Anywhere's Better Than Here Read Online Free
Author: Zöe Venditozzi
get her breath but she felt as if she was in a film and was curiously detached from the action. Gerry had started to move his hands around her rib cage towards her breasts. His touch was too tentative for Laurie. She felt herself becoming impatient. This should be more of a passionate tussle, something exciting: a deal breaker.
She kissed Gerry back fiercely and pushed into him nudging him back against the wall. Perhaps a bite might bring on the feeling she was aiming for. She nipped Gerry on the lip.
ââOw! What are you doing?ââ He frowned at her. She looked up at her flat again. Gerry turned his head to follow her line of vision.
ââThatâs where I live. But I think Iâm going to go away for a bit.ââ
ââOh.ââ They pulled away from each other. ââAre you going tonight?ââ
ââIâm not sure.ââ She shrugged. ââProbably not.ââ
ââYou might change your mind in the morning.ââ
ââPossibly, but I doubt it.ââ
ââWhere will you go?ââ
She shrugged again. ââDunno. But the worldâs my oyster, isnât it?ââ
ââWhat if the worldâs not all itâs cracked up to be?ââ
ââItâs not like Iâd be leaving paradise behind.ââ She looked around herself. ââIs it?ââ
ââIâve seen worse.ââ
He looked like he meant it.
ââCome on,ââ she said. ââSorry, Iâm ruining the vibe.ââ
They walked to the mouth of the alley. Laurie looked up at the flat. She turned to Gerry.
ââIâd better get going. Thanks for tonight.ââ
ââIt took my mind off things.ââ He began to raise his hand but dropped it again to his side. He stood and waited as she crossed the road over to her front door.
She pressed the intercom, then looking over her shoulder, she watched Gerry walk back along the street. He disappeared and reappeared under the streetlights until he turned the corner and was gone.
Friday the 17th of December
Just After Midnight
Cloudy
Ed was still up when she walked back into the flat. Any residual feelings of tipsiness disappeared when she saw his thin shoulders in his faded grey t shirt as he stood at the window looking down at the street. He was like a gangly child from behind, right down to the superhero she knew graced the front of the shirt. Edâs hair desperately needed cut. It was sticking up on the crown of his head from the way heâd been sleeping. Whether it was last nightâs sleep or one of his day time naps, Laurie had no way of knowing. Edâs day was entirely his own, Laurie thought but, unusually, without the usual rancour. There was something endearingly pathetic about him as he stood there looking for her.
He turned back to the room, jumping when he realised she was there, watching him. He pulled his ear phones out of his ears and sat back on the window sill, trapping the stupid lace curtain under his skinny bum. Laurie tsked in annoyance as it came free from where sheâd wedged it in behind the ancient curtain pole. The top corner flapped free. It would all fall down during the night. No doubt sheâd have to climb up tomorrow and fix it again.
ââWhere have you been?ââ Ed was completely oblivious to Laurieâs annoyance.
ââOut. Did you miss me?ââ
ââWhereâs the curry?ââ
ââThe curry?ââ Laurie repeated. He hadnât been waiting for her at all. Well, at least, not as anything other than a deliverer of food. ââThe curryâs in the bloody hall. Where I left it.ââ She threw her coat on the bed. ââWhy are you standing at the window Ed? What are you waiting for?ââ
ââPizza. When you
She kissed Gerry back fiercely and pushed into him nudging him back against the wall. Perhaps a bite might bring on the feeling she was aiming for. She nipped Gerry on the lip.
ââOw! What are you doing?ââ He frowned at her. She looked up at her flat again. Gerry turned his head to follow her line of vision.
ââThatâs where I live. But I think Iâm going to go away for a bit.ââ
ââOh.ââ They pulled away from each other. ââAre you going tonight?ââ
ââIâm not sure.ââ She shrugged. ââProbably not.ââ
ââYou might change your mind in the morning.ââ
ââPossibly, but I doubt it.ââ
ââWhere will you go?ââ
She shrugged again. ââDunno. But the worldâs my oyster, isnât it?ââ
ââWhat if the worldâs not all itâs cracked up to be?ââ
ââItâs not like Iâd be leaving paradise behind.ââ She looked around herself. ââIs it?ââ
ââIâve seen worse.ââ
He looked like he meant it.
ââCome on,ââ she said. ââSorry, Iâm ruining the vibe.ââ
They walked to the mouth of the alley. Laurie looked up at the flat. She turned to Gerry.
ââIâd better get going. Thanks for tonight.ââ
ââIt took my mind off things.ââ He began to raise his hand but dropped it again to his side. He stood and waited as she crossed the road over to her front door.
She pressed the intercom, then looking over her shoulder, she watched Gerry walk back along the street. He disappeared and reappeared under the streetlights until he turned the corner and was gone.
Friday the 17th of December
Just After Midnight
Cloudy
Ed was still up when she walked back into the flat. Any residual feelings of tipsiness disappeared when she saw his thin shoulders in his faded grey t shirt as he stood at the window looking down at the street. He was like a gangly child from behind, right down to the superhero she knew graced the front of the shirt. Edâs hair desperately needed cut. It was sticking up on the crown of his head from the way heâd been sleeping. Whether it was last nightâs sleep or one of his day time naps, Laurie had no way of knowing. Edâs day was entirely his own, Laurie thought but, unusually, without the usual rancour. There was something endearingly pathetic about him as he stood there looking for her.
He turned back to the room, jumping when he realised she was there, watching him. He pulled his ear phones out of his ears and sat back on the window sill, trapping the stupid lace curtain under his skinny bum. Laurie tsked in annoyance as it came free from where sheâd wedged it in behind the ancient curtain pole. The top corner flapped free. It would all fall down during the night. No doubt sheâd have to climb up tomorrow and fix it again.
ââWhere have you been?ââ Ed was completely oblivious to Laurieâs annoyance.
ââOut. Did you miss me?ââ
ââWhereâs the curry?ââ
ââThe curry?ââ Laurie repeated. He hadnât been waiting for her at all. Well, at least, not as anything other than a deliverer of food. ââThe curryâs in the bloody hall. Where I left it.ââ She threw her coat on the bed. ââWhy are you standing at the window Ed? What are you waiting for?ââ
ââPizza. When you
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