Almost Official

by Ruby Reade

  'I don't like blondes.' Drew whines at me.

  'I'm not asking, I'm telling.' I say shoving him in her direction. We watch him for a minute making his way over to Laura like a pinball off the tables, thankfully, they are there. I think it is the only thing keeping him up.

  'Jesus.' Luke hides his face in his hands.

  'No wonder he never pulls.' I say watching Laura's horrified face when she is stopped at the jukebox by a very drunken Drew. We watch astounded as he attempts to do a sexy dance for her and fails miserably.

  I can't leave him like this.' Luke says taking one for the team and going over to rescue Laura.

  I catch Lucy's eye, but she looks away again instantly. I walk over. I think it might be best to deal with Kate first and see if I can warm Lucy up that way. Girls love it if you get on with their mates, and at the minute, me and Kate are the opposite of friends. I wave at Kate who is looking now. I watch her mumble something to Lucy and know I am heading into a hostile situation. I wave and try to look as friendly as possible.

  Chapter 19

  Lucy

  'Hey ladies.' Go away. Please go away.

  'Hi Kevin.' Kate drags out a response to be polite. Closing my eyes, I pray when I open them he will have magically vanished. No such luck.

  ‘Alright Kate? What do you think about Luke being back?’ He asks and doesn’t look at me. He didn’t even try to apologise.

  ‘I think he is back.’ She shoots him down and turns back to the bar.

  'Can I talk to you a minute please?' He asks me.

  'Talk?' I am not going to make this easy, no matter which way you look at it, he still left me on my own to go off fighting.

  'Don't look at me like that.' He warns and points at me.

  'Like what?'

  'Do not flash those beautiful eyes at me girl.'

  'Now you are being ridiculous. I didn't flash my eyes.' How do eyes flash anyway?

  'Come on wise arse, let's grab a seat and have that chat, if you don't mind?' He directs the last bit to Kate who shrugs at him and raises her eyebrows at me. I raise mine back at her.

  He pulls me over to the next table, so not exactly whisking me away thankfully. Sitting down in the chair he has pulled out for me I wonder if I can time the minute.

  'Right.' He says sitting down leaning his elbows on the table between us. 'Lucy...'

  'Fifty seconds.' I count down with a smile.

  'Stop being a dick for a second and start listening.' He orders sitting up straight again. 'Obviously I invited you back last night...'

  'Erm I remember.' Dick.

  'But what you don’t know is Matt started on me. We both went at it and then they carted us away. It’s not exactly as if I left you waiting around for me on purpose. You should have woken Drew up anyway.'

  'I am aware of that Kevin.' I say leaning forward and smiling. 'The fact still remains if you hadn't fucked about for so long getting burgers and chatting to anyone who wanted to talk, then none of this would have happened.' I sit back and cross my arms waiting for the excuses.

  'You are right, and I am really sorry.' Comes out of his mouth, knocking me mentally sideways.

  'What?' I ask. There has to be a catch or a but.

  'I said I know, and I apologised to you.' He explains slowly before smiling at me. I nod and start to look up and down the pub.

  'What are you doing now you freak.'

  'Me? I am looking for the real Kevin.' I inform him with raised eyebrows and a grin.

  'Oh stop it Lucy. I am trying to make things right.' He huffs at me.

  'Yes, but, it still has to be said, you didn't contact me and let me know after wards. I had to hear it all from Satan and Drew.' I point over to where Drew is now sliding down a wall whilst Laura is doing her utmost to keep him vertical. She shoots me a 'please save me' look before nearly going down with him.

  'Lucy?'

  'Hmmm?' I tear myself away from watching our struggling friends.

  'Look at me when I am trying to talk to you please.' He asks me. I sigh doing as he asks and leaving Laura to find someone else for help.

  'Kevin, let’s just forget the whole mess. I really need to go and give those two a hand.' I point at the double act in the corner, who although they are attracting a lot of attention is not pulling on anyone's heartstrings. I can hear Drew trying to tell 'how many blonde’s.' jokes and by the look on Laura's face, she is far from amused.

  As I stand up, he puts his hand over mine. 'Please wait a minute.' He asks looking deep into my eyes and I find myself sitting back down again.

  'I want to put all of that shit behind us. Fuck Matt, fuck Amy and fuck everyone else.' He puts it so romantically, 'I want us to be an official couple. That is what I wanted to say to you.' I am pleased I sat back down now. An official couple?

  'Official?' Is all I can ask.

  'That is correct. Boyfriend and girlfriend. A couple that only sleeps with each other.' I have to say this is the last thing I was expecting him to say, and if we were playing a game, he would be winning hands down.

  'When we split, it made me realise just how special you are to me, and I don't want to talk about the past. Amy was just a pick me up after the Matt incident. I was pissed off at you and maybe us having a cooling period was for the best because as I said, it made it clear to me that you are the one I want to be with.'

  'You do?' I am still flabbergasted.

  'I do.' He confirms touching my face and pushing his hand up into my hair. The edge taken off for a second when a flashing image of Drew doing the exact same thing this morning when we kissed.

  'And you are sure Amy is history?'

  'History.' He says leaning in to kiss me, I am already waiting for this moment.

  'Holmes. Toilet. Now.' Kate barks at me over the noise and music. I watch her march off in the direction of the loos with Laura running behind her.

  'Erghm, hold that thought, I'll be back in a second.' I shout already halfway to the toilets.

  'Hi Lucy, bye Lucy.' Luke says waving as I practically sprint past him. I wave not stopping.

  I throw myself through the heavy door and only miss crashing into Laura because she has quick enough reactions to jump up onto a sink.

  'You! You left me with him.' Laura accuses me not looking overjoyed with me.

  'Ah Drew's a sweetie.' I say with a grin.

  'Huh, yeah, if he is sober maybe.' She rolls her eyes and hops back onto the floor.

  'GIRLS!' Kate shouts over us. 'I think I am going to explode. Luke thinks he can walk straight off a plane and back into my life ready to pick up with where we left off. Where we left off. Huh, that sounds like a lovely proposition, him cheating on me left right and centre, right under my nose, and all the while, I am sitting there thinking what a perfect boyfriend I have. I don't think so.'

  'We all know this, the question is, do you want to give him a second chance?' I ask wiggling both eyebrows at her.

  'Oh I don't know.' She wails throwing her arms up and collapsing onto the sink Laura had sat on, resting her head on her arms.

  I look at Laura who shrugs and pats Kate on the back making soothing noises. She jumps out of the way when Kate stands up abruptly.

  'Right girls, I am going back in there and playing hard to get until I make up my mind. He is going to have to work a lot harder than he thought.' She has set her face with a determined smile and without another word, walks back into the pub. I feel slightly sorry for him until I remember just how bad Kate was for about a month after he left. It wasn't just that he left her, but the fact he decided to off load all his guilty little secrets as a parting gift, so while he left light-footed for an adventure, Kate was stuck confused, hurt and very, very angry.

  'Okay, it has been an eventful evening, but dealing with that drunken prat, these heels and the start of a headache, I need my bed.' Laura says putting her bag over her shoulder.

  'Please don't go yet. I promise not to leave you alone with Drew again.' I try to make her stay, but sh
e shakes her head. Mind made up.

  The door swings shut behind her leaving me alone. I look in the mirror and wish I had not bothered. A quick 999 job of my face and I walk back into the pub over to Kevin.

  'All sorted? Kev asks as I reach him.

  'I guess so,' I say glancing back in Kate's direction. She is leaning into Luke with all the flirting she can muster, so maybe she is okay.

  'What do you think then? About us being a couple, I mean.'

  'Hiya Ke-vin.' The barmaid interrupts us, stretching out his name and slipping herself onto the edge of his chair. 'Where have you been hiding yourself these days you naughty boy?' She asks and I roll my eyes when she giggles. Someone has been watching too many chick flicks.

  'You know, just keeping busy with work and that.' He shrugs his shoulders and shifts in his seat keeping his eyes only on me.

  'Can I ask you woman to woman if my tits look too big in this?' She asks me, and pulls her trump card. She actually starts rubbing them under his nose. Why do women always throw themselves at him when he is with me?

  'I hadn't really noticed to be honest.' I answer looking at Kevin who is now sweating under my gaze, as he should be.

  'It just feels like they are just about to fall out.' Of course they feel like that when you are practically doing an Irish jig with them you stupid slut. I smile at her, force a laugh and roll my eyes at her.

  'I don't think they are big enough for that love.' I dig the claws in with another smile.

  'Right that is enough talk of boobs, I am sitting at a table with two ladies and I think we need to change the conversation.' Kevin tries to save the situation from escalating.

  'Oi blondie, you want to stop trying to make an extra buck giving a lap dance and do your job. Two double Vodka’s lime and soda when you are ready.' Kate shouts over with a wink and I want to go over and snog her face off in appreciation. 'He hasn't got any money so you're backing a losing horse.' Kate continues drawing laughter from the rest of the pub. The barmaid has the grace to redden and rush over to serve Kate and shut her up. I look back at Kevin who has joined in laughing at her misfortune.

  'So, have you given up on me then?' Kevin asks, the smile vanishing from his face.

  'It's not that I have given up on you, it is just I think we want different things.' I put my hand on his knee to stop him speaking. 'I want you to want to spend time with me, not dropping me at a moment’s notice to rush off with your mates all the time.'

  'Hey, I do want to spend time with you. That is something so simple to change now I know about it. You only needed to say to me and not take drastic measures.' He says raising an eyebrow referring to Satan obviously.

  His phone vibrates and I discreetly try to catch a glimpse of who had text him because if his screwed up face is anything to go by, it's not pleasant news.

  I watch him lean back and blow out a large breath.

  'Anyone important?' I ask when he finally looks up at me.

  'Just my Mum,' He shakes his head, 'I don't know why they stay together anymore, habit I guess.'

  I don't know what to say to him because everyone in town knows about his Dad's lifestyle. Picking up my bottle I start to shred the label off.

  'That’s supposed to mean sexual tension.' He tells me bring the smile back.

  I put the bottle down and just stare at him. 'Or maybe not.' He shrugs.

  'Do you want to go out for a fag?' I ask standing up and grabbing my bag.

  'Sure thing.' He jumps up after me. I turn and catch him winking at Luke as we walk out of the doors. There is the Kevin I love to hate. I whack him full on the chest to let him know I know.

  'What? I didn't do anything!' He exclaims laughing.

  Lighting our fags in silence, he leans on the wall next to me and I enjoy a moment of not having to say anything.

  'I told the boys I wanted to get back with you tonight. I said to them I could get over your bad temper, demanding and high maintenance ways because you are damn good in bed.' He nudges me and laughs to himself.

  'Ha, ha, haaaa. Very funny.' I chip my fag out and turn to tell him what I think of his little joke, but somehow we end up kissing instead.

  He always was the best at kissing. Everything disappears into fuzz around us, but the door opening behind us vaguely punctures my awareness.

  Kevin slowly pulls away and all I want to do is cling onto him again.

  'I'm really sorry babe, but I think I should go and check up on my Mum.' He apologises and puts a hand onto my cheek. I lean into his palm and nod.

  'Whatever.' Drew mutters out of nowhere, making us both jump and stare at him wondering the fuck he came from.

  'Do you mind mate.' Kevin says frowning at him.

  'No, not at all. Not in the slightest. Don't mind me.' Drew says not attempting to move away.

  Kev sighs loudly and turns back to me. 'I'll come and see you tomorrow though. We can finish sorting this out. Is that fine with you?'

  I nod in agreement, 'Of course, just give me a ring.' He rubs my hand before saluting at Drew and jogging down the stairs.

  'Going to see his Mum on a Saturday night. Yeah right.' Drew says watching him go.

  'Look Drew, about this morning.' I start, trying to tackle the problem head on.

  'Forget this morning, I don't want to talk about it like it was wrong or a problem. I loved every second of it. The only problem here is him. Why are you doing this again?' He throws his arms up in the air. 'You’re smart, funny, beautiful and generally amazing, you could have any man you wanted.' He tells me with all the enthusiasm of a door-to-door canvasser trying to get inside your house and sell you something. 'You are an epiphany.' An epiphany? Isn't that a big void in space? I will have to Google that when I get a chance. He’s drunk so I nod and smile leaving him to get on with it.

  'Hmmmm. I'm going to the bar. Do you want a drink?' I ask.

  'Nice change of subject.'

  'I know.' I agree with a grin and a wink.

  'I can't anyway, I need to get off, but think about what I said to you though.' He orders me.

  'I will.' I say reaching for the door before he blocks it.

  'Seriously, you're worth much more than this.' I look up at him and for a split second, I think he is going to kiss me again. Before I know it, the moment has gone, he pulls back. Nodding at me, he takes a jump down the steps and jogs away.

  Stepping back into the noise, I see Kate and Luke laughing in the corner, looking very much like a new item that they are. Pulling out a fag, I turn around and walk straight back outside to sit on the top step and surprisingly enough do as Drew asked and think.

  I stare at the steps until they blur and almost vanish into nothing. My brain doesn't seem to be working.

  I flick the butt and refocus my vision. Shoving my hands into my pockets, wishing I had the foresight to bring gloves, I head home without saying bye.

  ***

  After my tea and toast routine, I start to discard items of clothing as I head up to my big comfortable bed. Hmmmm bed.

  I stop outside Jenny's bedroom before reaching mine and tap on the door.

  'Jen. Jenny?' I stage whisper. According to Mum, Jen and me both have a knack of whispering louder than we talk, but that is only her opinion and not proven.

  Opening her door, I peer into the darkness and cannot see a bloody thing. 'Jen-nee-ey.' I try calling her again but still no answer.

  I carefully make my way over to her bed dodging stilettos, hangers and the piles of books that usually scatter her floor like land mines waiting to hurt me.

  Bumping into the corner of her bed, I end up half sitting, half laying down on it.

  Grabbing her knee to steady myself, fighting to keep a wave of sickness at bay. Using her knee as leverage, I sit up.

  'Jen? Are you awake? I have tons of gossip.' I try to tempt her out of her sleep.

  'It's me.' A male voice answers and I freeze instantly.

  'Me!' I squeak back.

  'It's Pete, Jenny is aslee
p on the other side.'

  'Pete?'

  'Ye-es.'

  'Right, oh right. Of course.' I was not expecting this scenario when I came in here.

  'You’re holding my knee.' He reminds me.

  'Sorry. Sorry Pete.' How embarrassing. Wait until I tell her tomorrow, she will be hysterical.

  'You're still holding my knee.' He says starting to chuckle.

  'Yes. Yes of course I am. Sorry.' I jump up knocking a glass off the cabinet and stumble backwards in the dark.

  'No worries. Night Lucy.' I hear the duvet rustling and I go to ask Jen if she is up, but Pete interrupts my plan.

  'Lucy you can go to your own bed now.' He politely tells me.

  'Okay.' I hastily make an exit and shut the door.

  Jen's date certainly went well then.

  I flop down face first on my bed and fall asleep before managing to turn off the light or climb underneath my covers.

  Chapter 20

  Lucy

  I wake up in exactly the same position I went to sleep in. Now I have a stiff neck and I’m freezing. I try to slide over to the edge of the bed, but every inch makes my back creak and groan in complaint.

  'Argh.' My mouth is stuck together from lack of fluids and I can only open one eye. Flinging my arm up to my face I try to make my one good eye focus on my watch. Ten past six in the morning is a tragic time to be awake on a day off. I throw myself back into the middle of the bed again with a sudden burst of energy but need to wait for the ceiling to stop moving before I can relax again. I swear I didn't even drink that much, then again, I always think that.

  I reach across to my bedside table and feel about until my hand finds my bag, I yank it over and dig around inside to find my phone.

  'missed u xxxx' Is the first message and I double check that it was definitely Kevin who sent it. My stomach flips over.

  I scroll down to the one before, which I am dreading reading, from Drew.

  'tISChe bout wot A sayed xx'

  I roll my eyes and skip to the next one which is from Jamie.

  'Great talking to you tonight see your sexy self on Monday x'