The Sofa

I’m on the sofa again tonight.

I stare at the ceiling, listening to the hum of the strip-light and trying to sleep while Kelly breaks in her latest ride on the bed next door. They’re making a great deal of noise, but I don’t notice it too much. I have better things to think about.

I follow the cracks in the ceiling with my eyes, shifting gears in my imaginary car. The rhythm increases and Kelly’s gasps wing their way to my ears. They quickly become full-fledged moans as she puts on the best possible show for her audience of one.

Eventually, her voice breaks into one soaring long note - held strong before lowering smoothly into soft murmurs of contentment. It seems I’ll finally get some peace now.

No chance - I hear footsteps padding towards me. Kelly walks in, her fair skin flushed with exertion. I notice she has put on a t-shirt and underwear as she takes a bottle of water from the fridge.

I keep my eyes where they are - I really don’t feel like talking to her. Out of the corner of my sight, I see her legs striding back and forth in front of the sofa. I swear she looks at me a few times, but I can’t tell without moving my eyes.

She’s still not leaving - must mean she wants to say something. She does this every single time.

“You alright down there, Sa-?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What? I didn’t even finish saying your…”

“You don’t have to - I can tell by your tone.”

“Bullshit.”

“It isn’t. When you call me ‘Sammy’, you draw out each little syllable. It's annoying.”

“Huh!” She tosses her head back and puts her hands on her hips. “Obsessed as always... just what is a ‘sillible’ anyway?”

“You know what it means. Your latest ride may be fooled by your dumb blonde act, but it won’t fool me.”

She grins and bends over towards me, her shirt hanging down from her body. “Aha! So that’s why you’re so bothered!”

“What are…? Oh don’t be so stupid. You really think I care about that? Just because you’re obsessed with sex doesn’t mean I am.” She’s still smiling. “Look, Kelly. I’m not too enthusiastic that every sleazy guy in the neighbourhood knows where we live, but what you allow between your legs is your business.”

“Then why are you so moody all the time? Whenever I have someone around, you just lie there and sulk.”

“I’m not sulking, and where else am I supposed to lie?”

“You are sulking.”

I'm starting to get sick of this. “Leave me alone, Kelly.”

“Dammit! What is it with you? Ain’t I allowed to worry about you, Sammy?”

“You say that – but the only time you take any notice is when you’re having someone over. Is it that bad, Kelly? You need a break from their exertions so much that you start bothering me?”

She’s out of my view now. Knowing her, she’s probably looking out that window again. She’s been doing that a lot recently. “Huh… You sound neglected.”

“I do not. Besides, who's there to neglect me?” A long silence descends. I fix my eyes to the ceiling and resume my drive through the cracks. Kelly's sigh splits the silence equally in two before she draws breath to talk again.

“You don’t mind having the sofa? It does look a little small on you.”

“It’s fine, Kelly.”

“Fine?”

“It’s a nice sofa, better than nice. I’m grateful for it.”

“It don’t bother you then?”

“Why should it bother me? I've slept in boxes, Kelly; a sofa’s a luxury.”

“Well, it’s a step down, isn’t it?”

“Doesn’t bother me. The bed’s yours: who you share it with is your business. I contribute to the bills, and in return, I get to stay. Past that, I’ll sleep wherever's most convenient.”

She’s finally back in my sight, thank God. I don’t like it when I can’t see people: I always think they’re going to hit me, or grab me, or something. She’s looking pretty upset.; the window tends to upset her.

“Must you have that attitude to everything, Sammy?”

“What attitude?” Dammit - what will it take to stop her using that name?

“Come on! You know what I mean: this whole business-arrangement shit. It all sounds so stuck-up! We're friends, aren't we? Isn't that good enough for you?”

“If you don’t want to grow up, that’s not my problem. It’s how this world works.”

“But we don’t... oh, we’ve had this argument too many times, Sammy. I don't want to argue any more, you know?”

She’s sitting on the carpet now, leaning back with her legs spread out in front of her. I suppose I should look at her now... or she’ll start asking if I’m all right again.

“So er… you sure you’re all right there, yeah?”

Never mind. “Yes.”

“The noise don’t bother you at all? You sleep pretty light, and I know I can get noisy when... er... you know.”

“I will admit, the noise does keep me awake… but seeing as the guys you lure back here never last more than three minutes apiece, it’s not a problem.”

“Is there a point, Sammy?” I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true. “Huh. Well at least I have someone for a short while. Could you say the same?”

“It's good enough for me.”

“Yeah, right. You don't need anyone. Every night you sleep alone, and every morning you wake up happy. I bet you're horny as fuck under all that cynicism.”

“I haven’t always slept alone. You know that.”

“What? You've had...?” I’m going to remember that look on her face for a long, long time. “Oh...” it's gone now. “I get it... but that’s not what I meant, Sammy.”

“I know it wasn’t.”

She’s getting up now - did I hear something from the bedroom? She keeps glancing that way, so I must have. Kelly stretches, her breasts pushing up against the dark of the night. She hesitates at the top of her arc; her head tips back. She looks at me strangely, as though she's caught me watching for the first time. I feel uncomfortable and look away, burying my head into the cushions.

She sits next to me on the sofa. The smell of sex coming off her body is overpowering. I can’t breathe with her this close.

“Look, if you want, you can stay in the bed while the guys use the sofa instead. Will that be all right Sa… Samantha?”

She made the effort. She actually made the - no, I can’t smile now.

“I told you before, Kelly: it doesn’t bother me.”

She finally gets up. I can tell I’ve upset her as she walks slowly to the bedroom. As the door closes, I rest my cheek on my hands and close my eyes - letting sleep take its course.