Consumed

“You know what? I don’t want to hear this. You and me… We’re done,” said Joel. He passed the phone back to Lara and got up from where he was sitting on the grass verge. He walked over to the van and climbed in.

“Was that entirely necessary?” Michael asked Lara. “He didn’t need to know. It’s not as though anything happened between us. What was the point of doing that?”

“Because it’s what you deserve,” said Lara. She tucked the phone back into her jeans pocket and followed Joel to the camper van.

“That’s fucking great,” said Michael. “Thanks for that. Brilliant. Now I’m talking to myself…”

A horn sounded off from down the road. Michael turned his head to see the oncoming tow-truck returning from dropping the car off.

* * *

Stephen was driving the tow-truck. Michael was sitting next to him, with his head leaning against the window, staring at the world passing by.

Lara and Joel were sitting in the back — an all too obvious distance between them.

A few more silent minutes passed by slowly before Michael leaned forward and flicked on the radio.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“What are we doing here?” asked Joel when they finally pulled onto the family property where Dan, Hayley and Charlotte were already waiting.

“Oh, finally, it speaks!” said Stephen sarcastically. He pulled the tow-truck up in front of the old house.

“Come on, I’m not in the mood for games… What are we doing here?” Joel continued.

“Collecting the others,” Michael muttered. “You think he dropped the car off here and then dropped the others off at the petrol station to wait for us?”

Stephen twisted in his seat to address everyone in the truck, “You’re really the life and soul of the party, aren’t you? Yes, your friends are here… But, we’re not going to the petrol station right away…”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me. Why not?” said Joel, fed up with the constant delays in getting to the campsite — although part of him just wanted to go home now.

“Because you’re staying for dinner,” said Stephen in a matter of fact tone. “My mother insisted, your friends agreed.”

“Brilliant!” moaned Joel ungratefully.

Stephen turned to him with a stern look on his face; for the first time since introducing himself to the group, he even sounded annoyed, “I suggest you don’t use that tone when you give thanks to my mother… And give thanks you will.”

Joel’s face flushed, “I’m sorry,” he said, “it’s just been one of those days.”

“That’s not my fault,” Stephen pointed out, “nor is it my mother’s fault so… Play nice… Unless you want me to take you back to where I found you and just leave you there?” he raised an eyebrow.

“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any offence.”

Stephen suddenly smiled, “Come… Let me introduce you to the family.”

With no more words, Stephen opened the door and jumped down from the tow-truck.

Michael laughed, “You certainly told him!”

“Just fuck off, Mike… Seriously fuck off!” Joel hissed. He opened the door and stepped out — slamming it behind him, despite Lara needing to get out too.

“This is your fault,” Michael pointed out to Lara. “You at least going to cheer him up by agreeing to go out with him again?”

“Don’t you get it yet, Michael? None of us like you. Why do you insist on hanging out with us? We can barely tolerate you.”

“Yeah, okay, if you say so… I’m sure you’re all big enough and ugly enough… Certainly ugly enough… To tell me to leave if you didn’t want me around.”

Lara leaned forward, into the front of the truck, and whispered slowly and clearly, “We don’t want you around anymore. Take the hint.” She didn’t wait for his response, she just left the truck via the same door Joel had used.

“You coming?” called Stephen from the front door.

Michael nodded and followed.

* * *

Dan was still sitting next to Tammy, on the sofa, along with Charlotte. Suzanne and Hayley were still in the armchairs with Andrea standing next to the window.

“Looks like your friends are here,” Andrea pointed out.

Tammy jumped up from her place on the sofa and joined Andrea at the window to see the new visitors — a sneaky glimpse before she had to meet them face to face. Hayley took the opportunity of the empty place on the sofa next to her man to swap seats.

“Jump in my grave just as quick?” Tammy asked with a cheeky grin on her face.

Hayley flashed her perfect white teeth at her in the most fake smile she had ever used. She managed to not blurt out, “No, I’d just piss on it,” although she desperately wanted to.

Suzanne couldn’t resist getting a sneaky look at the other guests either and joined the others at the window, just as Michael disappeared into the house. “They all staying for dinner?” she asked.

“Of course,” said Andrea — a welcoming smile on her face.

Dan tried to get out of it, once more, although he knew it was pointless, “Really, it isn’t a problem.”

“I know it isn’t,” Andrea quickly replied. “Honestly, we’d love to have you for dinner.”

“I’ll start preparing the vegetables,” said Suzanne as she left the room.

“Can we at least help?” asked Charlotte.