Sugar Secrets…& Confessions

by Mel Sparke

  Although Matt sounded a bit vague, what the others didn’t know was that he was pinning his highest hopes yet on Deke.

  “I asked Mum and Dad about going to Dansby the other evening,” Maya told Alex as they headed towards Matt’s kitchen.

  “Uh-huh, so how was it?”

  Alex helped himself to a beer from the fridge, flipped the top off using Mr Ryan’s state-of-the-art bottle-opener, and came back to where Maya was standing in the doorway.

  “Pretty dreadful really,” she said, trying to smile but not feeling much like it. “I thought they’d be in a relaxed frame of mind, what with them talking about a holiday, but they gave me such a hard time. I know I wasn’t expecting them to let me go, but all the same, I didn’t think they’d get on their high horses quite so much.”

  “They weren’t keen on letting you out on your own for the weekend then?”

  “No and the thing that really got to me was that only seconds before, they’d agreed to let Sunny stay at her mate’s house for the whole of this weekend. It’s so unfair, letting her do what she wants, but not me. I can’t believe it. And then they started grilling me about whether you were going. It was as if they were willing me to say yes so that their sordid minds could start working overtime.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “That I didn’t know. Which is true. I mean, we haven’t really talked about it, have we?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “So?”

  “So… you’re asking me if I’m going?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well, I guess the honest answer to that is no.”

  “Oh.”

  Alex moved a little closer and wrapped his arms around Maya, kissing her lightly on the top of the head.

  “Trouble is,” he carried on, swaying them both gently to the beat of the music coming from the den downstairs, “at the risk of sounding like an old fart, I gave up all that being stuck in a muddy field with thousands of other mud-caked souls years ago. I don’t think I can be bothered with it any more. Do you know where I’m coming from?”

  “Um… circa 1970?” Maya suggested playfully, realising that he was sending himself up but still hugely disappointed.

  Alex guffawed. “Hmmm, I suppose that’s the kind of answer I deserve,” he replied, scratching his chin. “It’s true though. Sometimes I wonder what a happening young thing like you sees in an old crusty like me…”

  “If you’re fishing for compliments, you can forget it,” laughed Maya.

  “Oh.” Alex pulled a face.

  “I’m disappointed you’re not going, but I can’t say I’m surprised,” continued Maya. “For someone of your age, lying on the floor in a damp old tent would play havoc with your back. No, you’re better off staying at home with your pipe and slippers by a nice warm fire. Leave it to us youngsters to show the world what it’s really like to live. You can watch it on the news and tut about the youth of today while you’re tucking into your home-help tea and waiting for your bed-bath.”

  “Ouch! So does that mean you’re still planning on going then?”

  “Put it this way. I’ve got a week to use my powers of persuasion on Mum and Dad to get them to agree to let me go - on my terms.”

  “Well, if anyone can pull it off, you can.”

  Maya’s face took on a determined look. “Don’t you worry, Alex. I’m going to give it my very best shot.”

  CHAPTER 8

  UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

  “Phew, I’m so hot!” Kerry wafted the front of her long-sleeved T-shirt back and forth in an attempt to cool herself down. Matt’s party was packed now and she was beginning to feel the worse for it.

  “I know you are,” answered Ollie, giving her an over-the-top, salacious look and wiggling his eyebrows up and down. “You don’t have to tell me.”

  “Stop it, Ol, I’m blushing,” Kerry squeaked, but didn’t resist when he put his arms around her waist and eased her body towards his.

  “Want me to make you even hotter?” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her tightly.

  “Not unless you want me to faint,” Kerry whispered back.

  “At the sight of my God-like features, you mean?”

  Kerry giggled. “Traid not. More from the fact that it’s about 30 degrees in here. Sorry to burst your bubble and all that.”

  “Oh.” Ollie’s face took on a mock downcast look and he pretended to cry on to Kerry’s shoulder. Normally, she would enjoy this kind of endearing behaviour from Ollie; tonight, however, the weight of his head plus the fact that he still had his arms around her was beginning to make her feel decidedly light-headed and woozy.

  “Actually, Ol, before you get too cosy, I’m going to have to go to the loo,” she said, not wanting to make a fuss, but keen to get away from the heat of his body for a few minutes.

  Ollie stepped back and studied her.

  “you are a bit pink in the face. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Honestly, don’t worry,” she soothed. “I just need the loo.”

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll wait here for you.”

  Kerry headed off in the direction of the cloakroom in the hall. As much as anything she wanted a bit of space, away from the throbbing bodies all around her. The toilet sounded like a perfect haven. Plus she really was busting for the loo.

  Unfortunately, the downstairs toilet was occupied and there was a queue of about four people waiting. Kerry walked straight past and headed for the one upstairs. Flicking the light switch on in the large bathroom, she walked in and closed the door behind her.

  Heaven. The window was open so it was lovely and cool in there. Peaceful, too, compared to the throbbing noise and smoky atmosphere downstairs. Kerry went to the loo then filled the sink with cold water and splashed her face, drinking in a few cupped handfuls of water, grateful to be away from the hubbub for a few minutes.

  She sat down on the plushly carpeted floor and began fanning herself with a towel. It felt fabulous - she was so relaxed she could have stayed there all night. Kerry closed her eyes and listened to the distant bass coming from beneath her.

  Knock! Knock!

  Kerry jerked her head up and sat bolt upright.

  “Kez, is that you in there?” she heard Ollie hiss.

  “It’s unlocked,” she hissed back, realising that she’d forgotten to put the catch on the door.

  Ollie poked his head around the door and rushed inside, his eyes apprehensive at the sight of her.

  “Are you OK? Did you faint?” he asked, seeing her sitting on the floor, her legs sprawled out in front of her.

  Kerry began to laugh gently to herself. “No, silly,” she said. “I sat here because it was nice and breezy under the window and I wanted to cool down. Come and sit next to me.”

  Ollie locked the door behind him and did as he was told.

  “I got worried when you didn’t come back,” he explained. “Then I saw that queue and realised you might have come up here. You looked like you were about to pass out downstairs…”

  Kerry turned and took his hand in hers.

  “Aw, you’re so sweet,” she smiled. “It’s much nicer up here though, isn’t it? Away from the throng.”

  “Uh-huh.” Ollie leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. “You know how much I love you, don’t you, Kez?” he said suddenly.

  Kerry smiled and squeezed his hand. “Yes, but you can tell me again if you like…”

  “Well…” He thought for a moment. “I love you more than Posh Spice loves Beckham… uuh… more than Robbie Williams loves himself…”

  “Oh, wow, Ol, that much?” Kerry mocked, snuggling into his chest. She felt so relaxed and happy that it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to begin kissing him, pulling him gently towards her as she did so. She could feel the softness of his lips on hers, the weight of his upper body pressed against her. He was wearing her favourite after s
have, the smell of which seemed to come alive as the heat of her body increased, so close as it was to his now.

  She moved one hand down his back and felt for the bottom of his shirt. She slipped her hand underneath and began to move it up his bare back, gently massaging his warm skin with the tips of her fingers. Kerry shivered as she felt his hand slide up her bent leg, stopping to skim the top of her knee, then sliding along the outside of her thigh to the top of her leg, where it stroked her warm skin gently, sensually.

  Kerry closed her eyes as she felt Ollie’s lips planting butterfly kisses of the lightest touch on her cheeks, eyes, nose, forehead. They were lying side by side now, their legs and arms entwined. Kerry could feel his heart beating fast against hers, could hear his breathing which was in tune with her own.

  Closing her eyes once more, she sank happily into a moment she wanted to last forever.

  “She’s nice-looking.”

  Billy Sanderson, The Loud’s guitarist, pointed his lager can in the direction of a slightly-built girl with dark hair. She was wearing a black leather jacket over a short, dark-red dress and was standing with a group of friends a few metres away from him. She looked vaguely familiar to Billy, but he couldn’t place her.

  “Hmmm, not my type, I’m afraid,” Andy sniffed dismissively as he surveyed Matt’s den for someone interesting to focus on. “Now that’s more like it,” he said, motioning to a tall, skinny guy with blond curly hair and a hard, chiselled face. “Sex on a stick, that one.”

  He chuckled merrily into his can and took a glug of beer.

  “Have you never fancied girls?” asked Billy. “Not even the tiniest bit?”

  Andy shook his head. “Nope.”

  “So I guess there’s no chance of us falling for the same girl tonight then,” Billy observed, smiling at his friend.

  “Not unless you go for deep voices and a few days’ stubble,” answered Andy.

  “I’ve been out with a few girls like that,” Billy said, deadpan. “…Only once though.”

  Both boys cracked up at the thought.

  “Actually,” Billy carried on, “joking aside, I could do with a bit of love interest - it’s been ages since I snogged a girl. I’m beginning to forget how to do it.”

  “Do what, exactly?” Andy asked mischievously.

  “Snog, you idiot,” laughed Billy.

  “Oh that. Well, speaking as an observer only, even I can see that there are some pretty fit girls here tonight. If I was that way inclined, I’d be well stuck in.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. But there’s so many to choose from, I don’t know where to start.”

  “How about that one over there?” Andy pointed to the girl in the red dress whom Billy had been admiring earlier. “I saw her giving you the eye a minute ago.”

  Billy turned to see that the girl was staring at him with intense dark eyes. Seeing that he was now watching her, she gave him a big smile and waved.

  “Omigod, will you look at that?”

  Anna’s hands flew to her face, in a mixture of surprise and mock horror. She peeped through the gaps in her fingers, shook her head from side to side and then began to laugh uncontrollably.

  “What? What is it?” demanded Matt, grabbing her wrists and pulling her hands apart so he could see her face.

  “Over there,” Anna whispered. “In the hammock.”

  Matt peered out from the conservatory into the garden and saw the shadowy figures of two people illuminated by the night lights slung around the apple trees supporting his hammock. Sitting in the middle of it, swaying gently, and very much entwined, were Cat and Deke.

  “After what you told me he’d said about her, I’d have thought they would be the two people least likely to get off with each other,” Anna managed between giggles.

  “Well, he didn’t seem too interested at the time, but I guess that was before he met her.”

  “And if Cat had the hots for him, she’d soon let him know. And she’d give him no chance to get away, whether he liked her or not.”

  “Mind you.” chuckled Matt as they watched Cat and Deke disappear into the folds of the hammock, “from where I’m standing it looks to me like he’s not putting up much resistance.”

  Maya and Alex walked from the poplar trees at the end of Matt’s garden back towards the brightly-lit house in front of them. Having wandered up there to enjoy a quiet moment to themselves, they ended up sharing a passionate kiss that had almost knocked Maya off her feet.

  It was a lovely warm night and the smell of various scented flowers wafted in the air as they brushed past them. As they got nearer the house, nature gave way to human life; Maya could make out the shadowy figures of people inside the house and hear the dull buzz of voices talking, interjected with the odd shriek here and there as someone got enthusiastic about something or nothing.

  They began to pick their way among bodies squatting, sitting or completely sprawled on the grass. As they walked towards the patio doors Maya spotted a group of people huddled together whom she vaguely recognised but couldn’t quite place.

  They looked incredibly glam, much more so than the people who usually went to Matt’s parties. Apart from Cat, Maya thought, who always looks like she’s off to the Brits. This little cluster of girls was equally tarted up in high heels, teeny tiny dresses, loads of jewellery and perfectly teased hairdos. They could easily be off for a night out at the most glamorous party in town, rather than an evening spent in Matt’s back garden.

  As she got closer, Maya squinted to try and make out who they were in the oddly-lit gloom. She was sure she recognised their faces… but where from?

  Then it clicked. One of them was Lucy, Sunny’s friend. Hang on, Maya thought, Sunny’s supposed to be spending the night at Lucy’s house. So if she’s here…

  Maya took a few strides closer, then stopped dead. The girl who had her back to Maya suddenly turned and leaned to talk into Lucy’s ear.

  Maya gasped as she realised with a jolt who it was.

  Sunny.

  CHAPTER 9

  LIES, LIES. LIES

  Maya felt anger course through her body. She was livid. Can’t I go anywhere without Sunny butting in? Can’t I even go to my mate’s party without her getting in on the act? Is there no end to it?

  She watched Sunny and her oh so glamorous bunch of mates standing in the garden shivering in their skimpy clothes. They all looked a little nervous, despite the bravado, as if they didn’t quite know what to do with themselves. Who invited them? Maya thought. They don’t know Matt… he’s not a friend of any of theirs.

  With Alex a few paces behind her, she strode up to her sister and tapped her on the shoulder. “Sunny, I want to talk to you,” she said, grabbing her sister’s arm and pulling her away from her friends.

  “Sure,” Sunny replied, smiling a falsely sweet smile.

  Even up close, Maya hardly recognised her sister. She looked so sophisticated with her well made-up face and her hair piled on top of her head. She’d obviously gone to a lot of trouble, colouring her hair so that it took on a reddish-brown sheen when she moved, and pulling out a couple of long, straight pieces which were dyed red and framed her face. She looked like a starlet ready to go on Top of the Pops. She also looked a good five years older than she really was.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Maya demanded.

  Sunny gave her a look of disdain and replied, “What does it look like I’m doing - getting my legs waxed?”

  “Who invited you?” snapped Maya.

  “Matt did, actually,” Sunny replied haughtily.

  “You’re kidding!” snarled Maya, her voice thick with disbelief. “Why on earth would he want to invite a bunch of girlies like you? I bet you’ve been nosing around my room or listening to my phone conversations. How else would you know about this party, you little snoop?”

  She felt Alex’s arm on hers and could sense that he had stepped in to get her to calm down. But it was difficult when Maya was so angry.

&n
bsp; “Do Mum and Dad know you’re here?” she demanded.

  “Course they do.”

  Maya felt the animosity well up inside her even more. Common sense told her that her sister was lying - there was no way her parents would allow Sunny to go to a party like this. But a small part of her was desperate to believe that was the case. It would added up, after all.

  Maya knew Sunny was allowed much more freedom than she ever had, that was for sure. Just look at what had happened the other night when Maya was refused permission by her parents to camp over at the music festival, while Sunny was allowed to stay at her friend’s for the weekend…

  Aha! Maya suddenly realised, amazed that it hadn’t dawned on her earlier. Of course, that’s how Sunny has been able to get here.

  “You liar. Sunny,” Maya hissed. “Mum and Dad think you’re at Lucy’s for the weekend. That’s the only reason you’ve managed to sneak here tonight. I expect you were lying to them about going to a museum as well, just like you lie about everything else.”

  “No, that was the truth,” came Sunny’s uppity retort. “We did go to a museum - God, it was so boring.”

  “So you say Matt invited you here?” Maya asked again.

  “Yeah, more or less.”

  “OK, well you won’t mind if I go and ask him about it then, will you?”

  Sunny shrugged, turned away and sauntered back towards her friends.

  “I could cheerfully throttle her,” Maya spat to Alex as she steamrollered into the house in search of Matt. “She’s driving me nuts. Every time I look behind me she’s there, in my face, sticking her nose into my life, watching my every move. I feel like I’m being stalked. Now, where the heck is Matt?”

  “Hey, come on, Maya, be reasonable. You don’t actually believe he invited her, do you?” reasoned Alex.

  “No. Yes. Oh, I don’t know,” Maya wailed. “I guess I know he wouldn’t - I mean, he knows how I feel about her, everyone does. But… well, I just want to hear him say it, just to prove what a stinking liar she is. Ah…”

  Maya broke off. She could make out the bright orange of Matt’s shirt as he stood over by his enormous collection of CDs, sorting through them for something to play.