'Yay, it's the weekend! No work for me. Glorious weekend, whoop-de-doop!' Olivia ran round the living room waving Annette's bra over her head.
Annette scowled at her angrily from the depths of her duvet. She was near comatose on the living room sofa. Friday night had been awfully busy as per usual and all she wanted to do was laze around on the sofa, watch TV all day long and eat Walkers Cheese and Onion crisps, bag after bag. Listening to Olivia's off-key singing voice and watching her run about like a mad harpy with her bra was not part of the plan.
'Hush you crazy whore and give me back my bra! Your voice is horrendous.' Annette hissed at her, glaring as evilly as she could. Without her contacts she was doing a pretty good job.
'You can't scare me, superwoman. So stop with the evil glare.' Olivia jiggled her bum right in Annette's face and ran off giggling when Annette lunged at her. 'Come on. It's a glorious day. Well as glorious as any winter day could be especially in this shitty country. Let's go for a walk in the park. Kick all the dead leaves at annoying perky kids. Come on, I know you want to. You hate kids. Plus it's been a very long time since you went out in the day, you've become a night creature. Like your mystery vampire guy.'
Annette hit her head with the flat of her hand groaning loudly. Olivia was going to whinge non-stop if she did not get her way. And she really did not want to hear anything about her vampire right now. She blushed to herself softly as she realised she was actually referring to him as her vampire. She got off the sofa stretching. 'Fine. We'll go for a walk. But...' she raised up a hand to stop Olivia's mad shriek of victory, 'But you have to promise me something. A few things actually.'
'Anything! Your wish is my command baby.' Olivia crowed.
'Firstly, no talking about the vampire. Not a single word for the whole journey. Secondly, you are going to leave me alone in peace when we get back. I intend to be a bum today and there's no way you are going to interfere. And lastly, you are going to buy a massive tub of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food as a gift for my loving friendship to you.'
Olivia rolled her eyes, 'More like bribery. Yeah, whatever. But I can talk to you about him when we get back. You did say the whole journey, nothing about when we get back home.'
'Indeed I did. But I also said you have to leave me alone when we get back. And that includes talking about him. For the entire day.' Annette replied with a sly smirk.
'Whatever. Go get your coat, killjoy.' Olivia mock sulked.
A few minutes later, they were strolling towards Hyde Park all wrapped up in thick scarves, ear muffs, beanie hats and large coats.
'Isn't this glorious? The sun shining, crisp fresh air, taking in the deliciously wintery air...aah, divine.' Olivia inhaled happily.
'Glorious? Hmm, let's see. The sun is shining, definitely. But it doesn't really matter does it because it's more like a fucking blinding glare in my eyes. It's not doing anything to prevent how sodding cold it is. And taking in the air, ha! More like inhaling shards of glass down your nostrils straight to your lungs.' Annette complained bitterly.
'Stop spoiling everything, Netta. You've been sulking around the flat this whole week like your favourite toy was stolen from you and I've been trying my best to cheer you up and frankly you're getting on my last tits. I get back from work tired as hell but I push it aside so you see a cheerful face before you go to the bar. Still you don't show me any form of gratitude or whatnot. I don't even care about that 'cuz you're my friend and it's my job to get you out of your funk but trying to ruin the only free day I have in a week, spent on cheering you up again nonetheless...no, I won't have that. So stop it or just go back home. I don't want you ruining my mood any further.' Olivia had stopped in the middle of the park pavement with her fists on either side of her waist.
Annette thought to herself darkly, well I didn't ask you for your help now did I? I was perfectly happy being in my so-called funk and you just had to be little miss fucking sunshine. Well that's what you get for being a bloody Good Samaritan. She half felt like saying just as much to Olivia but she relented almost immediately. It really wasn't Olivia's fault that she was in a bad mood. The whole week had been shitty what with her vampire not turning up at all and the fact that although she had been the one to drive him away, she was still wishing he was around. It was mostly self disgust that filled her for wanting her stalker back. She snorted at herself in anger then looked up. Olivia was still staring at her with her eyes flashing. Annette sighed, 'I'm sorry, okay. Sorry I'm taking out my annoyance on you especially when I know you truly are trying to get me out of this stupid, self-inflicted mood I'm in. Don't worry, I won't say anything depressing again. I'll even talk about the joy of the birds chirping and the bees buzzing if you like.'
That elicited a reluctant smile from Olivia. 'Well, you don't have to go that far of course. But just smiling and nodding will be alright.'
'Okay. Smile and nod. Got it.' Annette grinned at her and linked arms once more as the girls continued their walk.
***
Angus stared at the two girls as they resumed their now joyful jaunt across the park. With his enhanced hearing, he had listened in as they argued. He smiled to himself. He was definitely going to enjoy getting to know the one called Olivia better. She seemed very fiery especially after being a witness to her little display of temper. He thought of a plan on how to attract their attention. He had to make sure it came across as genuinely accidental. There was no way they would believe otherwise as they struck him as very intelligent and suspicious characters. He let out a soft chuckle; he was going to enjoy this bit of challenge. His eyes narrowed once more as he stared at the girls, Olivia in particular. She was quite delectable, he mused to himself. She had been too far away for him to notice the colour of her eyes or how her body was with it all wrapped up in those ugly winter clothing. But the bit of hair he had spotted, all wavy and full the colour of a rich sable and the delicious looking full lower lip she had chewed on as Annette apologised to her; he felt himself begin to harden.