Thirty-Eight (Tim); Careless.
Heather's been acting strangely again. Like today, one minute she'd be happy and laughing, dancing in and out of the centre of the group, then the next she'd be walking off alone, an empiness in her eyes. I hate seeing it, because it always feels like there's nothing I can do; she always insists she's 'fine'. Right now she seems pretty much okay; she's arguing animatedly with one of her friends, waving her hands around in a way that reminds me of myself: haphazard and careless. She looks like she's trying very hard to explain something the man just isn't understanding.
Thinking about men and not understanding... I wonder how Danny is. I feel kinda bad out here in the UK with everyone, and he's back in LA alone, it just doesn't seem fair. Then again, Danny isn't really into the whole social thing, so it kinda stands to reason that if he were here he probably wouldn't be enjoying it anyway. I sigh and watch my wife again. She's still waving her hands around, but I can see that look in her eyes again. I hate it; it's too dark, too alike to what I see when I look in the mirror. I look away, back to Amy and Tim, who seem to be in deep conversation about...something...
Tim looks like he's having difficulty keeping his eyes of Amy and actually having a normal conversation. I chuckle wryly and transfer my gaze to Lisa. Strange to think we were once engaged, because I can't imagine now how it ever would have worked. Lisa is far, far too good for me, she can do a hell of a lot better for herself than this mess! I shake my head slightly as I watch. I think she's giving Heather's friend Jenny some kind of hair tip or something, because she's playing with her hair, twisting it around her fingers, and I think it must be kinda funny, because Jenny's laughing. Sweet. I shrug inwardly and look around in surprise at a tap on my arm.
"Huh? Oh, Heather, what's up?" I ask. She smiles.
"The sky?"
"Heather," I sigh, smiling. She grins.
"Okay, sorry, the clouds."
"Heather!"
"Sorry," she giggles. Now she's here the dark light has gone. Why? Why's it gone now she's over here with me...? "I was wondering if we'd be able to head back? I'm gettin' kinda tired, and Steve and I got rehearsals tomorrow."
"Rehearsals?" I ask, confused. Rehearsals for what?
"Uh - well, not rehearsals!" Heather giggles a little breathlessly. "Just... Stuff, y'know?" She bites her lip and twists her fingers around each other. "Just... Mucking about... And stuff..."
"Okay then..." I say, completely and utterly bemused. "Tim?" I say, walking over to him and Amy. He looks sideways at me, appearing unwilling to look away from Amy.
"Yeah?"
"We gonna go?"
"Aw guys!" Lisa interrupts, one arm around Helena's shoulders, the other around Jenny's waist. "Can't we go and get a drink? Just one?" she pleads. I look at Heather. She's the one who wants to go, after all, and it seems really rude to just agree or disagree without seeking her opinion first, don't ask me why. She nods slightly, and I look at Tim, who's looking back at Amy.
"Yeah, okay..." Heather says quietly. "Complete the evening and all that,"
"Great, lets go! Jenny, can you show me the way to a good pub?" Lisa asks, heading off and leaving the rest of us mere mortals to trail in her wake.
Chapter 37 ; Contents ; Chapter 39
