The Pact - Season 1: Episode 12

The next morning I woke up late, and feeling groggy. My brother wasn’t at home, and when I tried to call David, his mobile phone was switched off. Then I remembered that at that time, he was in class. I had a shower, got dressed, and caught the bus to Claryton. I had to speak to Tyrone one last time. The night before I had made a real mess of things, and now I needed to make everything alright again. When I got off the bus, I thought maybe Tyrone was at University that morning, and I nearly turned back. But then I figured that while I was here, I should at least give it a try.

I stopped a man, and asked him for directions to the street that Tyrone where said his garage was. It was not very far from either the bus-stop or David’s house. In my mind I was thinking of what I was going to say to Tyrone. I really needed to apologise for my behaviour last night, and if Tyrone didn’t want to see me anymore, that was fine by me. Whatever had happened between him and Steve was in the past, and I had a whole future to look forward to. I couldn’t let one obsession ruin it all for me. So I was going to apologise to Tyrone, and tell him that I was ready to move on, and not interfere in things which didn’t concern me anymore. However, not in a million years would I have been prepared for the scene that followed.

I arrived near the garage, and the door was open. So I walked slowly towards it. My heart was beating fast in my chest, because although I knew what I wanted to say, I still didn’t know what his reaction would be. I entered the garage slowly, and I heard him talking to someone. I moved closer to see clearly, and I had the surprise of my life. The person he was talking to was my brother’s girlfriend Mandy. What was Mandy doing here? How did she know Tyrone? They didn’t see me, and I stayed there and watched the whole thing.

“But you kissed her!” she was saying. “I still can’t believe that you kissed here. You must be out of your mind Tyrone.” Tyrone looked at her angrily, and said,

“Mandy, for the millionth time, it was just a kiss. Why is everyone making such a fuss about it? We were both drunk, and it just happened. It didn’t mean anything. There’s no need for anyone to raise this storm over one lousy, boozy kiss!” I couldn’t agree with him more. At that moment, though Mandy went on,

“Haven’t you thought about David? Or about Michelle herself, for that matter? Haven’t you any considerations for anyone at all?” Tyrone looked at her in exasperation, and said,

“No I didn’t think about David, or her, or anyone at all – simply because I wasn’t thinking. Aren’t you listening to me Mandy? That kiss just happened – it wasn’t planned, and neither I nor she wanted it to happen.”

“David must have been so hurt when he found out. Don’t you feel the least bit sorry about that?” Tyrone shrugged.

“I don’t want to think about that, Mandy. He never thought about me being hurt, when he banned his sister from seeing me. So why should I be considered about his feelings?” Mandy looked at him, a surprised look on his face.

“Tyrone, David doesn’t know who we are. Michelle doesn’t know who we are, and neither does Steve. But we do know who they are, and that changes everything.”

“Why should it? Mandy, I’m sick and tired of living my life this way. We should leave the past where it belongs – in the past, and move on. What happened has happened, and nothing can ever change that. But we cannot base our every action on what happened eight years ago in the woods.” Mandy took his hand.

“Can you move on Tyrone? Do you honestly believe that you can forget the past, just like that? I do agree with you, that before we moved here, I too wanted to start a new life, away from anything that happened back there – and that’s why I moved here with you – to forget, to move on, to build a new life. But we never planned on this, did we? Maybe with just David around, it was co-incidence. Then it was Steve – and now Michelle was the missing link. It’s too obvious Tyrone, something needs to be done.” Tyrone laughed.

“Yeah, I can just go up to them and say Hi sorry for causing you so much trouble, but it was destiny, it was fate. I’m your blast from the past – that past that none of you can remember. Don’t be silly Mandy, we cannot do anything except live our lives the way that we had planned when we moved to Lenton.” Mandy shook her head.

“That’s all changed Tyrone. When we moved here, we never expected this. We wanted to get away from the past, and yet it was thrown back right in our faces. We have to tell them the truth together.” Tyrone shook his head, and looked mighty scared.

“No, Mandy, no way. I’m never going back there again. It’s already too bad having to live with the memories everyday – but going back there again, speaking of it again, reliving it again? No way am I going back.” At that moment I couldn’t take it anymore, and spoke up.

“Go back where Tyrone? What is it that you two are hiding from us?” They both looked up surprised to see me there. Then Tyrone looked down and didn’t answer. It was Mandy who spoke.

“Michelle, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer her, instead I just said,

“Just answer me Mandy. What are you two hiding from us?”

“It’s too complicated to explain right now, Michelle. But we need to talk about it sometime.”

“No Mandy,” I demanded. “You tell me what is going on right now. You’re my brother’s girlfriend, and he really loves you, and yet, you and Tyrone are hiding something from him – from us – from all of us. I want to know right now, what is going on?” Mandy let me finish, and she remained calm as she said,

“I know how it looks Michelle, but believe me I love your brother as much as he loves me – maybe even more. I have always loved him. And if I haven’t told him anything yet, it’s because I love him. But I think that you have a right to know the truth, and I’m sure that Tyrone will agree with me.” I looked at Tyrone.

He looked at me, and said in a pleading tone,

“Michelle, please let it go. There is nothing to know. Mandy is my best friend, we’ve grown up together, and decided to come to Lenton together. She met your brother and she fell in love with him. I met Lynn and fell in love with her. But I never really became friends with her brother and decided to stop seeing her. You met David when you came here, and you fell in love with him, and it seems like you became really good friends with Lynn. And I’m happy for all of you believe me. You all have your happy lives, and I’m sure Lynn will meet someone whom she deserves more than me, and who will make her happy. You can all live your lives, but please keep me away from them. That’s what I’ve been trying to explain to Mandy. She’s my best friend, and she got involved with your brother, but I want to stay away from you guys, that’s all.” I looked at him in surprise.

“But why? What have we ever done to you? What is it that scares you so much in us?” Mandy was about to say something else, when he stopped her by raising his voice and saying,

“Stop it, Michelle. LET IT GO! I don’t want to have anything to do with you or your friends anymore. Can’t you understand that? I told you last night not to come and look for me anymore.”

I got really angry at his words, and said,

“Tyrone, I only came looking for you to apologise for what happened last night. And I was ready to let go, and to forget everything, and anything that might have happened in the past. I was ready to forget you. But I can’t just walk away – not now that I know that you and your friend here have been playing games with us all this time.” Mandy came between us at that moment, and she put her hand on my shoulder and said,

“Michelle, no one is playing games with you. But things have been happening that might be just a little hard to understand, unless you know all the facts. Go home now, and I will find a way to make things right believe me. I want to make things right, without hurting anybody, especially your brother. Give me some time – a few days maybe, not more than a week. That’s all I’m asking for.” I looked at her and said,

“Ok, one week. But that’s all you’re going to get. If by the end of this week you are not going to explain to me what’s going on, I will have to tell Steve about everything that I heard here today.” And with that threat I walked out of the garage – feeling even more confused than before I had walked in.