‘Maybe I could stay at Star’s with you?’
‘I can ask, but she’s only got a one bedroom place. We’ll be sleeping under the sink as it is.’
Bugger, I thought. Looks like Roz is going to get her way.
‘YAHEY, I’M HOME,’ I said as the familiar sights of London began to flash past the train window. Rows and rows of houses. Endless high-rise blocks of flats, busy streets clogged with the usual Friday night traffic. Soon we were arriving into Paddington Station. It felt great to be back as we hauled our luggage down from the overhead rack and joined the other travellers in the corridor waiting to get off the train.
‘So what does Roz look like?’ asked Lia, as we made our way down the platform.
‘Haven’t seen her for years,’ I said. ‘Skinny. Pale. Dark.’
Squidge nudged me. ‘So all set for a weekend of passion?’
‘No way,’ I said. ‘She’d never be my type. Not in a million years.’
‘Are her mum or dad coming to meet you as well?’ asked Squidge.
‘Don’t think so. She said she’d come and we’d get a cab back. Her family are loaded. And anyway, they’ve got guests so are probably busy with them. At least Roz won’t be able to pounce on me if there are people around.’
As we walked through the station, past the ticket guards and into the busy crowd of commuters all in a rush to get home, I scanned faces for anyone resembling the Roz I used to know, but couldn’t see anyone. Suddenly, a girl flew out of nowhere and before I knew it, I was being smothered in a perfumed embrace.
‘Wah –’
‘Mac,’ said the girl. ‘You look great.’
‘And you . . .’ I could hardly believe my eyes. ‘Roz . . . you look . . . well . . . different.’
Roz did a twirl. She was wearing a pleated denim mini skirt, a tight pink T-shirt with ‘Princess’ emblazoned across it in silver and her hair was a glossy chestnut, halfway down her back. She was no longer the skinny kid with legs like sticks. Her legs were great. And she’d filled out. In all the right places.
‘Are you going to introduce me to your friends?’ she asked as she looked at Lia and Squidge.
‘Oh yeah. Lia, Squidge, this is Roz.’
Just as they were saying hi, Lia spotted her sister and rushed across to give her a hug. Even dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Star stood out in the crowd. She’s a top model on all the covers of the glossies. She looks just like Lia, face like an angel, same white-blond hair, silver blue eyes, only her hair is cut short whereas Lia’s is long.
Roz’s mouth dropped open. ‘Ohmigod. That’s Star Axford. Star Axford.’ She charged across to join Lia. ‘Hi. I’m Roz. A friend of Mac’s.’
Star looked a bit startled. ‘Oh hi. And oh . . . there’s Squidge. Hi, Squidge. So you guys ready? I’m on a meter.’
‘Yeah,’ said Squidge as he picked up Lia’s bag and gave me a wink. ‘Catch you later.’
‘Yes,’ said Roz butting in. ‘Maybe we could all meet up? Have you got my number?’
‘Er, Mac’s got it,’ said Squidge as he began to follow Lia and Star across the station. ‘Be in touch Mac.’
‘Yes, we will,’ said Roz as they waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.
‘I can’t believe that you know Star Axford,’ said Roz as she gazed after them. ‘She’s like mega. I thought you said nothing happened down in Cornwall.’
‘She’s Lia’s sister.’
‘So you know the whole family? Ohmigod. Ohmigod. We have to meet up with them. No one at school will believe it.’
Lia’s family is notorious. As well as having a sister who’s a top model, her dad is the famous rock star Zac Axford. Lia’s parents moved down to Cornwall a few months after me, leaving Lia and her older brother, Ollie, at school in London. Lia hated being so far away from her mum and dad and asked if she could go to a local school but Ollie stayed where he was. I thought she was mad leaving London but she says she’s loads happier. The Axfords caused quite a stir when they first arrived and were the talk of all the villages. But we soon got used to having a celeb family down there with us, especially as, apart from the occasional glam party, they live a quiet life and aren’t posey or anything naff like that.
‘So come on,’ said Roz pulling me towards the cab rank. ‘Let’s get going and you can tell me all about them.’
On the way back in the taxi, I realised that Roz might have changed looks-wise but she was still the same old Roz. Bossy as ever. She had an itinerary worked out for the whole weekend and I soon saw my own plans to meet up with Max and Andy going out the window.
‘And we have to meet up with Star again,’ said Roz as the taxi drove west and out towards Richmond where the Williamses now lived. ‘Maybe we could all go out together somewhere.’
‘Sure, sure,’ I said. Anything to keep the peace. I was so happy to be back on my old turf, I would have agreed to anything.
‘How about tomorrow? You’re seeing Dad at his office at twelve so how about we meet for breakfast. Phone them now, see what they’re doing.’
‘What, now? They won’t be back at Star’s yet.’
‘Yes, but they might be making their own plans so we need to get in there fast.’
I got out my mobile. I didn’t feel I could refuse seeing as I owed Roz for putting me up and getting me in to see her dad. And maybe going out for breakfast would count as me taking Roz out on a date of sorts. Safety in numbers. I could see I was going to need them.
Roz’s place was fabulous. A tall terraced Georgian house on Richmond Hill with a stunning view of the River Thames winding away into the distance at the back. As befitting a features editor on a major lifestyle magazine, everywhere was done out with exquisite taste, each room themed to a different culture: an elegant red and cream living room with golden Thai artefacts; an ochre Moroccan den with low kilm-covered sofas and rugs on the walls and floor. Enormous expensive looking art books arranged on the coffee tables. White airy bathrooms as big as bedrooms. I’m going to enjoy staying here, I thought. It was like walking into a five star hotel. The flower arrangements alone looked like they cost more than I get in pocket money in a year.
‘You’re not the only one with rock star neighbours. Mick Jagger has a place just up the road,’ said Roz after she’d given me the tour and led me into a state-of-the-art kitchen. It was different to the rest of the house. Austere with minimalist décor and the total opposite of our comfy country kitchen back in Cornwall with its Aga, pine dining table and dresser displaying Gran’s collection of Clarice Cliff pottery.
‘This is cool,’ I said as I sat on a chrome stool at the black granite breakfast bar and took in the subtle lighting, stainless steel splash backs and immaculate surfaces. ‘Although it looks more like a hospital operating theatre than a kitchen.’
‘Well, you remember what Mummy’s like. Likes to eat. Hates to cook. I don’t think she ever recovered when your mum left London. She never found a replacement she was happy with to do her dinner parties.’
‘Where is everyone? I thought your mum was having guests.’
‘Taken them out for dinner. I told you Mummy doesn’t cook. And you must be starving. I think there’s some snacky stuff in here or Mummy said we could get takeaway.’ She opened an enormous American style fridge, had a root around, then quickly closed it. ‘No. Takeaway. I fancy sushi.’
I hate sushi but didn’t want to appear to be rude. ‘Whatever,’ I said. ‘You choose.’
While we were waiting for our food to arrive, I offered to show Roz some of my drawings. Over the week, I’d managed to get a decent collection together. Most of my teachers, the witches at home, the one of Gran as a cowgirl, Squidge, Lia, Becca and Cat and a few of famous people, Prince Charles, George W. Bush, Princess Anne, Jacko, Mick Jagger.
She came and sat very close to me on the sofa and seemed well impressed.
‘Who are these two?’ she asked, pointing at the drawings of Becca and Cat. I’d redrawn the one I’d started up at the Vi
ew café on the Monday after school but exaggerated the girls’ features a bit more.
‘Oh, my mates. We all hang out.’
‘No serious girlfriend, then?’ she asked as she leaned over me to study the drawings and let her hair brush over my arm. She smelled great.
‘Um . . .’ I didn’t want to say yes or no in case she got ideas about us having a relationship. She moved a fraction closer on the sofa. This was the moment I’d been dreading. I just didn’t think she’d do it so soon . . . but now it was happening, I found I didn’t mind that much. OK, she was bossy, but she had great hair and . . . those legs . . .
She’d let a curtain of hair fall over her face and looked up at me flirtatiously from behind it.
If you can’t beat them, join them, I thought. OK, so she’s not exactly my type. I tend to like girls with soft features whereas Roz’s face is angular like her dad’s, with a sharp nose and small mouth. But no doubt, the whole package was attractive. Why not? I asked myself. I’m young, I’m single. Part of the reason I wanted to break up with Becca was because I wanted more experience with girls. And Roz clearly wants me. Has done since she was nine. As she was rambling on about something, she lightly put her hand on my thigh. Definitely a come on, I thought so I put my arm around her.
She stiffened and pushed me away. ‘Woah,’ she said. ‘Easy.’
‘Wha . . .? I . . . I thought you wanted to . . .’
She moved a fraction away on the sofa. ‘Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. I’ll say when.’
I felt my stomach churn. I couldn’t be doing with girls who played games. And she was making it very clear that in this game, she made the rules. I’d got it wrong again. I really thought she was moving in on me. Giving me the come on. What was I supposed to think?
The doorbell went, announcing that our food had arrived so Roz jumped up to get it. I wondered what Squidge was doing and wished I was with him. Probably having a fab, relaxed time somewhere with Star and Lia and here was I, holed up with another control freak with a supper of raw fish to look forward to.
Woopeedoop.
‘TOM MACEY, ARE YOU UP?’
‘I’m up, I’m up,’ I said as I pulled the duvet over my head and snuggled down deeper into the bed.
The voice sounded familiar but something wasn’t right.
I sat up and opened my eyes. Where was I? In a small office-type room with floor to ceiling bookshelves and a desk and a computer. Not at home. I was at Roz’s. Of course. Jesus, I thought, she has exactly the same tone of command in her voice as Mum. I pushed the duvet off, got out of bed and began to scramble into my jeans. Roz burst in, carrying a mug of tea.
‘Woah, hold on . . .’ I said as I hopped around on one leg. ‘Not dressed.’
Roz looked me up and down. ‘I can see that. Nice shorts.’ She grinned and put the tea on the desk. ‘Dad’s gone already but he said to be at the office in Soho twelve o’clock sharp. I’ll take you. We’re meeting Star and your mates at ten near Portobello Road for breakfast so we’ll get the District line tube. Takes us straight there and it will be quicker than taking a cab at this time of day. So we’d better get going soon. Fifteen minutes. That’ll give you time to use the bathroom.’
I zipped my jeans, gave her a salute and stood to attention. ‘Yes, sergeant major, sir. Reporting for duty, sir.’
She gave me a look as if to say I was mad then with a toss of her hair, flounced out.
Squidge, Lia and Star were already waiting for us outside the tube station at Notting Hill Gate so we made our way up to the market together. Portobello Road on a Saturday was one of my favourite haunts. Busy market stalls selling everything from joss sticks, Indian paraphernalia, fruit and veg, antiques, clothes, jewellery, picture frames . . . you name it. As always it was swarming with people browsing, buying, enjoying the atmosphere and the spring sunshine.
‘Survived the night, I see,’ said Squidge as Roz and the girls walked ahead where I could hear Roz grilling Star about her job as a model.
‘Just about. Sometimes I feel that my destiny in life is to be taken over by dominant women. Are they all like that?’
‘Different degrees. They call the shots most of the time, especially if they’re lookers.’
‘Lia like that?’
Squidge shook his head. ‘Nah. She’s not bossy. But then I am more than willing to be her slave and do whatever she wants.’
I sighed. ‘I just want to have a bit of fun. You know, no ties, no commitment. No games. When it starts getting heavy, I can’t deal with their heads.’
‘Yeah, you say that, but just you wait. One day you’ll fall in love and then you won’t mind.’
‘Maybe when I’m about thirty. But until then I just wish I could find someone who felt the same way and doesn’t come over all complicated or emotional. So far, all girls have done is confuse me. Do my head in.’
‘You didn’t seem to mind being with Becca at first and if any girl can be confusing, it’s her.’
‘Yeah, but it wasn’t the big L with her. I liked her a lot. A lot. Still do. But it wasn’t love. It was never like you and Lia. I know that’s the real thing. So far, I’ve never felt anything remotely like that. Maybe I never will. In fact, tell you what I’d like when we get back. A night out, just you and me. No girls.’
‘What going on the pull or something?’
‘Down there? I don’t think so. Nowhere to go. Let’s do something just us lads. Go camping or something. No women telling us what to do and when to do it.’
Squidge laughed. ‘Last night was that bad, was it? Yeah, sure. Be good. Camping. We could go up to Rame Head. Next weekend’s a Bank holiday, maybe we could go then.’
‘For now, though, I think we’d better catch the girls up. I think Roz is hoping to manoeuvre a visit to Star’s flat so that she can tell all her mates at school she went there.’
We hurried to catch the girls up and I made an effort to talk to Star, so that she wasn’t totally monopolised by a starstruck Roz. Not that I wasn’t starstruck myself. I’ve fancied Star from day one. She’s sooo beautiful, graceful and elegant and even though I’d met her a few times already, I still found myself going all googly-eyed when she spoke to me. A fact that Roz soon picked up on. Just as I was having a nice chat with Star and telling her about my drawings, Roz butted in and pulled me away to look in a shop window.
‘Maaaac,’ she said in a whiny voice.
‘What?’
‘You’re flirting with Star,’ she pouted.
‘I am not.’
‘Oh yes you are. You fancy her, don’t you?’
‘Who wouldn’t?’
‘Well, how do you think that makes me feel?’
‘You . . .? I . . . what do you mean?’
‘It makes me look like a fool. Like you’re with me and yet you’re flirting with someone else.’
I was gobsmacked. Last night she hadn’t even let me put my arm around her, never mind snog her. And now she was carrying on as if we were in some kind of serious relationship.
‘I was just being friendly. She’s Lia’s sister, for heaven’s sake, and she’s way older than me.’
‘Well, cool it, will you?’
I wanted to kill her or walk off there and then. But I’d come this far and we had the meeting with her dad set up. A plan started to hatch in my head as a reaction to her being so stroppy. Last night, when she asked if I had a serious girlfriend down in Cornwall, I’d evaded the question. I’d tell her that I did. Becca. And I’d ask Becca to support me. If Roz thought I was attached maybe she’d back off. Becca had said she’d do anything to help and while she was feeling responsible for my state of mind, I reckoned I could get her to agree.
Roz went back over to Lia and Star and I acted out strangling her behind her back.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Squidge.
‘She’s only just given me the third degree for flirting with Star. Can you believe it? She’s not even my girlfriend.’
Squidge laughed. �
�Give her time. You said that she was a girl who gets what she wants. I can see what you mean now.’
I sighed and followed the girls into a café. Roz’s choice, of course.
‘You’ll just love this place,’ she said as she ushered Star in. ‘I come here all the time with my mates.’
Personally, I would have asked Star the best place to go as she lives round here and if anyone knew the cool hang-outs, I reckoned it would have been her. But like the rest of us, she wasn’t asked.
After breakfast (which was good – chorizo sausage on ciabatta and a great cappuccino) Roz got up to go to the Ladies.
‘Got you well under her thumb,’ teased Star when Roz was out of earshot. ‘Girls like that can take you over.’
‘I can’t reply until my mummy comes back from the Ladies,’ I said.
Star and Lia laughed then Star leaned over and patted my hand.
‘Next time, you can stay with us,’ she said. ‘We’ll look after you.’
After a cruise round the market, Roz marched me back off towards the Tube to go to Soho.
She was a bit weird on the way there, linking her arm in mine and touching my arm or hand at every opportunity and I had a good idea that it wasn’t just because the Tube was crowded that she kept pressing herself against me. I wasn’t falling for it. I’d had enough of mixed messages. Even though she’d said that she’d let me know when I could come on to her, I didn’t really want to. She was too much like hard work and as soon as the weekend was over, I wanted our relationship to go back to how it was before. Birthday and Christmas cards. And nothing in between.
Once she’d delivered me to her dad’s office, she mercifully took off to do some shopping saying that she’d see me back in Richmond later in the afternoon.
At last I can breathe, I thought as she left me sitting in reception on the third floor. A few moments to prepare myself. A sudden attack of nerves hit me as I watched through the glass doors on the right. Even though it was a Saturday, the office was a hive of activity with people at computers, examining layouts, on the phone. They looked so assured and professional and suddenly, I felt out of my depth. Mr Williams will probably laugh me out of the office when he sees my work; I must be mad thinking I stand a chance, I thought as Roz’s dad came out of an office to the left and indicated I should follow him back in.
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