Kinda short chapter, just to get things moving...
The phone ringing startled Stuart from a rather peaceful slumber.
"Hullo?"
"Stu? It's Murdoc,"
Stuart glanced over at his digital clock on the nightstand.
"Murdoc, it's two in the fuckin' mornin,"
"Yeah, I know. Listen, Dads not havin' a good night. He jus' got back from the bar…."
There was a pause, Stuart could hear Murdoc's heavy breathing over the connection.
"Can I come ova? I jus' need a place to stay for tha night,"
"Yeah, alright. See ya in a few,"
Stuart hung up and rolled over in bed, gazing off into the darkness. He felt sorry for his friend. Murdoc's father was a very unpleasant man who figured he time was better spent at the bar and with cheap hookers than with his son. Every so often, Murdoc rang him up asking to stay over because his father arrived home drunker than hell and woke up the entire neighborhood with his cursing and screaming at Murdoc.
He sat in silence for a few more minutes before he heard a quiet tapping on his bedroom window. Flipping the latch, he slid the window open for Murdoc to climb in.
"Thanks a lot mate. Jus' had ta get away, yeh know?"
Stuart nodded, knowing that Murdoc couldn't see him agree in the pitch black room. With a sigh, Murdoc fell onto the worn, beat up love seat in the corner while Stuart climbed into his own bed.
"Stu?"
"Yeah, Muds?"
"Why'd ya lie ta me?"
"W-wot're yeh talkin'about?" Stuart fidgeted nervously and was all too thankful that the room was so dark.
"I'm talkin' about that bird yeh ditched me for. Yeh know? The Asian one…"
"Huh?"
"Don' play stupid wif me. You've never run errands for your mum in your whole life,"
Stuart gave up, sensing this was getting him nowhere.
"You followed us?"
"Yeah. You pissed?"
"A bit, I s'pose. But I did lie to you…"
"What was so secret that I couldn' know about it?"
"Nuffin I guess. I dun know why I lied…M'sorry"
"Yeah, wotever Stu-Pot. See ya in tha mornin"
Within a few minutes, Murdoc was snoring. Stuart soon followed suit, grateful that Murdoc wasn't too upset.
In the morning, the boys awoke to the tantalizing smell of frying sausage and dragged themselves into the kitchen to find Rachel Pot fixing breakfast.
"Mornin' luv" She said, kissing Stuart's cheek. "Murdoc, what a lovely surprise. 'Ow've you been?"
"Fine, thanks"
Rachel gave Murdoc a one-armed hug, holding a spatula in the other hand. The table was heaped with thick buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, the sausages they'd smelled, and crispy bacon.
The boys ate in silence, Murdoc was particularly enjoying the meal. His father rarely bought anything other than frozen meals and fast food, so Rachel's home cooked breakfast was heaven. Stuart poked his eggs, thinking of the kiss Noodle had given him. Did she really like him? Or was he just overreacting to a friendly gesture?
The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Rachel moved swiftly from the frying pan to the phone hanging on the wall behind her.
"Allo?…Yeah, He's here…Stu, s'for you,"
Stuart took the phone from his mother and watched as she turned back to the stove.
"Hullo?"
"Stuart, It's Noodle. Can you come over? My parents are not home…they left for Paris this morning,"
Stuart's heart fluttered in his chest.
"Erm, yeah. Mind if I brought a friend?"
"No, not at all," Though Stuart thought he heard a bit of an annoyed tone in her voice.
"Right then, we'll be over in a bit,"
Murdoc glanced up as Stuart returned the phone to its' holder.
"That was her. She wants us to come over…"
Murdoc nodded and finished up eating before placing his dirty plate in the sink and thanking Mrs. Pot for the meal.
"You're welcome, luv. Oh, Stu, Your father needs ya tomorrow, so don't be out too late," She called as they headed out the door. She watched them disappear down the road, then turned back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up and to wonder to herself who the girl on the telephone was.
I promise the next chapter will be longer :D