Seeker Read Free Page B

about to erupt from Jake’s mouth. “Yes, we know it’s bullshit, but you ever tried telling her that?”
    â€œHave you?” Jake asked pointedly.
    â€œOf course,” came the sharp reply.
    â€œSure you have. Like never.” Jake finished his coffee and walked it over to the sink. “I love you, Will, but, man, you need to grow a backbone. Bitching to me about it really isn’t doing Lawrencia any good.”
    â€œFine, I’ll shut up then.” Knowing how sulky that sounded, and not really caring much, Willem picked up his mug and walked out of the kitchen.
    â€œYeah, real mature, buddy,” he heard Jake mumble.
    Willem narrowed his eyes but didn’t respond. Instead he flopped down on his chair and threw his feet on the stool. By the time Jake entered the lounge the TV was on. In the Night Garden , the digital box having been left on CBeebies when he’d taken Curtis out earlier, was preferable to the little tiff he was having with Jake. And that it was a silly little tiff was not lost on Willem, but for reasons he didn’t want to entertain he was irritated by what Jake was saying.
    They didn’t fall out very often, but when they did it stung.
    â€œWill, I wasn’t saying you should shut up. That’s like hundreds of miles out from my point.” Jake sat himself on the couch, and waited for Willem to turn the TV either off or down. For a short while Willem refused to do so, instead he continued to watch as Makka Pakka went about the Night Garden washing everything he came across with his sponge. Jake cleared his throat, but still Willem refused to budge. “Okay, you just sit here sulking. I’m sure when Curtis wakes up he’ll give you a conversation worthy of your newfound maturity.”
    Once Willem heard the back door shut, he turned the TV off, but still remained sitting there, gazing at nothing. He really was in a funk. Normally when he felt like this the first person he’d turn to was Jake, but…
    He sat up and reached into his pocket for his phone. He’d apologise to Jake for being a twat, and assuming he hadn’t pissed Jake off too much then within minutes he’d be back and the two of them could talk.
    Willem knew his funk had nothing to do with the whole Lawrencia and Jimmy issue, as much as that ticked him off it was pretty much business as usual, and sure Jake had hit a sore point in regards to Willem’s bitching, but still that was not the issue. Jake and he shared pretty much everything; of course Willem was sure that Jake didn’t tell him every thing, just like he didn’t tell Jake absolutely everything. That would just be dumb and plain impossible. But they always shared the big stuff, and what was developing between him and Charlie was pretty damn big.
    He needed Jake in on this.
    Just as he flipped open the phone it vibrated in his hand and a message alert appeared on the screen. It was Charlie. He opened the message and read; “hey, u still busy if not im online still.”
    With the broadest smile he’d probably ever wear, Willem reached for the table and dragged it towards his chair, all thoughts of Jake having evaporated. He glanced up at the ceiling as the laptop powered up; he just hoped Curtis would stay asleep for at least another half hour. That would be ample time for Willem to show Charlie his secret scar.
    * * *
    Jake took a deep drag of his fag, and blew the smoke out into the cold evening air, wishing he’d not agreed to come to the pub. Normally he was the first one there, making sure he got the first round in, and getting steadily drunk as the night went on, leading the lads in their jokes and pranks, flirting with the first good-looking chick that caught his eye. But not this evening; he was so not in the mood.
    He’d been at home, loafing around, listening to tunes and eating noodles, when Mike called to tell him that Amy was going to be at the Chancery later.