𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 • 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧

Last Living Souls

After finally getting some sleep following my chat with Bondy, I was awoken to shouts and hollering from the living room.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I emerged from the warmth of my sheets and tiptoed to where the commotion was coming from. A small smirk gracing my lips when I saw Van and Larry, wide eyes fixed to the screen in a furious game of Fifa.

I then locked eyes with Bondy; sat at the breakfast nook, tired eyes lingering on his cereal, then me. He gave a smile and nodded his head for me to join him.

"Howay lass, sleep well after?" Bondy's question seemed to catch the attention of Van, pulling his attention from the screen for a moment to give me an awkward smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah, thanks again for the talk" I grabbed myself a bowl and joined him. We soon fell into an easy conversation, trying to hear each other over the two children playing Fifa behind us.

"I've gotta pop to the shops later, yous fancy coming?" Bondy asked, washing our bowls in the sink as I helped dry. I noticed from the corner of my eye that the match had ended and Van was making his way over to us. Which in turn meant the awkwardness was bound to ensue once again.

"Yeah sure" I nodded, lips in a tight line as I felt Vans eyes burning holes into the side of my head from the nook.

"You fancy coming an all aye Van?" Bondy turned to face him, I however remained facing away from Van, scared that his intense gaze would surely leave me flushed and embarrassed.

"Yeah course" was all Van said before retiring to his own bedroom, leaving me to let out a breath I hadn't realised i'd been holding in.

"Fucking hell Mae" Bondy sighed and gave me an almost sympathetic half smirk.

"Don't start" I covered my face with a groan, cringing internally at the embarrassment. Bondy only laughed and pulled my hands from face, forcing me to endure his teasing.

"And what was it you said aye, 'Aw nah he doesn't hate you Esme don't be daft' doesn't seem that way" I air quoted what he'd said, face still burning in embarrassment.

"Maybe if you actually looked in his direction it wouldn't have been that bad"

"Get to fuck! he was staring daggers at me" my voice now hushed as we spoke, avoiding any prying ears.

"Fucks sake, kids the both of you" Bondy laughed whilst leaving me to sulk in the kitchen, embarrassed and a little frustrated.

Hours had past since then and I was currently sat in Bondys car waiting for the boys to join me. I'd taken the liberty of sitting in the passenger seat, as to avoid another kitchen scenario like this morning with Van.

Growing impatient as minutes ticked by, I decided to see whether the two would actually be joining me on this shopping trip.

Running up the flat stairs, I stopped when I heard Johnny and Van talking - no arguing over something through the door.

"Don't be a twat John I swear to god, you don't half know how to make it awkward" Vans annoyance was clear as I pushed my ear to the door.

Bondy cut him off with a laugh before speaking "Don't be such a child Van, just go, kiss and make up" Bondys teasing made it clear that whatever he was talking about - involved me.

"What and suffer through an hour of pure silence? Your heads not right mate" Van scoffed, I decided that now would be better a time than any to enter, not arsed listening to Van any longer.

"We going or what?" my appearance seemed to startle both of them, both of their heads snapping to face me before a Bondy shot me wry smile.

"Aye am dead sorry lass but i've got a lot to do today, Van said he's fine to come though" I wanted the ground to swallow me whole, the thought that Bondy had to trick me and Van into spending time together. I could kill him.

"Oh, uh right" I stared daggers at Bondy knowing that later I fully intended on ripping him for doing this.

But for for now, I had to deal with a shopping trip with a man who quite frankly, thinks i'm a bitch.