Rival

by Jacqui Rose

  As Franny went to comfort her, putting her arm around her, it occurred to her that Wan was either stupid or it was part of his plan that he put both Sasha and Ellie in the same house. No doubt it was the latter: play the girls off against each other. That way they’re even more ready to please. She sighed. ‘Maybe Wan told her he was.’

  Ellie pulled away from Franny’s embrace and she looked like she was going to explode with hurt and anger as she blurted out her words. ‘And why would he do that? He wouldn’t, he wouldn’t! She’s just a fucking liar! I told her that much. I told her that if she said it again and carried on talking shit, I’d sort her out.’

  ‘And what did she say to that?’

  Ellie shrugged as a scowl appeared on her forehead. ‘She didn’t say much. What could she say? She knew I meant it.’

  ‘Well I saw her earlier this afternoon and she looked upset,’ Franny said calmly, deliberately leaving out the fact that she’d seen Sasha with Wan, who’d been in the process of talking boyfriend, girlfriend.

  ‘She was fine when I saw her this evening, not that I care how she was.’

  Knowing that Ellie would run back and tell Wan if she said the wrong thing to her and knowing Ellie was like a cat, ready to pounce in Wan’s defence, Franny kept it as casual and light as possible even though she wanted to ask about the bruises on Ellie’s thighs, wanting to know if she remembered how she got them. But she also wasn’t stupid. She knew that it would be a big mistake to do so.

  ‘Oh well it’s good to know she’s okay. I just thought I’d mention it that’s all.’

  Feeding off Franny’s relaxed vibe, Ellie started to relax herself, speaking quieter this time. ‘I couldn’t care less about her.’

  ‘No, I’d probably be the same if someone was after my boyfriend,’ Franny said as she played the game with Ellie. ‘Maybe I should go and see her. Take her these things.’

  ‘She’s not here.’

  Franny stood up and picked up the bag. ‘Do you know where she is?’

  ‘Nope.’

  Franny gave her a smile. ‘Okay, well, I’ll just put these things in her room if you tell me where it is.’

  Picking up her phone and staring down at it, Ellie answered, uninterested, ‘Last one down on the left.’

  21

  Franny opened the door of Sasha’s room and switched on the light. Looking around, her heart felt like it skipped a beat as she saw a photo on the wall with fairy lights around it of Sasha and Sophie, looking happy, looking relaxed and more importantly, with Sophie looking alive.

  She sighed as she placed the bag of dresses on the bed, which was made to perfection; pretty flowered sheets and a soft, grey velvet throw along with matching cushions and a teddy bear sat on the top. The white wooden furniture, smart and expensive, and the shelf of trinkets and books made it look like any other teenager’s bedroom.

  She walked across to the wardrobe and opened it, seeing an array of designer clothes mixed with high-street skirts and dresses. Closing it, she moved across to the chest of drawers and paused for a moment, listening out to make sure no one was coming. Certain there was nobody around, for some reason she couldn’t quite understand Franny found herself opening Sasha’s top drawer.

  Knickers and socks, bras and tights folded neatly with a packet of cigarettes tucked in the corner. She closed it, then opened the second drawer, where everything was folded just as neatly. She did the same with the next but she stopped as she caught sight of something shiny, which was tucked underneath the various colourful vest tops.

  Realising it was a book, Franny – making sure it didn’t look like someone had riffled through Sasha’s things – carefully moved the clothes out of the way. Curious, she took the book out but as she flicked through it, she was surprised to see it was actually a diary. Sasha’s diary.

  Going across to the door and opening it slightly, Franny looked down the corridor, wanting to be doubly certain that she was still on her own. Then, sitting down on the edge of the bed, Franny began to read …

  Tuesday 16th

  Feeling totally down today. Can’t believe that I have to go and see Wan’s mate this evening. Wan promised that I didn’t have to see him no more. Last time I went, he gave me the biggest black eye and I had to have sex with three old men. MADE ME FEEL SICK. Told Wan but he didn’t seem to care what happened and when I told Wan today that I wasn’t going to go, he got really nasty with me. Sometimes I really hate him. Just feel like ditching it all and going. Not sure where I’d go though. Can’t go home. At least I’ve got Louise. It’s funny how I’ve only known her for a couple of months but she already feels like my sister. She says she doesn’t want to go to the party tonight either. Can hear Wan coming back. Will write more later …

  Thursday 18th

  Want to die. I don’t know what to say. Wan forced me to go to the party with Louise. It was horrible. There were about twenty guys there. We had to sleep with them all. They just put us in a room on a dirty mattress and they came in one by one. One big guy got really rough and Louise got scared and started screaming. Then some other guy came in and took her out of the room. I haven’t seen her since. I’m worried.

  Friday 19th

  In a lot of pain since the other night – think I might have got an infection. It hurts when I wee. Saw Wan and asked him about Louise. He nearly killed me when I did. Got really angry, pushed me about. Thought he was going to snap my arm in two. Won’t ask him again about Louise but I’m scared for her. Still haven’t heard anything. Even her phone is still in her room. Really worried now but don’t know what to do.

  Saturday 20th

  Told Wan I was pregnant. Don’t know who the father is. It could be anybody’s, but it don’t matter. Wan says he’s going to take me for an abortion. He gave me a slap. He gives me that many it doesn’t even hurt now. At least he apologised this time. Kissed me and told me that I was special. Made me feel good. I like it that he still cares. Still nothing from Louise though. One of Wan’s men came in today and took all her things out of her room. I have a really bad feeling something terrible has happened. Can’t stop crying.

  Sunday 21st

  As usual Ellie is being a complete cow. She’s nasty to anyone that goes near Wan. She’s crazy. Last night found one of my nail varnishes poured all over my tops in my drawer. I just know Ellie did it. She’s mean like that. I wanted to be friends with her at first – now I wish she wasn’t here. She doesn’t seem to care Louise is missing. So worried.

  Franny suddenly closed the diary and looked up. She could hear voices coming from the hallway. Even though she wanted to keep on reading, she rushed over to the chest of drawers and placed it back exactly how she’d found it.

  Her mind was racing from what she’d just read; she felt shocked, saddened and angry and although she’d originally come to see Sasha, she’d probably found out more than she would ever have done if Sasha had actually been here. But she could think about everything later. For now she knew she had to get out of the house as soon as she could without being seen or at least she needed to look like there was nothing suspicious about her visit.

  Quietly she switched off the light in the room before she slowly cracked open the door and peered out into the corridor, watching and listening to Wan bundling Ellie out of her room.

  ‘Stop fucking whining, Ellie. And move it. I told you to be ready. Have you seen the time?’

  ‘Do I have to go? It’s late. I’m tired.’

  ‘Just shut it, and come on. You owe me after earlier. You were like a sulky little spoilt cow. You’re lucky I’m still bothering with you. Now come on.’

  ‘I don’t want to. I don’t feel well.’

  ‘You’ll be back before you know it and anyway, I’ve got some stuff that will make you feel better. Help you relax. You can’t go around being so uptight. You embarrassed me in front of my friend. Is that what you want to do?’

  ‘No of course not.’

  ‘Well then, this time, to stop you being so
frigging moody, I want you to take some powder.’

  ‘I dunno, Wan. It made me feel rotten.’

  ‘I thought you loved me, Ellie. I thought you cared about me.’

  ‘I do, but—’

  ‘But nothing then. If you love me you’ll do what I ask you to, but like I say, if you’d rather we just be mates, Ellie, that’s fine … I can ask Sasha to help me out.’

  ‘No! No! No, don’t! Don’t ask her, I’ll do it.’

  ‘That’s my girl. Now come on, let’s go.’

  Franny listened to them go and the house fell silent. She sighed and shook her head, fighting the urge to run after them because right now she knew that it’d do more harm than good. And even though she wanted to shake Ellie, tell her to open her eyes to see how Wan was playing her, she knew it would be pointless – Ellie just wouldn’t listen.

  Girls like Ellie were prime targets for creeps like Wan. Their vulnerability made them easy to manipulate, easy to make them into anything Wan wanted them to be. And that was the worst part; Ellie was doing all this because she was desperate for someone to love her and it made Franny sick to her stomach.

  As she made her way out of the house and into the darkness of the night, as she hurried along the dimly lit street, she knew that although she couldn’t stop Ellie wanting to be around Wan, somehow she would stop Wan being around Ellie.

  From the blacked-out car, Alfie Jennings watched Franny come out of the house and walk down the street. Every part of his being wanted to let her know he was here, only a few feet away from her. Every part of him wanted to hold her, to touch her. She looked so beautiful and he wanted her so badly, but he’d made a promise to himself that he wasn’t going to step in until, and only if, he was really needed.

  She’d nearly destroyed him before and he wasn’t going to let her do that again. There was no doubt about it that Franny was dangerous. And there was no doubt about it either that he was addicted to her, no matter how much he tried not to be. So, as much as it was difficult, the longer he could keep his distance, the better.

  What he was going to do was follow Wan, who he’d known since Wan had been a kid. Because he might want to keep Franny at bay for now, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to find out all that he could about Wan; which started with knowing where the piece of scum was going with the young girl.

  Alfie put the car in drive and set off, watching Franny disappear in his rear-view mirror.

  22

  It was getting on for one in the morning and Tia was exhausted. She locked herself in the bathroom, closing her eyes as she leant her head against the door. She needed to think. Her mind was a mess, and in fact, everything so far had been a mess. Was a mess. And although she could try to tell herself she was back at home with her children where she belonged, it was of little comfort as Harry had made sure she’d hardly seen them.

  Sighing, she dropped her pink silk polka dot dressing gown on the floor and stepped into the bath, the heat of the bubbled water stinging her skin, making her wince, distracting her for a moment from her thoughts that were filled with Harry and Alan and Vaughn … and Wan. Especially Wan.

  A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. ‘Tia? Tia?’ It was her sister Tammy.

  Sighing, Tia shouted through the door. ‘What is it, Tam?’

  ‘I just wanted to know if you were planning to stay this time. It seems a shame to mess the kids around again. I mean if you’re going to leave again, why don’t you do it sooner rather than later? I can tell them their Auntie Tammy is going to look after them from now on.’

  Shaking her head, Tia snapped. She wasn’t going to let her sister wind her up. She wouldn’t let that happen, though it was certainly hard.

  At times over the years she’d been tempted to turn her back on her sister. Not because she was here with Harry; she couldn’t care less what and who Harry slept with especially if it distracted him from wanting to be with her. No, Tammy wound her up because it hurt. It hurt her because her sister, her twin sister seemed to be on a mission to destroy her any way she could.

  But as much as she wanted to throw Tammy out, deep down she knew she wouldn’t because, despite everything, she loved her.

  They’d both had it rough as kids but Tammy even more so than her. They’d been moved around, going from one care home to another. They’d been separated, which had been painful and Tammy’s screams and cries as they’d dragged her away still haunted Tia.

  They’d been close up until that point but when they’d been reunited, Tammy had been aloof. Cold. Hard. It was only later that she’d learnt that Tammy had been abused both physically and sexually whilst in the care of her foster parents.

  She felt guilty for that, guilty she hadn’t been able to look after her twin sister the way she’d wanted to, the way most people looked out for their siblings. Guilty that Tammy had been traumatised and hurt. And so she’d vowed always to be there for Tammy, no matter what.

  So, as hard as this was and as much as she wanted to grab Tammy right now by the hair and throw her out, she wouldn’t because, for a start, she knew that Tammy didn’t really have anywhere to go. She’d drifted all her life, not being able to put down roots, no doubt from the chaos of their childhood. At least here Tammy had a roof over her head and this way Tia could keep an eye on her, because there was no doubt Harry would hurt her. And if, or rather when he did, she wanted to be there to pick up the pieces.

  ‘I ain’t going anywhere, Tammy, whether you like it or not and don’t forget that this is my home, not yours.’

  ‘I’m just not sure if it’s big enough for all of us.’

  Not in the mood for her sister on top of everything else, Tia stepped back out of the bath, wrapping her towel around her before opening the door wide. She stared at her sister, looking at her mirror image. ‘What are you on about?’

  As usual Tammy’s face curled up in scorn as she touched Tia’s hair. ‘Are you surprised that Harry’s got bored of you if you’re always looking so dowdy? You should get yourself to the hairdresser’s, fix up, do something with yourself. You’re an embarrassment, Tia.’

  Pushing Tammy’s hand away, Tia shrugged in dismay. ‘Is this why you knocked on the door, just so you could have a dig? Because if it is, I think I’d rather get back to me bath.’

  As Tia went to close the door, Tammy put her foot in the way, stopping it from being shut. ‘You should be grateful to me, Tia. I’m giving you some advice. Now if you don’t want to take it, then that’s down to you.’

  Sighing again, Tia said, ‘Fine, well if that’s everything?’

  ‘No, it’s not. Like I say, I was wondering how long you’ll be around?’

  ‘Look, Tammy, I ain’t going anywhere. You’ve got what you want by moving in, and I ain’t going to bother you, so why don’t you keep out of my way and I’ll keep out of yours, hey?’

  Tammy chuckled nastily. ‘I wish it was that simple.’

  ‘Why are you being like this? What did I ever do to you, Tammy? I loved you. I do love you but you make it so hard.’

  Tammy sniffed and stared at her perfectly done manicure. ‘I’m not asking you to love me. I’m asking you to move out.’

  ‘You’re crazy. My kids live here, so that ain’t ever going to happen,’ Tia said angrily.

  ‘Then we’ll all have to just squash up, won’t we? Otherwise we won’t have enough room when my baby comes.’

  Tia’s face paled. ‘Your baby? What are you saying?’

  ‘Oh come on, Tia, you know what I’m saying. I’m pregnant.’

  Tia felt sick. ‘Oh my God, you can’t be … No, Tammy, you can’t be. Please tell me it ain’t Harry’s.’

  ‘Well who else’s would it be?’ Tammy smirked nastily.

  ‘What have you done, Tam? You stupid, stupid cow.’

  Tammy glared at her. ‘I knew you wouldn’t be happy, but that don’t mean you need to be nasty, Tia. Jealousy ain’t a good look you know.’

  Tia lunged at Tammy, grabbing her arm
. Tears filled her eyes. ‘I ain’t jealous, you stupid mare. I ain’t anything like that. What I am, is worried for you. You really don’t get it, do you? You may be sleeping with my husband, but that don’t mean you know him like I do … I take it you ain’t told him yet.’

  Tammy shrugged as a slight look of unease passed through her eyes. ‘Not yet, I’m just waiting for the right time.’

  ‘But that’s the point; there won’t be any right time. Not with him. Tammy, listen to me. Harry won’t want you having his kid, cos he’s just using you to get at me.’

  With her face turning red, Tammy snarled, ‘Keep on telling yourself that, Tia. That’s what you like to think, but you and I both know that it ain’t true. You just can’t stand the thought he wants me and not you. You can’t stand it that I’m carrying his baby and that I’m going to be happy.’

  Tears streamed down Tia’s face. ‘What I can’t stand is you thinking that it’ll be all right. Tammy, please, just don’t tell him. Get rid of it or move out if you want to keep it. Do whatever you have to do and I’ll support you. Whatever you choose, I’ll be there for you, but just don’t tell him, cos if you do, he won’t want you around anymore and that will mean I won’t be able to see you.’

  The slap from Tammy was hard and loud and Tia’s cheek immediately welled up. ‘You want me to get an abortion? You make me sick, Tia. I’m going to keep this baby and Harry and I are going to be happy and if I’ve got anything to do with it, it’ll be you who’s moving out and besides, who says I even want to see you?’

  Tammy stomped away down the corridor leavsing Tia terrified for her sister.

  Scrubbing her skin in the bath, Tia’s head was filled with anxiety. Not only was she filled with panic over her sister’s pregnancy but she wanted to remove all traces of the afternoon.

  Her skin was red and sore from where she’d scrubbed it too hard. It was always the same thing, no matter how much she cleaned herself, she still felt dirty.