Escaping Nothing

“You stopping another night?” Damien grunted from the fridge. Sam yawned, delicately, as she mulled over her options.
“How much is it, for another night?” she asked, eyeing the contents of her purse ruefully. Damien swung the fridge door shut and turned to face her.
“If you want you can stay for nothing, mum ain’t guna be home for another month now and well, the place gets kinda lonely you know?”
“Seriously? That’s so kind of you I was going to head down in to town later to check out that new bar, see if they have any jobs going.” Sam tried to disguise her delight at the thought of staying with Damien for longer than planned. She knew when she first saw him sprawled on an old oak chair with his blonde hair flopping over one eye that she couldn’t leave this place. Over the short week she had stayed in his house she had tried to harbour her romantic feelings towards him but now she felt like she could open the floodgates and let him in. He picked at his nail, “It’s no big deal and hey I sorta like your company.”
Sam blushed, turning her head so he couldn’t see. “I sorta like yours too.” She replied trying to hide the smile that was creeping across her face.
“I’ll come to town with ya if you want, I gotta catch Reni and get my skates back off him; the little sod stole ‘em for weeks now.” He scraped a chair back across the old lino floor and slumped onto it.
“So what else you got planned later?” he drawled rubbing his hands together.
“I don’t know maybe like get a pizza or takeaway and watch that film Pauly lent us?”
“Sounds ace babe, mind if I join?”
Sam nodded mutely, struggling to believe her luck. Tonight would be like any other night apart from the absence of Damien’s friends littering the old sofas. She would have to jump in the bath she realised as she grabbed a handful of her unwashed hair. “Hey I’m just guna grab a shower before we hit town, want to make a good impression on this bar.”
“Yeah sure thing I might have to join you with that as well.”
Sam froze as she met his gaze, his eyes were sparkling and she tried to talk but no words escaped her open mouth.
“Oh, I meant I’ll have a bath in a bit, after you babe don’t worry, I ain’t creeping onto you like that.” Damien reached for the T.V remote and flicked to the weather. Sam forced a smile and hurried up the stairs. There was no way she was prepared for that, her legs were showing three day old bristle and her makeup was clumped under her eyes. As she turned the taps on full blast she savoured the moment they had just experienced. Well, a moment to her. She clambered into the bath and let her lank hair soak before desperately scrubbing it with Damien’s fruity shampoo. She was soon clean and freshly shaven just in case he was to change his mind. She pondered over whether he actually meant he wasn’t ever going to ‘creep onto her’. She felt stupid as she dragged a brush through her long, red hair. She drew around her emerald eyes with a black kohl pencil and decided on a short black summer dress. After she had tamed her hair into a thick, even plait she surveyed herself in the full length mirror and sighed. Damien ate like a horse and she strived to keep up with him but now it was showing as she poked her bloated stomach. This was only after a week; imagine what she would be like in a month!
“Christ girl! You will definitely get the job looking like that!” Damien approved as she padded across the old terracotta stones into the kitchen.
“Cheers babe.” she grinned back at him, shocking herself with this new found confidence. He raised one eyebrow before stretching and then removing his faded surfing t shirt.
“Won’t be long.” he called as he slunk off to the bathroom.
Sam headed into the lounge and flopped onto one of the cracked leather sofas. She gazed out of the window into the bright colours of the foliage and flowers. The sun was baking the grass and cracks had begun to appear in the soil. The back of her legs had stuck to the black leather and she peeled herself off to reach for her bag. She checked for her money, keys and phone and she found a folded up piece of card. She remembered Damien had asked her to keep it for him on one of their nights out. She could remember the smell of the bar, the sweet tones of Disarono filled her lungs, they had staggered in drunk; the heavy bass of a Red Hot Chilli Peppers tribute band had vibrated the dark wooden floorboards, they had leaned on the bar. Sam smiled at the memory, she unfolded the card it had a number on it and then a girl’s name, Sam could just make it out – Melody written in Damien’s unmistakable scrawl. It felt like someone had punched her in the stomach, now she knew there was defiantly no ‘creeping on’ at all she threw it on the sofa as she heard his footsteps down the creaky stairs.
“Alright sweetheart let’s go, you ready?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something!” He laughed and punched her lightly on the arm, they walked out to his Jeep. Again she forced a smile, “I’m fine, just saw a massive spider that’s all.” She lied sliding into the passenger seat next to him.
“Of course anyway what’s this new bar called again? I’ll need to make note of it now you’re working there so I can come visit.”
“I haven’t even asked for a job yet.” Sam replied flatly, hating Damien’s constant positive attitude.
“Yeh but I know you’ll get it, I got a good feeling about this one.” Damien had gone with her to a previous job interview, for a receptionist in the local hospital. The head nurse looked down at Sam when she had walked in and immediately taken a disliking to a younger, prettier girl being part of the team and it turned out that another girl called Audrey was given the job. She had an unfortunate spatter of acne across her face with short greasy hair. Sam had been devastated; she had been from job to job ever since she had moved to Australia on her own. To cheer her up, Damien had taken her home and cooked a massive lasagne, so big that he had to invite some friends over. Reni bought a case of beer with him and the night carried on till morning; the job long forgotten.

Damien hummed along to the radio as they flew along the narrow lane to town. Sam played with a tassel on her chocolate brown bag, wishing they would get there faster.
“I’ll go in on my own I think, it will look better.” Sam mumbled as they got out of the big 4x4.
“You sure you don’t want my support?”
“No, no I’ll be fine; I’ll meet you at the clock tower in a half yeah?” she turned to look at the bar and she felt a flurry of excitement.
“Sure thing babe.” Damien sloped off towards the surfing shop and Sam held her breath as she entered through the swinging doors into the bar. It was decorated in fresh peaches and whites, a couple of walls had huge canvases draped across them with abstract paintings, alive with colour. The floor was whitewashed scaffolding boards highlighted by huge floor lights dotted randomly throughout. It was quiet, only a few locals sunned themselves outside with large pitchers of cocktails.
“Can I help you sweetie?” a busty woman smiled at her across the counter, her tanned, weathered skin creasing in pleasant lines around her eyes.
“Oh yes, erm I was wondering if you had any jobs available?”
“For a pretty girl like you? I’m sure we have, when can you start honey?”
“Really?” Sam’s eyes were wide and unsure. “Tomorrow I guess?”
“Alright how about you pop in at five and I’ll show you the ropes and we can see how you go and then fit you in for some more shifts yeah?”
“Yes please! Thank you....”
“It’s Sally and what’s yours?”
“I’m Sam.”
“You’re an S as well then you must be good, eh?” Sally beamed and waved goodbye as Sam wandered out of the bar. She stood blinking in the sunlight in a daze when suddenly Damien picked her up and swung her round.
“So how’d it go?” his eyes were full of excitement.
“I start tomorrow!” Sam grinned. She had become used to his boisterous behaviour; it seemed to be his overspill of energy.
“Sweet! Oh yeah!” he high-fived her and they headed back to the car. She sunk into the musky seat of the car and sighed.
“Lucky I got paid then, the pizza is on me!”
“I got some money, we can go halves.”
“Nah it’s my treat, you just got a job!” he turned the music up louder as they drove home; Sam had forgotten about Melody and now she was full of anticipation for what the evening ahead would hold.
They entered the house and the answer phone was beeping, Damien frowned and grabbed the phone to hear the message. His facial expressions didn’t give Sam any clues to who was on the other end of the line.
When he returned from pacing in the kitchen and slammed the phone down and so it beeped uncontrollable for a few seconds. Sam imagined it to be a robot crying out from being thrown around whilst Damien, after some hand wringing and lip biting, interrupted her thoughts.
“So that was mum and er, she said she has decided to live in New Zealand with this new guy... I forget his name but she wants to keep paying for the house and food blah blah. Oh and she will visit when she can but now this house is officially mine.” He was looking at the floor and so Sam struggled to read his face.
“Good? Or really shit?”
“Fucking aye Sam I got my own house paid for and I never have to see her with a new man in my house ever again! This is so sweet lets have some beer and get the pizza happening, I’m starving!”
Sam paused, not sure whether she should ask more about his mother but she decided that now wasn’t the time. “Pepperoni then!” She giggled as he snatched the phone up again and ordered their food. She went hunting for the DVD that Pauli had raved about and soon found it hidden under Damien’s Xbox games. It was some film about this girl who falls in love with this guy who actually turns out to be a werewolf and typically it was called ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ but still the guy looked pretty fit to Sam so that was a bonus even if the film was rubbish. Damien whistled at her and threw a can of beer in her direction. She caught it skilfully with one hand and he clapped in approval.
“Right babe, pizza is on its way! You got the film sorted?” He jumped over the back of the sofa and flashed his blue eyes in her direction.
“Yeah, I found it, eventually underneath all your shit games!” she ducked as an orange cushion came flying her way.
“Oi! No fair I wasn’t ready for that!” she laughed as she opened her can of beer and suddenly it spurted out of the can and all over her black dress. Damien was creased up with laughter on the sofa as she stood up in shock, the beer dripping off her and onto the worn carpet.
“I’m sorry; I knew you’d fall for it you always do.”
“Funny man, funny. I need to do some washing this was all I had left, don’t think I was wearing a dress out of choice!”
“Oh man, well you can wear some of my clothes, come on I’ll see what I have that’s clean.” Damien was still sniggering as they mounted the stairs. He lived in the room along the hall from Sam’s but she’d never been in there before. He pushed the door open and clothes littered the floor; a chink of light was desperately trying to make its way through the heavy curtains. He flashed an apologetic smile at her before picking his way through the ‘floordrobe’, (as he called it) to the actual wardrobe. He chucked a soft black hoody at her and then a pair of surf shorts came shortly after.
“How’s that? Pretty awesome clothes I might say!”
“Thanks so much, I won’t resemble a boy at all!” Sam let the sarcastic tones roll of her tongue as she headed off to her room to change. Once she was done she gathered up her washing and bunged it into the ancient washing machine.
“Oi where’s the fabric softener?” she called to Damien who was lounging on the sofa.
“Er the what? Oh do you mean the liquid stuff, we ran out of that. I mean you could use washing up liquid, isn't that the same?”
Sam threw him a pitying look before shoving the powder into the gunked up draw. The machine gave a low growl before launching into life. She returned to the living room and put the DVD in. She sat down and Damien handed her another can of beer to which he received a filthy look.
“I haven’t done anything to this one! I promise, look I’ll open it for you.” he set his can on the side and then opened her before waving it in her face until she took it. He received a flippant middle finger just as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Damien whinged as he reached for his wallet. Sam stuck her foot out as he walked past and he tripped on to the floor.
“Ouch!”
“Are you okay? You fool!” Sam cackled. “Oi Damien!” There was no reply from him he stayed motionless on the floor. “Shit!” She scrambled beside him on the floor and tried to turn him over.
“Boo!” Damien cried before grabbing Sam and tickling her. He pinned her down and looked into her eyes. “Got you.” he whispered softly as he leant closer to her, his eyes still fixated on hers. Their lips were almost touching as the pizza man pressed the doorbell impatiently. The shrill bell ripped through the house and Damien got up quickly. While he paid for the pizza Sam lay there for a moment cursing in her head. She stood up and kicked the sofa with her barefoot and stubbed her toe. “Fuck!” she squealed, hopping around.
“What happened?” Damien was back with the pizza.
“Stubbed my toe.” she muttered in a grumpy tone before grabbing her beer and slumping on the sofa. Damien sat next to her with a huge pizza box on his lap. He wafted it under her nose and she turned to look at him.
“What’s up, grumps?”
“Nothing.”
“Well you have a face like a slapped arse, is it your toe? Did you really hit it that badly?” Damien enquired slowly putting the pizza down.
“No its fine, I just want some pizza you tramp!” Sam joked grabbing a slice from his hand.
When the film had finished the living room was littered with empty beer cans. Damien and Sam turned to look at one another.
“You are mashed aren't you?” Sam giggled as he tried to raise a finger to express a point.
“No, no, no, not at all! I think YOU are drunk and you are just trying to make me look bad!”
“No way man!” they both laughed as Damien tried to get up off the sofa; he kept falling back down again.
“Ha it looks like the sofa is trying to eat you!”
“It bloody is man!”
“Stop it Damien! It hurts!” Sam cried in between hysterical laughter as she clutched her side. He finally managed to lever himself up and crawl over to the DVD player.
“What next?”
“Something scary!”
“What? Seriously you know you’ll just get scared later and you won’t be able to sleep!”
“No I never get scared!” Sam stated indignantly before creasing into fits of laughter again.
“I don’t know what’s so funny.” Damien slurred as he headed back to the sofa. He sat closer to Sam but no way as close as they were before the pizza arrived.
“You got any fags?” Sam asked after she had recovered.
“Yeah sure babe, you know I have you don’t have to ask. They are on the kitchen table we can smoke in here if you find an ashtray.”
Sam slowly walked into the kitchen and looked for an ashtray. She had to use the table to steady herself as she let her mind wander. Suddenly she felt Damien’s arms around her waist, his hot breath on her neck. He lifted the hoody over her head to reveal her bare skin. She shivered as he planted kisses across her shoulder. She could feel him pressed hard against her, his hands crept up her back and unclipped her bra, it fell to the floor as he twisted her around to face him and lifted her up onto the table...
“I got an ashtray, you fool!” He called from the living room. She had to lean fully on the table to shake her thoughts from her delusional head. She caught a glimpse of herself in one of the glass cupboard doors; a red blush had crept up from her neck just like his hands had done... No this has to stop. She slapped her face before grabbing the packet of fags and walking back into the living room.
“Took your time didn’t you!” He smiled before pulling her down on the sofa next to him.
“I know I said you could have some fags but I can’t let you run off with the whole packet now can I?” he laughed as he tucked her under one arm and lit both their cigarettes. Visions kept entering her mind as she lay against his chest feeling his warmth. Her hoody had ridden up slightly and her skin was touching his, she shivered for real this time at the thought of his bare skin on hers...
“How come you’re not screaming and hiding behind a pillow like usual?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, sorry wasn’t paying much attention to the film!” She laughed it off as he blew smoke in her face.
“Thanks for that!” she coughed before taking a drag of her own. He had balanced the ashtray in his lap and so she was forced to look in that area before she could dispose of her ash. She thought it would be better if she moved it so she wasn’t confronted with his genitalia, albeit clothed it was still too much for Sam. In the process of moving the ashtray she grazed his lap with her hand. She had forgotten the alcohol now flowing strongly through her system; she jumped when he grabbed her hand. He moved his it up to her face and slapped her across the face with her own hand! She wriggled her hand free and tickled him mercilessly until the screeching of the doorbell interrupted. Damien slouched over to the door and it flew open from a rowdy gust of wind to reveal Tom; Sam’s ex. Damien seemed to be scratching his head in confusion as Sam hid under his spider man blanket she found behind the sofa.