01.

Tak to ja, przeprosiłam się z tym blogiem.

Znalazłam  w odmętach komputera gotowe opowiadanie, które gdzieś już publikowałam, ale na pewnym etapie przestałam. 
Ale właściwie co mi szkodzi je wrzucić?... 

Tak oto są tu pierwsze 3 odcinki (z 5 niegdyś już opublikowanych),  ku przypomnieniu.

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Elizabeth Morgan parked in the driveway. She got out of the car and looked at her family house. “Home sweet home” – she thought sarcastically. She was visiting her parents (and later her mother after father’s death) every Christmas. But now it was something different. Now, when her mum wasn’t feeling very well, she decided to move back here, after something like 12 years. “Backing to basics, phfff” – she gasped. The idea of living here again made her feel so weird but also, surprisingly for Elizabeth, gave her some kind of calm.

She opened trunk and took out her luggage. She texted her best friend, Jena, that she’s home and then she started to walk toward the door. She was staring at peeling  paint, while using doorbell. After 125 seconds her mother, Diana, opened the door:

- Effy, my love, come in!

With big smile on her face she moved and let Elizabeth walk into home, closed door behind her daughter’s back and then hugged her tightly.

- Sweetie, you know you don’t need knock or using doorbell. – Diana looked at Effy – It’s your home.

- Yeah, well, it would feel weird, if I didn’t. I just moved in. – Elizabeth put the suitcase on the first step of the stairs.

- But baby! – Diana rolled her eyes – It always was your home! Anyway, take off your jacket and come to the kitchen, I will make us some hot tea.

When Effy came into kitchen, cup of warm drink was already waiting for her. She sat on the chair in front of her mother, who asked:

- How was your flight, my dear?

- It was fine. Only on airport I had some problems, I mean nothing big, I just had to find leather jacket in my luggage and it got little messy.

- You didn’t prepare for our weather earlier?

- Mum, I spend last 12 years in California. I forgot that here in UK are only two seasons: autumn and winter.

- So sarcastic. – Diana giggled – Just like your father. He was the same. He hated everything and everyone. I think me and you were only people who he really liked in his whole life.

Elizabeth knew that’s true. Her personality was very similar to hers father. But speaking about look – she was like mirror image of her mother. The same messy brown hair, the same blue-green eyes and almost the same construction of face. There was only two differences between them – Elizabeth was little taller and 30 years younger.  But her mother wasn’t looking like sixty-something lady.

- You baking something? – Elizabeth smelled burnt cake.

- Oh, Lord! 

Diana run to oven and pulled out cookies. She looked happily at her daughter and said:

- I baked them because of your arrival, darling.

- Mum, I’m 31. You don’t need to bake cookies for me.

- But it’s your favourites!

Diana put some of cookies on plate and placed it on the table.

- Eat, my love. – she said, while she was sitting down.

- What about glass of milk?

- You want milk? – Diana stood up from her chair.

- No mum! It was a joke. – Effy rolled her eyes. – It was a joke. Cookies and glass of milk, like a snack for 5 years old kid.

- Oh, baby, I missed you so much. – Diana looked at daughter with this “I’m-gonna-cry-in-a-sec” look.

- Mum, please. Stop acting like that. I can promise you, after a month you’ll wanna kick my ass out of this house.

- I doubt that.

_________________________________________________________________

Diana didn’t kicked out Elizabeth after month living together. Actually they got along pretty well with each other.

It was another boring afternoon in local market. Elizabeth Morgan was walking between full shelves, looking for some favourite products. Suddenly she hear her name behind her back.

- Effy Morgan?

She turned around and saw lady with short black hair and big brown eyes. Her clothes were looking  old and Elizabeth was almost sure this woman bought them in secondhand, cause this kind of fashion was trendy something like 5 years ago. Woman noticed that Effy wasn’t sure if they know each other so she said:

- It’s me, Alison Banner, earlier Simmon. 

- Oh my God, Ally!  Hey!

Effy smiled and hugged this woman. She and Alison  was friends in their teenage years. When Elizabeth was 15, Ally (who was 17 then) got pregnant. They kept in touch for almost whole pregnancy but when Effy’s mum figured out about it, she forbid her daughter meeting with Alison. Ally  gave a birth to the baby and after 6 months (which means after her 18 birthday), she took quick wedding and runaway to London with her husband, Tommy. Elizabeth didn’t saw her since 15 years.

- It’s ridiculous! – said Alison – You still look the same! Your hair, your figure, your face, just like a teen! You didn’t change at all!

- Oh, thank you. – Effy smiled – You’re looking good too.

It was a lie. Alison was looking more like 45 years old, not like 33 years old. She was looking very tired. Tired of life. But it’s not kind to tell people stuff like that. Well, not to people which you liked.

-  Oh come on! – Ally smiled crookedly. - How are you?

- I’m fine, I… Oh maybe we will pay for grocery and go for coffee? – proposed Effy – What do you think?

- Maybe you can go to my place, on your way back?  

Elizabeth felt that maybe Ally didn’t have enough money for coffee in café, they never was very rich, so she nodded.

- Yeah great!

***

20 minutes later, old friends were climbing stairs. Alison’s parents had big house so after her homecoming they split it into two flats. Ally had her own place up stairs. She invited Elizabeth to living room and made coffee. They could finally talk.

–  So tell me what are you doing here? – asked Ally.

- I moved back, my mum is getting older, you know. She’s not feeling the best, but she pretends everything is ok, so I wanna be closer to her.

- Oh I see…

- What about you? – Effy took a sip of coffee –When did you back?

- I backed here 11 years ago, after this bastard left me when my baby was almost 5. Fortunately my parents took me back. But you weren’t here anymore. I remember that I visited your mum but she told me you went to college in States.

- Yes – Effy nodded – I graduated there and I was living in Los Angeles for last couple of years.

- Damn, Los Angeles, sounds so dreamy…

- Haha – Elizabeth laughed – when I say “Los Angeles” everyone is thinking about Hollywood. But besides Hollywood it’s normal city, you know.

- And you moved here just like that? – Ally seemed really shocked – To this middle of nowhere?

- Oh, it’s not that bad place.

- But what about work?

- Oh, I’m writing for website, I don’t need to sit in office, you know this days technology…

- Oh yeah, internet and that stuff. – Alison smiled – You lucky girl, you must earn really good money…

- It’s not that bad. – Effy smiled shyly –What about you?

- Oh, I worked in shop but they closed it, so right now I’m unemployed.

- Oh, I’m so sorry. I know you will find something soon.

- Fortunately Andy is giving some guitar playing lessons, so I don’t need to give him any money. 

- Andy? – asked Elizabeth – So you have a son?

- Oh yeah. – Ally’s face lit up when Effy mentioned his name – This little prick is 15 and he has charm and sassiness of his damn father.

- That tells me everything, I feel like I know him!

They both laughed.

- It was so good to see you after all this time. – Effy smiled. – But I must go now.

- I hope you will visit me again soon!

***

- You’re not gonna believe who I met!

- Who? – Diana Morgan looked at her daughter over book which she was holding in her hands.

- Ally Banner!

- Oh. It probably was really… interesting for you. After all this years. How is she?

Effy took off her jacket and sat on sofa next to her mother.

-  Yeah it was very interesting. She says she’s fine, but she looks very tired. She’s unemployed right now but she’s looking for a job. I hope she will find one.

- Well, she’s not that successful as you.

- Mum! – Elizabeth looked at her mother reprovingly – She’s still really nice and I think I will be visiting her!

- Did you meet her son?

- Andy? No. – Effy shook her head – I just know that he is self confident and can play a guitar.

- He’s really nice boy. – smiled Diana – Like he would be from different family.

- Mum, you’re so mean! Stop it!

- I always thought that she’s not good company for you. 

- UGH! – Effy gasped and rolled her eyes.

- Jena is definitely better, so sad she’s not here, right?

- Ugh, you’re so… Actually I’m just going to call her. I will greet her from you.

________________________________________________________________

- So I know that some Jena took my place on your best friends list.

- Oh don’t say that, Ally.

- But it’s true. So… Anyway… Is it right time to talk about love life?

Next Sunday Elizabeth was sitting in Alison’s living room again. They were already talking for something like 2 hours and during this conversation they drank almost two bottles of wine.

- So, successful lady –Alison smiled – is there any prince in your life? What’s your story?

-Right now there is no prince. – Effy giggled. – And what about my story… Well there is not much to say. As you remember I was dating Teddy McNish and I was with him for whole high school.

- You must be fucking joking?! – Ally almost poured wine – You really were with him that long?!

- He was really lovely boy! – Elizabeth laughed – He changed a lot after you left, so you have no idea what are you talking about. Our relationship fell apart naturally, you know, I moved to States.

- I know, I know that he changed. Right now he’s really hot stuff, here, in our town. And single… - she winked at Effy.

- Come on! Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. – Elizabeth poked her tongue at Ally.

- Ok, backing to your story…

- Oh, yeah. So… During college I was messing around for…  like 2 years.

- Slutty time?

- Haha – Effy giggled – Yeah, kind of. Then I met Timothy. Lawyer. We were working in the same newspaper editor.  We were couple for 9 years, engaged for 5. What more to say?  We were living together, generally we were like marriage, but, well… without marriage. 7 months ago we break up.

- Why? – Ally furrowed her brows.

- I think we just used to be couple and we forgot what really “being together” means. So we ended it. Actually he was really boring, haha… So… Yeah... – Elizabeth coughed – That’s my story. What about you?

- You already know story about Tommy, he left when Andy was 5. Then I backed here, I was trying to find a man, but you know, I’m not that good as you.

- Don’t say something like that! – Effy made angry face.

- We both know that’s true! You’re educated, intelligent, beautiful woman. And who am I? Uneducated, single mother with middle-age look, mostly unemployed.  There was some men in my life, but always my son was a problem. And, you know, Andy is the most important person in my life. I can’t be with someone who’s not accepting him. Actually when he was 10 was with a guy named Ewan but it worked only for a two years. And, well, here we are, today, on this sofa.

- I think we should make a toast. – Effy suddenly stood up. –  For all this stupid men who weren’t able to appreciate us!

 They laughed loudly and drank rest of wine. Then they backed to sofa.

- Isn’t that funny? – Effy looked at her friend –  I’m journalist, but from two of us, you were the one who wanted to have a writing-job.

- Yeah, I wanted to do that. – Ally nodded – But you were always better in writing. – she laughed. – I wanted to write but the highest note I ever get was B. And I got it only once. You were getting A’s all the time. I think as saying I wanna write I just wanted to be more like you. Oh, by the way, can I ask you something?

- Yeah, sure.

- You see – Ally scratched her head –  Andy has some problems with his social studies in school. I have no idea about that, but you as journalist knows it very well so maybe you can help him? If it wouldn’t be a problem of course…

- Oh, no problem! I can even give him some private lessons, if it’s very problematic for him.

- Really? It would be great! – Ally seemed cheered, but then she became sad – But I can’t pay you much, I mean…

- Pay? Are you kidding me? I’m not gonna let you pay me for it. – Effy rolled her eyes – I will do it for free.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah! Well, if it turns that he’s really annoying I will just kick him out of my house. Deal?

 Elizabeth smiled at Alison, who hugged her tightly.

- Thank you so much! Just tell me when he can visit you.

- Even tomorrow. Maybe around 5 p.m. I will talk to him how many lessons does he need.

- You’re an angel. – Alison grinned.

- Don’t call me like that. I did nothing.

***

- Mum what I supposed to wear?

Elizabeth was staring at her mother with 5 hangers in each hand.

- Effy, my love, you’re not going on a date. You will give a 15 years old boy private lessons of social studies. Just wear anything and it will be ok.

- But that’s the point! I can’t wear anything! – she rolled her eyes. – I don’t wanna look like teacher, because I want him to feel comfortable, but at the other hand I don’t wanna look too casual, because it’s not a friendly meeting. You feel me, mum?

- You’re overacting. – Diana smiled at her – It’s just a kid. I think this T-shirt which you’re wearing right now it’s completely ok.

- Yeah, ketchup stains are trending right now.

They looked at each other and then laughed at loud.

Effy thought that maybe her mother is right, maybe she pay too much attention to her look. She back upstairs to her bedroom and put down all hangers. She stayed in jeans and put on a simple tank top. She arranged her hair in a ponytail. Then she went to room next door – now it was the place where she was working, but earlier it was her daddy’s room. Actually she and her mother still called it “D-room”.

She was on hall when she heard doorbell. She went downstairs and grabbed the door handle. While opening door, she realized she never thought about how Andy looks. Ally was talking about him as a little child, so Effy was thinking about him as a little child. Well she knew that he’s nearly 16, but she didn’t realize that until now.

So when she finally saw him, she was little surprised.

Behind the door was standing 6 feet tall skinny boy. He was nearly head taller than Effy. He had brown hair which was all over his face, hiding his forehead and eyebrows. He was really pale so all attention was attracted by his big, big dark brown eyes. “In some way he was reminding  squirrel. But cute one.” – thought Elizabeth. He was wearing black coat, ripped jeans and sneakers. In right hand he was holding gray backpack.

- Hey. – he said with deep voice. – I’m that dumbass who needs private lessons about the world which he’s living in.

- Hello. – she let him into the house and closed door right behind his back – And don’t call yourself “dumbass”. If you won’t appreciate yourself, no one will.

- I thought it will be social studies, not lessons about self esteem. Maybe I went into wrong house. – he turned to the door.

- Oh very funny. – Elizabeth tried to be serious, but she couldn’t help that and she giggled.

- You smiled, Effy. I saw that. – she pointed at her – Oh, I can call you Effy, right?

- Yeah, sure. – the truth was, she didn’t think about how he should call her, so she agreed. Because he was still in coat, she said – Take it off and let’s go upstairs.

- Wow, Effs – he raised his hands in a defensive gesture – slow down, we know each other for only 2 minutes!

- I was talking about coat, kid. – Elizabeth rolled her eyes but deep inside she thought “what a sassy bastard!”

 She reminded herself what Ally said about him “he has charm and sassiness of his damn father”. That was true “charming and sassy” was ideal definition of Andy.

While later they went into “D-room”.

- So here we will work. – she said to break the silence. – I think here will be properly and  comfortable.

She glanced at Andy. He was looking around the room. Then he laid his eyes on her and asked:

- Where is your bedroom, Effy?

- What? – she thought she heard wrong what he said.

- I asked where is your bedroom. – he repeated.

- Next door. – Elizabeth had no idea what the hell was going on.

- Why we are not there?

- Excuse me? – she raised her eyebrows.

- It will be more comfortable. – he said calmly – more… domestic, don’t you think? Here is like in office. It’s something unnatural here. Like… - he took a deep breath and started to looking around again – Like here was a room which was completely different than what’s here now. Like someone change everything and took away spirit of this place… - he shook his head and looked at Effy – Sorry for this bullshit. Don’t listen to me. I’m such a freak sometimes. If you wanna work here, we will stay here.

- Actually you’re right. – she nodded – It was my dad’s room which I changed into something like work-room.

- Where’s your dad now?

- He’s gone... – she sighed.

- Like mine.

- I mean he passed away. It’s not the same, Andy. You’re father is alive.

- So what, if he’s not visiting me? – he shrugged his shoulders and then he asked – You know him, right?

- Yhymm. – she mumbled and then suddenly she asked – You writing?

- Writing what? – he answered with question. 

- Lyric. Poems.

- Why? Do I look like sensible one? – he raised his brows.

- You looks like sensible one. And you sounds like sensible one. Plus:  you’re very perceptive.

- So you have the answer. I write some lyrics. And sing them, while playing a guitar. – on his face appeared cocky smile – Girls love that.

- No doubts. – Effy giggled. – So come on. – she pointed on door by her head.

- Where?

- To my bedroom. – she smiled in the same way he did few seconds ago.

***

ENJOY.