ABCtales - serial (alternative)

Here's another one i've been working on for those of you that aren't sci-fi minded. Same idea as the other one. Suggestions welcome.

Of all the people in the world I could have come face to face with when I opened my door, I would never have expected it to be her. I mean who would be knocking on my door on a dark and stormy, winter’s night? One of the half dozen or so friends I have, a neighbour perhaps but certainly not Susan Clark.

I stood in the doorway mute in shock, watching as the rain trickled down her face from her hair. I blinked a couple of times, sure in some obscure part of my mind that my eyes were playing tricks on me but no, there she stood real and extremely wet.

Her eyes found mine, “I need help.” She said quietly.
Help? From me of all people? Before I go any further it would perhaps be wise to explain a little about the history between Susan and myself.

Have you ever just met someone and, from the moment you set eyes on her, known that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her, that that one person is the only one that can ever make your life complete? I did. Her name was, and is, Susan Clark. We had grown up together, gone to school together, and shared that special closeness of childhood. We even ended up at the Same University on the same English literature course. I had loved her for as long as I could remember but the closeness of childhood had faded as we outgrew the childish games and she began to notice boys. By the time we reached University she would barely acknowledge my existence save to make fun of me or to ask my help with assignments. I always took it with a forlorn hope that it would warm her to me once more. Of course, that had been nearly ten years ago now, but the memory of those slights still burned like fire. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, I mean as far as looks go the best description I could hope for was plain and I certainly didn’t come from the same financial background as she did. (At eighteen, in University she was driving around in a Porsche.) But then I was still naive enough to believe that my feelings for her would count for something. They didn’t, and not content with just telling me so, she had to tell everyone else as well. But I endured the ridicule and the realisation that Susan Clark was no longer the same girl I had grown up with yet my feelings for her didn’t wan as graduation neared. I knew I had to do something before we graduated and went our separate ways. To afraid to face her ridicule once more I chickened out and wrote her a letter telling her that I knew that there could never be anything between us but that if she ever needed a friend; someone to help – no conditions, no questions – She could come to me. Up until now, I’d never really known if she got the letter, but there it was, held out before her now like a talisman.

I took it from her unresisting grasp, still in shock, and read the scraggly writing that was my hand.
“I need help.” She said again.
My mind kicked back into reality gear and I stood to one side. “You’d better come in.”
She remained where she was, “You wrote; no conditions, no questions. Did you mean it?”
I glanced around the street, noticing more than a couple of curtains twitching (I’d lived here long enough for my neighbours to know that it was unusual for a strange woman to be knocking on my door). “We can talk inside.”
“No!” It was the first time she’d raised her voice; “You said no conditions, no questions. Did you mean it?” She repeated more urgently.
I nodded, troubled by her attitude, but it was clear that the only way I was going to get her in out of the rain was to agree. “Yes, I meant it, I still do.” It wasn’t a lie.
Relief flashed over her face and she stepped quickly past me into my flat. After a quick glance around the street I closed the door. Whatever it was that was bothering her, it had to be serious I knew; there was no way she’d have come to me else.
The sound of yapping and squeaking reached my ears and I groaned, I’d forgotten about Glen and Shep, my two dogs. Right now they’d be eating Susan alive.

She’d managed to find her way into the front room and was sitting on the sofa when I came in, both my Labs vying for her attention but she seemed unpreturbed.
“I’m sorry, but they aren’t used to visitors. I’ll put them in the kitchen for now.”
She looked up at me then and those eyes…. They could melt my heart ten years ago and they’d just done it all over again. For about six years she hadn’t even been a memory and if I’d been asked, I would have said that I was over her but seeing her again I finally realised that I would never really be over her. I just hoped she couldn’t see it on my face.
“Please don’t. I don’t mind.”
I nodded and took the seat across from her calling the dogs away. I’d like to say that they immediately obeyed my command but truth to tell after a quick glance to make sure I wasn’t about to give them anything to eat they continued fawning over Susan.
For her part, she continued stroking and petting the dogs but her eyes were unfocused, her mind elsewhere. For the first time I noticed that her clothes weren’t just wet, but filthy too. Not covered in mud or anything but like she hadn’t changed them in a long time. Her hair and face too showed the same lack of cleanliness. I was surprised. The Susan Clark I knew was fastidious in the extreme. But then that had been ten years ago.
“It’s been a long time.” I said. More to try and get her attention back than anything else. It worked; her eyes focused on me, then looked away again. “Ten years.” She replied. I waited for more but she remained silent, all her focus on the dogs again.
“You said you needed help?” I pressed.
She looked at me then away again, and that one look told me how much it had cost her to come to me for help. “I need a place to crash for a few days, but no-one can know I’m here.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Okay. I know I said no questions, but I need to ask one. I don’t know what made you come to me, it doesn’t matter but I have to know if you’re in trouble with the law. Are you?”
She looked at me then and for a brief instant I thought I’d gone too far, that she would leave, “Would it make a difference, would you take back the offer?”
I remained silent, troubled. It should matter I knew but when I looked at her face… There was pain there; weariness and I think fear. For the first time in all the years I’d known her she looked vulnerable. “No.” It was the truth.
“For what it’s worth, I haven’t broken any laws and I’m not a fugitive.”
I nodded. “I’ve got a spare room, I’ll make up the bed for you.” I moved to the door.
“Remember Jack, I told you ten years ago that there would never be anything between us and that still goes. If you can’t handle that…”
“Just what do you take me for?” I snapped. She’d just prodded a very old wound.
“I just want to make it clear…”
“You made it clear a long time ago, you made it clear to everyone!” I snapped, interrupting her.
She stood up quickly, “This was a bad idea.” She started for the door.
“Wait!” Then in softer voice, “Please.” She stopped, but didn’t turn round. “I’m sorry, I’m just not used to people questioning my word. I made the offer; it still stands. You can stay as long as you need to.”
She stood where she was a moment longer then turned back to face me and I had to fight an almost overpowering urge to go to her and hold her, amazed by the intensity of feeling I still had for her.
“God I’m tired.” She said at last, running her hands through her lank hair.
“Why don’t you take a hot shower while I make up the bed.”
She nodded, “That would be great.”
“That’s the bathroom there, there’s a clean towel in the hamper… And a lock on the door.” I added.
We stood awkwardly facing each other for a moment then she brushed past me soundlessly into the bathroom closing the door behind her. After a few seconds I heard the bolt slide home.

It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to make the bed up and then I put the kettle on and started making some toast all the while the same questions kept going through my mind – why had she come to me? Why not one of her plethora of friends? Questions I wanted to ask but couldn’t; I knew that if I voiced one of them she’d be out the door. All I could hope for was that she might open up to me in her own time.

I walked past the bathroom door; taking the toast and tea into the living room and I could still hear the water of the shower running. I paused, about to ask if she was okay, but the water cut off so I continued into the lounge. It was about five minutes later when she appeared in the doorway wrapped in an old bathrobe. It was about three sizes too big for her but she looked a lot cleaner and a lot more at ease.
“Do you have anything I can change into, I don’t want to put my clothes back on until I’ve had a chance to wash them.”
I nodded, “there’s a clean tee-shirt and a pair of sweat pants on the bed.” I motioned with my hand at the tray of tea and toast, “I wasn’t sure if you were hungry, I made some toast.”
She smiled for the first time, “Thanks, I’ll just get dressed.” Without waiting for a reply she disappeared out the door and I heard the bedroom door closing. I leaned back in my chair absently munching on a slice of toast and scratching Glen’s head; she definitely seemed to be a little bit more at ease, so I guess that was something.
Minutes later, she reappeared dressed and set into the tea and toast. I leaned back in my chair; clutching my mug of tea and watching her eat in silence. Obviously it had been some time since she’d eaten; the way she was digging into the toast was testament to that, though she did spare some for the two gluttons that lived with me. All the while I remained silent, partly because I didn’t really know what to say and partly because I didn’t want to spoil the moment.

Finally, the last slice of toast divided between her and the dogs, she sat back with a sigh. For the first time she noticed me watching her and I was surprised to see her cheeks colour, “I’m sorry about that, you must think I’m a pig.”
I shook my head with a smile, “No, but if I’d known how hungry you are I would’ve cooked something a little more substantial.” Despite the mysterious circumstances, I found that I was enjoying the situation – Susan Clark in my house, with me, wanting to be there. It was a dream come true.
I wouldn’t want to put you out...” She paused, “A least not any more than I have already.”
“It wouldn’t have been any trouble…”
“No, really, I mean it just pretend I’m not here. I’ll try and stay out of your way as much as possible.” She said quickly interrupting me.
I was about to tell her that it wasn’t necessary but she stood, “I’m really tired, do you mind if I go to bed now.”
“No, of course not,” I said confused; she was a kaleidoscope of emotions, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Without another word she padded out of the room and I heard the bedroom door shut behind her.
A frown creased my brow and I stared down at Shep’s expectant face “What could possibly have gone so wrong in her life that she would willingly bring me into it again?” I murmured to myself. I shook myself, such questions were dangerous, even asked of myself, such questions could make Susan leave my life again and I found that, much to my surprise, I didn’t want that.
Glen was now sitting next to Shep. I nodded, “All right I’m just getting my jacket on.” I walked into the hallway with both dogs following and retrieved my coat and the two leads from the hall cupboard. I always walked the dogs at the same time every night rain hail or shine and both dogs had got into the routine and saw no reason why it should be altered. I leaned close to the closed bedroom door and after a moment knocked lightly. “Susan.” There was no reply.
“I’m going out with the dogs. I won’t be long.” There was still no reply. Briefly I thought about opening the door. Glen’s whine made me look away from the door and pull my hand away from the handle. I gave him a grateful look. “Come on then.” We went out into the cold night and I locked the door behind me.