Close Friends

CLOSE FRIENDS

"I've got a good one." Shouted Jimmy from the kitchen, "Top ten time
travellers."

It was 5am and Alex, Jimmy, Livvy, Big Dave and Christie had been at
Jimmy's flat for almost two hours. All, apart from Jimmy, were seated
around a large dining table. Resting on a Michael Jackson LP, Big Dave
was constructing a large cigarette with a mixture of cheap tobacco and
some 'Home grown' that was only really home grown if you lived in
Tai-Wan.

Following Big Dave's boring de-construction of every DJ's set from the
whole evening Livvy had banished him (along with short men and hairy
back's) to Room 101. His return was only permitted providing he roll a
spliff using all the remaining cigarette papers. Livvy knew he wouldn't
be able to resist this challenge and she stood a good chance of keeping
him quiet for at least half and hour. When he'd accomplished that task
he could be sent to the garage to get some more. It was terribly
embarrassing to have your boyfriend turn into such an idiotic fool
every time you went clubbing together.

Two months was beginning to seem like a lifetime, especially for a girl
who's longest relationship had lasted around two night stands.

Truth be told, if it wasn't for her best friend Christie this too would
probably have been a one-nighter. Livvy had to spin this out for at
least another month in order to prevent looking like a total
bitch.

As Alex pointed out that Jimmy probably couldn't even name ten time
travellers let alone choose a Top Ten. Livvy smiled. Jimmy probably
could name ten time travellers and she had no doubt that he already had
a Top Ten.

Why hadn't she hooked up with Jimmy? That's what she had meant to do, a
bit of harmless flirting with Big Dave should have reeled him in but
being a bit too loved up at the time she forgot her objective and went
home with Big Dave.

Alex could tell from Livvy's tone that she wasn't actually joking when
she banished Dave to Room 101. She laughed, but she meant it. It was
the way she thumped her fists on the table to the beat of the music
that gave it away. Admittedly, Big Dave's enlightening foray into the
fascinating world of the club DJ was dull but he was doing a damned
good job with that roll-up. So, for that alone he owed Livvy an
enormous favour. Alex's cocktail was in need of suppression and he
couldn't wait to inhale.

He could hear Jimmy clanking about with the almost empty sugar jar,
observed Livvy starring into the kitchen and wondered just how thirsty
she was. Big Dave was a mug to waste his time with her; it was obvious
what she really wanted.

The gauntlet had been laid down to Jimmy and Alex advised him that
Doctor Who only counted as one Time Traveller not the five or six he
had originally tried to claim. The Time Bandits also only counted as
one because Jimmy named them collectively and you can't have them if
you can't name them individually.

Alex liked nothing better than to wind up Jimmy. He knew that Jimmy
wouldn't be able to produce any more than about 20 Time Travellers,
especially not with Alex throwing a spanner into the works every time
he identified one. When the time came for him to actually pick a Top
Ten, the lack of concentration on Jimmy's part would result in more
Home Grown for Alex.

Christie knew that Alex was testing Jimmy, she was also aware of the
reasons why. She liked Alex, but at times he was a law unto himself, a
bit of a loner. It was said he possessed the ability to peel oranges is
his pocket. She often thought that he would be good for Livvy. Both
were quite full of themselves in an obviously insecure and trying to
cover it up way, and Alex would never take any of the verbal abuse
Livvy was always serving up to her men. People were purposely kept at
arms length in order to appear allusive. This would ensure Livvy's toes
were well occupied. She was easily bored with the lap dog type.

Livvy really was a good friend and Christie was the only one who
understood her appalling behaviour towards the opposite sex. If she'd
had to live through Livvy's experiences she doubted whether she would
still be around, however there comes a time to leave the past
behind.

She sighed, if anyone could help Livvy do this it was Dave. He seemed
quite smitten, she remembered the night they had got together and
sighed again. Individually they had both assured Christie of their best
intentions towards the other. She had not anticipated them still being
together eight weeks and four days later.

When Jimmy named Marty McFly as his Number 5, she remembered a scene
from Back To The Future and wondered what would have happened if Livvy
hadn't pounced on Dave that night? Cuddled up on an extremely large and
comfortable settee had been the perfect time to confess her feelings to
Dave. She rubbed her eyes, there had been a million similar
opportunities to discuss matters of the heart with her oldest and
closest friend and she had permitted those moments to slip away too.
Somehow this time had been different. The way Dave had gently touched
her face, looked into her eyes and advised her of his long term plans
for their friendship made her stomach churn in the most delightful way.
Had she completely misinterpreted his meaning?

Dancing around the kitchen in a Morcambe &; Wise breakfast style,
Jimmy slammed the cupboard door and tapped each of the contrasting mugs
with a teaspoon. He was still laughing to himself at Livvy's shallow
choice for Room 101. Poor Dave, he couldn't handle Livvy. He wondered
who'd be on top when they got home.

As his Ball &; Chain was away for the night, Jimmy cast an alluring
glance at Christie. That'd teach Big Dave to rebuke his Top Ten
extravaganza. Christie was a top bird and he knew a liaison with her
would ruffle Big Dave's feathers.

Jimmy had already named twelve Time Travelling Heros when he realised
the sugar supply had been exhausted. Alex was attempting to throw him
off his train of thought by objecting to as many of his selections as
was feasibly possible. Jimmy was confident in his own ability and
continued to annoy Alex by demonstrating just how wrong his challenger
could be.

It had been another brilliant night. Jimmy's dancing feet were on top
form &; Livvy's complementary moves had made excellent
entertainment. Her red cat suit caught the light and showed off her
perfect figure. Big Dave had been gagging to get her home all night. He
couldn't understand why they always had to go back to Jimmy's and now
that his girlfriend had instructed him to build aforesaid item, he knew
that they wouldn't be leaving for quite some time. Just because Jimmy's
girlfriend was out of town on her pal's last night of freedom, was
no-one else was permitted carnal knowledge that night either?

Big Dave spat out the sour grapes, advised Jimmy that the time
travelling question resembled a rather saggy set of underwear and
concentrated on the task at hand.

He smiled across at his mate Christie, who had touched his arm
sympathetically when Livvy punished him. She looked tired, what she
needed was a boyfriend. It had been years since she'd met anyone
serious and she always provided a shoulder &; bottle of Jack Daniels
for him in a moment of crisis. She'd be there when his current
relationship ended as well, which, by the tone in Livvy's voice was
going to be imminent. He'd let her end it. That was always the easiest
way.

Livvy was only arm candy but she was Christie's best friend and he
might as well have a good time in the sack until she called it a day.
Big Dave wasn't quite sure why Livvy's encounter with him was still
going on and his favourite reference point was off limits.

It was 5:30

"No way is Biglgles the No 1 Time Traveller," said Alex burning his
lips on the cardboard.

Jimmy shook his head, he was now tired of the argument and yielded to
Alex. He had also realised that the clever swine had smoked his portion
of Big Dave's construction.

Livvy had moved to the couch with her cup of tea. She was fatigued. The
empty cup was now on the floor &; she was curled up cat-like.

Alex's greed was catching up with him and he joined Livvy on the
opposite end of the couch.

Big Dave placed the bag of sugar on the counter and requested the
cigarette papers.

Christie waited outside for her soul mate feeling both guilty and
deliriously happy. What were they going to tell Livvy?