After Chemistry I decide that now that Sam and I are friends we might as well do what friends do. Which I assume is spending time together. That’s what I’ve seen and read.

“Do you have to go with your mum now?” I ask Sam when we’re picking our belongings.

“Not really. Why? Do you have any scheme to take over the world?” she asks wiggling her eyebrows and I laugh.

“Not yet but let’s not discard that possibility. I have to test you first to see if you are a worthy accomplice,” I say sounding as serious as I can, but I can’t wipe off the grin of my lips.

“I’ll do my best. So what’s my first task? Hide a body?” Sam ventures and I chuckle.

“Tomorrow you’ll do that. For now, would you want to grab something to eat with me?” I ask with my best smile and Sam’s widens, all joke aside.

“I can totally do that. This whole thing about being an accomplice sounds pretty fun and delicious. I should’ve tried to conquer the world before.” We laugh together and pull our backpacks over our shoulders, leaving the classroom behind. We say goodbye to Mrs White, Sam’s mum, who smiles so brightly at us, as if she couldn’t be happier that we are spending time together.

We leave the building together after I pick the textbooks I left in my locker. I need to review when I get home. I don’t think I’ll be back that late and I still need to focus on my classes. I have to get only As in my A Levels. Plus, my parents wouldn’t approve if they don’t see me studying at home.

When we’re outside I see everyone leaving. Pretty much like yesterday but this time there’s something different. I’m not going straight home, I’m going somewhere with a friend, like any other college student.

Things can change so fast if you’re really willing to do something about it.

Out of curiosity or impulse, I look at the same spot where I saw Zeke the day before and he’s there, smoking, all alone, dark and scary as every time I’ve seen him before. The only difference is that in this occasion he’s watching me when I turn to look at him. Our eyes meet for a second and I panic, grabbing Sam’s arm and looping mine around hers.

“You okay?” she asks me, noticing I tense next to her.

“Yes, yes,” I say but I don’t tell her my heart is racing, pumping blood to all my body, making sure all my limbs are ready for the escape. It’s a natural reaction, a survival response to a threat.

I don’t know why Zeke scares me so much, but he does.

Sam looks around as if like that she could find the source of my anxiety. “Not to freak you out or anything, but Zeke is watching you.”

I swallow hard.

“I think I’m in his black list,” I whisper, walking faster away from the building and away from him. “And I don’t know why. I haven’t even talked to him!”

“Or maybe he has a crush on you!” Sam exclaims and we both stop to look at each other and one second later we burst out laughing.

We laugh so hard at the impossibility of that option that even my sides hurt and I forget all about my fear when I saw him watching me. Probably he’s just trying to scare me away so I don’t stare at him ever again. He looks like the kind who doesn’t approve of people butting in so it would be wise if I just pretend he doesn’t exist.

Once we recover from our laughing fit, Sam stands straighter and takes a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll take you to a place I love. Let’s go.”

So I follow her down the streets of Manchester. We take a bus at some point but it’s not really far. We finally make it to a small coffee shop that looks very casual and bohemian. We walk inside and it’s like half-underground. It’s not exactly at ground level but it’s not underground. It’s pretty cool, though. The walls are just bricks, no painting, with many posters of different bands on the walls. There’s a small stage with a piano, a stool and a microphone. No one is on there, though. There are a few tables with chairs but mostly you found loveseats and coffee tables in the middle. Even some sofas. The doors to a kitchen, I assume, a kind of bar for all the coffees and the cashing machine with a girl in cat-like glasses and red hair.  The waiters all dress in black and look very hipster. With skinny ripped jeans, boots and shirts with bands I’ve never heard of. All they have different hairstyles and that gives the whole place a really cool vibe.

“This is my favourite place,” Sam tells me as she guides me to a couple of loveseats with a large coffee table in the middle. “One day I’ll gather the courage to go on stage.”

“When you do you ought to tell me. I want to be here,” I request and Sam blushes.

“I dunno, maybe it would be better if no one I know is here when—”

“No! There has to be someone rooting for you. Plus, I’ve never been to any musical performance… or anything. I’d love to see you!” I protest and she looks at me with widened eyes.

“You haven’t? Oh, that’s something we have to change. ASAP! This Saturday a guy is playing. I was going to come on my own but now I don’t have to. Come with me! I bet you’ll like him, he’s great.”

“I-I dunno. I would have to ask my parents. I’ve never asked permission for anything. I don’t know if they would allow it,” I say which is the honest truth.

“I’ll talk to them if necessary! Or my mum could. Come on, you have to go. He’s great and you need to go to a gig at least once,” Sam insists and I start to get excited.

Isn’t part of living my life doings things I’ve never done before? Going to a gig is something any other teenager has done and it’s part of being young.

“I’ll talk to them and I’ll let you know,” I say when a waiter approaches us.

“Great! You text me tonight after you talk to them, okay?” she requests and I nod.

After that we order coffee and muffins, which turn out to be really delicious. Later we leave with a promise to come again. I really loved this place and Sam is happy that I liked in here. Finally we say goodbye and part ways. I get home just half an hour before my parents do and by then I’m already reviewing my subjects so they don’t even find out that I went to a coffee shop after classes. I keep studying whilst Dad prepares dinner. Mum and Dad have an agreement of taking turns to prepare the meals. One day Mum is in charge of the kitchen, the next one Dad is. On weekends it’s my turn.

When I’m called to have dinner I know I have to ask them to let me go out this Saturday. I have no idea how to start this conversation. They don’t even know I made a friend. I’ve never done this. How do I tackle this matter? It’s clearly not related to my academic life, quite the contrary, and they don’t approve of anything that doesn’t directly benefit my curriculum.

“How was college today, Allison?” Mother asks and I go back to reality, remembering that I’m having dinner in the present and that I can’t get lost in my thoughts.

“It was good. I went to grab a coffee with a friend after class,” I tell them and I see their impressed expressions.

“Allison, you know you shouldn’t waste time like that,” Father reminds me and I sigh.

“I wasn’t wasting time, Dad. I was just having a good time with a friend. Her name is Sam and she’s Mrs White’s daughter. She’s very nice,” I tell them both. I’ve mentioned Mrs White before and how much I like her classes.

“Still. You shouldn’t get distracted. The A Levels are close and you need to get perfect grades, Allison,” Mother says and I know it won’t be easy to convince them.

“Mum, I’m still studying and doing perfect in school. A break won’t make me lower my performance in college. In fact, a break will help me clear my mind so I can focus better on the subjects,” I defend my case but none of them seems convinced. “Mum, Dad, it’s not bad to have friends. I’m still studying and working hard on my future, I’m just also enjoying the present.”

“Allison, that attitude—”

“Please,” I interrupt. “Why is it so bad to have friends and wanting to have fun? Many others do the same and they still achieve greatness. Why can’t I be like them? Do you honestly think I’m not capable of having a life and working on my future at the same time?”

They look at each other with doubt in their eyes and I feel hurt. They really don’t believe I can’t do more than working on my future. I’m not throwing that away, I’m just doing something else.

“I thought you had a better opinion on me,” I mutter and Mother looks at me with a bit of shame in her eyes. Father still looks at me with disapproval. “I’ll show you I can do both.”

“Allison, your future is the most important thing,” Father reminds me and I nod.

“I know it’s important, but so is the present. That’s what I’m living. What if I don’t make it? What if I get in an accident one day?” They look at me as if I were just saying nonsense and I feel hurt again because they don’t see how precious the present is. They haven’t felt the horror of dying and realising you’ve accomplished nothing. That you haven’t lived at all. And they’ll never understand because they already have a life. Even if they die tomorrow they would’ve done something with their lives. I haven’t. But I want to. “My friend Sam invited me to a gig this Saturday and I want to go. May I go?” I ask and both blink surprised at me.

“A what?” Father asks and I chuckle because he has no idea what a gig is.

“Really? Dad, it’s just a performance. A guy with a guitar singing on stage in a small café. Sam says he’s great and she wants me to go with her to see this musician. I’ve never gone to a gig and I really want to.”

One more time, they blink surprised, like they can’t compute what I’m saying. For such brilliant people they can be really slow sometimes.

“Please,” I add and Mum is the first to wake up from the trance.

“Allison, you shouldn’t lose hours of sleep. You know how important for you a proper rest is.”

“Mum, it’s not even that late and I won’t come back at dawn, if that’s what you think this is,” I tell her and she looks at Dad as if looking for support.

“Please, I really want to go. I don’t have any exam this week and you know I already know all the contents we’re seeing this week. I’ll be back before eleven, I promise.”

I’ve never had to ask for permission before but I really want to go. I know they don’t even know how to react. This is as new for them as it’s for me and they are not used to tell me no because I never ask for anything.

“Not after eleven, Allison. And if this friendship of yours affects your performance in school, then you’ll have to cut ties with this Sam girl. Understood?”

“Crystal clear, Mum!” I chirp, excited that they have allowed me to go to the gig with Sam. “Thank you!”

They both sigh and I know they are not convinced they did the right thing, but I’ll prove them that I can do great in school and still have fun with my friend.

-:-:-

Well, things start a bit slow but don't worry, many things will happen later. I have it all planned.

If you want an extra update, 200 votes before Sunday. If not, then the next update will be on Sunday.

Bel, xx