The Amateur Players (Closed for TheWorldBuilder)

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul knew that Andi hadn’t seen any of the rehearsals for ‘Cumberland’. He wondered if the dark theme of the production might scare her back into the shell she was emerging from. He was aware that, as always, the entire crew would cram themselves into the wings after interval on the final night. Maybe she’d stay in the Green Room to prepare it for the last-nighter.

The lights flickered for a moment, then the automatic ignition circuit fired up the generator and the steady glow resumed. It had been a tough week for the Players, especially with the roadworks right on the corner. Paul was thankful that Andi wasn’t starting college until Monday, she’d never have been able to study properly with that racket outside.

Polly opened the door a crack, “We’re just about to let them in.”

Paul rose from his desk and stretched. “Thanks, love.” His large frame moved surprisingly briskly out of the office and across the foyer. As he entered the almost bare Green Room, he smiled at the four actors finishing their make up. Passing through into the kitchen, even more cramped than ever, he saw Lee refilling the generator’s petrol tank. The youth’s eyes quickly averted from the older man’s.

“Where’s Andi?” he enquired. Lee nodded to the passageway behind him. “Ah,” mumbled Paul, “OK.” He turned back to the serving hatch and his glance took in the precise arrangement of the produce stacked in the tiny space.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andrea had been a bit busy over the last week with her pre-College reading list, and trying to make the kitchen arrangement work with a good portion of her usual workspace taken up by Lee and his infernal generator.

She had to admit he was pretty useful at mechanical stuff, and seemed to have the back up electricity cutting in smoothly even if it did make a terrible noise. What with the road drilling outside and the clattering of the generator inside it was a wonder anyone in the Players could think, let alone memorise their lines.

She'd heard a few of them, mostly Polly, chatting about this production but she wasn't sure what to make of it. It didn't sound like Andrea's kind of thing. Unlike the Trojans they were doing next. That was much more exciting, mostly because she was in it. She'd told her sister Sarah about having a part in the chorus with a bit of time centre stage, and although she'd been pleased for Andi she was a bit preoccupied trying to find her own choices for College next year.

Yep, what could be better than a fusion of Ancient Greek stories with Barbie? It made her smile, because she often teased Sarah about being a Barbie Doll with her long legs and blonde hair, even if she was a bit fuller figured than your typical doll. But Andi was going to be in a play. A real play. In a real theatre. On a real stage.

There went the generator again, and she could hear Paul clumping about by the kitchen. She hoped they wouldn't make a mess in there; she'd got it all tidy and organised

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

As she stepped out of the ladies’ and turned towards the kitchen, Andi could see Paul eyeing her prepared interval refreshments. He must have heard the creaky door and he turned towards her with a smile, “Oh, Andi, I hope you’re not going to tie yourself to that sink again tonight. You should let someone else have that pleasure while you mingle.”

He shifted his glance to Lee, next to her. “You’ll be nursing that tractor tonight after your performance last time,” he declared sternly.

Lee looked sheepishly at Andi, then cast his eyes down so that he didn’t have to meet Paul’s glare.

“Come on, love,” the older man continued, “you deserve a mug of sludge before interval.” He stepped back into the Green Room without the slightest thought that Andrea might not follow him.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andrea knew a summons when she heard one and followed Paul into the Green Room.

A cup of sludge. He did have a way of selling an idea. No wonder he was the Big Cheese in the outfit.

That made Andi smile. "Want me to make them?" she asked as she approached the urn and cups.

She'd almost got used to Paul now, with his gruff nature and occasional temper. It certainly impressed her how he'd tamed the cheeky Lee into behaving. Not a wandering hand or inappropriate comment from him all week! And another last-nighter this very evening. Not that she'd done anything to deserve being at the party.

But the next production, now that would be deserved. She felt a fluttering in her tummy knowing that the end of this Production meant the iminent beginning of her big moment.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul strode towards the hot urn, gathering up two mugs as he heard Andi say, “Want me to make them?"

“I’ve got it,” he replied, “sweet and pale.” He gave her a broad wink, needlessly emphasising his mild flirt. Reaching up to the shelf above the long, illuminated mirror, far beyond her reach, he produced a broad tin of chocolate powder. He noticed how clean the mugs were as he poured her coffee and the milk onto his powder. That was a definite change since she’d arrived. Ironic that the arrival of a student made the Green Room appear less like a college common room.

He handed her the steaming brew and said, “If you enjoy your part in November, how do you feel about doing the Pantomime? I’m adapting the old story and I reckon I can pop you in it.”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Oooh really? You might find a part for me? I'd love it, Paul!"

Andi took her drink from him, and sitting back in a chair sipped from the brew nestled between her palms.

"Mm, that's nice," she commented, feeling quietly cheered but his silly comment and wink. It made him justa bit more human, kind of cuddly and fun. But he still carried a health warning, she reminded herself.

She could hear Lee's generator clacking away in the kitchen space and was glad for Paul's suggestion of a bit of peace in here. She wondered if she was allowed to actually come to the Last Nighter, having contributed nothing to the production, but she'd just see how things went later on.

"So what's the panto going to be? One of the traditional settings? Or are you reworking it to be more modern? And which story?"

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

She relaxed as much as the stiff make-up chair would allow, "Mm, that's nice"

Paul watched her face soften, she certainly had lost that timidity she’d once displayed in his company. His own lips widened in a grin as she rapidly fired a series of enthusiastic questions about the end of season silliness.

"So what's the panto going to be? One of the traditional settings? Or are you reworking it to be more modern? And which story?"

“I’ve decided we’ll do Aladdin this year,” he revealed, “with the usual Skipton malarky to start and then following the traditional story to the Orient. Most of it will flow easily, there are just a few twists and turns that I’m still working on. Your part, for instance. We’ll have to see how you do in front of an audience. If you play the part well and don’t let me down, then I’ve got something very special in mind. If you can’t cope with simply standing still for two minutes, then you’ll be a village girl lost in the crowd.”

His smile vanished again as he spoke the ominous final sentence.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Pah! Two minutes? What's two minutes? I'll give you five minutes every performance, still like a statue! I'll be as Special as you need me to be!"

Andrea grinned over her cup, loving how Paul was offering her even more opportunities.

Of course, it did mean she mustn't blow her little bit of Centre Stage in the November Production. That was going to be her gateway to bigger and better things. As long as she handled being in front of that audience the way Paul wanted. If she could do that, he was offering something Special for the end of year.

How special? She wondered, but didn't want to ask. The suspense and surprise would be part of the fun.

"So Aladdin, huh? That sounds like nice dressing up and lots of jokes and fun. Who gets to be the Dame? I always loved the Dame guys, they're so funny and naughty!"

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

“I don’t want a statue, that’s woodwork and paint. I want a living, breathing, warm body. You might not have anything to say, but you’ve got to be confident, almost brazen, when you stand up to those soldiers. You’re a slave but you’re not subdued. The point you have to make is that although you’re treated as an object, you have self-worth. Haven’t you read the script, has Polly not explained the feminist subtext?”

The frivolity of moments ago was gone. Here was the steely director crafting his performer to give their utmost to the rôle.

As suddenly as he had tensed, Paul relaxed again. “You’ve got a month of rehearsals. Spend every minute you can understanding the whole play. Polly will help you. Yes, I know college is starting, if you manage your time as well as that kitchen you’ll fit it all in.”

He noticed that Bambi the fawn had returned, for the first time in weeks.

“Look Andi," he continued softly, "it’s going to be a challenge but I think it’s one you can meet. If you do, I’ll throw in a few more lines for you and you can have a scene with Mike, he’s our resident Dame. Is that a deal?”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"It certainly is! A scene with The Dame? What fun! Though I might need a bit of help with delivering lines, I've only really done Chorus stuff before."

Andi paused a moment, then went on, "The bit about the statue was meant to mean I can stand for more than two minutes if you want. And yeah, I can give the soldiers attitude; the slave girl who matters!"

Since she hadn't actually discussed the next play with Polly, Andi didn't really know anything much about it apart from a mix of modern and ancient Troy, and Women asserting themselves.

"I'll study the script and give it my all in rehearsal, Paul; I really want to earn that Special something you were thinking of for the Panto."

One of the things Andrea loved about Pantomime was how it had something for everyone, silly slapstick for the children and topical humour and naughty jokes for the grown ups. It would be amazing to play opposite the Dame, and she hoped Paul really did have something special in mind.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

“Right, now you’d better get your hatch open, it’s nearly interval. That’s the only costume change in this one, so as soon as curtain’s up I’ll get this place ready for later. You come back through when you’re ready.

Paul took her mug and watched as Andi went back to join Lee in the kitchen. He still couldn’t fathom the combination of silk and steel in the young woman. She had what it took for her first part, but which Andrea would he get when she finally stood on that stage?

The two kegs were ready in their cool space under the stage, Paul hefted the first one out and carried it back into the Green Room. The two married couples were sharing one side of the room, so he nudged the costume rail off centre with a tap of his hip and swung the keg onto the end of the other dressing table. He’d ask Andi to get the spirits once she’d cleared the kitchen servery after interval.

As the hot weather of the summer had now passed, the sandwich buffet had been replaced by a massive cauldron full of steaming soup. He turned off the portable gas burner, wrapped a towel round each of his large hands and, alone, lifted earthenware cauldron and five gallons of soup onto a sturdy low table near the keg.

Satisfied for the moment, he sat on one of the make-up chairs.

About 10 minutes later, Andi joined him from the servery. “Sit down, love, we’ve got about half an hour. Could you bring a mixture of spirits in when I go for final curtain call?”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Relaxing into the chair as much the fairly uncomfortable chairs allowed, Andrea replied,

"Sure, of course, Paul," going through a quick mental check list of the various spirits they still had bottles of, and the juice, tonics and other mixers. Having already been to one Last Night party she knew what to expect this time, and also what the Players liked for their little celebrations.

Lee would be allowed away from his Generator but she was wise to him now, and wouldn't be making the same mistakes as last time.

That was one of the nice things about the Company. They were very forgiving. No one had mentioned her disgraceful behaviour and it felt that either they didn't notice or it didn't bother them, maybe even a bit of both.

She chatted quite happily with Paul about the Theatre Company and some of its recent history, the kinds of varied performance they liked to put on, and how generally everyone rallied round and supported each other.

They were a great group of people and Paul made her feel like she'd actually be missed if she didn't stay with the Company once College was in session.

Maybe she should rethink her intention of quitting. It would seem rather ungrateful after Paul was offering her actual stage roles, something most players had to wait a while for. He was even suggesting writing especially for her, like this possible scene with the Panto Dame.

Yep, it felt good being in the Company, and surprisingly it felt good being in the company of Paul! Who'd have thought? The half hour went quickly, and by the time Curtain Call was done she had the Spirits and mixers all lined up ready near the beer.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

As the muted sound of applause filtered through from the auditorium, Paul hoisted himself from the chair, slipped through the side door and moved up the steps to the wings. He waited for the cast and crew to make their call and then stepped out from behind the painted flat panels hiding the backstage space and onto the stage, bowing deeply.

After the final curtain dropped, he waited for a moment as everyone else tried to squeeze back into the Green Room. Alone on the stage, he paced the available space, even though he knew the exact dimensions by heart. In his mind, he placed the various sets and their components for his adaptation of the age-old tale. He paused for a moment, deep in reflection, wondering if the minor narrative he wanted to add to the central plot was wise. Had his hidden loneliness affected him more than he thought? Was this reality or a stupid fantasy? Not even his old friends Polly and Mike knew that deep part of him, he was sure.

Yes, some of it was physical, that would be stupid to deny. It was the other things that intrigued him more; the contrasts within her. Even her little flat hadn't given any hints of her personality, hadn't resolved any of the emotional dichotomies she presented: the openness with so much still hidden, the palpable tensions between her determination and her nervousness, sometimes so shy yet so excited to be centre stage….

Paul cut himself off. He’d agreed with her, if she gave a decent account of herself next month, she’d have her lines in the pantomime. His nagging doubt wouldn't be silenced, should he put her in a position she might find more uncomfortable than being briefly topless?

Still uncertain, Paul turned to the flats and stepped offstage.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

As everyone surged back from the Curtain Call in various stages of exhaustion and euphoria, Andi greeted them with well earned congratulations and offerings of their deserved celebratory refreshments.

After a few moments it became obvious that Paul hadn't joined them, and once everyone was settled in their groups to relive their best experiences of the evening, Andi popped out in search of Paul, to see if he was ok, or wanted a drink, or just needed a moment of quiet.

She made eye contact with Polly on her way out, who gave Andi a smile and a knowing grin though Andi couldn't work out what it was that Polly knew or even what she was trying to communicate. Andi did her usual 'nod and smile' which her English Teacher in school had always called her 'Wemmick' response.

Finding Paul on the empty stage deep in contemplation, she didn't want to interrupt him. He seemed so engrossed by whatever he was thinking and planning, like maybe he was mapping out their next great Production. Whatever it was, the intensity of his absorbtion and concentration impressed her, and for a brief inexplicable moment she felt jealous of whatever was taking so much of his attention.

Shaking her head to try and get rid of the silly notion, she quietly returned to the raucus cameraderie of the Party.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Little things, they were often the key.

Paul saw, amongst the spirits, mixers and juices Andrea had arranged next to the keg and cauldron whilst he had been on stage, a pair of litre bottles of fresh tomato juice instead of the usual one. The heaviness inside him lifted, she already knew some of his preferences and was obviously trying to please him. She was stood near the kitchen door, but Polly was blocking her way, engaged in some gossiping chatter no doubt. Mike eased past his wife with a tray full of empty glasses, whilst Andi looked on with an expression that Paul could only interpret as anguished.

He silently thanked his old friends.

Lee was tending the generator, he could bloody well do the domestic chores too. Nothing would be properly clean, of course, but that had been the norm before July so he doubted anyone would realise. He would.

Slowly moving across the crowded room, he noticed the light sheen of condensation on the bottles. Ice cold. A full smile finally broke onto his face, she was a little gem. As he reached the make-up table, Mike squeezed back past Polly, swinging the empty tray in one hand. Joining Paul, he saw the expression on his friends face and said, “Cat’s got the cream, what’s brightened you up?”

Paul lifted one of the unopened bottles of tomato juice, cracked the lid and took a long, deep swig. “Part of the panto has just fallen into place,” he replied evasively. “There will be a twist to one of the minor characters.”

“You’re smitten, you old fox, she hasn’t even been on stage yet and you’re writing a part for her in the panto?”

For a second, Paul’s steel reappeared, “Shuddup, you daft bugger, it’s not what you think.”

“What is it now, three years since Elaine went back to Wales to look after her mum?”

“That has nothing to do with writing the pantomime,” Paul insisted, “she’s been such a help around here and I don’t want to lose her because she’s stuck in that kitchen all the time. She got really excited when I mentioned panto, like she was still 8, so I thought I’d put her in it.”

“T’other one’s got bells on,” Mike suggested cynically as he moved away to find more dirty crockery.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Polly might be very wise and motherly, but surely she was way off line with this.

Andrea could hardly hide her mortification at what she was hearing.

Was everyone in the Players talking about her and Paul, or was it just Polly, and presumably her husband Mike?

Even though Polly was being a bit euphemistic in how she was phrasing it, she seemed to be suggesting that Andi had a thing for Paul! How absurd was that? Ok, so maybe she'd been a bit wary of him at first, even a little scared, but any warmth Polly detected was simply a thaw by comparison.

Yes, Andi was kind of comfortable around Paul, yes she seemed to keep him in sight whenever she could, but that was just in case he got his Angry head on again. And ok, she'd made sure his tipple of Tomato juice was catered for, but that was just good manners. Andi daren't tell Polly how jealous she felt when he was so deeply in thought about whatever peroccupied him a few moments ago on the empty stage. That would only feed the rumours.

Polly was smiling and tesing her, in a good natured way for sure, even suggesting that Andi was like Paul's little puppy dog, but then the older woman put her hand reassuringly in the younger one's arm, and was saying it was perfectly ok, quite normal, and if she ever wanted to talk about her feelings then Polly would listen.

Casting her eyes round the partiers Andrea checked to see if anyone had noticed the little exchange, but it appeared no had. Phew. So maybe there were no rumours. Which made sense because there was no substance to what Polly said. It was all perfectly innocent. Paul was just a nice, kind, generous man who happened to be bit gruff sometimes. Andi wasn't infatuated with him. She could easily go through the rest of the party without speaking to him or even looking at him. Just so long as he didn't spend much time with anyone else, certainly not let them have that lovely smile that crept right into his wise eyes.

She went to check on the state of the kitchen.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul frowned, it was true he’d been missing the company since his long-term girlfriend left because of her mother’s slowly encroaching dementia and increasing frailty. Polly and Mike knew him so well, no wonder they’d spotted the little tells before anyone else. Perhaps the extra two-hander wasn’t a good idea, it would certainly reinforce any gossip that might be circulating. Bollocks. He was single, she was single, what was the old saying? ’Age is just a number.’ Damn them all, it was time he had a bit of fun. Everyone else had their attachment, in some cases with another on the side. Why shouldn’t he be happy again?

His eyes scanned the room, but couldn’t see her slim figure. A small part of him sank, before another asked, ”Is she back in that bloody kitchen again?" No, he wouldn’t go and drag her out. He couldn't make her have fun. Hell, she apparently believed constantly leaning over that sink was fun. He had to find a diversion, these frequent thoughts of her were becoming unhealthy. She’s a fantasy, it isn’t going anywhere.

Ah, the other couple in ‘Cumberland’, yes, he needed to spend some time with them. Not a de-brief exactly, but to get their opinions on the staging and production and the audience’s response to it, which he hadn’t seen from offstage.

He found a pint glass to pour the remnants of the juice bottle into and stepped back into the throng.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Returning from her escape to the kitchen, with another chilled bottle of tomato juice, Andrea walked the length of the Green Room studiously NOT looking for Paul.

She noticed him right away of course, noting him deep in conversation with one of the nice couples in the Players. That was fine, chatting with a couple. She didn't mind that, and she felt her face lose a little of its tension.

Then she caught Polly's eye again. Damn, but the woman had been watching her, and no doubt observed where she was looking. Andi could have sworn that Polly was giving her a 'I told you so' look and seemed amused and possibly mildly smug at the same time. But it was a kind look, not meant to hurt.

Andrea let out a, "Hmph!" and placed the juice with the other mixers, only realising at that moment that it was only Paul's drink that she restocked.

Damn and Bugger! They were wrong! She turned her back on where she knew Paul to be and sought some of the knitting cirlce and their husbands to chat to. Again she was quietly pleased with the attention her short tight t shirt and jeans were receiving; same jeans but blue top this time.

It was all going very well until one of the ladies put her hand on her husbands arm while he was telling Andi a delightfully rude joke, nodding her head towards where Paul had been as if in a warning, and he rushed through a shortened version that killed the punchline before he changed the subject.

Andrea made her excuses and wandered on. Was that what she just thought it was? Was that a 'leave her alone she belongs to Paul' kind of reaction?

Damn and double bugger!

Andrea felt like getting up onto the makeup counter, calling for attention, and yelling to everyone that there was nothing going on between her and Paul. Nothing ever would go on between them. They didn't like each other that way. Would they all please stop insinuating that she was infatuated with him?

Obviously she did nothing of the sort, but made a line for Lee, seeking him out to chat to, making the point that she was a free agent and available, even though she knew he wasn't.

Andrea was very aware that she didn't have the skills for this.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

“….out of the toilet, not realising that a piece of the hem of her short skirt was tucked into the back of her panties. She climbed up the steps to the eighth row, with Mike’s eyes fixed on the crack of her arse as her toned muscles tautened with every push off. Polly was fucking livid, but she had to deadpan and deliver her line to me on cue as if nothing was happening.” finished the younger actor.

Paul’s bass laugh cut through all the conversation in the room. For a second there was silence. His imagination pictured the scene as if he had been stood on the stage instead of Mike. But there; that detail; his vivid image was of Andi's face on the auditorium stairs, not that of the random girl from the audience who had unknowingly prompted the bawdy tale.

He involuntarily turned, seeking her out. She was near the kitchen door, again, looking straight back at him. His face froze. What the hell was Lee doing out of the kitchen? The sunshine of his smiling face was replaced by the thundercloud of his anger. His long stride moved him rapidly across the room, chattering bodies rippling aside like the bow wave of a supertanker.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andi stood up straight and defiant as Paul stormed over.

Ok, so she'd winkled Lee out of the kitchen; all it had taken was, "Hi lee, how's it going?" from the doorway and he was out like the proverbial ferret out of whatever it was that proverbial ferrets shot out of.

The look of impending volcanic doom on Paul's face at first made her tremble, then a ray of hope shot through her. Was there the slightest chance Paul was reacting because She was talking to Lee? Or was it simply the she was talking to Lee?

Ok, ok, so there was nothing going on, but she now desperately hoped Paul would display some kind of jealousy, any kind would do if he was jealous of Lee talking to her. After all, that's exactly why she did it, talk to Lee, wasn't it?

Andi could easily have gone into the kitchen to talk to him, but no, she drew him out to where Paul would see.

Except she only did that to show Polly her idea was all nonsense, which it was.

Oh dear, Andrea's head felt like her thoughts were going to explode just when she most needed to be confident and assertive in front of Paul and everyone else.

The scattered bodies cast aside by the storming Paul had all gone quiet, and the deafening silence had rippled through the room in his wake.

Putting on her Persona of the Defiant Slave, the Girl who Matters despite everything, Andrea threw herself into the role she was to play in their next production, and hands on hips stood motionless but pulsating with inner belief and strength. She would not be put down. Troy may fall, but she would still be standing, for womankind. And for Barbie.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

The last thing Lee saw before the kitchen door swung shut behind him was Andrea facing the oncoming Paul with her hands on her hips and her tiny tits pushed forward. No way was that the best chance of dissipating this brief storm. Best to just get on with the job in hand and let the thunder roll around the room. Lee knew Paul well enough to understand that there was rarely any actual lightning. In the worn old phraseology: ’His bark was worse than his bite.’

As Paul neared the kitchen door, he was briefly aware of Andrea standing alongside it. She seemed to be stretching her small frame upwards and forwards, with her hands on her hips in a parody of the pose Polly sometimes adopted when she wanted his attention. No time for that now, Lee had vanished back into the scullery like a ferret up a drainpipe.

Striding past the young woman without pausing, he banged the door back against the wall and stopped abruptly when he saw Lee’s arms up to the elbows in suds. “Hrnmgrph,” he grunted roughly, “is everything clean? Generator topped up?”

“Three gallons in it, Paul. Enough for another ten hours. Nearly finished the washing up, too.” Lee answered breezily.

“Is that why you were sniffing round young Andi again?” the tone mellowed slightly.

“I wasn’t sniffing, Paul, I got as much shit from Mandy about that as I did from you. We were just chatting.”

“Well you’d better keep away if you’ve still got your feet under that table.”

Paul wasn’t sure why he was still leaning on the young man. He already knew the grief that Lee had taken from his girlfriend and was certain that Andrea was quite safe from his libidinous attention. Was it more than that? He metaphorically shook his head, trying to tumble his thoughts from their precarious balance into something more rational.

“We’ll be wrapping up here soon,” he continued, “the soup’s almost gone.”

Lee felt he could afford a brief smile, the storm had passed and the ships were still afloat in the harbour. “OK, chief,” he replied.

Paul turned back into the resuming murmurs of conversation, which had been briefly stilled as he had steamed towards his confrontation with Lee.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Paul strode straight past Andrea.

PAUL STRODE STRAIGHT PAST ANDREA!

She couldn't believe it. Andi stood there, hands still on her hips, feeling momentarily stunned.

Paul had said nothing. Worse, he seemed to have ignored her. A frown creased her forehead; maybe he was tearing Lee off a strip for chatting her up? But there was no explosion from the kithchen. Nothing. Just the sound of the door banging open and then quiet conversation.

Feeling rather foolish, Andrea dropped her hands to her sides and went over to busy herself among the spirit bottles and mixers, trying to hide herself in activity.

The noise in the room had returned and she mindlessly rearranged the bottles. She felt like pouring away all the tomato juice, but that would just be childish. And anyway, why would she? There was nothing going on. That was pretty obvious now. Nothing happening, not now, not ever.

Andi felt a presence beside and knew it was Polly without even looking. The older woman poured herself a juice without saying a word, then turning back to rejoin the throng, paused to place a hand reassuringly on Andrea's shoulder and give it a squeeze, then she was gone.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Polly was near the door as Paul stepped out of the kitchen. She gave an almost imperceptible twitch of her head as he saw her.

Andi, yes, there was something she’d wanted to say earlier. He stepped over to the keg, tilting it to find that it still had some beer in. Moving along the dresser, he came up behind Andrea and reached forward to gently put his large right hand on top of her smaller one on the bench.

“Was there something you wanted to tell me, Andi?” he asked. He felt a little awkward, after all he had just brushed right past her in his single-minded remonstration of the wayward electrician.

He lifted his hand away, something in her expression told him it wasn’t welcome. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, but she wasn’t radiating her usual sunny glow.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stop when you wanted to speak to me, I needed a word with Lee.”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"No, it's fine," Andrea replied in a fairly expressionless tone.

If he hadn't wanted to stop and talk to her before, it told her everything she needed to know. And if he wanted a word with Lee about something that clearly hadn't been an emergency and hadn't been a telling off, well that just said how low she was in his priorities.

But hey, nothing was going on, she wasn't infatuated, Polly was wrong and the misunderstandings were now all cleared up.

There, everything was better.

So why did she feel so flat? Why did she want to just leave the party? Why did she just want to go home, get into her comfiest pj's, sit in bed and maybe have a good cry? What was there to cry about?

Andi picked up the full bottle of tomato juice, and turning pushed it into Paul's middle so that his hands had to grab it in reflex.

Making a decisive nod, Andrea stepped away and left the room, pausing only to pick up her coat. Without looking back she headed out of the theatre and set off home.

*****

The walk back to her bedsit helped clear her mind somewhat. The first thing she did was to distract herself by tidying the small space and clean everything. Kithen, bathroom, bed-sitting room.

Then she got out the books on her pre-college reading list and started making some notes though she wasn't fully concentrating; proving to herself that she had far more important and immediate things to do than worry about The Players and what Polly thought.

That done, she undressed completely and put everything she had worn that evening into the basket of dirty laundry and stepped under a hot shower to wash her hair and scrub her body clean. Turning the water off she dried herself carefully and then stood in front of mirror.

She looked ok, didn't she? Nice full dark hair, normally with a wavy bounce to it but right now wet and straight to her shoulders, slim figure with all the right curves. She may not be big up top but her boobs had a nice shape, what might be called pert and bouyant, and her light pink nipples had fairly small surrounds which looked in proportion. Flat tummy, gentle flare to her hips, good legs. Turning she confirmed she still had a nice bottom.

She looked like an eighteen year old girl was supposed to look. Lee fancied her, that was obvious, though he'd clearly been warned off, probably by his nice girlfriend. Some of the Knitting Circle husbands fancied her, the way they flirted. So why didn't He?

Not that it mattered, there was nothing going on, she wasn't his puppy dog. and she WAS NOT INFATUATED!

Climbing into her favourite pyjamas she slipped into bed and turned off the light, reciting the titles of her reading list until eventually she fell asleep.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

The pressure on his bladder was becoming uncomfortable. Paul glanced at the illuminated figures projected onto the ceiling by the bedside clock: 02:47 With a grunt, he swung his legs out from beneath the warm quilt and stood up, the material falling in a mis-shapen pile across the bed. He took the few paces over the landing and into the toilet. The hot stream frothed as it splashed into the bowl. ’Plenty of protein there,’ he idly thought. His diet was a nutritionist’s nightmare, being best described as ‘meat, wheat and teat’.

Immediate discomfort dealt with, Paul’s mind returned to the troubling thoughts that had kept him restless and unable to sleep for nearly three hours.

He’d upset her. He castigated Lee, was that it? Was she developing a soft spot for the young rogue? No, Mandy would have noticed and kept Lee well away. He’d upset her. He hadn’t stopped to find out what she wanted? But he came straight back to her. Had he forgotten to say ’Thank you’ for the extra tomato juice? Was that why she’d poked him in his stomach with it? She was angry. He’d never seen her angry before. He’d upset her….

Paul’s thoughts continued to whirl, but eventually his exhausted body claimed him for the night.

The image formed gradually from the void. Small, slim, dark. It danced through Paul’s subconscious without substance, eluding his efforts to recognise the figure. Slowly, details coalesced.

Curves.

Wavy hair.

Pert breasts.

Abdomen like a table.

Firm arse, slim but fleshy.

Even before her face swam into his vision, Paul’s half-awake mind knew who his dream companion was. Something was wrong. His brain couldn’t pin a factor on it, just wrong. He reached out with incorporeal arms and drew her body towards him. He surrounded her, enveloped her, protected her.

The wan sunlight of an overcast September morning barely glowed through his curtains. As he awoke, Paul again noted the time, from the clock’s face rather than its projection now. Half seven, Sunday morning. He felt rough, he’d probably had four hours decent sleep. His instinct was to burrow back under the quilt, but he knew that he would be troubled until he resolved the quandary he was experiencing.

He wandered downstairs to the kitchen and took a bottle of low-calcium mineral water from the fridge. Not bothering with a glass, he upended it and glugged like an overflowing drainpipe until at least a pint of the cold fluid had passed his lips. He opened the flap next to the cooker and pressed the override control, hearing the click and whoosh as the gas boiler ignited. It was normally set for nine on a Sunday.

Back upstairs, he completed the morning routine and set off on the short journey from his semi near Embsay Station to Skipton. He stopped at the small shop which opened longer hours than the supermarket, before driving on to the Theatre. Just before ten, he put the paperwork back in his desk, gathered the purchases he had made and left the building.

With the bunch of flowers and box of chocolates in one hand, Paul knocked twice on Andrea’s front door.