Other Sides of The World: Chapter Six - Illusions

"So it's been aboot a fortnight noo Oz!" Lachie shrugged and gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I see?" Oz returned the smile with a confused expression.

"Well, whit am tryin' tae get at is we've got a block bookin', a hen party and...we need yer room pal!"

"Oh, I see!" he nodded; looking rather disappointed he bent down and lifted his bag from under the bed.

"Whit are ye dayin'?" Lachie blinked.

"Packing, moving on, getting outta here! That's what you want right?" Lachie seemed appalled by this and pulled Oz's bag roughly from his hands.

"Naw! NAW! Well, aye! A want ye tae vacate the room aye! But Da says ye can stay wi me in ma room!"

"Oh I see!" Oz repeated and a relieved smile appeared on his handsome face. "No problem bro!" he nodded and patted Lachie on the arm.

"And that means ye wilnae have tae pay for a room from noo on eh?" Lachie patted him back, harder, and nearly knocked him off his feet. With his bag packed, Lachie escorted him up to the staff and family quarters as Rhona came rushing towards them looking rather worried.

"Did you sort it? You told him yeah?" she questioned her brother shrilly.

"Its cool red, guess you and I are gonna be neighbours!" Oz winked and drew Rhona in for a hug.

"I said you could stay in my room but nobody liked that idea!" she sighed and nuzzled her face into his chest.

"Naw we didnae!" Lachie grunted and headed to his room carrying Oz's things.

"I wonder why!" Oz chuckled and kissed her hair. As they walked towards Lachie's room, Oz draped his arm over Rhona's shoulder and she reached up to hold his hand.

"So does this mean you're staying a wee while longer?" she asked innocently.

"I think I might hang on for a bit longer, yeah!" he smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Good!" was all she replied as they kept on walking.

"Dinnae be aboot the night awright pal?" Lachie appeared from inside his room as they approached.

"Oh? Why's that?" Oz gave him an amused smile; he knew exactly why that was!

"Cuz...av got a date the night wi Spethy!"

"I thought you weren't to call her that?" Rhona winked at her brother.

"Aye a know but...whit she disnae know disnae count eh?" he huffed and stomped back into his room.

Oz was kind enough to make himself scarce that night for Lachie, and as he invited Elspeth back to his room he half expected some sort of prank to be set up to make him look stupid. But Oz and his sister weren't that unkind. As he looked around the room, under the two beds and inside his wardrobe, he was satisfied that he and Elspeth were alone. Tonight he planned to kiss her, it was their fourth date and he'd waited a decent amount of time before making a move and he felt the waiting was over. "So this is ma room!" he gestured around it with his arms and smiled nervously.

"So I see!" Elspeth giggled and plopped herself down on the nearest single bed. "So where does Oz sleep?" she enquired as she bounced up and down gently.

"Oan that other yin over there!" Lachie blushed and sat down beside her. He leaned in to kiss her and she jumped up abruptly.

"So, what kind of music do you like?" he tried to pretend he wasn't disappointed by her rebuff and answered her.

"Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, Black Sabbath...er..."

"Cool!" was all she could say.

"Elspeth, a wanted tae..."

"Yes Lachie?"

"...a wanted tae kiss ye! Av wanted tae dae it for ages noo!"

"Then do it!" she opened her arms and smiled.

"But ye...dae ye want me tae?"

"Aye Lachie a dae!" she mocked him, still with her arms outstretched. He shot up from the bed and bounded towards her, stopping in front of her he cupped her head in his massive hands...and kissed her gently on the lips, letting it linger for as long as he could hold his breath. When he withdrew, she had the biggest smile on her face and her eyes were closed. "Spethy?" he whispered and she opened one eye and scowled.

"I told you before!!! Don't call me Spethy!!!"

"Wiz that...wiz it awright?" he drew back and rubbed his palms down the thighs of his jeans.

"Aye Lachie, it wiz!" she laughed softly and pulled him close to her for another kiss.

"So do you think I could head back now?" Oz stroked Rhona's cheek as she sat on his lap with her arms draped around his neck; they sat on her bed facing the window out to the Loch. As they sat in complete darkness, nothing but the moonlight shining through the glass, she covered his face with tiny kisses, ignoring his question. "Rhona?" she stopped and groaned.

"What?" she pressed her nose against his and let out a huge, irritated sigh.

"I said, do you reckon I could go to Lachie's room now?"

"Why?" she started to kiss him again, this time working down towards his neck.

"Rhona don't! Please..." he breathed, if she continued he wouldn't be able to control himself and things were threatening to get serious.

"Oh Oswald why don't you just stay here? With me!" she cut off his answer with one swift kiss on the lips as he began to squirm underneath her.

"Because it...I don't want to betray Lachie and your parents!" Rhona uttered an exasperated moan and pulled herself free of his hold. Standing up she ran her hands through her long red hair and shook her head in frustration.

"Oz I'm a grown woman you know! I was once engaged? I'm not an innocent little teenager so stop treating me like one!"

"I'm not, I...Rhona I want to spend the night with you I really do! It's just...I think I should wait a while. At least until I've actually slept in your brother's room! I don't want my first night up here to be my last because I betrayed your family's trust!" Rhona turned her back on him and looked out the window at the Loch where he first touched her, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her from the murky depths. "You know it makes sense baby!"

"I know!" she agreed, "But it doesn't make me want you any less!"

"Nor I you! Rhona I promise! I will stay here with you very soon!" he stood up from the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist like she'd remembered only a moment ago, only this time she wasn't drowning, she was just standing there with him and he was kissing her neck gently. "Now see how you like it!" he chuckled and left her in her room, alone...wanting him so very much!

When Oz arrived back at Lachie's room there was no sign of him or Elspeth. He got ready for bed and lay on top of the covers thinking about Rhona. How tempting it was just to stay there with her and hold her close, feel her skin next to his. Just as he was imagining how that would feel, his phone beeped at the side of the bed, it was a text message. "Nite nite, I miss you! xxx" It was from Rhona!

"Miss you too, I love you! xxxxxx" he replied and within seconds he was fast asleep, dreaming of his red headed love! She was standing on the edge of the jetty in a long white dress; her red hair flowed in the breeze as she smiled at him. The sun was shining down on the Loch and birds chirped all around them as Rhona's smile took on an eerie grimace, she dangled one leg over the side then swiftly put it back onto the jetty as Oz tried to speak but no words came out. Suddenly her face was expressionless as she turned her back on him and just fell face forward into the Loch. Oz stood and waited but she did not resurface, why he wasn't jumping in after her like he did in real life was a mystery to him. Still unable to speak or even move, all he could do was watch the ripples in the water as Rhona was sinking to the depths below. A whispery voice echoed all around the Loch and through the trees "Liar liar liar!" it called to him and someone was screaming! As he woke up from this nightmare, his t-shirt sticking to him with sweat, he realised he was the one who was screaming!

"Ho! Oz pal!" Lachie was shaking him.

"Wha..." he squinted his eyes as Lachie let him go and turned on the bedside lamp.

"Ye were screeching at the top o' yer voice there pal!" he shook his head as Oz swung his legs over the bed and sat up breathing heavily.

"Sorry, I...bad dream!" he rubbed his throat; it was dry and raspy from the screaming. "I need a drink of water. What time is it?"

"It's just after 5!" Lachie sat down beside him, a big daft grin on his face.

"In the morning?"

"Aye, in the mornin'! Whit's wi you man?" he shook his head and laughed. Oz got up and pulled on his jeans and shoes.

"Did you just get in or..." Oz began but decided it was none of his business and headed for the bathroom.

"Aye a did!" Lachie was still grinning like a loon.

"I'm glad you and Elspeth had a good time!"

"Aye!" Lachie giggled like a big kid, "A guid time aye!"

Rhona sat by the jetty that morning thinking about Oz. It was a bittersweet feeling, she had fallen in love with a wonderful guy but he came with an expiration date that was coming soon, it was just that no one knew when that was exactly. She was thinking of him like she did every morning, and she found herself sitting by the jetty every morning too because it reminded her of how she met this amazing human being that had captured her heart! As she sat daydreaming she was aware of the sound of footsteps on the wood of the jetty, and then Oz called to her "You know I really don't wanna make this a habit!" he chuckled and she felt his presence behind her. He sat down beside her and placed an arm over her shoulders. "How is my little water nymph this morning?" Rhona blushed and looked down at the water, swinging her legs back and forth over the jetty.

"I'm fine, all the better for seeing you!"

"Oh really?" he smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She didn't deter him and allowed it to happen, that all too familiar tingling rippled through her body and she shivered.

"Cold?" he gave her a concerned look.

"No, just...Oz I need to ask you something!"

"Yes Rhona I will be your bride!" he grinned mischievously in her direction as she thumped him in the chest softly and sighed.

"No, stop it!" she scolded him, "I wanted to ask you how long you planned on staying?"

"Oh!" this was obviously not a question he expected. "Do you...er...you're wanting me to leave?" he looked rather hurt, thinking Rhona may have grown bored of him in just over two weeks!

"No!" Rhona's eyes widened as far as they could go, "Good God no!" she gasped and cuddled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his chest.

"Oh, so...why do you ask?" he stroked her red hair lovingly and rested his chin on her head.

"Because I want to know that you're happy here. That if you want, you can stay...for good!"

"You mean until I die?" Rhona took her head away from his beating heart and looked up at him.

"Oswald don't!" she shook her head wildly and her red hair spilled over her shoulders as it shone in the sunlight.

"I would love to stay for good, and I think I could see myself settling here but...there's so much more I need to see, so much I wanna do!"

"But...what about me?" her big blue eyes began to moisten and a tear rolled down her pale cheek.

"Rhona please don't cry, I love you! That will never change but I really need to move on, and soon!" he placed his hands on her face and rubbed his nose against hers, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but I don't deserve you! And you certainly don't deserve a cretin like me!"

"Oz why are you saying these things?" she wept as he pressed his lips briefly to hers, his hands still on her face, and fought back the urge to cry with her.

"Because it's true, I'm not good enough for you...I'm not worthy!"

"I'll be the one to decide that!" she grabbed hold of his hands and pulled them away from her face, squeezing them tightly she looked him in the eyes. "You could stay here, and I could look after you when...we can be together, run the hotel with mum and dad, be a family! I could meet your family! There's so much I don't know about you that I want to find out and..." Oz pulled roughly away from her and shot up.

"This is too much, you're...Rhona I can't do this right now! I need room to breathe and I can't do that with you pressuring me into...into..." he turned swiftly and walked quickly away from her and off of the jetty.

"Oz???" she called to him, but he did not turn back, he disappeared around the corner and out of sight, as Rhona let the tears flow.

Lachie and Elspeth were enjoying a nice picnic on the floor of the laundry room as the rain came crashing down from the heavens outside. "We should have lunch together every day!" Elspeth piped up as Lachie took a sip of his Irn Bru and almost spat it back out.

"Ye want tae?"

"Aye!" she mocked him and winked.

"Elspeth, dae ye like me then?" Lachie felt his cheeks growing hot but he had to know, especially after last night when they...

"Yes Lachie, I like you very much!" she looked him in the eyes and smiled sincerely. "So does this mean I'm, like, your girlfriend or..." Lachie almost took another sip but stopped and threw the can of juice down roughly, with his eyes wide he nodded enthusiastically.

"Aye! AYE!" he replied as she leaned over and gave him a soft peck on the cheek.

"Lachie, you're so lovely!" she leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.

"Am a?" he beamed, "But no as lovely as you are eh? Yer gorgeous so ye are!"

"Why did it take you so long?" she sighed.

"Why did whit take me so long?" he shook his head in confusion.

"To make a move on me you big lump!"

"Am shy Spethy!" Elspeth hugged his big, muscular arm and looked up at him.

"Don't call me Spethy!" she mumbled and snuggled into him as he couldn't believe his luck!

"Av no seen Oz aboot lately!" Hamish announced rather innocently as Annie elbowed him in the ribs and glared at him. "Whit? A huvnae though!"

"It's okay mum!" Rhona sighed as they sat watching television together on a Saturday night. Rhona and Oz had argued on the jetty that Wednesday and shortly afterwards he took his things out of Lachie's room and disappeared. Rhona had tried to phone him, text him, but he would not reply. She figured he'd gone to find the room to breathe that he needed.

"Huz he gone away tae Glasgow again eh?" Hamish continued to push.

"Not sure dad!" Rhona replied, trying not to give away how much she missed him. Just then Lachie came into the living room smiling like a simpleton.

"Awright guys?" he enquired and threw himself down on the three seater couch next to Rhona, nearly bouncing her up towards the ceiling.

"Aye, how're ye Lachie son?" Hamish nodded towards him, "We wur jist talkin' aboot Oz! Rhona hisnae heard fae him fur a while and..." Lachie waved a large paw in the air and grunted.

"A got a text fae him the other day, he's fine! He's in Millport!" Rhona turned to face her brother and shrieked.

"MILLPORT???"

"Aye, Millport!" Lachie gave her an impatient frown.

"What's he doing on an island...in Ayrshire???"

"He's jist chillin', cyclin' roon the island and aw that!" Lachie shrugged.

"And you didn't think to tell me? He's been gone three days, and you didn't think to tell me where he was???"

"Naw, a didnae!" Lachie scratched his head, then he realised he'd been very selfish. "Sorry wee yin a...av had other things on ma mind eh?"

"Thanks!" Rhona snapped and stormed out of the room. Annie shook her head disapprovingly at her son.

"Lachlan!"

"A said a wiz sorry!" Lachie grumbled and crossed his arms roughly, pouting as he did so like a scolded child.

"Ye know Oz means the world tae yer wee sister! Ye should have telt her son!" Hamish added as Lachie wondered if they could make him feel any worse than he already did. Elspeth had taken up most of his thoughts and his sister seemed to have taken second place recently. How could he make this up to Rhona? He wasn't sure that he could!

"Jist gi her a wee phone eh?" Lachie pleaded with Oz. He'd  phoned him, with a bit of prompting from his dad, to tell him how much Rhona was hurting over his departure.

"I need a bit of space Lachie!" Oz replied sadly, "The only reason I texted you was so she wouldn't worry. I told you I'm not ready to talk to her yet!"

"Well a think yer bein' a tool!" Lachie was raising his voice, partly angry at Oz and partly angry with himself for neglecting Rhona while he spent all of his time with Elspeth!

"And I think you should butt out! I love your sister but she just wants more from me than I can give! I'm not a nice guy Lachie, I'm not good enough for her don't you understand?"

"That's bollocks Ozzy, ye don't know whit you've done bringin' Rhona oot of her shell again after Jamie..."

"Well Jamie was a creep and I'm not much better! Please Lachie; just tell her I'm sorry and that I love her...and goodbye!" Oz hung up the phone leaving Lachie feeling even more down about the situation.

"Well son?" Hamish poked his head round Lachie's bedroom door.

"Nae luck Da!" Lachie shrugged and threw his phone roughly on the bed.

"Whit is that boy playin' at!" Hamish growled and balled his fists. "One minute he's aw oor yer sister and the next...naw! Ma wee girl disnae deserve aw this ye hear???"

Life had to go on, and Lachie took up his post at reception once again when a rather sinister looking character arrived in the foyer. "Can a help ye?" Lachie called to him, he was tall and built like Lachie with a bald head and a huge scar on the side of his face that ran from his eyebrow to his jawline. The only thing that made him look like a decent human being was his dark blue pinstripe suit.

"Yes!" he answered in a deep voice. "I'm looking for Oswald Truman? I believe he's been staying here!" The American accent was unmistakable. Who was this guy? Lachie did not like him at all and made up his mind to lie, but tell the truth at the same time.

"Naw mate, we've no got anybody by that name stayin' here, sorry!"

"That's a shame! You see Mr Truman is a wanted man, he's stolen an obscene amount of money from my boss and he very much wants it back. If you're hiding him here then I suggest you bring him out immediately and nobody will get hurt!" Lachie stood up from his seat and placed his huge hands on top of the desk, leaning forward until his face was inches away from him he replied unfazed,

"Like a said, naebidy here by that name!" the bald man closed his eyes and hung his head.

"I sincerely hope for your sake that you're telling me the truth! Because if you're not, I will be back, and I will not be responsible for my actions!" he looked Lachie in the eyes and winked, turned around and walked back out of the hotel. Lachie sat back down and let out the huge breath he was holding in that entire time and blinked.

"Oz, whit huv ye done???"

To Be Continued...