"So you still haven't found a job?" Axel asked.
I chewed as I raised an eyebrow at him, a non-verbal reply to his obvious remark. I had just taken a mouthful of food and figured he'd get the hint. He smiled in a hopeful way, "For my defence, I haven't seen you for a fortnight. It could have happened."
We were sitting in a greasy spoon in the city, which served the best fry up money could buy, and most importantly, at a fraction of the price of the gastro pub down the road. (If you could stand the shabby decor and the rather shifty clientele.)
If I was getting my usual regular income, I'd probably be in the gastro pub, but this meet up with Axel was my one indulgence in my current scrimping and saving.
I looked across at my friend, Axel, as he sipped at his coffee. He was such a sweetheart. We'd known each other since high school, both metalheads alone in a sea of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake wannabes.
Even though that was a decade ago, we still retained a heartfelt love of all things alternative. His long green hair was neatly pulled back in a ponytail (I hadn't the heart to tell him after all these years, he looked like one of his anime characters) and he was wearing his favourite Rammstein t-shirt and ripped jeans. He now, however, had to smarten up a bit during the week for his job at the lab, but on his days off, he could at least slum it with me.
I brushed my long red hair back over my shoulder, as I took a mouthful of greasy bacon. This would probably cause my pale skin to break out, but it was worth it. As I carried on bravely making my way through my plate of assorted fried meats, I made an effort to add a verbal response to the previous question. "There's just nothing available Ax. I've sent my CV out to half the design companies in the city, had a few interviews but with no replies. I'm making a bit from working in the bar, but I really need the design work coming in too."
"Something will come up." Axel said, sipping his coffee. " Who can turn down the design work of Morgan Le Fay?"
I muttered, "Everyone apparently" as I mopped my plate with the bread. "You haven't got anything going at the lab have you? I know you guys normally pay a bomb for drug testers." I fake-begged, "I'll be a willing test subject for hallucinogens. Seeing pink monkeys can't be any worse than working at the bar when there's a hen party."
He laughed, but considered this for a moment. "I knew they were after participants in one of the studies, but you have to meet certain criteria. I've got to go there off-duty this afternoon, I can ask around and ring you tonight?"
"God Ax, you'd be a lifesaver. Even if it's a one off money drop, it'd be better than nothing." I grinned at him.
"I probably wouldn't go into that too lightly Morg. You know we have some pretty freaky shit going on at the lab." He wasn't meant to tell me much about his job, but he'd let enough slip that it sounded like something out of Doctor Who. But what could it hurt right?
"Oh you worry about it too much Ax. I'd be fine. You know me. I weather most storms."
"I'd rather not see anything happen though, if it's all the same to you." He drained the last of his coffee, as I sat, vaguely touched at his concern.
"Soppy git." I stuck out my tongue at him.
"Yeah, well. I've got few friends as it is, I'd rather not have to try and round up another one this late in life."
Technically we weren't just 'friends'. At one point, we'd made a go at the relationship thing, but we found it too formal. Now we're just friends who casually hook up when they're single, horny, or I'll be honest with you, bored. I knew his dirty little secrets. He knew mine. Somehow, all that gets encompassed by the term 'friends.' The word didn't seem big enough.
I pushed my plate aside and finished off my tea. I went to grab my purse out of my bag, when he pulled out his wallet and placed enough money to cover both of us on the stained gingham. I glared daggers at him, which rolled off his bland expression like water.
"Ax, we've been through this. I'm not that bad off. You know I don't like you paying for me.
He shrugged, conveying his usual argument at me without need for words. That he liked to take care of me. That he liked seeing me eat. That he had been brought up to look out for those less fortunate. (He did normally say this smiling, so I was never too insulted when it was applied to me.)
I grabbed my purse, and out of a fit of stubborness, left some money for a tip. I grabbed my bag, thanked the tired looking waitress at the desk and walked out, holding the door out for him as he followed behind me.
We both winced as the cold wind and rain hit us, buffeted along with passers by before Ax pulled us over to cower under a nearby bus shelter. Winters in England made you fondly pray for Summer.
I watched all the people pass by, milling around shop fronts, from every walk of life and the sudden realisation I was as insignificant as an ant. I had achieved barely anything with my life. I'd lost my family from a freak accident. I didn't have many friends, aside from Axel. Sure I had made good money whilst I was still working. But I'd left University with hopes and dreams. Where did they go? Lost in thought, I barely registered the nudge at my elbow and I looked up at him. (he was 6"2. It wasn't hard.) "Oi you. Stop getting depressed." He really did know me too well.
"I'll talk to you later." I tried to smile at him and held out my arms for a hug. He grabbed me, lifting me up off my feet, me squealing all the time, and popped me down. His arms were still round mine, and I could feel body heat through my coat. I felt the urge to invite him round later, rather than just hear his voice over the telephone. It had been a while.
"Talk to you later" I said, wistfully as he turned round and headed for where he left his car. Fortunately, my flat was within walking distance from the cafe, and within running distance if it's pissing it down with rain. I came to the front door, panting, and pre-thinking had me with my key in my hand to unlock the door, to save me scurrying through my bag.
I opened the door and plonked everything down on the table, narrowly avoiding stepping on my cat, as he wound his way around my ankles. Titan was a ginger stray I'd adopted when I'd moved to the city after my parents passed. He kept my lonely nights from getting too lonely, and kept the mice down that infested our block of flats.
I made my way to the kitchen, and after feeding Titan, sat down in the living room to carry on with my artwork. I'd been working on a little series of cartoons on the side about cats, mainly because I had a perfect model to hand. Funnily enough, our love of all things 'cat' (or at least 'cat' themed) was something me and Axel had in common. We had laughed about getting a cat together before, and Ax was a firm favourite with Titan. Anyway, afternoon turned to evening, and I'd worked on the comic so much I'd forgotten the time until the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Morg! You're going to love me." I heard Axel's deep voice over the phone. "The lab is still after test subjects and you're in the right age bracket to qualify. All you need to do is turn up tomorrow at 12, fill in some paperwork and you're good to go."
"Brilliant. I do get paid right?"
"About a grand. Should be enough to keep you in cat food for a little while. Oh, and Morg? They're saying this test may have some funny side effects. I'll give you a lift up there, if that's alright? I've got some holiday time to use up and it would save you having to take the bus if you're drugged up or something."
"Funny effects?" I said, starting to worry. "Temporary right?"
"I don't know Morg. They didn't provide me with much insight into what was being tested. But I know that anything funny would have to wear off eventually.
"Great ...so no concrete information of what will actually be done to me." I wasn't unduly worried and grasping at straws at this point.
"Sorry. Not my department. They tend to keep to themselves. " I hear his worry over the phone "Morg, you can back out of this if you don't feel comfortable. I only got the information for the trial, I didn't actually name any names."
"No. I'm fine. It's easy money. I'm not scared to try anything new, remember?"
He laughed "Yeah, but this is a classified drug trial, not a nutella and cheese sandwich. If you're definitely sure about this..."
"Yes I'm sure. See you at 12. Have a good evening"
"Goodnight Morg. Ring me in the morning if you change your mind."
Ax picked me up next morning, bringing breakfast with him in the form of a pain au chocolat from the nearby bakery. I swung into the passenger seat of his old reliable Fiesta. "How are you feeling? He asked, driving out towards the research centre.
"Have to admit, didn't get much sleep."
"You'll be okay. Nothing permanent, and you'll be happier with that cheque in your hand. "
"Fair enough."
We sat in silence for the rest of the journey. My mind drifted back to last night, and the reason for my lack of sleep.
