Delivering Blu Skies (BWWM)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I had a three jobs.

My first was making sure Livvy was alright. My second was warming the counter-top at Mr De Wet’s DvD store. My third was at an animation studio, during the weekends. It wasn’t anything fancy or anything like that, I was just a mailman and I did a few coffee runs during the weekends. Wettie’s son; Allen co-owned the company so it was pretty easy to get it.

Allen was a cool dude. He was one of those guys who would tell a joke and you’d have to be smart to understand it. Maybe that’s why he liked me so much. That and the fact that the guy had the hots for my mom. Not that I minded, his crush came with benefits, my car being one of them along with a job at this place. But then there were times like this…

The beginning of every Saturday morning with the guy would always have a bit of an awkward start. See, I’d purposely delivered the letters to his office last because it wasn’t just a met and greet with ol’Allen. There was always a Q and A interrupting my Saturday mornings.

“Morning Kai,” He had his head bent, doodling something before he sat back and smiled.

“How’s it Allen?”

“Same old same old.” He shrugged. “Heard you and Livvy moved into my parent’s place.”

“Yeah, just until Rick get alcohol poisoning or something.” I shrugged.

Allen did a weird chuckle before he cleared his throat. “So how’s your mom?”

And that was always the million dollar question. I could never understand it. My mom, Rick and Allen all went to the same high school together. Mom of course, got knocked up with yours truly and Rick wasn’t the most honourable guy out there. He f****d off until I was about five and throughout the entire duration of his dead-beat dad routine, Allen was there. How mom could have been stupid enough to let Allen go was a mystery to me. We all knew Allen was what she needed. What we all needed.

“I don’t know. She’s still getting slapped around.” With that, the pencil in Allen’s hand snapped. “Allen, she’s not leaving him.” He nodded. “Go out with that cat lady Kate. She likes you.”

“Nah, I’m too busy to date. And I need to take care of my parents, you and Livvy.”

“Livvy and I are fine.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well I still feel like you two are my responsibility.” He paused and quickly lifted a few papers before pull out a ratty coffee covered piece of paper. “Speaking about responsibilities, you drew this right?”

I did. It was just a silly little cartoon strip of Livvy and her Zinky. I’d only shown them to her. She had two books filled with the all the doodles I’d made for her. I shrugged indifferently. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

Allen looked at me then back at the doodle. “You’re talented. “ He handed me the strip. “Starting from next week I’ll teach you how to use the software in the work room. We can turn this into something.”

“Allen, don’t –“

“Take the rest of the day off Kai. Once I’m done with this stuff, I’ll close up.” He was doodling again. I wasn’t about to question my boss on my first free Saturday in months. I took a drive back home. Not a very good idea since Rick was back.

Not that the drunkard was awake or anything. He was snoring up the place while mom was at work. I simply walked in and was about to walk out. But the douche was on the front porch hogging up all the space. Rick was one of those obese tall guys with a huge bald spot and no ambitious or source of income.

“Hey kid,” He yEllad, “Where the f**k is my wife?”

“Don’t know Rick. Didn’t you beat her into oblivion last night?”

The little-pricked- hot-head forgot just how drunken he was and fell off his seat before he could even touch me. He hit his head, for a second he didn’t move he just started snoring again. I’ll tell you the truth, I was a tiny bit rattled and I needed a nicotine break. And Simon’s place was the perfect place to do just that.

Simon and I had a few things in common. He smoked and so did I. He plays rugby. And at one point so did I. Our dads were both f**k ups. But at these his was rich and just cheated on his wife. We played Fifa together and trained together. Simon lived one the fancier parts of town, I did not. His home left a lot of room to smoke without getting caught, with a home gym which we put to too much use.

“Marv, coach wants you back on the team.” Simon was the only one allowed to call me by my middle name, Marvin was not up for public consumption.

“I’ve got a lot going on,”

“Yeah well the team’s been losing a lot. Com’on Marv it’s our last season.” Simon doesn’t beg a lot but when he does it’s usually followed by a few bench presses. “And now you’ve lost muscle mass. You look like a b***h ass cricket player. Serious Marv, you look hungry as fuck.”

“That’s only cause your mom isn’t feeding me, Dipshit.” I wiped the sweat off my brow, “I’ll think about it.”

I left Simon’s after letting him beat me at Fifa. I liked Wettie’s house. It actually had food and a warm bed. Livvy was helping Mevrou. Mevrou was a few years younger than Wettie but just as ancient. She made the best meals ever, and always had toffee in her bag like those grandmas on sitcoms.

“Kai!” Livvy did this thing where she’d always run full force towards me, when I got back. It was the one thing that I looked forward to. On most days I’d pick her up and throw her over my shoulder but today I wasn’t ready. I fell back against the door while she hugged me. “Guess what?” She jumped.

“What?”

“I lost my tooth.” She grinned. There was now a black hole where her tiny canine used to be. “Granny said that toothfairy is gonna give me money for it tonight.” She jumped again. I’d stop correcting Livvy about calling Mevrou ‘Granny’ but Mevrou didn’t mind and Wettie didn’t mind either when Livvy called him ‘Oupa’ so I shut up. But I was glad Livvy was happy, she deserved it.

“Hallo Kai,” Mevrou waved from the kitchen. “Oupa’s out. Wash up before dinner. And Livvy-poppy can you come help me put the chocolate in the cookie dough asseblief?” Livvy couldn’t run back into the kitchen fast enough.

Wettie’s shower was great. For one there wasn’t the occasional flow of brown water spilling out onto you. I was just about ready to relax for the rest of the day before I got to thinking about Blu. I hadn’t seen her since I left her, looking desperate at the hospital a few days ago. And I really wasn’t sure if I needed to add, dying girl onto my list of responsibilities. I guess I still wanted her to be okay.

“Heard you were thinking about me?” She smiled, sitting cross legged on my bed.

“Jesus Christ Blu!” I closed the door behind me.

“Nice towel by the way.” She giggled. Today she was wearing my old first team rugby jersey with some yellow Pj pants. Where the hell was she getting my stuff from?

“We need boundaries.”

She rolled her eyes. “Relax. I’ve seen everything. Remember I’m kinda always watching you. It comes with the job. Not to mention the fact that I’m a stalker.” Her face was blank.

“Serious?” Why do I feel so violated?

This time she laughed while shaking her head. “No. This is was probably a bad time but you kind of rang and I had to answer.” I walked towards the opposite end of the bed. “Have you thought about our deal?”

Blu was oblivious. There was only a towel around my waist and her eyes hadn’t moved from my face. It was weird. “Yeah, I guess I have.” She was looked expectant. “But where did you get my rugby jersey from? And where’s my hoodie?”

She shrugged. “They’re still in your closet. I just- I can only really wear things that belong to you, since you know... I’m your keeper. And this seemed roomy. Why? Does it freak you out? Should I change?” She frowned a bit.

“No- It’s okay. It-it looks good on you.” I put on a shirt from my bag. “So you still need help?” I sat beside her. “Blu –“

“Before you say anything. You just need to know. I hurt a lot of people that night. People who blame themselves and feel terrible for my actions. I ruined a lot of good things for a lot of good people. And I really just want a second chance.” She had this sad look on her face. It almost reminded me of Livvy and how Livvy always wanted to be happy. How Livvy deserves to be happy. Blu was- Blu was something else but her big brown eyes reminded me of Livvy. “Kai? Please.”

I know I’d regret this but, “Fine.”

Blu entire face brightened. “You mean?”

“I’ll help you out.” I didn’t expect Blu to jump me. You’d think a restless spirit would weigh nothing but Blu’s entire body landed on mine, cause us to both fall back onto the bed.

“Thank you so much Kai. I promise you won’t regret it.” You won’t believe just how cold Blu was. I shivered. Her eyebrows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re cold and you’re on top of me.” I couldn’t look her in the eye, I was afraid of what might happen next especially with Blu’s chest on mine and her face so close to mine. She quickly got the message and got off.

“Sorry. I don’t really… In this state I don’t really get the concept of social cues and stuff. That’s why when you were in the towel, I wasn’t really interested. Looking at you naked – in this state – is the equivalent to looking at an old lady in a bikini.” She buried her face into her hands. “But the good news is, I can now have a wider range of emotions. Now I’m embarrassed.” She cleared her throat.

“It’s okay –“

“I think I should go now.”

“Blu, no –“

She opened her mouth. The knock at the door interrupted her. “Kai, stop talking to your girlfriend. Dinner’s ready.” Livvy whined. Blu shrugged.

“I’ll be back in the morning.” She smiled. A real smile this time with teeth and everything. “Thanks again Kai.” Then she was gone.