When Rohan finished work, he rushed home and had a shower. He wanted to go and see Annie again. As he rubbed the towel through his hair he hesitated. Would Annie want to see him so soon? He hadn't got to Ruby's at lunch and he didn't want to push her. Rohan continued to dry his hair. He had to see her. No matter what, he needed to see Annie. He'd take her to the Indian Restaurant and buy her a drink.

It was nine o'clock when he pressed her buzzer.

"Hello."

"Annie. It's me. Rohan. Rohan Wayland."

He heard her laugh. "I don't know any other Rohan's." The door clicked. Rohan chuckled as he pushed it open and bounded up the stairs two at a time. She was standing in the open doorway of her flat in jeans and a t-shirt, her hair still in a ponytail.

"I didn't think I would see you today." Annie grinned because he frowned. "I thought you must have been busy."

Rohan smiled. The nerves had got him again. He took a breath. "Can I take you to the Indian Restaurant for a drink?"

He was getting it. Here he was being assertive, if a little nervous, taking control. Of course, she'd let him take her for a drink. "Yes, Rohan, that would be nice." She pointed behind her. "I'll just get my bag."

When they got to the footpath, he took her by the hand and led the way.

Annie smiled. She hadn't expected him to turn up tonight after what had happened the previous night and because he hadn't come to Ruby's she thought he must have slipped backwards, but he hadn't. He was walking too fast again so she touched his bare forearm where he'd pushed the sleeves of his jumper up. The same jumper he'd worn to the movies. Maybe she'd buy him a new shirt and give it to him on their next proper date. Mm... then again maybe she wouldn't. Annie chuckled so he looked behind at her. "You're walking too fast again."

Rohan smirked and slowed down. "Sorry, Annie."

He bought her a glass of wine and himself a coke. They sat at a table in the corner. Annie took a sip. "Don't you drink beer?"

"Never really tried it."

"Oh. I thought every guy drank beer. Isn't that what you all do when you're teenagers?" Annie bit her tongue. Damn, stupid slip, he'd said his life wasn't like hers. She quickly changed the subject. "I thought you'd come to the café for lunch today."

"I couldn't." Rohan hung his head and sighed. She hadn't meant anything by the remark and until she knew about him there were always going to be moments like that. He looked up at her. "Sally Parks was found dead this morning."

"What!" Annie sat up in her chair and stared at him.

Rohan took a sip of his coke and looked over the rim of his glass at her. "Jack found her at the bottom of the back stairs. They say she tripped last night and broke her neck."

"Oh... that's awful."

"Yeah, I suppose it is in a way."

"Rohan." Annie frowned at him. "It is awful."

He shrugged and looked at her sheepishly. "Annie, she was a bitch, and from what I heard today I wasn't the only one she treated badly." Rohan reached for her hand but she pulled it away.

"She's dead, Rohan. You shouldn't say bad things about the dead."

Rohan scratched his head. "I don't think that's right, Annie." He didn't want to upset her and he wasn't sure how to continue because she'd pulled her hand away. He sucked up some courage and ventured on. "It shouldn't matter whether a person's dead or alive. If they were a horrible person alive, being dead isn't going to turn them into a nice person, Annie."

"Yes. But they're dead so they deserve some respect."

"Annie." Rohan touched her face. "You are the most amazing person I've ever met. I don't want to talk about Sally Parks. She doesn't mean anything to me dead or alive, but you do." Rohan leaned across to kiss her not sure if she'd let him. She smiled. He smiled, and then touched her lips with his.

When he walked her home Rohan resolved not to touch her. They'd had a nice time, chatted mostly about Annie's work and the people there. She told him about Sid and how his wife had died. That Harry was a Barrister and had never married. How Ruby and Gus had met. He had enjoyed listening to her talk.

Annie smiled up at him. She got this feeling he wasn't going to touch her like he had the night before. She really wanted to spend more time with him. "You won't see me in the café tomorrow." Rohan frowned so Annie continued, "I'm taking the day off. Ruby says I have to take a sick day because I haven't used any of them." Should she suggest it? Why not? "How about you to take the day off too?" She'd slip in some humour and see how it went. "I'll let you look at my bum."

He roared with laughter and pulled her toward him. "Only if you come shopping with me and help me buy some new clothes." Rohan kissed her, and then stepped back with his hands in his pockets. Maybe he was asking too much. "Will you take me shopping? Make me look like a normal person."

"I would love to, Rohan."  

How do you feel about what Rohan said,  'If  a  person was horrible when they were alive, being dead isn't going to turn them into a nice person.'

Should you be respectful to them when they're dead when they weren't respectful to others when they were alive?

It is a tough question but I do think Rohan has a point, especially if you were a victim of the horrible person.