Do I Wanna Know?

June 25th

June 25thIn the morning I walk downstairs to the kitchen feeling completely calm. I`m surprised to see Josh sitting at the table with my Mum. I quickly realise that my gown is way too short. I`m wearing my favourite extra short grey satin gown which I only wear at home for obvious reasons. Andrew once wanted to hang an 18 sign on my neck. Mum says in a mood:

-Young lady, you could have dressed more appropriately.

-I didn`t think I had to walk around in a spacesuit at home. I apologise Josh. I only came to get my hot chocolate.

-Hey Lucille! No problem. I can deal with it. – he says ironically, his voice smiles, but I still don`t look at him. I go back to my room with my hot chocolate.

A few minutes later I hear Andrew go down the stairs then I hear them leave the house. I get dressed and go back downstairs to have breakfast. During breakfast, Mum tells me again that I can`t dress like this and imagine what would happen if there was a stranger in the kitchen. What would he say? I can`t put people into situations like that. You can tell from this that Mum still looks at Josh as a family member. Years have gone but everything is the same here.

At noon, Vicky`s plane lands. Her relatives are waiting for her at the airport. She will drop her things off at her cousin`s first then she will come over. I give her a big hug. We said goodbye a few days ago but it will take me hours to tell her everything that`s happened. Vicky listens to me without interrupting me. When I finish with my story about this morning and my satin gown, we sit in silence.

-Well, girl, that`s a story. – says Vicky to summarise. –I feel like if time has stopped here. We are in the same situation.

-Yes and I still can`t handle the situation. I can`t get over it.

-Okay, Lulu. Maybe you should end it all. You keep guessing. Does he like me? Does he want to be with me? Is he in love with someone else and he doesn`t even think about me? He won`t say anything. Wouldn`t it be easier to just ask him finally?

-You are right, but I`m not going to do that. I won`t give him another opportunity to embarrass me again.

-Why would he do that?

-Why did he do it before? There was no need for it on my birthday, and there was no need for it after what happened in the Villager. But he did it.

-Lulu, I already told you that we don`t know the full story about what happened at your birthday party. After you left Josh and Vivien were alone separately. Vivien left earlier than him with her friends. Josh stayed there till early morning. It doesn`t matter but you`re still in the dark. Let`s think. The other option is to try and stop beating around the bush but with a different method. Andrew probably already invited him to your birthday party, but you should find out. I don`t think he won`t turn up as all his friends will be here, some of them are only here for a holiday and some of them might only just come for this one night. It would be a good time to do it.

- What do you think?

-Josh said he is disappointed because you were flirting too much with guys. Then he said again. You said he was quite upset. But you know that you never behaved like that before so no one could say anything. So it bothers him when you flirt with other people. There can be two reasons for this, maybe he is trying to protect you as a brother, or he is jealous.

-Probably the first one.

-Maybe not. I think you have to consider your options here. If he is bothered because of men then you will get the same outcome, but with brotherly feelings, he wouldn`t have a problem. – Vicky starts thinking. – I would expect that if he has feelings for you, what happened in the Villager would have damaged his self-esteem and ego and he might not come here on his own. Let`s say that he will be coming here with someone.

-Alright. Let`s end this. There`s not much time left until the end of next week. I could get one of my university mates, but that wouldn`t end well. Whoever would be willing to do this, would have to sleep in my room. I don`t think I would get the desired goal. I don`t want to mess with or upset any of my exes. At the moment my only option is Leslie Cross. He is a good friend of mine. Maybe he would do it.

-Yeah Lulu, but this can only work if the guy knows everything so it doesn`t backfire. Okay, you need to find out first if Josh will be here. Then you can speak to Leslie.

-I`m so grateful. – I hug her.

-Oh, Lulu! This is like a twenty series-long argentine soap opera. I`m looking forward to the next thing. –she laughs.

Vicky`s present is calming. She finds calmness in the biggest chaos, just like now. We agreed that we will go shopping on Monday morning. I walk her to her cousin`s house and we talk for an hour about Liam and her friends at Princeton. Liam O`Keefe is a Viking looking blondish ginger Irish guy who met Vicky during a summer job. They worked in a pub to save money for tuition fees, sometimes as waiters or cleaners. During one of the closed partied they both worked behind the bar, they had a spark and they talked until closing then went on a date the following day. They are in love since then. They never argue and they both managed to keep their separate lives. Vicky always says that Liam is her first boyfriend who doesn`t want to change anything about her. Vicky told me about Liam`s parents, who she finally met last week:

-Ohh, Lulu! We`ve been dating for so long but for some reason, he could never introduce me to his parents. Once it was because of illness and another time because of severe weather conditions.

-You lived through the suffering with me. I was scared of the meeting, I had mixed feelings. I started to think that this can`t be a coincidence, but you know I don`t believe in myths. We planned it so many times and something always came up. This is why it was unbelievable that it finally happened and it went so well. We met in the Winberie`s restaurant. We just sat down when they got there. They were kind and easy going and they were interested in me. Everything interested them. They were amazing. The night has gone so quick that we only realised it when there was no one else in the restaurant. We will be visiting them soon. Liam was very happy that his parents liked me. Their opinion is very important to him. I feel relieved. I couldn`t be happier.

We talk for a bit longer then I say goodbye. I walk home and knock on Andrew`s door.

-Can I come in? – I put my head through the slightly open door.

-Of course Berry. I haven`t seen you all day. Where have you been? – he asks. He is laying on his bed messing with something.

-Vicky was here and I walked her home. You missed out on a few hours long girly conversation. Shall I tell you quickly? –Andy just shakes his head. –Where have you been?

-I went to town with josh for a bit, then played basketball and had a chat in Ramsay Park. We had lunch in a Chinese restaurant. That`s it. The GPS is not working properly so I`m trying to fix it now.

-Andy, can I ask who did you invite, planning to invite and who`s coming for sure to my birthday party just? I need to know the numbers because of the food and drinks.

In my house everyone can invite anyone, we don`t need to ask for permission. The Haggerty family lives by this rule where it`s the four of us but our friends can come over anytime.

-Sure, let me think. So the guys from the university will be coming: Camel, Josh, Brady and Hugh. Some guys who are in the year under us, maybe you don`t know them that well: Curly, Todd and Ray. From the guys, three of them will bring someone with them but that`s not sure yet. Annie will be coming as well. So from my side, it will be 11 people. Have you asked our parents yet?

-I`m going to ask now. I haven`t even thought about who I want to invite.

-You should get on with it Berry as there`s only a week left until then.

-How`s Annie getting on with her exam? What time is she coming?

-Everything is fine. I`m going to the airport to pick her up tomorrow evening, I miss her. Oh, by the way, my darling, it`s about time you get someone for yourself. You`re going to be bored during the summer. Can I help in any way? I have an idea, let me know if you`re interested.

-Okay, I`m going to help Mum now, the guests will be here in half an hour. – I smile. It begins, he found someone for me again. Yaaay!

-I`ll get ready in a bit as well.

I have a shower then put on a light pink summer dress. My parents are already in the garden sorting out a few things. I bring Dad`s old radio out, I find the local metro station, clean the cups, I bring some ice for the drinks and fold some napkins. We are ready when our friends start to arrive.

Emma and Arthur arrive first, their grandchildren went back home for a bit, so they have some free time. Vicky arrives next, then Dad`s old boss, Mum`s old work colleague Monica, they were pregnant at the same time. Dia and Bud, Josh`s parents, arrive next. I haven`t seen time in ages. We are glad to see each other. The evening is going well. The music, the smells, everything is perfect. I sit next to Vicky and we quietly have a chat.

-Apparently, Josh promised he will be here at the party. Three of the guys will be bringing someone else with them. So maybe Josh will too. We can get to the second part of our plan now. – I walk to the far end of our garden and I call Leslie. He answers straight away:

-Lulu! Hey!

-Hi Leslie, am I disturbing you? – I don`t know how to start this.

-Of course not, what`s up?

-Look, Leslie. I`d like to ask you for a huge favour, but you can say no of course.

-Tell me!

-Briefly, there`s a guy and I`m unsure of his feelings and I`d like a fake boyfriend for my birthday party who I can walk hand in hand with, that`s it.

-Wow Lulu, you always surprise me. Guessing it`s the blue-eyed grumpy guy from the Villager. When`s the party?

-yes, that`s him – I tell him. – It`s next Saturday.

-Okay, I`ll be there.

-Seriously? –I have a huge smile on my face.

-Listen, I told you I loved to do silly things like this with my sisters. I miss them so this can make it a bit better. My best friend is madly in love so I never see him. At least something is happening while I`m in the car park with Becca. Anything for you anyway, you know that. You owe me one okay? Is it a dress-up party?

-Jeans and a shirt.

-Okay, I will give you a call before.

-I appreciate it, Leslie.

I sit back next to Vicky with a big smile on my face. The second obstacle tackled. I happily involve myself in the conversation now. I sit next to everyone for a bit. By the time I finish with everyone, the guests start to leave. Dia is very tired so Dad asked me to take them home in Andrew`s car because Andrew already had some alcohol. It takes a few minutes to take them home. Dia wants to invite me so I go inside for a while. Time has stopped in their house too. Everything looks exactly like when I used to spend a lot of time in their house. I eat some cookies then say goodbye. Dia is waving and I start to make my way home when I see Josh in the approaching car, our eyes meet for a second. I see it from my mirrors that he just turned into his parent`s house. One minute and we would have bumped into each other again. After a few seconds, I realise that I`m still holding my breath. I slowly exhale.

Vicky waited for me, she is talking to Andrew in the garden. They are interesting. They know each other the same amount of time as me and Josh. If Vicky needed help, Andrew would help straight away, same as Vicky would, but I`ve never seen them talk much, they are very different. Andrew won`t take life serious for a second, and Vicky is very rational. I listen to their conversation and smile. Andrew is asking Vicky`s opinion about necromancy. This sounds promising.

I take Vicky home around midnight. On the way back home I start to think about whether Andrew invited Josh for tonight`s party? He probably did, especially because they were together all day. Yes, seems like Josh is still avoiding me. I get upset.

-Ohh, Lucille, you can be such a loser!- I tell myself then laugh out loud.