants and a gray hoodie on, her hair fell loosely on her shoulders. For some unbelievable reason she seemed delighted to see me. I found it hard to believe that Margret's smile was in any way directed to me, I turned around, checking if there was someone behind me, someone who wasn't me. She had just one small luggage and her shoulder bag. She dropped her bag and sprinted to me with a shocking swiftness. Before I could hesitate or slow her down, she jumped me with both hands and embraced me tightly. She had a sweet scent that lingered. Rather than feel better, I felt worse, I felt played. One minute she almost cared and the next she didn't. With Margret I felt like an object, she'd come to me whenever she remembered I had some sort of use to her and abandon me afterwards or immediately. It had been four months since she had let me touch her. I greeted her affection with the same coldness she'd been choking into me. She loosened her arms that wrapped around my back and released me. I cleared my throat before speaking, “I'm sorry I got caught up in traffic.”

“It's alright … I understand,” she replied, I walked pass her and pick up her luggage, her eyes followed me even as I drove her home I could feel her eyes on me, they made me uncomfortable. “Did something change ?” I wondered. Perhaps it was the hair after all I hadn't cut in months, “Huey was right, I do need a hair cut.”

Margret had that look on her face, the I have something to say look but she couldn't say instead she stared as if I had telepathic abilities and could read her mind.

“Alfred,” she called.

I jumped in shock, I had not actually expected her to speak, I wanted to be mad at her, I couldn't bring myself to continue our shenanigans, I worried over what she was going to say, hoping she'd just remain silent till we got home. I took my eyes off the road and turned to her slowly

“Alfred … I,” before she could complete her sentence, her phone suddenly began to ring cutting her short. She searched herself but couldn't find it, her climbed seat and turned to the back were she placed her bag. Margret maneuvered her body between the passenger seat to the back seat, with her hips nearly pushing the gear lever. Unfortunately her attempts to reach her bag was a fail. She returned to her seat as the ringing stopped and she chuckled under her breath.

Almost immediately, her phone began to ring again, she sighed exhaustedly as she looked around. I pulled out of the road into a quiet street and parked. Margret rushed out and hastily opened the back seat.

She rummaged through her bag till she pulled out her phone.

“Hello, Mr Dominique!” she uttered loudly. I remained in the seated and peered out the window.

“I… I'm not at the office, I just got back a minute ago, ” her tone fell. She returned back to the passenger seat quietly. She shut the edge of her sweater between the door as she got in. “You sweater … it's stuck,” I pointed out. “What! Where?” she noticed it as well but struggled to pulled it out. She wiggled frantically, “Careful you'll tear it,” I said holding her hand still, I leaned towards her, so close I could feel her ….. brushing my chest, she watched me quietly, frozen still, I could hear her tired breathing as her chest lifted and fell in tired breaths. I unlocked the door and released her shirt. I lifted my head and my eyes met hers in a long stare, I found myself drifting in her eyes, I wondered why I couldn't control myself around her as my heart began to pound, I quickly returned to seat and started the car.

“Can you drop me off at the office, I have a few things I need to do,” Margret said as she adjusted the sweater on her body.

“Sure.”