Sugar Secrets…& Confessions

by Mel Sparke

  “Oh, hi, Owen, how are you?” said Sonja’s older sister cheerfully.

  She hasn’t told her family then. “I’m fine,” he replied. “And you?”

  “Couldn’t be better. Uh, Sonja’s not here.”

  Damn. “Oh, right. You don’t know where she is, do you? Only I wanted to speak with her before I leave town tomorrow.”

  “No, I don’t. I haven’t seen her all day. Can I give her a message?”

  “Urn, could you say I rang and I’ve got my mobile switched on if she could call me.”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks, Karin.”

  “Bye, see you soon.”

  I hope so, Owen thought as he pressed End and headed back to the flat.

  Joe walked along the high street towards Burger King, where he had arranged to meet Meg after band rehearsal. She had wanted to come to The Swan, to hear him and The Loud play, but Joe had said no. He knew they’d be rehearsing Moving On and he didn’t want her to hear it until Dansby.

  He knew that once Meg told everyone the song was for her, they’d want to know if he’d written more of the band’s material. Joe would say yes. And be proud. The days when he’d have died of embarrassment rather than let on he wrote songs seemed so very far away. Now, he decided, he’d be pleased that other people - his friends - knew.

  As Joe walked towards Burger King, his eyes focused on the dark-haired girl standing at the corner of the street. He knew it was Meg - he could tell even from a distance. As he got closer she turned to look up the road and saw him, then hurried towards him, a broad smile on her face.

  You’re so gorgeous, thought Joe, his feet suddenly off the ground, his body feeling as if it was floating a metre or so above the pavement. I can’t believe you’re mine.

  They were standing facing each other now, both smiling, neither speaking. Then, in unison, they leaned forward and kissed each other on the lips. It was electric. Joe could feel the tiny sensitive hairs all over his body tingling.

  “So, did you have a good holiday?” he said when they finally broke away.

  “Mmm, it was OK,” Meg replied. Then giggled. “Actually, I spent most of my time thinking about you.”

  “Sounds scintillating,” said Joe, a self-deprecating grin spread all over his face.

  “Believe me, it was.” Meg smiled naughtily, then took his arm in hers and steered him along the street once more. “So tell me, what’s been going on with you while I’ve been away.”

  Joe went into enthusiastic detail about the upcoming music festival, about how all the band were dead excited and preparing madly for their big moment.

  “And it’s so great that you’re coming,” he finished, “because I’ve got something I want you to hear on the day.”

  “Really, what?”

  “It’s a new song I’ve written, which we’ll be playing. It’ll be the third one of the set and it’s called Moving On…”

  “Great, I’ll listen out for it,” Meg said.

  “And,” Joe carried on, a little more nervous now, “I wrote it with you in mind. It’s about meeting you, how you’ve changed me, helped me to move on with my life. I guess it’s sort of a… um, love song…” He trailed off, blushing.

  Meg stopped, gave a little squeak and threw her arms around his neck. “Really? Oh, Joe, that’s fantastic. No one’s ever written a song for me before. I’m so excited, I can’t wait.”

  “Well, you’ll have to,” replied Joe, giving her waist a squeeze as they stood and hugged. “Because it’s being kept strictly under wraps until Saturday. For one thing, Ollie hasn’t learned all the words yet.”

  “Aw, Joe, can’t you give me a bit of a taster, just a few lines?” pleaded Meg.

  Joe was adamant. “No, I want it to be a surprise and for you to hear it at its best. I want you to remember it forever.”

  “Oh, I will, I’m sure. You’re so sweet, Joe! This has got to be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” She took his hand and they continued walking blissfully down the road.

  CHAPTER 17

  MAKING PLANS

  “Hey, Kez, where’s Sonja? I haven’t seen her for ages.”

  Matt lifted his head from the grass he was sprawled on and squinted up into the sunlight, searching for Kerry. She was sitting on a park bench alongside Maya and Cat, eating a Magnum and soaking up the late afternoon sunshine.

  Kerry bit off a chunk of dark chocolate from her ice cream and let it melt in her mouth before she answered. It gave her time to prepare her rehearsed line.

  “Well, you know that headache she had on the night of your party? It’s turned into flu. She’s really sick with it.”

  Kerry hated lying but she knew she had to. No one else must know Sonja’s dilemma right now, not even Ollie. Sonja had sworn her to secrecy.

  “Poor Son,” Matt sympathised. “She must be really hacked off that it’s happened at the start of the summer hols. Maybe I ought to go and see how she is. What d’you think, Kerry?”

  “I’ve already put Ollie off doing that. I think she’s best left alone for a few days until she’s feeling better,” Kerry advised. “Anyway, you don’t want to catch it before your big weekend, do you?”

  Kerry had strict instructions not to let anyone near Sonja’s house. Her family had bought the flu line - anyone would, she looked so pale and miserable - and Son was pretty much holed up in her bedroom fretting about what to do with her life and feeling acutely anti-social.

  “That’s true,” Matt observed. “Although a bit of throatiness might help Ollie’s vocals. So do you think she’ll be able to make it for the festival? She’ll be gutted if she misses out.”

  Kerry shrugged. She had no idea whether or not Sonja was going to Dansby. It was no doubt way down on her list of priorities at the moment.

  “I’ll give her a ring, see what her plans are,” she replied. Keen to get off the subject of Sonja in case she slipped up, Kerry carried on, “So, do we know who’s coming and who isn’t yet?”

  Matt sat up and began counting on his fingers. “Well, there’s me, Ol, Joe, Billy and Andy. We’re definites…”

  “Obviously,” Ollie cut in.

  “Then there’s, uh… actually, I think that’s it for the boys. Hang on, though, what about Nick?”

  “Oh, yeah, he’s coming for our set,” said Ollie. “He’s even borrowed a transit from a mate to hump all our gear in. But he can’t stay because he’s got no one to cover for him at the café on Sunday.”

  “And what about Alex?” Kerry asked, looking at Maya. “And, more importantly, you, Maya? Are you coming?”

  Maya smiled. “Yes and no,” she said cryptically. “I’m coming, but Alex has decided not to.”

  “Wow, Maya, that’s brilliant,” Cat squeaked. Seeing the puzzled look on her friend’s face she quickly added, “What I mean is, it’s a shame about Alex, but fab about you.”

  “Yeah, great, Maya,” Kerry added. “How come your parents changed their minds?”

  “They didn’t, but I’m going, OK?” said Maya, her chin stuck out in a gesture of defiance. “I’m sick of being treated like a baby while my kid sister gets to do anything she wants. So I’m going to have one last talk with them to get them to see it my way. Then, even if they don’t, I’m going.”

  “Ooh, you’re brave,” Kerry said. “I don’t think I’d have the guts to do that.”

  “Yes, but your parents aren’t being completely unreasonable, nor are they suffering from a bad case of double standards, are they?” explained Maya. “So the bottom line is that I’m coming with you, with or without the senior Joshis’ blessing.”

  “Great.” Matt said. “Now, how about the rest of you girls?”

  “Well, I’ve got the day off work at the chemist, and Mum and Dad are OK ‘cause they know Ollie’ll be there,” said Kerry.

  “And me and Vikki are definites,” Cat added, “though if conditions are too grim I might bail out early.”

  “Wimp!” cried Matt.

&nbs
p; “Well, I don’t know what it’s going to be like, I’ve never been to one of these things before. But if it’s a mud-soaked, flea-bitten hell hole there’s no way I’m staying.” Cat tapped her open-toed sandal petulantly on the tarmac path in front of her and continued filing her already perfect talons.

  “Aw, poor liddle girl doesn’t want to get dirty, does she?” teased Matt.

  “No, I don’t,” Cat snapped. “And if it’s like you say, with cold showers and no privacy, then you can just forget it. I don’t share my soap suds with anyone, I’ll have you know.”

  “Actually, Cat,” Matt said, “in all seriousness, if you do hate it, you can grab a lift back to the train station with me in the afternoon. I’ll be picking Anna up after her shift at the End. Though I bet you’ll be having such a great time, you won’t want to. If the weather’s anything like this, you can always sunbathe in the field somewhere. Just make sure you don’t sit in a cow pat.”

  “Cheers.”

  “So those are the definite overnighters then?” said Matt, doing a quick calculation on his fingers. “Five boys and five girls, plus Sonja if she’s better.”

  “Don’t forget Meg,” Joe piped up, colouring slightly. “She’s definitely coming. I’m picking her up on the way through.”

  “Right,” Cat said and began counting on her fingers. “That makes six girls, seven if you count Sonja. How’s the tent situation coming along, lads?”

  Matt and Ollie looked at each other, read each others thoughts and burst out laughing.

  “Uh… haven’t got round to digging ours out of the garage yet,” admitted Matt.

  “Um, me neither,” Ollie confessed.

  “But you’re sure you’ve got tents? I mean, we’re not going to end up sleeping under a tree, are we?” Maya quizzed.

  “Nah, don’t worry,” said Matt. “It’ll be cool. I know exactly where ours is, I saw it the other day when I was rooting in the garage for something else.”

  “OK. And yours, Ollie?” Maya said, turning to a grinning Ollie on the grass in front of her.

  “Uh… pass,” he said. “I know it’s knocking about somewhere but I’ll have to ask my old man where.”

  “We’ll do it tonight, eh, Ol?” urged Kerry. “As soon as we get back.”

  “Sure.”

  “So what about the sleeping arrangements then?” Cat piped up. “I mean, no offence here, but the thought of sharing a tent with Matt’s sweaty feet stuck in my face all night doesn’t appeal somehow.”

  “I have to agree,” replied Matt, his eyes twinkling. “Though in my case it’s the prospect of listening to you snoring all night.”

  Cat was indignant. “I do not snore!”

  “How do you know,” Matt asked, “if you’re asleep?”

  “I just know, OK.”

  “What, one of your conquests has told you, has he?” Matt continued, enjoying watching Cat squirm. He put on an affected voice. “No, darling, you don’t snore. Or pass wind in the night. You’re simply perfect, my love…”

  Cat shot Kerry a conspiratorial look and they both sniggered. Once again someone was making way off the mark assumptions about Cat’s love-life.

  “Look,” Cat insisted, “the reason I know I don’t snore is because I’ve taped myself asleep, all right?”

  The others turned to look at her to see if she was joking. She wasn’t.

  “What?” giggled Maya.

  “Well, why not?” Cat frowned. “I wanted to know, so I put a cassette on our old portable and taped myself one night. And you know what? I never made a sound.”

  “She probably forgot to press Record,” chuckled Matt.

  Cat shot him a killer glance and prepared for her next dig.

  “Anyway, Matt, I don’t particularly want to share a tent with you and Anna, either,” she sneered. “The thought of you two being all loved up together makes my stomach turn.”

  “Ooh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Maya joined in, her nose wrinkling. “What with Matt and Anna, and Kerry and Ollie, and Joe and Meg, I think maybe we should have one tent for the lovebirds and one for those of us who want a decent night’s sleep.”

  “Wouldn’t it be simpler if we put the girls in one and the boys in the other?” suggested Joe, anxious not to get into a compromising situation with Meg so soon in their relationship. “That way,” he added, “there’ll be no potentially embarrassing moments.”

  “Boring!” cried Matt. “That doesn’t sound like any fun at all.”

  “But practical,” Kerry added. “I agree with Joe - that’s by far the best idea. What d’you say, Maya?”

  “Yep, I go along with that.”

  “That’s settled then,” said Cat. “And if pervy old Matt doesn’t like it, he’ll have to go and get his kicks elsewhere!”

  CHAPTER 18

  TIME TO TALK

  Owen checked out of his hotel in the city and headed for the railway station and a train that would take him back to Winstead. As he walked along the road he took his mobile out of his jacket pocket and checked it for the hundredth time since he’d arrived. No messages. It was Wednesday and Sonja still hadn’t returned his call from Sunday. Owen wasn’t exactly surprised.

  When he stepped off the train at Winstead Station forty minutes later, he scurried furtively out of the exit and hurried towards Sonjas house. He didn’t want anyone to see him, especially Anna. By rights he should now be on a train home to Newcastle.

  But Owen couldn’t go home, not without seeing Sonja first. As expected, his course had been so intensive there hadn’t been a chance to ring from the hotel - at least, not at a sociable hour. And anyway, he’d avoided that. There were some things you just couldn’t sort out over the phone, he’d decided. So here he was, on a little detour; one which he hoped would go some way to making amends.

  It was teatime when he arrived at the Harveys’. When he got to the door he stopped for a second and took a deep breath. Then, his heart in his mouth and his hands damp with sweat, he pressed the bell and waited. Moments later the door opened and Sonja’s dad stood in front of him.

  “Hello, Owen,” he said cheerily. “What a surprise. Come in.”

  Owen stepped into the house and stood edgily in the hallway.

  “Sonja didn’t say you were coming…”

  “No, it’s kind of a surprise.”

  “Oh. Well, you’re lucky,” he carried on. “She’s had a dose of awful flu that seems to be going round. Fortunately, I think she’s on the mend now. Mind you, I’m guessing. We’ve hardly seen her - she’s been holed up in that bedroom like a hermit. Sonja!. Someone to see you…”

  He gave Owen a wink. “I’ll let you surprise her.”

  “Thanks, Mr Harvey.”

  Owen stood, his gaze transfixed on the stairs, listening to Sonja’s bedroom door open, staring as first her feet then her legs and finally the rest of her trudged down the stairs towards him in her dressing gown and slippers. She didn’t look up until she was near the bottom, but when she saw him, her vacant expression turned to a cold stare.

  “What are you doing here?” she hissed, her voice lowered so the rest of the family wouldn’t hear.

  “Sonja, I had to see you,” Owen said in a low voice back. “I couldn’t go home without sorting this out.”

  She shot a look around the hall and to the doors leading off it.

  “Not here!’ she instructed. “Hang on… Dad! Owen and I are just going up to my room, OK?”

  “OK, love!”

  On hearing his name mentioned, Mrs Harvey strolled out of the kitchen. “Owen! I didn’t know you were coming. You didn’t tell us, Sonja,” she said, looking quizzically at her daughter.

  “I didn’t know. Mum.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, will you be staying for something to eat?” Sonja’s mum asked innocently.

  Sonja cringed. For God’s sake say no, she thought, dreading the idea of them sitting around the kitchen table playing happy families.

  “Uh, no thanks, Mrs Harvey.
I’ve got to get back to Newcastle tonight. Another time perhaps?”

  Not on your life, thought Sonja bitterly.

  “Of course. Perhaps next time you’re down,” said Mrs Harvey, heading back to the kitchen.

  They made their way upstairs to Sonja’s room. She closed the door behind them then sat on the edge of her bed, her arms folded defensively across her chest. Owen stood nervously in front of her.

  “So what do you want?” she demanded unsmilingly,

  Owen took a deep breath. “To say I’m sorry,” he said simply.

  “For what? For speaking your mind? For telling me what you think and letting me know what you’re really like?”

  Owen opened his mouth to answer but was cut short by Sonja’s vicious tones.

  “Why apologise? I should be thanking you for giving me such a great insight into your character. I could have been living with you before I found out what an insensitive, unsupportive jerk you are. Now, fortunately, I don’t have to. You know the way out - close the door when you leave,” she finished dismissively and turned away to pick up the book she’d been reading.

  “I know, you’re right, I deserve whatever you throw at me,” sighed Owen. “But I was so shell-shocked when you told me, the wires in my brain got crossed. I reacted badly and for that I’m so sorry. That person you sat opposite in the Plaza wasn’t the real me. It was a little boy, scared witless, who suddenly felt like he was in too deep. I panicked.”

  “How do you think I’ve felt this last week?” Sonja replied. “It hasn’t exactly been a party for me.”

  “I know, and that’s the other thing I feel terrible about,” Owen told her. “On Sunday I was only thinking of me, I didn’t consider what you must be going through at all. You must have gone to hell and back since you found out, and I bet you were expecting me to be there for you, to help you get through it.”

  “I wasn’t expecting anything,” fibbed Sonja, keen not to let him see just how much she had been expecting. “But I was hoping you might be there for me…”

  “…And I wasn’t. I’ll never forgive myself for being so selfish. It was pathetic.”