MoonUnit - chapter 5

Sunshine and Enlightenment

It was raining. Not just normal wimpy English rain, a proper tropical typhoon. The hollow sound of raindrops hammering at the library windows was deafening. Puddles - like mini ponds in the street - drowned the curb. There was no way Selbie was walking home in this! She had been working when the downpour had started. A couple of hours a week in the library that was her job, boring but the pay was alright. Standing in the freezing cold doorway Selbie fumbled in her bag for her phone.

It had to be in her bag somewhere. It wasn’t. Maybe it was in her coat pocket. It wasn’t. Trying not to let panic overcome her, Selbie desperately tried to remember where she last had it. Think Selbie think! Then the cold realization crept through Selbie’s veins. She last had her phone in Olly’s car.

Pacing up and down the library foyer Selbie inwardly debated what do. She couldn’t contact Olly, she didn’t even know where he lived! It all seemed hopeless. Selbie’s thoughts were interrupted by a mother dragging her screaming toddler out the library. The high pitched moans reminded Selbie of her Aunt Suzie’s rabbits. She really hated those rabbits.

Rabbit Rowlands. The thought hit her like a sharp stone. She could contact Olly through Rabbit Rowlands. Rabbit’s house was only 20 minutes away from the library and Selbie could make it ther in less if she ran. Genius, absolute genius!

By the time she reached Titania Avenue Selbie was completely sodden. Tangled strips of hair were plastered to her face and her eyes were red from the raindrops. She half sprinted half slipped up Rabbit’s marble steps and hammered at the door. Catching sight of herself in the letterbox Selbie blanched. So THAT was what a drowned rat looked like!

Rabbit himself answered the door, his electric blue eyebrows practically disappearing under his hair when he saw Selbie standing their. "Selbie?" Rabbit looked his dripping guest up and down, "did you walk here?"
“Um yeah.I um needed to speak to Olly Glenpatrick, so I um, came here". Rabbit nodded, his expression unreadable, "you had better come in then". Selbie flashed him her least weird grin and stepped over the doormat. Newly cleaned she noticed.

She followed Rabbit into the lounge. It looked strikingly different in daylight. The walls were pale silver, apart from one which was deep violet. Rabbit had a thing for purple. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and ornate gothic candlesticks cluttered the room. The whole place gave off an aura sophistication, and the centre piece was Rabbit himself. Calmly lounging on his cream sofa; dressed in white skinny jeans and a grey polo jumper. Too cool! "So, why do you want to see Olly?" Rabbit always looked straight at her when he spoke. Selbie blushed furiously. "He must think I’m really bizarre" she thought. "When I got out of his car I left my phone. I need it back or my mum will kill me". Something that looked suspiciously like a smile twitched at the corner of Rabbit’s mouth, "He will be here soon" he said. They didn’t have to wait long.