The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

  The text was from Aurora. She’d enjoyed the party too and wanted to meet up with him again soon. She’d ended the text with two kisses, and Clint felt himself grinning.

  Kojo looked at him expectantly, but Clint shook his head.

  “I’ll tell you when you’re older,” he laughed, and Kojo groaned.

  A knock on the front door rang out through the flat, and Clint heard Rakhul grumble loudly from his parents’ bedroom, and Femi hurrying down the hallway to answer, shortly followed by footsteps and his own bedroom door opening.

  Femi’s head appeared in the doorway.

  “Troy’s here for you,” she said, smiling down at her sons.

  Clint picked up his phone and coat and pulled on his trainers.

  “See you later, bro,” he waved to Kojo, and headed down the corridor.

  As he passed his parents’ bedroom door, he heard Rakhul’s loud snoring and wondered whether it would be better for them all if his father never woke up.

  At the front door, he greeted Troy and stepped outside the flat into cold, blustery air.

  “Footie?” Clint inquired, looking at the football in Troy’s arms.

  “Right on.”

  * * *

  After an hour of kicking the ball about, Troy waved at the others to stop, and ran back to where they’d left their jackets lying on the damp grass on the edge of the goalposts. Tamar and Amal both strolled over, wiping their foreheads, but Clint jogged back and immediately checked his phone, smiling down at the screen.

  Troy eyed him carefully, weary of what he knew was coming. Although Clint didn’t know, Troy had seen him texting Aurora on their walk down to the pitch and he’d also seen the goofy smile that had spread across Clint’s face whenever he had received a reply.

  Brandy had returned from the hospital smiling, convinced that Zoe would keep quiet about everything, but her mood had quickly soured at the mention of Clint and Aurora. Troy saw her point, he knew that it was dangerous for any of them to get too close to the investigation, and that Clint could jeopardise everything just to get his leg over on Aurora.

  But at the same time, Troy was certain that Clint wouldn’t turn over and grass on any of them. And he could certainly see why Clint wanted Aurora so badly. Troy closed his eyes briefly and conjured up the image of Aurora from last night. She had looked hot, but in a different way from Brandy. Aurora was beautiful and classy, whilst Brandy was sexy but trashy.

  After the party, Troy had pictured Aurora whilst he and Brandy had sex. He would never admit it to anyone, certainly not Clint or Brandy, but he knew that it was a dangerous fantasy and one that neither he nor Clint could enjoy.

  “You alright mate?” Clint asked, clapping Troy on the back.

  “Yeah, I’m good. How about you?”

  Clint tried to look carefree when he nodded, but Troy saw the corners of his lips flicker.

  “I’m not surprised,” Tamar grinned, “Lucky lad.”

  “Yeah, I’m surprised you ain’t still tucked up in bed,” Amal agreed, winking.

  “What are you talking about?” Clint asked, clearly confused.

  Troy wondered whether he should intervene, have a private discussion with Clint, but then he remembered that the previous chats hadn’t worked. Maybe Brandy had been right. He hadn’t taken control from the start, and Clint hadn’t gotten the message clearly.

  “You and Aurora,” Troy said, looking directly at Clint, “At it like rabbits last night.”

  Clint looked like he’d been caught in the headlights, his eyes wide and his mouth unable to find the right words.

  “What?” he stammered, “Where’d you hear that? It’s rubbish.”

  “Really?” Troy asked, “Not what I heard.”

  “Yeah, don’t deny it bro, I’d give anything to tap that Aurora,” Amal laughed.

  Clint’s eyes flashed in Amal’s direction. Troy wondered if Clint would lash out, perhaps to show that Aurora was more to him than that, but Clint returned his gaze to Troy.

  “Alright, me and Aurora got together,” Clint said, “But we’re taking things slow.”

  “What?” Tamar gasped, “Taking things slow? Why man?”

  “She’s my girlfriend,” Clint replied, “We got loads of time.”

  “Congrats,” Amal said, slapping Clint on the back.

  Tamar did the same, “Nice one, bro.”

  Troy remained standing in the same spot, eyes fixed on Clint.

  “You’re going out? Even though we killed her sister?”

  Clint looked up in surprise, and Amal and Tamar froze, glancing between them, suddenly aware of Troy’s lack of support for Clint’s relationship.

  “I really like her,” Clint said quietly, looking down at his feet.

  Troy looked at him, feeling a mixture of both pity and anger towards his oldest friend.

  “It won’t end happily,” Troy eventually said, “Best to end it now, whilst you ain’t behind bars.”

  Clint seemed to consider his words for a few moments, but Troy knew that the chances of him having changed his mind were small.

  “I’m willing to take the risk,” Clint said, quietly but firmly.

  He picked up his jacket and started walking back across the pitch towards the road, and Tamar and Amal gathered their things and followed. Troy did the same, struggling to control his anger. Clint had decided to put his feelings for Aurora above his concern for their freedom, but that wasn’t what Troy was angry about. It was the fact that Troy knew that he was starting to lose his control and influence over his best friend and that Aurora was to blame for it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The steps up to her flat seemed unusually arduous, Zoe thought, as she dragged herself up to her floor. The pram bounced noisily on each step and she wondered how it was possible for baby Sienna to stay asleep. Lucky her, Zoe sighed. Their stay at the hospital had now come to an end and Zoe was not looking forward to experiencing the joys and pains of motherhood by herself in the rundown flat she’d spent the last few months living in.

  Reaching her floor, Zoe peered into the pram and adjusted the blankets that had loosened around Sienna. The small round face gave a giggle and Zoe couldn’t help but smile as she dug her hands into her handbag and fumbled for her keys.

  “Shit,” she groaned, as her fingers found everything but keys.

  She thought back to the night she’d gone into labour and groaned again. She could have lost her keys anywhere. Sasha’s flat or the alleyways she’d walked down, or the ambulance.

  Brandy would have a spare set, Zoe reasoned, but that would mean going to see her. It was Monday morning, and that would mean she’d be at Troy’s flat. Zoe shuddered. The last thing she needed was Brandy and Troy ruining the day for her.

  A gust of cold wind blew against them, and Zoe pushed the pram half-heartedly down the corridor to her flat, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to get inside. She turned the corner and froze.

  Standing outside her flat was a short, plump woman in a white tracksuit, her flame-red hair tied back in a ponytail that whipped across her face in the wind.

  “Mum?” Zoe stammered, as she neared the flat door, “What are you doing here?”

  Zoe surveyed her mother and was surprised to notice the lines around her eyes and the chapped lips that hadn’t been there the last time they’d seen each other.

  “I thought I’d just drop by,” her mum said, “You know, see how you were doing.”

  “Oh right, well, great,” Zoe said, still bemused, “Except I don’t have any keys. I must’ve dropped them.”

  “Not to worry,” her mum sighed, “I’ve got a spare set. Knew you’d end up losing yours somewhere.”

  She fumbled in her handbag and eventually pulled out a set of keys on a chain. Zoe took them and unlocked the flat door, relieved to feel the blast of warm air as the door opened.

  “Let’s have a look at my granddaughter then,” her mum said, as soon as they’d stepped inside and gone into the kitchen.
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br />   Zoe looked uncertainly at her mother, who had stuck her head inside the pram and started making baby noises that Zoe was sure Sienna wouldn’t appreciate, but Sienna gave a bark of laughter, and Zoe started smiling again as she filled the kettle.

  “Tea or coffee?” Zoe asked.

  “Tea for me,” her mum replied, “Can’t take coffee anymore. Gives me the shits.”

  “Mum,” Zoe groaned, looking at her with a frown, “Don’t be gross.”

  “I’ll have sugar though, could do with some energy.”

  Zoe waited for the kettle to boil as her mum picked Sienna gently out of the pram and held her in her arms, rocking her gently.

  “Babies love me,” she said, as Zoe stood awestruck at the sound of Sienna’s instant snores, “Your gran always used to say I should’ve been a midwife, but I couldn’t be arsed with all that work.”

  The kettle whistled and Zoe gently took Sienna and put her into the cot in the bedroom, whilst her mum poured out teas and placed them on the kitchen table.

  “So, what have you been up to?” Zoe asked, after taking a seat across from her mother, “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “I’ve been up to lots,” she replied, “Manchester’s a busy place. Then I got the call from Sasha, or Cindy, or whoever, and she told me you’d had the baby, so I thought I’d pop down and say hello.”

  “How long you staying for?” Zoe asked.

  “I’m only down for a few hours, just a quick hello for today,” came the reply. “But I knew I had to come down, make sure you were both alright.”

  “How’s that Terry bloke you were seeing?” Zoe asked.

  “Oh him, he’s long gone. I always knew he’d do the dirty one day. I’m with Ryan now, younger bloke, always up for it.”

  “Mum,” Zoe gasped, choking on her tea.

  “Don’t be like that, it’s only natural for a woman to like that.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes and settled her gaze on the woman sat across from her. It had been a few months since she’d last seen her mother after a blazing row, and she was reluctant to allow herself to breach the walls that had built up between them, not unless her mother was willing to spend more time with her.

  “So when do you think you’ll visit again?” Zoe asked, trying to keep the note of apprehension and judgement out of her voice.

  Seemingly sensing the importance of her answer, her mum took a few moments to debate an answer.

  “Probably in a week or so, if you don’t mind,” she said casually, although Zoe could tell from her mother’s eyes that she was serious. “I could stay round here if you like.”

  Zoe couldn’t help herself from smiling, and her mum began to smile as well.

  “Is that a yes then?” her mum asked, “I’m allowed to visit again soon?”

  Zoe nodded, “Of course you are, you silly cow.”

  * * *

  Brandy pulled her school skirt up over her tights and groaned as Troy’s arms wrapped around her, sliding underneath her shirt and rubbing her stomach.

  “Why don’t we just skip school today?” Troy said, his hands running lower, slipping beneath her tights.

  “We can’t,” Brandy snapped. “Biology coursework’s due in today.”

  Troy pulled his hands away, looking at her with suspicion.

  “Since when have you given a fuck about biology coursework?”

  “Since like, forever.”

  Troy watched her as she slipped into her heels and pulled out her make-up bag.

  “What?” Brandy asked, noticing him staring at her.

  “What’s going on?” Troy asked, his eyes narrowed. “And don’t give me that shit about coursework, I know you ain’t done any.”

  Brandy continued applying mascara, and turned to Troy.

  “It’s about Clint,” she said, keeping her voice level.

  Troy cracked his knuckles, aware of where the conversation was going.

  “Him and Aurora,” Brandy repeated, “We’ve got to keep an eye out, and seeing as you’re not doing anything about it, I will.”

  Troy folded his arms, fighting back his growing anger.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Exactly what I said,” Brandy said, “You can’t seem to control him, even though he’s supposed to be your best mate, so I’ll have to make sure he knows not to say anything.”

  “He knows that already,” Troy said, rubbing his forehead in frustration, “I talked to him yesterday at the pitch. He won’t say nothing.”

  “Well, last time you thought you’d sorted it, and it turns out you didn’t.”

  Troy looked at her, and Brandy put away her mascara and pulled out her hair brush.

  “Let’s face it Troy,” she continued, “You told him not to go near that slag, and next thing we know, they’re going out.”

  “He’s just after getting his leg over,” Troy said defensively, “After he’s got her in the sack, it’ll all fizzle out and problem over.”

  “Do you really believe all that shit you just said?” Brandy asked, letting out a condescending giggle. “All I’m going to do is have a word with him, just to make it all clear.”

  “You don’t need to,” Troy persisted, “He already knows.”

  “I’ll just spell a few things out to him.”

  “Brandy, I’m telling you not to,” Troy said, his voice firm.

  Brandy paused, hair brush halfway up to her head. Her eyes narrowed.

  “You don’t get to tell me what to do,” she said, her voice rising, “I’ve sorted everything out so far, so just leave it to me.”

  “You’ve sorted everything out?” Troy asked, disbelief evident in his voice, “Are you kidding me? Tell me, what happened when you tried to keep them away from each other at the party?”

  Brandy glared at him, her own anger mounting.

  “I wouldn’t have had to do anything if you’d have done it properly to begin with.”

  “You don’t have to do anything, I’ve already sorted it,” Troy insisted. “I’m the one with the rep, I’m the one that’s in the gang.”

  Brandy sniggered.

  “Yeah, you might be in the gang, Troy,” Brandy sneered, “But who has done the most work? I’ve sorted out the knife, I kept Zoe quiet, what exactly did you do?”

  “I was the one who fucking stabbed her.”

  “Big deal,” Brandy snapped, “Anyone can pick up a knife and stab someone.”

  Troy felt his temper bubble out of his control and flew towards Brandy, who was still brushing her hair. He grabbed her around the throat and threw her against the wall.

  “What the fuck?” Brandy shrieked, as Troy pushed her again, sending her crashing into the CD rack, which fell to the floor in a whirl of colour and noise, Brandy falling down with it.

  “Keep your mouth shut in the fucking future,” Troy shouted, glaring down at her.

  Brandy pulled herself up, feeling the bruises from the corners of the rack and where Troy had pushed, but she didn’t want to let Troy know he’d hurt her. She threw the hairbrush at him, hitting the mirror on the far bedroom wall and sending it to the floor in a spiral of cracked glass.

  “Fuck off Troy,” Brandy said, between deep breathes of anger, “I’ll sort it out, like I always do.”

  “I already told you -”

  “Yeah, you keep saying shit, but I don’t think you mean it,” Brandy retorted, grabbing her bag off the floor. “I’m going to school now. You’d better tidy your room before your mum walks in.”

  “Brandy -”

  “Fuck off, Troy.”

  With that, Brandy stormed out the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Troy didn’t make to go after her, he knew it wouldn’t do any good until she’d calmed down.

  He looked around the room and sighed. It would take ages to clean-up, but he had already decided that it would be his mum to tidy everything up.

  He felt a pang of guilt at having hurt Brandy, at losing his temper with her when he knew she was only
trying to help. At the same time, a part of him knew that he shouldn’t feel guilty. He would get away with it, he always did. Brandy would calm down and things would go right back to how things were.

  “Troy, hurry up,” his sister called from the other side of the door. “I’m going to be late for school.”

  Troy pulled his trainers on and threw his schoolbag over his shoulder.

  In the lounge, Jessie was waiting, hands on hips, looking impatient.

  “What were you doing in there?” Jessie asked, though she clearly didn’t care about the answer. “I saw Brandy too, man, she was pissed.”

  “She’ll calm down,” Troy said, finding himself smiling.

  “Whatever,” Jessie said, rolling her eyes. “Hurry up, I need to smoke this joint before we get to school.”

  “You got a joint?” Troy asked, looking at his sister as if for the first time. “Where’d you get it?”

  “Never mind that, just get a fucking move on if you want some.”

  * * *

  Aurora waited anxiously for Clint outside her front door. She had left her mum chain-smoking cigarettes on the balcony, but now she was considering joining her. Clint was ten minutes late, and she knew it wasn’t like him.

  She pulled out her phone and was about to dial his number when he appeared around the corner, looking sheepish.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Clint said, wiping his forehead.

  “It’s alright,” Aurora said, suddenly finding her earlier frustration evaporated, replaced by a smile, “I haven’t been out here long.”

  “Good,” Clint said, smiling too. “How are you?”

  “I’m good,” Aurora replied, finding herself suddenly awkward in his company.

  Clint moved closer towards her and took both of her hands in his and leant closer. Aurora looked into his face and saw how pretty his eyes were, and then their lips met. She felt his tongue pressing against hers and felt his body push against hers, her hands feeling sweaty in his.

  From behind them, a door opened, but Aurora didn’t care.

  “You’re going to be late for school.”

  Marlena’s voice seemed to come from nowhere and Aurora and Clint flew apart as if electrocuted.