I Know You Are On Your Own!

"What time are you picking me up tonight?" shouted Angela "The film
starts at eight and I want a good seat". John looked back to where
Angela stood in the crowd of people trying to get their last minute
christmas shopping done. She was tall and slim with long auburn hair
that hung in ringlets to her shoulders. Her face was pretty with big
brown eyes, he could remember the first time he had seen her, behind
the meat counter of the local supermarket. It was three months ago
today that they had gone out for the first time, so to celebrate he was
taking her to the cinema.

Angela shouted to him again, this time he held up seven fingers, waved
and walked off in to the crowd. Angela held her shopping bags in one
hand and set off for the Hippee Set clothes store, she needed an outfit
for their date.

John had decided that it would be just the two of them tonight because
it was special, that suited Angela, she didn't want Paul &; Gary
tagging along this time. They were always there, hanging around, Angela
never seemed to get a minute alone with John anymore. She had tried
pairing Gary off with her best mate Becca but Becca had other ideas.
She wanted to stay free and single and just see guys when she wanted.
Angela was beginning to feel the same way. Since they had finished
school six months ago her life had never stopped. She had gotten the
job at the supermarket and she helped her mum at weekends in their
little store. She never seemed to have time to rest now she was going
out with John as well But she loved John, he was kind and gentle. He
reminded her of a loveable hedgehog with his spikey black hair and
small dark eyes. Yes she loved him.

When Angela got home to the empty house she tried on the jeans and top
that she'd bought, very nice she said to the mirror. The telephone was
ringing in the hall, when Angela answered it all she could hear was the
sound of breathing. "Come off it Gary, I know its you" she said
giggling. The person on the phone didn't speak, he just kept breathing.
"Well, what do want, John is not here, he went home but I will tell him
you called" laughed Angela. "I know John is not there, I KNOW you are
on your own" said a deep voice. Angela dropped the phone, she ran to
the front door and locked it. Who could it be she wondered. She ran
back to the phone and with her hand on her mouth she listened, all she
could hear was the sound of laughing. It is Gary she thought, the
stupid idiot, when will he grow up. Angela put the phone back on its
cradle and went to take a shower. No sooner had she got undressed than
the phone rang, this time she answered it in her parents bedroom, it
was the voice again. This time Angela's heart beat faster, she wondered
if it really was Gary after all, he liked to play tricks, but this was
not funny. She listened with ear piece slightly away from her ear. The
voice was menacing, it was saying that he knew her and where she lived,
it said he knew what happened the night they finished school. Angela
was scared she hung up the phone and dialed John's number, no answer.
Where could he be, he should have been home ages ago. She rang Becca.
Becca was in, she said Gary was with her, they had just ordered pizza.
Angela told Becca what the voice had said. Straight away Becca said
they would come round.

Becca knocked on Angelas door, as soon as it was opened Becca could see
that Angela had been crying. Gary was two steps behind, he walked in to
the living room and sat down. 'Have you told John?' he asked. Angela
explained that she had tried and tried his number but he still wasn't
home.Becca offered to make them a drink, she went in to the kitchen
closely followed by Angela.

"Who do you think it was Becca, no one knows about that, we didn't tell
anybody?" whimpered Angela. Becca looked at her friend of ten years,
she looked like she had aged ten years in one day. Becca sat down at
the table and held her head in her hands, "I told Paul" she
whispered.

"YOU DID WHAT?" bellowed Angela, "We wasn't going to mention it ever
again, we agreed".
"Yes but Paul seemed nice, I know I can trust him, or I thought I
could" said Becca, with tears slowly falling down her cheeks.
"Well it looks like its him, because no one else knows, Gary was with
you and I haven't told John"."I'm going to phone him and tell him its
not funny, I want to know what he intends to do about it"
"No, I'll phone him" said Becca almost knocking the chair over with the
statement."I'm going to tell him what a pig he is, I told him cos I
thought he was nice"
Becca went in to the hall and dialled Paul's number, Angela could hear
her shouting down the phone. When Becca came back in to the kitchen she
was red faced and glared out of the window. "Paul said it wasn't him,
but I know it was, who else would it be?" Jason isn't even round here
no more and he wouldn't scare you he was driving, that leaves you, me
and Paul"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

......The night they had finished school, Becca, Angela nad Jason had
decided to go for a ride round the out skirts of town. They wanted to
let their hair down, no more exams, no more lessons. They had been
friends for almost all of the ten years Angela had lived in Little
Lampton. Becca and Jason had been friends since Junior school and they
decided that Angela could be part of their friendship. Small quarrels
over the years had parted them for short periods of time but over all
they were the best of friends. They were in seperable until that night.
That night everything had changed.
Jason had just got his license that week so they now had transport,
they were all excited about their new lives that were starting. Becca
had been accepted for the beauty school and jason was going to be
helping his dad in their family garage business, Angela had got the job
lined up for the supermarket. She would only have to work there one and
half years until it was time for her take up her studies again. She
couldn't sit around doing nothing.
On the evening in question Jason picked Becca up first as they lived
close to one another, then thye drove round for Angela. They had wanted
to eat at the local pizzaria first and Angela said she would pay, her
treat. They had met up with a few friends in the pizza joint and had a
laugh about which teachers they were going to miss and which they
weren't.
They set out for the small lane which ran round the small town. No
lights shone out there, the roads were dark ut straight enough to be
able to go faster than in town. Jason liked to drive fast and Angela
and Becca liked the feel of the wind rushing through the open window.
They had the music blaring in the car and they were all taking at once,
excited about being out for the forst time with no reason to be home
early.
Jason was driving very fast up to the long open fields at the top of
the road, he was laughing at something Becca had said, then his hands
left the whell and he shouted to the girls, something about needing no
hands. Suddenly the car swirved over to the other side of the road and
it bumped on something hard. Becca had screamed and Angela had ducked
down in her seat. Jason grabbed the wheel and steered the car slowly
but safely to s stand still. They all quickly got out of the car. Each
asking the other what had happened. Jason was the first to check the
car. The look on his face told the girls that something was wrong. They
both walked to where jason stood staring at the car. There was what
looked like blood splattered on the front bumper and something squashy
on the left hand tyre. Angela held her arms round her body and shivered
although the night was still warm from the summer sun. Becca closed her
eyes and wished she was at home in her soft safe bed.
They all looked like they were going to cry, even Jason who had never
cried in front of them, ever. Angela walked up to Jason and asked him
what he thought it might be, he said it was probably a fox or something
they came in to town scavenging. Becca thought it had to be something
bigger, because of the amount of blood. No sooner had becca had got the
sentence out than they were all in the car and Jason was driving back
in to town.
On the way Becca decided that it was best not to say anything to
anybody incase it wasn't a fox, it could have been somebodies dog or
worse. Angela said she daren't think about the worse part, people were
always walking about up on the quiet roads, what if it had been someONE
not thing. Jason asked them if they wanted to go back and check, Angela
wanted to go home, becca said she would go with Jason and let Angela
know when she got back.
When Jason drove up to the point where the car had slipped Becca sat
as
still as a statue, she dare not get out of the car at first. Jason
got
out and looked about on the ground. The glare from the cars
headlights
made it possible for him to see the ground and surrounding area.
He
looked over to where there was a big dark stain. His heart felt like
it
would burst from his chest. There in the dirt was what looked like
a
pile of rags covered in blood. He bent over the stained clothing.
Jason
called for Becca to get out of the car. She walked round to where
Jason
stood pointing his finger at something.

Together they walked slowly up to the pile of clothes, each
thinking
their own horrid thoughts. Becca was the first to see it
properly.
Jason pulled Becca to him, it would be ok he said, in to her hair.
They
both ran to get back in the car, Jason put it in gear and sped
off
quickly in to town. When they were safely parked outside of
Becca's
house they hugged each other. Whos going to tell Angela Becca had
asked. Jason said he would, Becca agreed that would be best. She
wanted
to go home and try and forget about it, she wanted to sleep the
memory
of the night away. Becca got out of the car and went in to her
brightly
lit house. Her parents were shocked at the sight of their
daughter,
they asked what was wrong. Becca just hung her head and said it
had
been a long day and she needed to go to bed. Her parents thought
that
maybe Becca was sad at leaving school.

Jason pulled up outside Angela's house, he had made up his mind
after
he told her about what they had found, then he would tell her how
he
felt about her. Jason had always loved Angela, from the first day
she
had walked in to the school gate. He had had a short relationship
with
Becca, but Becca was just a kid to him, they were best mates
nothing
more. Angela was more, she was beautiful, intelligent and kind, and
he
loved her. He hoped that Angela would not laugh at him. After the
shock
of tonight he was sure she would understand that he had to tell
her
now. The last day of school was supposed to be enjoyable not
horror
filled. When he and Becca had found the clothes they had wanted
to
scream, at the first sight the blood that covered them was still
wet.
Jason had looked closer and laughed with surprise. Along side the
clothes there was a tin of paint...red paint. Someone had been
clearing
out their garage or something and used the dark road as a dumping
ground. He had wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, Becca
had
given a small giggle. All the way back they had laughed, it was such
a
relief, Becca told Jason Angela wouldn't mind that she wasn't
there
when she was told what it was they had hit. Hitting a bag rubbish
didn't warrant going to prison.

Jason walked up to the door and rang the bell, Angela answered it
straight away, her face was white and tear stained. Jason pulled her
in
to his arms and held her shaking body for what seemed like
eternity.
They both walked arm in arm in to the living room, Jason told Angela
to
sit down before she fell down. Instead of Jason telling her what
they
had found he blurted out all his feelings for her. He was so happy
that
he had forgotten to mention the paint. He just wanted to hold her
again
and keep her safe. Angela had stood up and shouted at him to get
out.
She wanted to know where Becca was, he told her that she had gone
home
because she was tired. Angela couldn't believe what she was
hearing.

Jason realised what he had done, he stood up infront of Angela,
he
tried to say he was sorry. He began to tell her that the accident
they
had had would be ok. He and Becca had found what they had hit.
Angela
didn't want to listen but Jason stood, grabbed her arms and held her
up
to him, he looked in to her face and told her about the paint.
Angela
screamed, she couldn't take in what jason had said..paint..rags.
Thats
it, thats what they had paniced over. Angela had fallen back in to
the
chair, her cheeks were red and she stared in to space. Jason knew
it
was time for him to leave, she would be ok now. He had apologised
again
and let himself out of the door.

Angela had sat in the chair staring until the fire had lost its
glow
and the room had turned cold. She had tried to rid herself of the
images that Jason and becca might have found. She could not bring
herself to picture the bag of rags and paint. How stupid they had
been.
Angela looked at Becca and laughed, "what does it matter if they
know
we are idiots" laughed Angela. "We are older now we can take it".
"I know, but what happens if all our mates find out, I will be so
embarrassed" Becca whispered.

Angela told Becca to go home with Gary and that she would phne
her
later about the evening with John. Becca seemed to love to hear all
the
gossip about their outings, thought angela.
Once Angela had gotten rid of her friends she went and finished
getting
ready for her night out with John. He would be here in ten minutes.
How
much older and mature John was to Jason, how could Jason have
ever
thought she would have liked him. They were mates and nothing
more.
After that night neither Becca or Angela had seen anything of Jason,
he
had stayed away from them. Angela didn't seem to notice but Becca
did.
She often asked Angela if she had seen him, or heard from him.
Angela
always laughed, she knew Becca had a crush on Jason, she couldnt
understand why they had never got together. They would have made a
cute
couple.

The film was a weepy, Angela had spent most of the evening crying
on
John's arm. He had stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. When
it
was over they had gone to the late night pizza place on the
corner.
Angela was surprised to see Becca there with Paul and Gary.
"Hi you guys, did ya enjoy the film" shouted Gary. John strode over
to
his mates and smacked them both on their backs, Angela said Hello
to
Becca. She was sure they had done this on purpose, they knew that
she
and John would be calling in here. Why did they have to spoil
everything.

Becca asked Angela what the film was like, had she seen much of it
or
were her eyes too wet. Angela laughed outwardly, she didnt laugh
deep
down inside. She wanted the night to be special and now they were
here.
John was looking at her as if she had spoken the words aloud.
Infact
they all were staring at her. What had she done. Then she realised
they
weren't staring at her but at the door. She turned round and saw
what
they were really looking at. Jason.

He looked much older than he had the last time they had seen each
other. He had grown a small moustache and the grey shading of a
beard
was masking his face.

Jason walked up to them and Becca introduced them all to him.
Angela
could she that Becca's cheeks were flushed, she must still have
feelings for Jason. Not that he wouldn't make any girl swoon, he
was
quite different to the boy she remembered. Jason was full of
stories
about his dads garage and what he had been doing for the last few
months. The night finished with them all promising to keep in
touch
with him. It had been a great night. A great night for them, not
for
Angela, Jason had hardly spoken to her or even glanced over at her.
He
was ignoring her and everyone was aware of it.
When John finally dropped Angela off outside he kissed her and
walked
her to the door. "Is there something I should know about Jason,
Angela?"

"What makes you say that, he has been ignoring me all night John,
I
dont know what I have done to him".
"Its something Becca said when you were talking to Paul at the
jukebox,
she said you and Jason had been an item, until you finished
school".
"WHAT...she said what, I have never had Jason as a boyfriend, he was
a
good friend thats all".
"Well you need to sort out something with him, cos I can sure tell
when
a guy has feelings for a girl and he is smitten", with that John
left
her stood and drove off.

Angela stared after the two dimming red lights, what had just
happened.
What had Becca told John, well she would find out. Inside the
house
Angela dialled Becca's number, after just two rings the phone
connected."Hello" said a sleep voice. Angela wanted to shout at
Becca,
but instead she told her what John had said. Becca sounded mad when
she
answered. Angela was shocked to hear what Becca was saying, they
were
friends, had been for nearly ten years what was wrong with Becca.
When Angela hung up the phone she sat on the stairs with her head
in
her hands, boys that was what was wrong with Becca. How could
Becca
have thought that Jason and her were ever an item. She had never
even
kissed him. Angela laughed at the thought, although it wouldn't be
such
a bad thing now when she remembered how he had looked at the
pizza
place.

The next morning Angela woke early and went to beccas house, she
still
had things to sort out with her friend. becca was still in her
nightie
when Angela knocked on the door. Becca led her in to the kitchen,
there
they sat down at opposite ends of the table staring at each
other.
Angela was the first to speak, "Why would you think that I had
ever
liked Jason, Becca?", "we were just friends nothing more, I have
often
wondered why you didn't ask him out".

"Its obvious to everyone else Angela, Jason loved you, still does
if
last night has anything to go by, I loved Jason and I stood no
chance
while you were there, then I saw someone else and I kind of
forgot
about Jason for a while, until.."
"Until what Becca, I dont understand", Angela could see tears fall
from
the corners of her friends eyes. She did not know what was happening
to
their friendship.
"Angela, you are the pretty one, you can have any guy you want and
you
decide to take the only two I have ever liked" shouted Becca.
"Two, what two, Becca you are not making sense, I love John no
one
else". Then, suddenly Angela realised what Becca meant, it was John
she
liked and Angela had him.
"You made a play for Jason and when he didn't want you, you took
John
from me, I hate you Angela, that night last night of school, I saw
you
with Jason at your door. I had come round because I wanted to see
the
surprise on your face when Jason told you what had happened, thats
when
I saw you with him".
"But..Becca, I didn't do anything, Jason had just come to tell me
about
the rubbish, it was nothing to do with me".
"You say that now, but I saw you in his arms, how he held you,
you
weren't trying to get away were you?"
"Oh no..Becca you have got it wrong, Jason held me to stop me
shaking,
remember I didnt know what we had hit, I was still thinking it was
a
body or something, he did say how he felt about me and I told him
that
I wasn't interested, why didnt you tell me this is how you felt.
I
could have told you the truth".

Becca stared at Angela with her mouth open, she strated to cry
big
tears now, they fell on to the table and made little puddles where
they
landed. Angela walked round and put her arms on becca's shoulders,
they
hugged each other.

"Oh Angela, I am so sorry, I thought you were doing it to spite me,
I
had lost Jason and then I met John, I liked him as soon as I saw
him
and the next thing I know is you are going out with him.
"But I didnt know you knew him Becca, and anyway he asked me out
remember. I'm so sorry this has come between us. I wish I had
known".
Becca had taken a while to get dressed and in the mean time Angela
had
sat in the kitchen wondering what she could do to put things right.
She
decided to play cupid, one way or another she would make it up to
Becca.

After the phone call Angela sat down with a big grin on her face,
Becca
wanted to know what she had been up to. Angela just smiled at her
friend. "Yoyu will have to wait and see, I can't let you know just
yet"
is all Angela would say.

Not long after there was a knock on Becca's back door, she opened
it
and John walked in, he looked at becca and then went straight to
Angela
and kissed her. Angela held him and then asked him if he had
brought
what she had asked for. Suddenly in walked Jason, this time he
was
clean shaven and had a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt on. He stared
at
Angela and then smiled. Becca couldn't believe her eyes, the two
men
she fancied were standing in her kitchen. Jason walked over to
where
Becca stood with her mouth open. He looked down in to her small
face
and kissed her.

"Last night, I realised what a beautiful young girl you had turned
out
to be, I always thought of you as my mate and I see you are a
lovely
young woman", Jason had said when John and Angela had left.
Becca had stayed wrapped in Jason's arms for ages, almost until
she
thought they would be glued forever. Becca and Jason were now an
item,
it was her dream come true, thanks to her friend Angela. Becca
didn't
know how she had pulled it off and quite frankly she didn't care.
Before Angela had gone home, Becca had confessed to phoning her
the
other night and trying to frighten her, she had gotten Gary to
play
along, she knew he was always ready to play pranks. Angela forgave
her
and later they had both laughed, Angela thought the phone calls
were
about the accident and Becca had wanted her to know they were about
her
and Jason.

From now on they would be an inseperable foursome, all childish
thoughts gone and memories to make.