Stewart tried to smile back and failed dismally.
'By my fourteenth birthday I was making plans to take off. I had to get out of there because … well, because she'd force me, and then I'd be a whore like her. There was a boy at school called Reggie who fancied me and we were going to run away to London and get jobs. It was all bullshit of course, but any dream is better than no dream, right?'
'Right.'
'My mother had her favourite john there when I got home from school that day. Wally. Fat, greasy, smelly Wally.' She grinned at Stewart. 'She's got exquisite taste in men.'
'Sounds like it,' he muttered. 'Real class.'
'My guard was down because I was thinking about Reggie and our daft plans and I forgot to be careful. Mum was in the bathroom and Wally was on the settee watching telly and drinking lager. I was quiet but he must have heard me anyway and next thing I know he's following me down the hall. I ran into my bedroom and tried to shut the door thinking I could push my chest of drawers against it and keep him out but he was too strong and he got in. I couldn't fight him off…'
'Neve …' Stewart began.
'Let me finish.' She held up her hands. 'Please Stewart. I have to say this before I lose my bottle, okay? Then if you decide to walk away, I'll let you go.'
'I wouldn't.'
'Don't make promises you might not be able to keep.'
He shook his head but managed to keep his mouth shut.
'Right there on my bedroom floor with my mother in the shower in the very next room.' Neve watched the rain as she spoke. 'He was fat and heavy and he smelled like food that has gone off, you know … mouldy … dirty. I remember thinking that this was the end. That if he did this thing to me, then I might as well just die.'
Stewart's eyes were full of tears again, but this time they were for her.
'I'd given up hope,' she told him. 'But if there's one thing I learned that day it's that you must never give up hope. I managed to get one hand free, I don't know how, but I did, and I stuck my thumb in the fat pig's eye so hard that I drew blood. It was disgusting. He was disgusting. But boy, did he get off me fast! Then he was sort of crawling around on the floor grabbing at his eye with his belly hanging out and his… his thing hanging out too. And even after that he wasn't giving up and he was trying to grab me again, so I kicked him as hard as I could, right in the balls!'
Her blue eyes gleamed triumphantly. 'And then he threw up.'
Stewart gaped at her.
'That was a damn fine moment, let me tell you,' she said. 'And then my mother comes in. She looks at her poor Wally puking on the rug and then she looks at me in my torn school dress. Do you know what she said?'
'Tell me,' Stewart said dryly.
'She said I was a slut.' Neve laughed. 'She called me a tart. After all those times she tried to force me to go with those men … but Wally was special, apparently. He wasn't just another punter. He was her boyfriend, and I was jealous of her so I was trying to steal him away.' She abruptly stopped laughing and started crying instead. 'He tried to rape me,' she gasped. 'I was her little girl and he tried to rape me but it was me she was screaming at …'
'Neve …'
'Because I was jealous of her? Seriously?' She wiped the tears from her face. 'She told to get out. She told me I was a spiteful bitch. I can't even …'
She stopped talking and looked down at the splintery boards on the veranda deck. Stewart took her hand again.
'So I left,' she finished quietly. 'Just like that, right then and there. What else could I do? I packed my stuff and I walked out the front door. She didn't try to stop me. She didn't say a word. Reggie and I really did go to London then three days later he got scared and ran home again. I kept walking. And here I am.'
Stewart leaned across and pressed his lips against her brow. 'And here you are,' he replied.
'I'm home now,' she told him. 'I felt it as soon as I arrived in town, and I knew it for certain the moment I set foot on Cariad Lili Bay Beach. When I met you it set it in stone. It's like magic and I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me to leave.'
'If you leave, I'll follow.'
'Tell me why.' Her voice was so quiet he could barely hear her.
'Because I love you,' he said simply. 'I love you and I want to take care of you. You've gotten so used to looking after yourself because you had to, but now it's my turn.' His grey eyes held her blue ones. 'Will you let me look after you?' he asked.
'I want to,' she said. 'I'm tired of holding people at arm's length and not letting them get close to me. But I'm scared.'
'I get that, and I understand that you don't trust people, especially guys,' he said. He rested his forehead against hers. 'You have good reason. But Neve, most of us are not like your mother's punters. I'm certainly not like that.'
'I know.'
'I hate what you had to go through to get to this point,' he said. 'It makes me feel sick. I'd hop on a plane to the UK and punch out every other arsehole who ever hurt you if it helped. But it won't help will it?'
She shook her head.
'You can't begin to know how you've fixed me.' He stroked her hair. 'You're absolutely right, it is like magic. I've been feeling guilty and sad about Willa for so long and now I don't anymore. Just like that.' He snapped his fingers. 'And it's all down to you.'
She curled her arms around his neck as he pulled her from her chair into his lap. 'You and I,' he whispered, lips against her ear. 'We're meant to be.'
'Yes.'
'It's time to let the past go. We'll look after each other.'
'Yes,' she said again. She kissed him. 'From here on in, we will.'
Neve being in Seamere was as natural as grass growing. Grant Brannon had recently finished renovating another bedroom and after a family meeting the decision was made to offer it to her.
'I hate to think of her living at that youth hostel forever,' Shay said. 'And besides, it's only fitting that she stay here.'
Her parents didn't have to convince Aisley. She knew Neve belonged there. Lily had told her so, and she was certain Lily was more at peace now that her great, great granddaughter had been found.
Neve was overwhelmed, delighted beyond words that she could live both with Aisley and at Sheldon's Seat. She was insistent that she pay rent for the room but with that settled, she couldn't wait to move in.
Meanwhile, her and Stewart's relationship was an amazing thing to behold, and the speed with which it took off could only be described as intense. She'd had nothing except Sammy. Now she had the world.
She was going to be alright.
A few days after Neve moved in to Sheldon's Seat, third term started.
Stewart often surfed at dawn, regardless what day it was, and Neve got into the habit of meeting him on the beach before he went off to school. It quickly became a ritual they both looked forward to.
On the following Saturday, she met him as usual. He shook his wet hair like a dog, spraying her with water, and she laughed.
'Thanks for that!' She looked at the breaking waves. 'Well, I guess this is it.'
'It's a perfect day for it.' He smiled. 'Not too cold. Are you brave enough?'
'I think so. Aisley loaned me the board-shorts,' she said plucking at the fabric. 'I've seriously got to get some more clothes.' She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 'Alright. I'm ready.'
Stewart put his arms around her. 'Let's do it,' he growled. 'I promise I'll go easy on you.'
She laughed again.
Letting her go, he picked his up his board and they walked into the sea together for her first surfing lesson.
Dying in a Different Way
November
Four months later
The party was at Stewart's house.
He was having it for two reasons. One, because they were long overdue for a huge party, and two, because year eleven was finished … done and dusted.
Archie had discovered ouzo and he'd lost count of how many he'd had. He was staring blearily into the remai
ns of the fire in the barbecue pit. 'Nobody knows,' he muttered. 'It's the greatest unsolved mystery of humankind.'
'What's that then?' Brice Daly leaned his elbows on his knees and stared intently at him.
'Women!'
'I'll drink to that.' Drew King raised his beer-can in a salute and then skulled what was left of it. He burped loudly, crushed the can and tossed it neatly into a nearby washing-basket. The basket was already half full of empties and he had contributed most of them. He was thin and his skin was bad. His lifestyle was catching up with him.
'Playing with my mind,' Archie slurred. He carefully propped his glass near his feet and rubbed his eyes with balled fists. The smoke was making them itch.
'Who is?' Stewart crouched and poked at the embers with a stick, stirring up the fire again. 'Not Cate, surely?' His tone was thick with sarcasm but Archie didn't pick up on it.
'Are you still gone on her?' Drew snorted and ripped the ring top off another can. 'Geez, Arch! Friggin' move on, man!'
Archie threw him a foul look. 'Nothin' to do with you,' he muttered.
Drew shook his head. 'Pitiful, is what it is. You need to toughen up. Live a little, break some hearts. Stop being such a loser.'
Chandra was leaning against a nearby veranda post. 'Settle, Drew,' he said easily. 'I don't think you're the right person to be handing out advice on living well.'
They all knew Drew was an addict-in-training these days, putting his heart and soul into it, a real fiend for the stuff, and when he wasn't stoned he was pissed. He'd told everyone he was done with school, and that he wasn't going back. He had a job lined up, so he said, with Brice's dad's automotive workshop … although nobody had heard Brice so much as mention it. On top of that he was a notorious womanizer at the ripe old age of seventeen and a half.
'Look,' he said stabbing a finger at Chandra. 'Just because you got a keeper doesn't mean the rest of us need to settle down and get a mortgage just yet. All I'm saying is that Archie here hasn't even tasted the local produce. He's wasting his life making cow-eyes at a frigid chick who doesn't even …'
'Shut up!' Archie lurched to his feet and pushed his sleeves up. 'I'm gonna thump you, you prick!'
Stewart stood up and steered Archie away from trouble, over to the veranda steps where he sat him down and then sat with him, holding firmly on to his arm.
Meanwhile, Drew got up as well, fishing his phone out of his pocket. 'I'm blowing this joint,' he said mildly. He scrolled through his numbers and nodded at Stewart. 'No offence, dude. Good party and all but I'm out of here.'
Stewart shrugged.
Brice watched Drew make the call. 'Troy?' he asked and Drew nodded.
'There's a party over at Tynan's,' Drew told him. 'Care to come with?'
'No, man.' Brice waved his hand around Stewart's garden. 'Got one right here.'
'Whatever.' Drew strolled away as his brother answered and Brice pulled a face at Chandra and Stewart.
'Sorry,' he muttered.
'Nothing to be sorry about,' Stewart said. 'Besides, anything Drew does is not down to you.'
Archie, sitting beside him, groaned and dropped his head into his hands. The ouzo was showing its dark side and he didn't look too well.
'Yeah, but I brought him.' Brice looked miserable. 'And it's not just that. He's bound for all sorts of grief and I dunno how to stop it.' He took a mouthful of his beer. 'I've spent so much time this year trying to make him fly straight that I haven't looked after my own interests.'
There was an awkward silence. The others knew he'd broken up with Megan not long ago but it was hard to know what to say. In the end, Archie solved the problem by throwing up noisily and violently between his shoes.
The lounge had been cleared to make space for dancing and the rug had been rolled back. Aisley had kicked off her shoes ages ago to dance in her bare feet and now she was hot.
'I need some air,' she called to Cate over the music pointing at the door.
Cate gave her two thumbs up and Aisley left the house via the swinging fly door. She padded along the veranda and collapsed onto one of the old wicker chairs that were placed just so, to show the amazing view to its best advantage.
She flapped the neckline of her lightweight dress letting the cool night air in and gazed at the few lights burning in Sheldon's Seat on the opposite cliff, trying to guess which rooms they were. Definitely the kitchen. Maybe Wade's bedroom.
Footsteps squeaking across the veranda caught her attention and she turned her head to see Drew approaching.
'G'day, Ais.'
'Hi Drew.' She'd barely spoken to him at all since his breakup with Cate seven months ago. Sometimes in class they worked together, but not if she could help it.
He hovered over her. 'I'm taking off,' he said. 'There's a party at Tynan Well's place.'
'Okay, have fun then.'
'I was thinking you could come with me. I mean, if you wanted to, you know … just for the fun of it.'
'I don't think so. Thanks anyway.'
He leaned down over her chair, getting into her personal space and breathing beer breath at her. 'You know I've always had it bad for you, right?'
She tented her fingers against his chest and gently but firmly shoved him away. 'You have it bad for everything female, Drew.'
When she pushed him he staggered and caught hold of the veranda rail to steady himself laughing a little. 'What's not to like?'
'Drew. Stop. Go to your other party.'
'Waiting for my ride.'
'Ah.'
He flopped into the chair next to her, sliding down until his head was resting on the back. He laced his hands across his belly. 'Nice night,' he said conversationally.
'Mm hm.' Aisley wondered how long she should wait before she could politely mumble an excuse and go back inside. She took a covert peek at him. He was stargazing.
'See,' he said. 'You say I have it bad for everything female but that's not exactly true. I appreciate everything female but I've only ever had it bad for you.'
'Cate was …'
'Nope.' He shook his head. 'Never. I only dated her to get you jealous. That was a major fail, wasn't it?'
'I don't believe you.' Aisley watched the dark ocean. 'You were into Cate. I could tell.'
'Believe what you want.'
She stood up, smoothing the short skirt on her summer dress. 'I will,' she said. 'Bye Drew.'
He grabbed her wrist as she walked past. 'You're different to other girls, Ais.' He reeled her in snaking an arm around her waist in an attempt to pull her down onto his lap. 'You don't pretend to be something else. Do you know how rare that is these days?'
'Thank you.' She stood her ground. 'That's a nice thing to say, but it doesn't change anything between you and me.'
'Just give me a chance, huh? I'm not that bad a guy. We always got along well last year.'
'Please let me go Drew.'
'What? You planning to spend the rest of your life with Chandra Sarin? You guys gonna get married and have kids?' He snorted. 'You're making a mistake and one day you'll look back and regret not taking this opportunity, I assure you.'
Aisley wormed out of his grip and put a little space between them. 'No, I won't,' she said. 'And what Chandra and I do is none of your business. I think it's you that's making the mistake by leaving this party tonight and going to Tynan's. You've got to ditch those guys, Drew. These boys here … Brice and Stewart. Chandra. Even Archie. They're your true friends when it comes down to it. They'll never judge you.'
Light flooded the garden from headlights as a car turned into the drive and tooted. Drew stood up, narrowing his eyes against the glare. He waved to show his presence and then looked at Aisley. In the white light, his face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot. He didn't look great.
'You sure you won't come?' he asked again.
'You know I won't. Why are you even asking?'
'Because …' He looked agitated, chewing his lip as he looked into the headlights again. 'It doesn't m
atter. Too late now anyway.'
Aisley tried again. This time she went as far as to take his hand. It was clammy but she squeezed it anyway. 'It's never too late,' she said. 'Just tell them you've changed your mind. Tell them you've decided to stay after all, and that … I dunno Brice needs you or something.'
'I'd better not.'
'Why not?'
He hesitated before answering and then sighed heavily. 'Because I'd never live it down, that's why.' She saw his Adam's Apple bob as he swallowed and the car tooted again.
She flapped a hand at the car. 'Why do you care what they think? You just finished telling me how great it is that I don't pretend to be something I'm not. You need to take your own advice, Drew …these guys here, and me … you never have to fake it with us. Never! That's got to be worth something.'
Like a stage curtain, his façade abruptly dropped and for the first time in ages, he was just a teenage boy as he gazed wistfully at her. 'Ais, I …'
'Please don't go.'
Somebody leaned out of the car and hurled expletives at them and Drew jumped like he'd been prodded with a Taser.
'I've gotta go,' he mumbled clutching her hand so tight that it hurt. 'Don't worry. I'm just being a drama queen. I'll be alright once I have a toke, a few more drinks. Tynan's parties are always the best.' He didn't sound very convincing.
'Drew …'
'I meant what I said.' He blinked rapidly at her and Aisley realised he was close to tears. 'It was never about Cate. It was always about you but I totally get that you're never gonna leave him for me so it's cool.' He was babbling. 'And why would you? I mean, seriously! I'm a mess!'
'You do not have to go. I'll tell them.' She made to move towards the car but he stopped her.
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