Page 16 of Inbetweeners
“No one deserves that.” Phoenix stormed out of the room and Emmett heard the bedroom door slam.
“You must have done something bad to get sent to Hell,” Emmett yelled.
“Strangled a cat and its twattish owner,” Phoenix yelled back.
Emmett pushed to his feet and cleaned the kitchen until it looked as immaculate as when they’d arrived. The saucer of tuna still sat untouched. He dropped onto the couch because he didn’t want to go into the bedroom, and the cat stalked over to curl up on his lap. Emmett stroked his soft fur and drew comfort from that, right until he felt the claw sink into his thigh.
“Ouch. Were you mine? Sorry, if you were.”
He’d not handled the discussion very well. It had been insensitive to talk about Heaven being dull when it seemed you were lucky to survive the day intact in Hell. Unless you’d done all those bad things when you were alive, youdidn’tdeserve them to happen to you when you were dead. He and Phoenix had to work together so Emmett needed to make an effort.
Be kinder, more tolerant. Try to be friendly.This was a big thing for both of them. A huge change for both of them and Emmett needed to be more sympathetic to Phoenix’s situation in particular.
Brilliant pep talk. One he wasn’t likely to take any notice of.
Eventually, he could no longer put off going to bed, unless he wanted to spend an uncomfortable night on the couch, so he made sure the cat could see how he could leave the flat if he wanted to, then used the bathroom.
It was dark in the bedroom when he went in. Phoenix lay curled up in the bed Emmett had slept in. But Emmett didn’t care which bed he used. He slid between the covers and closed his eyes.
“Sorry, Phoenix.”
There was no answer.
Well, fuck you then because I’m bloody sure you’re awake.
