Horror Stories from Horrified - Volume One (2)

closer to him that he had blocked off befor e. Cassy eased cautiously into this new
stage of their r elationship but never spoke to him about it for fear of scar ing it
away. He spoke mor e hopefully about finding a job, talked mor e openly about
ever ything; they talked mor e and touched mor e and shar ed silences. She felt this
new thing that clamour ed in her hear t to be named, but she ignor ed it. Best to let it
alone, she thought. Best not to lean on it now , w hile it?s too fr agile.
*
?How did the inter view go?? Cassy asked at the fr ont door.
?Pr etty good; you coming up?? Adam jogged up the stair s and she gently closed
the door and follow ed. She could hear his music befor e she was even on the
landing and she hear d him tur n it dow n befor e she r eached his r oom.
?Cup of tea?? he asked fr om the other side of the bedsit, r eaching for a
half-smoked cigar ette that balanced on the ashtr ay. The w indow was open and he
placed himself on the w indow sill, leaving the only chair in the r oom fr ee for her.
He was still w ear ing his shir t and tie fr om the job inter view and she studied him
appr ovingly. The small r oom smelt faintly of the after shave he?d used and it seemed
to her as if someone else had been her e moments befor e but had left just befor e
she?d ar r ived.
?Have you been bur gled?? she cast her eyes ar ound the r oom befor e tiptoeing
towar ds the chair thr ough the clutter on the floor.
?Just going thr ough some of my Mum?s stuff.? He held his cigar ettes out to her
and she shook her head.
?When w ill you hear ?? she asked.
?Mmm? Oh, they?r e inter view ing all next w eek as w ell, so not for a for tnight at
least. Tr eating it as a pr actice r un r ather than getting my hopes up. Check this out.?
He leaned acr oss his bed, plucked something off the duvet and handed it to her.
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