Me. Her. Him - Chapter Eight

by Jacob1395

Background
Angela has spent nearly half her life hiding from a man in her past. But when he finally tracks her down, it isn't him she's scared of. It's what he knows.

Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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I pull over on my way home from work, into a small car park jutting off Hanningfield Reservoir, silencing the radio as I come to a stop. I can’t bear the voice of this particular presenter talking at the best of times; I should just change the station for my own sanity, but I like the presenters they have on in the morning.

The sound of the trees swaying around me reaches my ears.

I grip the steering wheel tight. I could switch the car back on and drive straight into the water. Images cram into my mind of water gushing into the car; I let out a shaky breath. Right at the last moment, I’d panic. I’d want to get out. Olivia called me into her office before I left. The way she talked to me makes me want to scream, it was like she thought I was making the whole thing up, that my reactions were just me being overdramatic. I wipe my eyes.

‘I’ve had a chance to speak to William, and he assures me he’s never met you before, Angela,’ Olivia had said as I sat forward on the seat opposite her, just about managing to look her in the eye. ‘He was quite shocked when I even asked him. He has accepted the role now, Angela, so I hope this is the last I’m going to hear about this.’

I need to know what William wants with me.

I haven’t spoken to Hayley and Lauren, the girls me and Michelle shared a flat in London with since . . . God, not since 2001, or 2002. It was years of friendship over in a heartbeat. They meant everything to me back then. I rub my neck as tears prick my eyes. Perhaps there’s something they might be able to tell me. I open Facebook, type Hayley’s name into the search engine and click on her profile.

I’ve found them on Facebook before. Lauren’s profile is private, which of course it would be. She was always the more careful one when we were at school, unlike me and Hayley; we loved living wild, without caring who was there to watch us. Hayley’s profile’s open to the public. She’s a mum now; she has two boys, Charlie and Oliver.

Perhaps I can speak to her. I need to know if . . . My hand shakes, she won’t want to talk to me.

Biting down hard on my lip, I type furiously on my phone, as I translate my thoughts onto the screen. I read back the message.

Hi Hayley,

I know it’s been years since we last spoke, and I know this message is a bit out of the blue. But I was just wondering have you, by any chance, had any contact from anyone who we were friends with, while we were living in London? Particularly, William. I’d be really grateful if you could please get in touch with me. We were so close before, weren’t we? I really need you now. It would be lovely to hear from you.

My feet are drumming on the rubber mat in the footwell. She might need a few days to think about this, I would if I was in her position.

My chest deflates a little as I gaze out onto the water. I press send. I want to stay here in this spot, staring out at the stillness of the reservoir, and at the last traces of light still flickering on the surface.

I glance out of both windows, but I’m alone.

The tyres of my car squelch in the mud before I pull out onto the main road and head for home.

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend)

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend