Chapter 4: Everyone Needs a Date
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Josh woke up and remembered it was finally the weekend. He had run out of phone credit but hadn't wanted to turn his computer back on or his Xbox. The fact his dead father was appearing was freaking him out and he desperately needed emotional support from his friends. He wanted them checking his PC out and researching ghost and paranormal activities. He used the house phone and made a phone call. It felt kind of weird as he couldn't remember the last time he phoned someone using a landline but the result was that he was to meet Callum and Kate at 11 o'clock in town. They would meet as usual outside the Lions in the market square. It was a public place and a common place to meet friends. Josh caught the bus and got into town early so that he could get some money out of the bank. He had worked for the last few summers and saved several hundred pounds which he used for town days and naughties. He checked his balance and was pleased at the amount there: nearly five hundred pounds. He took fifty out intending to get something suitable to wear the prom. He felt life was getting more Americanized with semesters instead of terms and proms instead of discos. He decided to buy a jacket and trousers with a shirt and bowtie that he could use for other occasions. He wanted an outfit he could keep for University and for going out when he got older. So it wasn't traditional prom wear and he had been reliably informed that everyone else was going to be wearing tuxedos but Josh didn’t mind standing out a little. Shopping decisions made he grabbed a Mac Donald's and sat people watching in the square until the others arrived. It was then he noticed a slightly overweight man in his early fifties. He was nearly bald with a great shiny pink dome of a head sticking out through a few remaining straggles of greasy grey hair. His appearance reminded Josh of one of those dirty old men who always wore a rain mac even in the middle of summer. He was looking at Josh. It didn't bother him too much, he knew most of the weirdoes were harmless and there was always a police van hanging around the square and CCTV cameras watching every move anyone made. He was down to the last of his strawberry milkshake when Kate turned up. She was positively glowing and if he thought it possible he would said she had just got laid but that likelihood he found very slim. He knew that someone would want to but he couldn't imagine who.
"You’re happy," said Josh.
"Look, look can you believe it?" Kate said.
"Look at what?" He asked.
"This is my date," Kate said triumphantly producing her phone.
Josh looked at a picture of a young lad about his age. He didn't seem anything special, but if she was happy it was fine. Everyone needed somebody.
"So where did you meet?" Josh asked.
"On a dating site course, checkoutmyprom.com," Kate replied.
"Have you spoken to him yet?" Josh was curious.
"Yeah of course, the site has a chat room. He goes to William Sharp comprehensive and we just have so much in common. He reads all the same stuff I do and we’ve been talking for hours last night" Kate was really glowing with enthusiasm.
"Sounds cool, but I think I'd rather meet somebody properly," Josh said.
"Everyone meets people on the Internet now. You think my parents are going to let me meet anyone other than an Asian girl?" Callum interrupted. They hadn't noticed him turn up and listen to their conversation.
"You got one as well!" Josh was beginning to feel very left out.
"Yes, you’re on your own. You got to get a date man," Callum punched him gently on the shoulder.
"I will, I have a week,” Josh tried to sound confident.
“I have the bowling lane booked for one, so shops, food, bowling and home," Kate had decided their itinerary.
"Yeah, I need to get my stuff for the prom," agreed Josh.
"I'm going traditional, it's cheaper, but I do want some flowers for my date,” Callum explained.
"I need HMV and a bookshop," Kate said,
"You need Broad Marsh, I could do with Vicky centre," Josh mused.
"Meet me in an hour at HMV. I'm going to Waterstones treat myself," Kate decided.
"I'm with you Kate, I hate clothes shopping," Callum pulled a face at Josh as he walked towards the bookstore with Kate.
Josh made his way up the hill to the shop. The centre was very busy as usual. Josh went straight up the escalators to the second level of the centre. It was quieter up there and he was able to make quick assessments of passing people, looking at their fashion style, dress sense and the availability of the girls. He made it to the shop where the attendant was most helpful. He picked a jacket out he could use for other things but that had enough flair to carry a prom but then found his card refused when he tried to pay for it. Josh was embarrassed and confused as he knew there was enough money in his account. The cash he had drawn out that morning was not enough to make his purchases but it wasn't a problem to go and make a withdrawal from a cash machine. As he made his way downstairs to the nearest cash point he heard a commotion. Josh turned around and saw Chloe Williams running through the crowd. As she spotted him she slowed down.
"Josh, thank god, someone I know," Chloe panted, slightly out of breath.
Chloe looked scared and had clearly been running fast.
"Are you okay?" Josh was concerned.
"Yeah, there was this man, he was following me," Chloe explained, looking around her as if the man might appear from the crowd.
"You’ll be fine now, we’re in a public place," Josh reassured her.
He could see bruising on her pale thin arms as if someone had hold of her and wouldn't let go.
"What happened?" Josh pointed to her arms.
"I was coming out of the car park and this man grabbed me on the stairwell," Chloe’s voice shook and her body was rigid with the effort of not crying.
Josh put his arm round Chloe and comforted her as best he could. He thought about what to do and kept thinking give her sweet tea. For some reason they always did that in the films.
"What can I do?” Josh asked, “I have money, do you want to have a cab home?"
"I’ll be fine,” Chloe sounded calmer now, “I came into town to have fun and I haven't been out on my own for a long time."
"Well I'm supposed to be meeting my friends in an hour but you have my services as a bodyguard until then," Josh offered, reluctant to leave Chloe alone.
"Okay then, I wish to go for a nice cappuccino in Hockley," Chloe was obviously pleased to have company.
Josh was ecstatic and delighted that he could go for a cappuccino with Chloe. He didn't go into Hockley much as it was more expensive than the rest of town. It was nice of course. The area had the feel of being abroad. Pavement cafes jostled each other for space and relaxed looking customers were served by waiters offering an extensive range of beverages. The smell of Danish pastries and French patisserie lit the air. Of course there was the customary Street entertainment and no traffic noise, just the hum of conversation interspersed with laughter.
They walked slowly down the main street. Chloe was just regaining her composure and all was going well when she spotted the man again and stopped dead, causing pedestrians behind her to tut as she blocked the narrow pavement.
"He's following us, look there," Chloe pointed to the man who began to run towards them as soon as her saw her pointing him out. It was balding older guy who had been watching Josh earlier that day in the Market Square. Josh looked around for a policeman or for responsible adults who might help but there wasn't time.
"Let's run. He won't keep up, he’s too fat,” Josh grabbed Chloe’s hand and they began to sprint. Josh ducked down a narrow cobbled street and they soon found themselves running through a maze of backstreets leading to an underground car park. They slipped through the barriers and ducked down behind a parked motorhome. Chloe sat on the floor trying to catch her breath. She had been ill for a while and wasn't able to sustain a good run for any length of time but at least they appeared to have lost him.
"Yeah that weirdo was watching me this morning I thought he was followi
ng me for a while," claimed Josh.
"I can't run any more, I don’t think he saw us come in here," Chloe was still trying to breathe normally.
They sat there for five minutes until Chloe’s puffing and wheezing stopped and they had both regained their composure. Josh was buzzing with adrenaline and could have run for another thirty minutes at least but did have an urgent need to empty his bladder. There were some toilets at the back of the garage and Josh explained he needed to go and use them and wouldn't be a moment. Chloe agreed to wait outside and warn Josh if the weirdo who had attacked her reappeared. Josh was just buttoning his jeans again when he heard a noise that sounded like a choked off scream. He ran out to see Chloe lying struggling on the floor with the man laid on top of her pinning her to the ground. He was trying to plant his knees over her arms and had one of his hands clamped over her mouth and his other hand around her neck. Josh reacted without thinking. He ran straight over and threw himself at the attacker, knocking him backwards off Chloe. He stood up quickly and kicked the man as hard as he could repeatedly in the groin. The kicking didn’t appear to have any result except to hurt Josh’s foot. Chloe was still down on the floor trying to regain her breath, tears pouring down her cheeks. Despite the kicking Josh was inflicting on him, the middle aged man arose easily from the floor and punched Josh in the face. The man was incredibly strong and Josh wondered if he was on drugs. He seemed to be impervious to every attempt Josh made to thwart his advances towards Chloe. Josh managed to rugby tackle him to the ground but he instantly kicked Josh in the face and at this point it all went a bit fuzzy for a moment. The world seemed to slow down as if everything was in slow motion. He saw the man ran back towards Chloe and the best he could manage was to trip him up. Chloe had just struggled to her feet and pulled away just in time as the balding mans outstretched arm clenched a fistful of her coat as he fell. He was on his feet again in what seemed to be a blink of the eye and moved menacingly towards Chloe. Josh, still on the floor and still dizzy from the blow to his head, was unable to do anything except scream at the intruder to leave her alone when suddenly and apparently from nowhere a stocky man threw himself to the rescue, shoving the attacker to the ground. He was shouting “police, don't move.” Others appeared and piled on to help the first officer. The bald man fought them but they had the upper hand and soon restrained him by putting him flat on the ground and sitting on him. Even from this position he fought them with an almost maniacal fury. With incredible speed a police car roared into the garage and even before the sound of the tyres screeching to a halt had faded there the man was securely bundled into the rear seat. They had been lucky. The officers were undercover on some sort of drugs bust and had seen the whole thing. The police officers praised the bravery both of them had shown but gently separated them, leading each to a separate area of the car park where their details were taken. After a short interview during which Josh and Chloe both continually glanced at each other to ensure they were both okay they were offered rides home. They both declined and eventually the police, after satisfying themselves that neither was injured, let them go. By mutual if unspoken consent they walked towards the nearest cafe and ordered drinks. Josh could see the bruising clearly on Chloe’s arms and was wondering why she didn't choose to go home, most people would have he thought. He was, however strange the circumstances, pleased she was there and thought he may even get a date from her.
"Sorry I wasn't very good bodyguard," Josh apologised.
"No you’re brilliant, so brave," Chloe replied smiling at him shyly.
"The guy was insane. I haven't seen anything quite like that before and I was terrified, I don't know about brave," Josh admitted.
"I was scared, but I've beaten death before," Chloe said, sipping her hot chocolate.
"What was wrong?” Josh asked, “You know what schools like, everyone has an opinion."
"Yeah, I know. I had an abnormal growth in my brain, but a scan last week showed it’s dissipated now after chemo," Chloe explained. She appeared to be happy to talk about her illness despite rumours she couldn't.
"That's really great news. You’ll be back at school soon then? It’s the prom next week," Josh said hopefully. He was making full eye contact with her big brown eyes. They seemed oversize for anyone else and were the softest ‘hold me softly’ kitty eyes.
"You have to take me then. I need a bodyguard, that’s if you not going with anyone else," Chloe flirted as she took out a piece of paper and pen started writing. She passed him the paper while his mouth dangled open, trying to articulate some words that made any sense. He was delighted but completely unable to speak. The moment was broken when his phone began to vibrate as text messages started coming through at a rapid rate.
"I'd love to," replied Josh, looking at the paper with her address telephone number and a pickup time for the prom. She had also written a little message ‘this is a free kiss and cuddle pass, one night only’. Josh eyes lit up as a big cheesy grin covered his face and he placed the paper carefully into his wallet. He glanced at his phone and saw that he must've lost his signal in the garage. There were five text messages from Callan and Kate, all asking where he was. He looked at the time and saw it was five minutes to one.
"I am supposed to be bowling with Kate and Callan now. Do you want to come?" asked Josh.
"Who?” Chloe said “My word, I didn't realise the time, I told my parents I would be back at one;" She quickly picked her phone up and called home. Josh quickly sent texts to the Kate and Callan telling them he would meet them as soon as possible and to start without him.
"I have half an hour, I’m going to see my Nan," Chloe explained.
"Yeah, I need to go to the bank. My cards playing up and I need to get some cash to buy my jacket for the prom," Josh explained.
"We could walk to the square and stop at the bank on the way," Chloe suggested as she put her hot chocolate down and grabbed her purse. Josh got up and they walked to the bank cash machines. Josh was frustrated to find his card still didn’t seem to be working wasn't working. Chloe asked to have a try seeing as he was struggling.
"How much you want?" Asked Chloe triumphantly a few seconds later.
"One Hundred and Fifty, have you got it working?" Josh asked.
Chloe smiled happily as she turned around and handed him his card and cash.
"I have a way with machines,” Chloe said, kissing him on his cheek and jumping into a taxi, “This is my stop, thanks bodyguard."
Josh had a more than a bounce in his step when he walked to the bowling alley in the centre of town to meet Kate and Callan. He was almost there when he turned a corner and saw flashing blue lights everywhere. Police tape was strung around part of the street and a crowd of bystanders were blocking the road. Josh slipped through the crowd towards the front to catch a glimpse of what had occurred. He saw a mangled police car practically entwined with an Arctic lorry. A policeman was sat at the roadside holding his face in his hands and had clearly been in the accident. Josh saw the coroner's car parked at the side of the lorry. The green jacket the weirdo had been wearing was clearly visible in the backseat of the police car. Josh assumed he must've been injured or was even still in the car. By the time he reached the bowling alley it was quarter to two and the game was nearly over.
"Where have you been?" asked Kate.
"Where’s your Prom jacket?" asked Callan.
Josh argued that Chloe was still ill and shouldn’t be exerting herself by dancing but this was all speculation. Josh had a date with the girl of his dreams and nothing was going to spoil it. The three friends amicably bantered as they strolled back into town where Josh succeeded in finally buying his jacket and then they all went home.