Almost Official

by Ruby Reade

  I turn around to look at who is shouting, 'Hey. Hey, wait up,' and I am surprised to see Kevin running towards me. He jumps the last few steps to land nose to nose with me. He kisses me straight on the mouth, making me blink and step backwards.

  'I had hoped we would see each other tonight. We can have that chat about your message the other night after all.' He grins and lifts his shirt up to wipe away imaginary sweat.

  'Where is all of your fat?' I accuse and prod him in the ribs. It's one thing to think things, but quite another when my brain filter shuts down and lets my mouth run riot.

  'I'm sure it's there somewhere.' He shrugs and let’s go of his top to cover himself back up.

  'I have a stomach like a sack of potatoes.' I say although he probably doesn't need reminding. I need to wear a gag every time I am out drinking. I might look incredibly stupid but at least I wouldn't end up starting ridiculous conversations.

  'What kind of potatoes?' He asks frowning at me. I can tell he is wondering how the hell we ended up talking about potatoes.

  'Errm, jacket potatoes?' Jacket potatoes.

  'I happen to love jacket potatoes.' He says attempting to turn the conversation around, but I just don't think it can be done when potatoes of any kind are involved.

  'Lucy? Are you still listening to me?' He waves a hand at me bringing me back.

  'Oh, sure. Yes of course, anyway, I have got to find a taxi.' I tell him looking about again.

  'That's what I was saying to you. You can come to mine. Go and grab a taxi then head to mine, after I have sorted something out I will meet you there. Are you sure you were listening to me?' He asks again.

  'Yes. Yes I was, I just wanted to confirm what was going on that's all.' I shake my head as if he is the one who is in the wrong. He nods at me, and then jogs off back in the opposite direction.

  I keep walking and magically when I get to the taxi park there is one waiting. I jump straight in still amazed with my luck and wear a massive smile.

  'Hiya, just to Hillwood Crescent please, number one.' I tell the driver and drop back into the seat. Heaven. My body loves me sitting down, and I wonder how good it is going to feel when I actually get into bed.

  'Righto love.' Is all he says and pulls off.

  After a few minutes of silence, my brain has started to engage by about ten percent. It's enough for me to question whether I really should be heading back to Kevin's or not. Images are shuffling like a Ferris wheel around in my head of Kevin, Satan, Jamie, Amy and Nigel.

  'Argh. For god sake.'

  'What's that love?' The driver asks and I realise I said what I was thinking.

  'Oh nothing, it's just my ex invited me back to his and I said okay, but now he wants me to wait there for him while he, quote, sorts something out, unquote.' I huff and slump forward onto the chair in front.

  'That isn't on love, I think you should tell him to swivel personally. If you were my kid, I would say blokes like that are trouble, start to finish.' I almost cry when he says that, he cares more than my own selfish father, god only knows where he is.

  'Thank you, and I'm out of fags as well.' I sniffle and feel sorry for myself now.

  'Well I'll have a fag with you and then you won't be hanging around too long. I'm Mitch by the way' He reassures me. He is kind and looks like a granddad from a sweet advert.

  I nod at him in the mirror. 'Lucy.'

  Mitch pulls the car to a stop and turns the engine off. Passing me two fags he lights his own.

  I inhale deeply and close my eyes for a second.

  Halfway through, we are still in silence when there is a tap on Mikes roof. A boy of about eighteen pokes his head through the window.

  'Alright mate, can you help me? I have been walking for over an hour and I am still about an hour’s walk away. Can you give me a lift if I give you a whole pack of fags?' He pleads. 'I might be able to get some money off my Mum if I wake her up.' He says looking more uncertain.

  Mitch just looks at him and sighs smoke out of the window.

  'Give her your fags and get in.' He tells the boy.

  'Cheers fella.' He says looking relieved.

  I climb out and take the packet. 'Are you sure?' I ask Mitch.

  'Course I am, if you get stuck give me a bell and I'll take you home.' He reassures me and passes over his card.

  'Thank you, again.' I wave him off.

  Alone, with no sign of life going on, I pull out the second fag Mitch gave me and light it up. I plop down onto the uncomfortable pavement and use my bag as a pillow. Not the most comfortable of spots, but I don't want Kevin to miss me and leave me outside all night.

  I close my eyes. There is a disco happening under my eyelids. The world starts to dip and swerve, making me tilt and roll.

  My phone beeps and I snap my eyes open. Dragging my poor body upright I pick up my phone and squint at the screen.

  'Jst walkin home now won't b long xx'

  I drop my phone down and lie back next to it and stare up at the stars. Time passes and I drift in and out of sleep.

  'Miss? Miss? Are you okay?' I jump up and almost fall over with relief.

  'Mitch. I'm fine thanks, just spoke to him, he'll be here in a minute.' I say smiling. What a lovely man.

  'Alright love, if you're sure.' He salutes me and drives off again. I watch the taillights disappear and head around to the back garden. It's probably safer and I might find a key.

  A spare key. I hit my head and wish I hadn't. The world spins but I don't let it stop me. I am on a mission now to get that key and be warm.

  After ten minutes of searching literally under every stone and available pot, I sit on the bench to cry again.

  My phone ringing makes me leap with joy. He must be nearly here, then we can go inside and more than anything I would die for a cup of tea and a warm duvet.

  'Hello.'

  'Lucy just getting a burger with the boys and then I'll be home.' He shouts and my temper sores through the roof.

  'I am freezing. I have been sitting here for fucking ages. Hurry up.' I shout back and hang up. He has left me waiting to piss about with his mates and stop for a bloody burger of all things. Typical fucking Kevin.

  Another hour passes and with each minute that passes I am getting more, and more annoyed. If he walks around the corner now, I think I will actually swing for him.

  I pull my phone out and text Mum, Jen, Kate and Laura to see if anyone is up and will come and get me.

  'I'm cold n tired n wanna go home please come n get me xxx'

  Hoping I can reach anyone of them I light up a fag to pass a bit more time. At least I got free fags out of this situation.

  I wonder if Drew is in or if he went out with the boys.

  My beeping phone cuts off my thoughts and I grab it expecting a text, but instead I am horrified to find the battery is dying on me. I pray that it will last till I get a call. On that thought it turns itself off. Fucking fabulous.

  I can't believe this. I silently scream and rage, rolling around on the bench. I'm now stuck outside some arsehole's house, freezing cold and tired. The alcohol is fast wearing off and my arms are tingling and going numb.

  Feeling very sorry for myself. My crying takes a turn for the worse. I’m not like the elegant women in the films. Somehow, they look pretty, and their makeup lasts, I do more of an angry, screaming kind of crying that probably makes me look terrifying. My chest is heaving where I can't catch a breath. The way I am carrying on down here I am surprised I haven't woken the entire street.

  I can't believe he did this to me. Is it payback? Did he plan on doing this? What was he thinking?

  Why can't I meet a decent bloke?

  I sigh, curling myself into a tighter ball and wait for a respectable time so I can go and wake Drew up.

  Chapter 16

  Kevin

  'You do realise I don't relish being dragged out of bed at five in the morning to come and collect you from the nick son.' My Dad informs me, giving me a side-glance.
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  I grunt back at him. I am beyond talking by this point and I have the start of an evil headache lurking behind my eyes.

  The bright morning sun doesn't help the situation either, and my eyes are finding it difficult to stay open. I pull my hood down over my face to try to get some shade.

  We drive along in silence for another few streets before he starts again.

  'You're going to have a black eye tomorrow.' I reach up touching my cheekbone before I can stop myself. I wince in pain as soon as I make the slightest contact. Still, that arsehole is going to be in a worse state today. I smile to myself before the pain stops me.

  'I don't see what you have to smile about boy. You have to deal with your mother yet.' He warns and I sink further into my seat instead of replying. He always makes me act and feel as though am still ten years old instead of a full-grown man. I shut my eyes trying to forget the fact I am sobering up now, and my hangover is starting to take effect. I look down to assess the damage I have done to my throbbing knuckles.

  'You will need some antiseptic on those as well.' He adds grinning at me, but far from happy. The only pleasure he seems to be taking from this is that I am in pain.

  I still don't bother to answer and adjust my seat back until I am practically flat.

  I wake up to keys being jangled in my face. A fresh jolt of pain in my face followed by my pounding head, stinging hands and bruised body. Not the ideal way to wake up, and definitely not what I had planned in my head for last night.

  'Now, I don't know the in's and out's of everything that went on last night,' he holds a hand up to stop me before I start to defend myself. 'No, let's not get into it right now, what I am saying is play it down for your mother's sake and don't for fuck's sake mention the Amy predicament or she will hit the roof.'

  'Dad,' I turn to face him. I need to stop him before he gets into full swing.

  'No, I'm serious. She can't handle the full truth and we will both be in the doghouse.'

  'We? I think you mean you.' I say slumping back into the seat again.

  'Kevin...' He breaks off when my Mum opens the front door. She is an angel in her dressing gown holding a cup of tea up for me.

  I wave at her and drag my sorry self out of the car. I swear I can actually hear my bones creak and groan at me.

  'Oh baby come on, get inside and have some tea. Are you okay darling?' She asks and ruffles my hair like she did when I was a kid.

  'Stop fussing over the boy.' Dad orders and slams past me stomping his feet all the way inside.

  'Come and sit down, you must feel awful being stuck in that rotten place.' She continues ignoring my Dad's huffs and slamming of doors and cupboards.

  I nod at her, accepting the tea and sinking onto the sofa. My body almost cries in relief. I close my eyes, but I am forced to open them immediately. It feels as though someone has just shoved a handful of grit into them both.

  'Do you want some toast? I can put some cheese on it.' She asks hovering over me.

  'Ah yeah, that would be fantastic cheers Mum.' I attempt to smile up at her, but my cheek has now swollen to three times its original size and makes it impossible.

  'Bloody hell, you look a fucking mess boy.' Is my Dad's helpful contribution.

  'Ken, why don't you get off to bed.' My Mum easily dismisses him like she does all his mistresses, I suppose it is years of practise. 'So, what happened? Was it a group of boys?' She asks playing with her dressing gown belt on her lap while she perches on the arm of the chair next to me. I glance up and see Dad still hasn't budged from his leaning post on the doorframe. I shift so he is no longer in my view.

  'Nah, I bumped into Lucy's old boss and he was proper goading me on, so I smacked him and then it just sort of escalated after that point. The next thing I know, we were surrounded by Police and we both got done for disturbing the peace.' I shrug and draw in a painful breath. 'After that they was going to take me home, but I took them to what I thought was home but some random woman answered and I thought it was one of Drew's practical jokes, so there I was insisting it was indeed my home and telling her to fuck herself, as you do, until I suddenly realised I didn't know where the hell I was, and that stupid woman might actually be right. It was only when her hus...' I break off finally noticing the look on my Mum's face and the kill signals my Dad is giving me. Perhaps this is a story best saved for the boys.

  '...So, erm, that is about the point they called you guys, I guess. Sorry Mum.' I apologise and give her my best remember I'm your little boy look.

  'The classic point of this story was when I turned up to collect him and Rod was working. I was so embarrassed. That was before he told me that he had been released and strolled off home, so I then I had to chase after him down the road.' He tells my Mum not even bothering to look in my direction once.

  'You didn't!' She gasps putting her hand to her mouth.

  'I did. Sorry Dad.' I apologise again and drop my head. I stare at the crumbs on my plate, but I can't even remember being handed any toast in the first place.

  'I think we should let you get some sleep.' My Dad says pulling on my Mums sleeve.

  'Your Dad is right.' She agrees slowly standing up and ruffles my hair. She catches my face sending a thousand volts of pain exploding around my head. 'Oh Kev, I am so sorry darling.' She jumps away to stop herself doing any more damage.

  'Nah, it’s okay Mum.' I wave her apologies away.

  'I'll just get you something for that cheek and the cuts before I go up.' She rushes off into the kitchen before I get a chance to tell her, to leave it because I'm about to pass out anyway.

  When she is finally happy with her mothering skills she sits back and just looks at me. 'Are you sure that Lucy is really worth all of this upset?' She asks me raising her eyebrows. 'Just something to think about, I love you, night, night.' With that she heads off upstairs with my Dad to their separate rooms and leave me in peace.

  I concentrate on the perfectly white, smooth ceiling and I can't help but let her parting question float around in my head.

  I crack my knuckles before thinking about what I am doing and grit my teeth in agony. It feels like the skin is about to split right open over my hand. I won't be doing that again anytime soon.

  The pain subsides and I watch the light behind the curtains getting brighter.

  I still can't get my head around what she saw in him. He is an absolute prick. God only knows what she was thinking.

  I almost laugh out aloud when I get a flash of his face when I threw the first punch. He stood there and looked shocked he had actually been hit. God, I wanted to do that since I first heard about what the two of them had been up to.

  Cocky twat. He deserved everything he got and more. It was a shame the Police had to turn up and stop it.

  I am just starting to drift off when I remember that I asked Lucy to come back to mine.

  Shit!

  I can't believe I forgot about that. Oh well, at least Drew was there to let her in. I'll deal with her after a couple of hours crashing here. She is the one that caused this mess in the first place, so she can't be too mad with me when I get the chance to explain.

  A smile lifts the corners of my mouth as I imagine her nursing me back to health for protecting her honour. I roll over before dropping out for the count.

  Chapter 17

  Lucy

  I look at my watch and realise it's nearly seven and a respectable time to go and wake up Drew. My poor frozen body is resisting any sort of movement, and I have a feeling I might be permanently welded to the bench I found to sleep on in the garden. Time apparently flies when you're crying your eyes out in misery.

  Drew opens the door in a pair of low slung jogging bottoms, bare feet and chest, with hair that looks like it is trying to escape his head. I didn't know he could look so yummy, but that is the least of my concerns as I barge past him and run into the downstairs toilet.

  'That friend of yours is a complete bastard. Sorry to wake you but that twat has left me w
aiting for him outside all night and he can't even be bothered to turn up.' I shout my explanation at him.

  'I'll put the kettle on then.' He calls back, a man of few words but exactly spot on with the second thing I need.

  Sitting in the kitchen with a steaming mug of tea and wrapped up in one of his huge jumpers I start to feel vaguely more human again. Sighing heavily, I watch steam puff out of my mouth. He passes me some chocolate digestives and I am in heaven.

  'Why didn't you knock earlier you silly mare?' He asks, rattling around over by the sink.

  'I didn't want to come and wake you up for one, and Kev told me he was on his way.' I shrug at him. He walks over and kneels at my feet to rub my legs warm. Not sure what to do I stare at the top of his head. His hair is still fluffy from sleep and his muscles are moving about under his skin. He actually is fit. I cannot believe I never noticed it before.

  'No,' he argues, 'it wasn't fair that he left you sitting out there on your own all night. Anything could have happened.' I just shrug and take another mouthful of tea. I cannot disagree with him.

  'Right then I'll run you a hot bath and then I can drive you home.' He tells me during a stretch, which is making his jogging bottoms slide down a bit further. Interesting.

  'Don't be silly, you don't have to do that. I'm more than happy with the tea, jumper and sympathy.' I say lifting my mug up with a smile.

  'I know I don't have to, but I want to, so no arguing please.' He jogs out of the room and I hear him thump up the stairs.

  'Right come on, fresh towels are on the radiator and whatever bath stuff I could find is on the shelf.' Drew beckons me upstairs.

  With difficulty, I trudge up to the bathroom, my bones creaking in protest after spending the night frozen stiff outside.

  'Thanks Mum.' I say to him as I shut the door.

  I can hear his footsteps retreating downstairs, leaving without a comment.

  I sigh and wipe the steam from the mirror. Bloody hell I look terrible. It is a good job I don't fancy Drew because anyone would look at me today and run a mile in the opposite direction if I attempted to show even the slightest bit of interest. My reflection pulls a face to say it wouldn't blame them either. I turn away from it, strip off my clothes and ease slowly into a mountain of bubbles and boiling water. This is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I could stay in here forever, well, if it stayed warm and bubbly of course. I feel like I am in a magic bubble.