" I was Waiting For You Ask" (closed)

[Prometheus2]

“I was waiting for you to ask.”

Richard couldn’t believe his ears, well maybe he should have, would he really expect any other kind of response. He grinned into the phone. It was so like Letitia, she always seemed to be able to read his mind even over the phone.

He could almost see her pout and cross her ams in front of her. He swore he could even hear her foot impatiently tapping on the floor. He knew she was using the speaker phone, he could hear the clank of dishes and the whir of the dishwasher in the background. "Multitaskual," was what he jokingly called her even though he wasn’t sure it was a real word. She had giggled when she first heard him use the word and then pretending to be serious had said defiantly “No, Richard, just efficient.”

Now, of course she wasn’t giggling and Richard knew exactly why. He was late again as usual and it was a special night, their anniversary. For him it was no big deal, well, it was kind of unique he reflected, friends for 15 years. Actually longer than that because they had known each other for a lot longer, introduced, no doubt to each other by their respective mothers as they shared the sandbox in Richard’s backyard. The friendship only became official on the day they were preparing to go their separate ways. Him, to join the Navy and her, to college. She had been 18 and he was 21 and they made a pact on that day to always be friends and to celebrate in some way once a year their friendship even if they couldn’t be together. This year they were able to be together and he knew how much she was looking forward to honoring that unique commitment.

“Letty.” he said, playing the game they often did over the years. “Just what was I supposed to be asking for.”

“O.K. Richard, let’s figure it out together, you’re twenty minutes late, you didn’t call, you must be busy, maybe looking for something.”

Richard remained silent.

“I’m waiting...” Richard could hear her foot tap harder.

“Actually I was waiting for you to ask.” He said slowly. The whir of the dishwasher was the only sound he heard. “All right, already.” he said after an appropriate amount of silence. There was no animosity in his voice it was only a game, both of them knew it and he was giving her the victory.

“I lost my car keys again”

She sighed, “Retrace your steps Richard, start with where you last had them, in the car, maybe.”

I never leave my keys in the car he said defensively... “Well... almost never.”

“Richard, look in the car.” Call me when you find them, I’ve got more important things to do than be your mother.

“That’s hitting below the belt, Letty.”

“Sorry Richard.” He heard her blow a kiss into the phone and grinned.”

The keys were in the car and after he called her, he concentrated on the traffic during the ten minute drive to her apartment.

 

[Why]

............

 

[Prometheus2]

Richard knew the rules, No shoes in Letty's apartment, actually he didn't mind padding around in his stocking feet, but usually Letty had to remind him if he was preoccupied with some other thought or idea.

He grinned sheepishly and removed the offensive footwear, picking up the gummy shoe. I'll just get rid of this he said as he examined the sticky sole. He pointed towards the bathroom.

Letty watched him pad across the floor, trying to decipher by the way he was dressed what his plans for the evening were. She smiled nowing she had guessed right He had dressed casual as well, her odds had been good she admitted to herself Richard hardly ever dressed up maybe for a wedding or a funeral but never just for a date, even this special one. "He hasn't changed a bit, still that abundance of straw coloured hair, those same soft blue eyes and open smile."she thought, as she reminiced. " Except for that short period of time after he returned from the service, his weight had been the same also. He had come back with the begining of a beer belly and she had soon got him back on track with a strict diet and an excercise program, which she remembered he had grudgingly complied with."

Richard closed the bathroom door behind him and cleaned off his shoe, washed his hands and looking in the mirror tugged at the sleeves of his sweater. At the last minute he had dug in his closet looking for something to wear and had come across it. " Awesome." he thought." Would she remember?"

He had brought back this sweater from South Amreica, when he finished his four years in the Navy. It was knitted from Angora or alpacka or maybe Llama, He wasn't sure, only that it was soft and very luxurious looking. He had bought one for Letty also, and wondered now if she still had it and if it still fit. His did.

He thought again about those next two years.

They had slipped easily back into that 'friends' relationship, each of them needing some time and some space to reorganize their lives. Him just out of the service getting used to being a civillian again, her back from college, taking her time to prepare for her future.

All their old friends had either married or gone on to greener pastures, so they had clung to each other as they moved into a new world and developed new relationships. They soon had become known as the 'odd couple' and joked about it after they overheard the comment.

"Was it because thye were so different or because they wern't really a couple?" At parties they never snuck off to a spare bedrooom or a dark corner, but while Letty had busied herself organizing, he entertained with the latest jokes. If either of them found someone to take home they both were cool about it and if both of them 'struck out', they often shared a taxi either to his place or hers to spend the night giving each others advice on how to attact the opposite sex.

"she should be more spontaneous, he shoud be more assertive".

Richard chucked thinking about that time in their past and got an idea. That pub the one down on 4th street, Murphy's was it? Their fifth anniverasry, they had gone there. Why not?

He hadn't really thought much about their evening together until now. He hurried into the lounge to tell her, now that he had a plan.

 

[Why]

Letty

.............

 

[Prometheus2]

Richard loved it when she laughed, perhaps it was because he knew then that she was happy to be with him. He laughed back knowing that he could be himself when they were together. They didn't play the games that they saw other people playing, putting on a show, pretending to be more than what they really were.

"We'll just grab a bite to eat , You'll have to admit the food is good." maybe throw a few darts, get out before the rowdy crowd shows up."

"Richard that was five years ago, who knows what's on the menu now and besides remember, we were the rowdy crowd." Letty laughed again.

"Could I help it that a dimwitted blonde got in the way and distracted me?"

Letty pretended to pout, " I'm thinking she was more than a mild distraction you seemed quite taken with her in fact."

"So, I threw a couple of Murphys 'expensive' darts
into the grill."

"And one in the cooks arse." Letty laughed again.

Richard really wanted to go to Murphys, even though he couldn't exactly say why. Something about that time five years ago when he had almost asked her, and then chickened out, thinking it was only a feeling of alonenesss that had prompted him, that and the fact that he might loose her friendship if she fell in love with someone else.

"Maybe Murpys isn't even there. there's been a lot of construction going on down town. But hell, let's go anyway, it will be an adventure. And there's always the park across the street with the pond, they never tear parks down."

 

[Why]

............

 

[Prometheus2]

"Let's find a table." Letty suggested, as they finished their beer.

"I'll order us a couple more." Richard tried to get the barmans attention. He seemed to have suddenly gotten quite busy.

Not waiting, Letty got up and started to thread her way smoothly between the scatterd chairs and the pool table, pausing a moment keep from getting in the way of the game. The young man making the shot thanked her for waiting and smiling looked her over. Letty smiled back and moved gracefully past him towards a table in the back.

Watching the short interaction Richard felt a twinge of jealousy, as he often did, but quickly got over it. Realizing that Letty was not his 'lady' as the barman had intimated, He smiled to himself."She was still looking good, She had a way of dressing that disguised her age, plain skirts that accented her long legs and colours that brought out the highlights in her hair. No wonder the young man had looked at her twice."

The barman interupted his thoughts as he returned with two fresh halfpints. Better keep a close eye on your lady,Mate. Al, the guy with the poolstick in his hand looks like he might want a shot at her."

Richard quickly grabbed the cold glasses and headed for the table. Sliding into a chair he pushed one glass toward Letty and when she reached for it he took her hand. For just for a moment he wanted to touch her, feel close to her. He smiled feeling the warmth of her skin. With his other hand he raised his glass. "Happy anniverary Letty.' he said softly.

Letty was gaught off guard but she raised her glass too and let him hold her hand for a moment.
she returned his salute and took a sip.

Richard tipped his glass back and set it on the table. "Letty." he said suddenly. "We need to talk."

Letty looked at him couriously seeing the serious look come over his face. She giggled and put her finger to his lips. "'Hold that thought hon, the lady's gotta go, beers getting to me. She slipped out of her chair and headed for the bathroom."

"Why was it always this way?" Richard thought. "Whenever he got up enough nerve to express his feelings, Letty seemed to avoid him. Well not always, sometimes he started with the intention of getting his feelings out and ended up talking in circles. Ending up with giving her a sterile forehead kiss or a brotherly hug. So it wasn't all her fault was it? Well, tonight was going to be different. He was going to tell her. Just what he was going to tell her he hadn't decided yet, he just had a feeling that things should... that he wanted it to be different between them, that there was something more he wanted than to just be friends."

 

[Why]

.......................

 

[Prometheus2]

While Letty was in the powder room Richard had been lamenting his decision to choose Murphys as the place to discuss their relationship. It was a bad plan, he had decided and then grimised when he realized it hadn't been planned at all. That was the problem, he didn't have a plan he never had a plan. No wonder Letty seemed confused.

Now as he watched her come out and that young man he had dismisssed as merely interested turned out to be a punk, he knew he'd messed up again.

Without giving it a second thought he moved quickly across the room to stand unnoticed behind the young upstart." She is sure.” He said flatly from behind him.

Richard saw the mans fist go into a ball as he turned and knowing better than to wait for him to take the first punch, He sunk his fist into the mans soft stomach. As the man's body crumpled to the floor, Letty screamed. "Look out Richard!" too late Richard felt the butt end of a poolstick strike the back of his head. He staggered against the pool table in pain. All hell had broken loose as the barman hurdled over the bar and along with a couple of patrons subdued the man with the pool stick.

"Let's get out of here." Letty hissed and together they headed for the door.

"Here we go again." Letty said disgustedly as she dug the keys out of Richards pocket and poured him into the passengers seat.

"Where we going?" Richard mumbled as they sped down the street.

"General Hospital." Letty answered.

" No way, I'm ok,just need to lie down for a while, it aint bleeding, its just a little bump."

Letty pulled over and looked in his eyes He looked ok maybe she was over reacting. She started out into the traffic again slower this time heading for her apartment.

 

[Why]

Letty

...............