What I am doing (instead of my AUT homework)

Currently working on four different stories

1)    The story of a man waking up in a hospital, only this is a hospital in heaven. The concept is that souls don’t go to heaven all good and happy. Especially those that die tragic or violent deaths when the get to the next world they need recovery. This would be the story of one soul waking up and the start of the process acceptance of his life being over.

2)    An interrogation between a cop and a runaway kid. The cop gaining the kids trust and getting the kid to tell his story of why he ran away and how he survived on the street.

3)    Two police reviewing the case of a john doe who died in a car accident. One claiming it was suicide and the other believing it was an accident. The car went into a pole, there were no skid marks and a tattoo on his side acting like a will and testament. There are many things in the car that could be taken as either way. Liked the idea of exploring perception.

4)    Working on a Beauty and the Beast story. The Beast is ugly but rich, Beauty is poor but vapid. Beast loves how Beauty looks and Beauty loves the lifestyle Beast provides. Despite the fact that Beast loves Beauty, Beauty soon loses interest. I want to explore how two people who have so very little in common fall in love for the wrong reasons and try to make things work despite the fact it should have ended. 

5)    I’m also still retooling the “The Bitterest End” story.

Thing is I know these stories that I want to write I just have such a hard time finding a starting point. I sometimes spend longer finding the right initial line then I do writing the story. I mean I can see it all in my head like an opening shot from a film but translating that to the page is actually quite hard.

My Bitterest End

THIS WORK IS FICTION AND THE PRODUCT OF MY OWN WARPED IMAGINATION. NONE OF THIS IS REAL OR SHOULD BE TAKEN AS SUCH. IT'S ALSO JUST A FIRST ATTEMPT DRAFT. 

Calvin pushed the blonde hair away from his eyes as he stared at the glass door of the office building. He knew he should be shivering as he sat on the bench and yet he couldn’t help but unzip his jacket and loosen his scarf. The cold wind pushed the hair back down. Giving up he raised the cigarette to his lips, cupping it with his hand and lighting it. Calvin closed his eyes as he took the first drag smiling slightly.

The office park was a familiar one to him. Green grass mixed in with cold steel and glass buildings and whit lined tarsealed parking lots. He had lost count of how many times he had sat in this exact same spot before, just waiting.

On the second drag of the smoke, more people started making their way out the doors. Five past twelve. Lunchtime. Calvin stared at each of the faces until he saw the familiar one. Quickly he stood, stumbled across the drive.

“Daniel please wait.”

Calvin watched Daniel freeze at the sound of his name. Shelly, the women he had been walking with carried on another few steps. Slowly Daniel turned towards him. Shelly finally noticing her companion’s absence stopped too. Despite his best effort seeing Daniel again looking perfect in his Grey slacks and Navy Pea Coat, he could feel his heart begin to race.

Calvin stood a ways off, not wanting to spook him any further. Daniel just stared at him. It wasn’t until Shelly walked back taking his hand did he move. Daniel shoulders slumped, his hands balled into fists.

“Please” Calvin called “I need to talk to you.”

Calvin took a drag on his smoke as he watched the pair have a whispered conversation. Shelly pattered Daniel on his arm before walking over to Calvin. It didn’t matter that she was almost a foot shorter than him, somehow she still made it seem as if she were the one towering above.

“It’s over. He doesn’t want to see you. He’s with Harrison now. Stop bothering him.”

Calvin turned to plead with her, “I don’t want to get back with him. I don’t want any trouble. After this I promise I will wont try to speak to him again, but I need five minutes. That’s it. Five lousy minutes and then we are done.”

“No,” Shelly shook her head, “you are done already. Just leave him alone. Please.”

“I can’t.”

“Oh, and why is that?” She asked while crossing her arms.

Calvin hung his head, “Look, we haven’t spoken in months. I have left him alone, but this… Please, it’s important. I just need five minutes.”

Shelly studied his face for a full minute. Abruptly she turned walking back to Daniel. Calvin watched as the spoke in whispers for a few moments. Calvin sucked the last of his cigarette. It’s brief flare of light faded into nothing. Calvin dropped the butt, stomping on it, despite it already being out.

“You have your five minutes, but I want to get out of this bloody wind. We’re going to the pub” And with that Daniel turned and marched off. Shelly in tow.

The blast of warmth almost knocked Calvin as he staggered inside the pub. The noise was almost deafening. The place was all wood and leather. It had all the right components except it was trying to hard to look like a local that you would see in any corner pub instead of what it should be, a tavern in a business park.

Calvin slowly shuffled down the bar looking for the pair. He nodded his hellos to the people he knew but never stopped. Not until he saw them standing around a table in a back corner. Three drinks sat on the table. As he looked over, Daniel pushed one to the edge of the table. Calvin took his jacket and scarf off as he approached. He dropped it on the ground, picking up the half pint and taking a pull.

“You have your five minutes. Talk?”

Calvin leaned against the table, staring at Shelly, “I said I needed to talk to you.”

“I wont be alone with you.”

“Please.”

“No, she stays or you leave.”

Calvin turned towards Shelly. “You don’t talk. He wants you here and I don’t. But I am willing to accept it if you don’t talk,” His face softened slightly, “please.”

Shelly nodded. Calvin took another sip of his beer.

“How have you been?”

Daniel raised an eyebrow, “That is what is so important?”

“Please, just how have you been?”

“I’m fine. Is that all you wanted?”

“No, but I needed to ask.”

“You have three and a half minutes.” Daniel said looking at his watch.

“Sorry this is hard for me.”

“You said it was important?”

Calvin nodded. He reached into his pocket pulling out a couple of folded bits of paper. “As you know I haven’t been well for a while. For over a year now I seem to be catching every bug out there. I just thought it was a run of bad luck. But a month ago I was so bad my brother finally took me into the hospital. It turned out I had a sever kidney infection.”

Daniel took sip of his own beer, “I know.”

“What? How?”

“We have friends in common. They sometimes let me know how you are.”

Calvin smiled a little, “Really? I thought they all unfriended me.”

Daniel shrugged, “So is that what you want to tell me, that you are sick?”

“No I needed to tell you that I am dying.”

Calvin watched Daniel’s face slacken, his eyes going wide, mouth slightly open.

“Anyway, I am on quite a few medications to stop the infection and halt its progress. I just won’t be getting better, All I am hoping for is maybe I can slow it down.”

“I am so sorry.”

A snort of air came out of Calvin’s nostrils, “Don’t be, I didn’t come here to tell you I was sick. I came because the doctor finally able to tell me how I got this way.”

“They know?”

“Yeah,” Calvin took another sip of his beer, closed his eye and grabbed the table with both hands. Slowly he looked back at man opposite him. He watched as Daniel picked up his beer.

“I’m HIV positive.”

The glass slipped from Daniel’s hands. The bounced on the table, rolled to the edge and smashed on the ground. The entire place fell silent. The barmaid trotted over with a broom and mop. She swept up the glass and cleaned the floor. She asked if Daniel wanted another. He just shook his head. Slowly as she moved off the din returned.

“What the hell?”

Calvin had never stopped looking at Daniel, “You heard.”

Shelly gripped Daniel’s arm, “Why are you telling him this?”

“You know why,” Calvin snarled at her.

“What? You think Daniel infected you.”

“I don’t think, I know”

 “I’m not sick.” Daniel protested

“Have you been tested?”

Slowly Daniel shook his head, “not for years. But that doesn’t mean anything. You could of caught it anywhere.”

“No, I couldn’t”

“Please,” Daniel uttered, “When I met you, you were giving it up to everybody.”

“You’re right. I slept around. But when we got together I stopped. Before you and I settled down I got tested.” Calvin unfolded the first sheet of paper, “You remember this. You were there for the test and the results. Negative, remember.” Calvin opened the second piece of paper. “And these are the results from a year later, negative as well. So I think we can safely rule out my past as the cause. And as we both know I never cheated on you so I didn’t catch it from someone else.”

Calvin leaned across the table, his voice dropping to a growl, “besides Harrison, How many other were there.”

“There wasn’t anyone”

“Bullshit.”

“I don’t care what you think…”

Calvin slapped his hand on the table, “stop lying.”

“I’m not.” Daniel stormed around the table, pushing his finger into Calvin’s chest. “I ready your diaries remember. I know you cheated on everyone you ever dated. How the fuck can I trust a whore like you.”

Calvin stiffened. He grabbed the finger poking him in his chest, slowly bending it backwards. He watched Daniel collapse to his knees, “I don’t care if you believe me, except we both know I didn’t cheat on you. The only reason I am seeing you today is to warn you. Get tested. Get Harrison tested. Get everyone from as far back as Mark tested. Get anyone you have ever let inside you be tested. Get on the cocktail. And for the love of God stop spreading this around.”

Calvin looked over at Shelly. She still stood there not moving, Her face gone white, “Are you sure? About him?”

“Yeah.”

“But we, I mean it was just the one time.”

“Call your doctor, get tested.”

Calvin leaned down to whisper in Daniel’s, “As for you, I promised it would only be five minutes be we seem to have gone a bit over. For that I am sorry.” Gently he brushed his lips on Daniel’s cheek. A single tear tracked down his check, “Goodbye to you my bitterest end.”

Slowly Calvin released Daniel’s finger. He scooped up his coat and scarf, dropped a £20 turned towards the entrance and shuffled off. At the door he looked back for one final moment. Shelly was crying, as Daniel tried to comfort her she pulled away turned and run to the bathroom. Calvin struggled into the coat, wrapped the scarf around his neck and stepping into the winter. Outside he pulled the packet of smokes out of his pocket chuckling softly as he lit it. 

Journal: Wibbit the Wabbit.

I don’t normally do these kinds of posts anymore but over the last two days I have had quite a bit of fun and I just want to get it all down.

So for me the weekend started on Saturday. Natasha and Sam had invited me out to their house warming that afternoon. I awoke around eleven in the morning, and ended up reading for half an hour. I had stopped reading Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” last night in a really crucial place and I needed to resolve the cliffhanger. I had only meant to read five minutes but if you know his books, then you know why you can’t just read a couple of pages.

I finally got up and went and showered. Or at least I tried to shower. Dad had issues with his phone and that cost me the next two hours. So I was late when I showered and finally made it out to their house.

Sam and Natasha had built there on place. A new two-story house with a spectacular view over Auckland. Downstairs is a movie room and library. A guest bedroom with a guest bathroom. Upstairs has this open plan living space for the kitchen, dinning room and lounge room. The main bedroom has amazing views and a floating deck is there perfect for summer dinners and barbeques. It’s a house that in moments I felt comfortable in. They had built an amazing house. It was a great gathering and I enjoyed catching up with my family. Hanging out with Sam and talking movies and TV shows, geeking out with him was fun.

I spent the night with Dee and Jacqui. Dee had invited me out to her place to stay the night and as we were both going to an Easter party I decided to take her. The cool thing was Dee has a pasta maker so for the first time in my life I got to make real Pasta and that was fun. Dee still thinks that the dinner was okay, but I rather enjoyed it.

We watched a Mexican version of sense and sensibility, actually nicely done, and then the girls went to bed. I tried going to bed too but the neighbors were having a party, with loud music and singing. I tried sleeping, I just couldn’t with the noise. I ended up writing for a while (I will post the story soon) until I was exhausted enough to simply pass out.

Only to be woken by Quentin delivering me an Easter egg. I have said often before that I am not a morning person. I am worse when I am woken by others. It’s just you cant yell at a kid so I painted a smile on my face and thanked him. I got up spent the morning watching movies with Dee. Gothika and Queen of the Damned. I hadn’t seen Gothika in a years and had completely forgotten Robert Downey Jr was in it.

Jacqui had left early in the morning for work so it was just Dee and myself. We finally got your act together and headed out to Nykki and Dave’s place for this Easter thing. It was great because nearly the whole Kamo crew were there and seeing everyone again was nice. Nykki got everyone going with an Egg hunt. Only this hunt also contained a lot of naughty treats. It was decadent. I was a little slow on the up take so I didn’t get nearly as good a haul as the others but I was really okay with that. I’m not a big chocolate fan so it worked out well.

Afterwards everyone just talked and got along. I want to go into all the conversations I had but if I did I would be here all day. Just want to give a special thank you to Toby for talking to me about the Dresdenvers and to Scott for allowing me to go all insane with Doctor Who. Catching up with everyone, socializing with them all felt like exactly what I needed. Nykki and Dave served Paella for dinner and OH MY GOD. Best dish I have had in ages. I have to get her to teach me how to make it. It looked great and was so flavorful. If this is Spanish food I have to try more.

The night went on and everything just got better. Nykki played a short movie called ‘Kiwi’ set to Mad World by Gary Jules. Jacgui played a recorded clip from a radio show. “Now Ewing”. As the only sober one I got to do two separate runs to the store. First for smokes, (Thank you Nykki) and the second for ice. What was cool was the Ben joined me and it was nice talking to him and catching up on how he’s doing.

Okay and I don’t know how I got talked into this, but as Dave and Nykki have a pool, soon there were four of us going swimming. Dee and Jacqui had bought me a pair of board shorts so I finally have togs. Yaay. So there we were. Ben, Coco, Nykki and myself, ten at night getting into this cold pool. I say cold and not freezing because it wasn’t so bad. To tell the truth it was really nice. Nykki was trying to get Ben and me to float but we both just kept sinking.

So we got cold, or I was getting cold and hopped out. Warm clothes and a smoke got me feeling better again. I sat out on the patio by the pool with the girls, Ben, Dave and Coco and conversation turned somehow but predictable to the past. I don’t want to go into to much detail but the one thing I got out of it was, I am happy for them. I know its stupid. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am happy for them.

By now it was midnight and most people had left. It was only the ones staying the night and myself that were still hanging around. I should of left then, but it was two and a bit hours later before I finally said goodbye and came home.

It’s the thing I like most about a Dave and Nykki party. You just don’t want to leave. Their place is great, the animals are great, the people are great, the food spectacular and the night just races on. Before you know it, it’s two in the morning and everyone is clamoring for you to stay. I wish I could of, and it wasn’t for the off chance of finally getting lucky, but because I just didn’t want this weekend to end.

Sadly it did and I am home now getting this out because if I didn’t I would still be hopping all around the place. Only it’s going on four and I need sleep so I am signing off now.

Goodnight all and thank you so much for giving me this wonderful weekend. You have all been a blessing to this wayward soul.

Troy

The Beach House

The wind bit through the lime green blanket. The salt in the air flipped and teased over everything causing the wooden deck to creak. Waves pushed themselves up the dull sand, giving a rhythmic slap to the pillars of the overhanging deck. Struggling light from the setting sun gave its final fling to the fading day. The only bright spark left coming from the cigarette held in the young woman’s hand as she leaned on the railing of the deck.

Kelly dropped the blanket from around her shoulders, letting the cold tear into her. Her blonde hair gathered in the wind beating across her eyes. The light cotton jumper and sweat pants she wore were only for modesty. A shiver of winter reminded her that she could still feel, something she hadn’t be able to do in months.

“I thought smoking was how you planned to kill yourself. But you’re right, the cold would be faster.”

A weak smiled stretched across her face “I’m not looking to die.”

“Really?”

Kelly pushed herself momentarily off the railing, turning her back to the storm. Steel blue eyes meet the hazel of Jessica’s. Chestnut hair pulled into a tight ponytail. Legs pulled in snug as she curled in the swinging chair. Fingers wrapped around a steaming mug.

“What would be the point of stopping?”

Jessica stood, walking over to her friend “it’ll be okay.”

“I know.”

“Have you heard from him?”

Kelly huffed out a laugh, “Not since the diagnosis.”

“I told you he was too young.”

“God, where have all the real men gone?”

“When I know, I’ll tell you”

The two women laughed. Jessica sipped at her mug resting it back on the railing. Kelly took a final drag, flicking the butt into the water below. She pulled another from her packet, lit it and puffed.

“You’re smoking too much.”

“They can’t kill me any faster.”

Jessica groaned.

“He’s tweeting about her.”

Kelly turned to look out at the water below. The water had risen, “So?”

“I just thought you should know.”

“He’s found a women that can provide him the life he wants, let him be.”

“He’s still a pig.”

Kelly shrugged, “does it matter?”

“Guess not.”

The last strand of light released itself and allowed the darkness to consume the light. Kelly slipped and Jessica caught her, gently walking her back to the bench easing her down.

“We should get you inside.”

“Just a few more minutes.”

“You are looking to pale”, Kelly turned her head to look at Jessica, “paler.”

Kelly turned back to the sea. Perforations of light now shone above, tips of white peaked across the sea below.

“I’m not going back inside.”

“I know.”

“The papers are in the desk. Everything is there.”

“I will take care of it.”

Kelly grasped Jessica’s hand. The warmth spread into the women.

“I’m scared.”

“It’ll be okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“There is so much I wanted to do.”

“Regrets?”

“I wished I hadn’t bought those tickets to New York for his birthday.”

“Really?” Jessica eyes widened, “You were going to take him to New York?”

Kelly shrugged, “It’s were I was going to propose”

“Marriage?”

“A surprise for his birthday.”

“Marriage?”

“I thought I loved him.”

“But marriage?”

“Just annoyed because the tickets weren’t refundable.”

“You never told me you were thinking marriage.”

A smile broke across Kelly’s lips “Can you move on from that?”

Jessica laughed, “Eventually, maybe.”

“You’ll get over it.”

Jessica’s laughter stopped, “But will you?”

Kelly’s eye’s softened at the question “Does it matter now?”

“I guess not.”

Kelly’s cigarette had burnt right down to the filter. Jessica plucked it out of the hand holding it, walked to the railing and flicked it over to re-join the rest of the pack. She picked up the abandoned mug, now cold. As she turned back, she noticed that her friend’s eyes were closed. Gently she sat back down, pulling the blanket over both of them. The wood still creaked in the wind. The water carried on lapping at the pillars. Dim light from the night stars played across the expanse. A single drop of water ran down Jessica’s cheek. The subtle taste of salt on her lips.