by Mel Sparke
“Sonja, my mum can’t afford train travel and B&Bs just like that, and I don’t have the money to—”
“But Owen could treat her, now he’s got this job!” persisted Sonja.
“No, Sonja,” Anna objected, a determined tone in her voice.
Sonja looked at her in surprise. She’d never seen Anna riled.
“It’s not just that. To be honest, Mum and I don’t get along too well. We’re OK, you know, we get by, but spending Christmas together just isn’t going to happen.”
“Oh, right, I didn’t realise,” Sonja replied, confused but unwilling to pry. “I mean, I know you don’t go home for visits…”
Anna stared out the window as Sonja’s words fizzled out awkwardly. Her last memory of her old home was when her mother had told her that they couldn’t live under the same roof together.
Yes, so now - thanks to Owen - they were talking again. But she could never truly forgive her mother for the terrible way she’d reacted to the news that her daughter was pregnant, and the even more terrible way she’d reacted when Anna told her she’d decided to have an abortion. At the time when she’d been at her lowest and had needed understanding most, her mum had turned round and given her the opposite.
“You must be disappointed too, Anna, at the way things have turned out,” Sonja tried to say comfortingly, without realising just how true her words were.
CHAPTER 13
A CHANGE OF HEART
Joe sat at a Burger King window seat and tried to sort his head out. He’d recently come to the conclusion that he was quite content with his lot (getting on pretty well with his father in his new life just outside Winstead, which was a bit of a novelty), and felt he had masses to look forward to (a band that seemed to be going somewhere, also a novelty). The only blip was - as always -Kerry.
Maybe, just maybe, he’d started to think, he should try and wean himself off her for good. Loving her in secret was just eating him up inside and made him feel guilty every time he saw Ollie and her together.
How could he be so jealous of his best friend, who trusted him completely?
It wasn’t a healthy situation, whichever way you looked at it.
And if I could just get over her, then maybe I could meet someone else, he daydreamed as his uneaten fries went cold. Maybe then the pieces in Joe’s jigsaw would fit together. Maybe then he would be truly happy.
Surprisingly, recent events with Cat had forced the issue of Joe’s new determination to forget about Kerry. He knew Matt was only joking the other day in the End when he’d suggested she fancied Joe, but it had started him thinking.
Other girls might actually fancy him (not Cat, of course, he was sure) and he would never notice, being too wrapped up in thoughts of the one girl he couldn’t have.
Joe wasn’t sure what Cat had been up to that day when she’d almost been flirting with him, but he knew he liked the feeling. He wanted to be flirted with, instead of pining in his room, writing meaningful lyrics for someone who was oblivious to how he felt. Being flirted with felt good.
Joe didn’t notice the figure walking past the window staring in at him. He didn’t see Cat until she was standing in front of him.
“Boo!” she exclaimed, her eyes popping in an exaggerated fashion.
Joe’s head shot up. When he realised who it was, and that he’d just been thinking about her, Joe blushed as though he’d been caught red-handed doing something he shouldn’t.
She looks really good, he thought, which made him turn even redder. Joe had always thought Cat wore too much make-up; sometimes he thought she almost looked like a drag queen, she caked it on so thick. But since she’d been toning the look down, he was conscious of the fact that she looked really very pretty. These days you could actually see that she had good skin, and when her lips weren’t laden down with lashings of lip gloss, you could make out their true shape.
Even her hair looked better. Ever since Joe had known Catrina, she had been bleaching it, dyeing it, curling it or crucifying it in some way or another. But this latest colour and style were a definite improvement. The cut suited her and the blonde colour was nice and subtle, for a change. She looked much more like ‘the girl next door’ than Joe could ever remember. He was definitely beginning to see her in a new light…
“You, urn, want to hang around, Cat?” he asked. “I was going to get another Coke. You want one?”
“Oh, thanks, Joe,” she wrinkled her nose at him. “I’ll have an orange juice please.”
Joe slid out of the plastic chair and walked over to the counter. As his order was fed into the computer, Joe couldn’t help but look back over his shoulder at Cat. She was sitting humming a song to herself as she played with the salt and pepper sachets on the table.
She looks really cute, Joe couldn’t help thinking.
When he got back to the table, Cat beamed at him.
“Thanks, Joe,” she said. “So tell me, how’s my favourite drummer?”
“Urn, good,” he nodded, unsure of what to say next.
“So what are you and Ollie planning next for The Loud? You’re not going to stay playing at that grotty pub for ever, are you?”
It was just the subject to set Joe off. Although he often found it hard talking to girls (even his female friends when they were just one-to-one), get him on his favourite topic of music and he was away. At one point he could have sworn he saw Cat stifle a yawn, but she still seemed to be smiling encouragingly at him, so he carried on.
“I’m sorry, Joe,” she interrupted him at one point, “but I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go and see someone about a new dress. I’d love to stay here and hear all about the band, but I just can’t.”
She got up to go. Joe watched her pull layers of outdoor clothes on, then wave goodbye as she strolled out of the door.
With a faraway look in his eyes, he continued staring at the doorway long after she’d gone.
“How’s it going with Prince Charming and the other morons?” asked Vikki, stepping into the pink, frothy gown that one of the two costume designers was holding out for her.
“Thawing out very, very slowly,” Cat replied, as she stepped into her own costume during this final costume fitting.
“Well, there’s no doubting that you and me are the stars of this show, girl, and don’t you forget it!” Vikki boomed out confidently.
“Too right - we’re the best!” laughed Cat.
The two girls looked at each other, and -reading each other’s thoughts - immediately broke out into the chorus of Simply The Best, complete with Tina Turner rock chick moves.
“Oi, you two - watch the costumes!” said one of the two girls who were struggling to zip Vikki and Cat up.
The girls broke into giggles, but as soon as they caught sight of each other in the full-length mirror in front of them, their laughter faded away.
“Wow…” muttered Vikki, as she gazed at the vision that was Cat.
“Wow yourself!” Cat managed to mumble back, when the shock of just how amazing she looked finally sank in, and she had a chance to take in Vikki’s outfit.
They stood side by side: Cat, pale, blonde and elegant (for once) in a glittering, white, floor-sweeping ballgown and elbow-length white satin gloves; Vikki, dark skin contrasting amazingly with her wildly ornate pink Fairy Godmother dress.
The two girls grinned once again and Vikki held up her hand to her fellow star.
“The best!” they both yelled, as Cat slapped Vikki’s hand with her own.
CHAPTER 14
PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE
“Come on, Anna, sit down for five minutes. You look whacked.”
Ollie patted the seat beside her and smiled sympathetically as a grateful Anna slid into it. It was ten to nine on Wednesday night, and the only people left in the café were Anna, who was finishing her shift, and Ollie and Kerry, who had been discussing their family arrangements for Christmas and the New Year.
“You’re not wrong,” she said, rubbing the back of her
neck with one hand. “I’m absolutely bushed. I don’t know how you’ve managed with your shifts here and helping out at the pub.”
“I’ve got this slot in my back - didn’t you know?” grinned Ollie. “I just stick industrial-strength batteries in there…”
“God, I could do with a couple of those,” Anna smiled. “Look, if you want me to take on a couple of your shifts here to give you a break in the day, I’m more than happy to. Honestly, it’s not a problem.”
“Thanks, Anna, that’s really good of you, I’ll bear it in mind,” said Ollie, peeling off his apron and dumping it on the table. “ So, I meant to ask - what are you doing for Christmas now that Owen isn’t coming?”
The bad news about Owen was common knowledge among the gang by now and Ollie had been meaning to broach the subject with Anna as soon as he got a chance. He was worried that she’d be sitting all alone in her flat with not even a cracker for company.
“Uh, at the moment, I guess I’m at a loose end again,” Anna answered simply.
“Anna, that’s awful,” wailed Kerry. “You mean you’re going to be stuck in your flat on Christmas Day on your own?”
“Uh, well, when you put it like that it sounds pretty grim, but honestly…” she said, knowing she wasn’t about to be honest “…I’m looking forward to just putting my feet up and relaxing. I’ll spoil myself with some nice nosh from M&S and veg out in front of the telly. And I’ll have no one to argue with over which corny film to watch. Hey! I’m liking this idea more all the time…”
She thought she was doing a pretty good job of making light of the situation. Especially when the reality was that she wanted to cry. But as Anna looked smilingly from Ollie to Kerry and back again, from the looks on their faces, they were both pretty horrified by the idea.
“Anna, you can’t be serious,” Ollie protested. “Is that how you want to spend Christmas? In all honesty?”
Anna mulled over the question before replying.
“Well, I’d rather be on a Caribbean cruise,” she tried to joke, “but I don’t think I can afford it on the wages Nick pays me, do you?”
“Well, you can come and have Christmas lunch with me and my family,” Ollie offered. “It’s always a laugh.”
“I couldn’t do that!” Anna said, gobsmacked. “It would be like imposing on your parents!”
“Don’t be silly! You can be my token sister. Natasha’s spending the holidays over in the States with some rich new mate of hers she met while she was working out there.”
“Ollie, I’d feel too uncomfortable, honestly. But thanks.”
“Well, at least pop into The Swan at some point. There’s usually a great atmosphere - loads of people there, Kerry and Joe’ll drop in, maybe a few of the others. It’ll be great. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.”
“Oh, I’m not sure…” Anna replied. “I’d feel like I was just hanging about and getting in the way.”
“Anna, it’s a pub,” cried Ollie, laughing. “How can you possibly get in the way? We’ll be open till the middle of the afternoon. So believe me, if you’re in the way then so will the hundred or so other people who come in on Christmas Day!”
“Ollie’s right,” Kerry said, keen to back up her boyfriend. She hated the idea of Anna spending the day on her own. Kerry couldn’t imagine anything sadder.
“You’ll have a great time. I’ll definitely pop by, if only to chuck Ollie his present. And I bet there’ll be quite a few people there you’ll know. Surely it beats being stuck in your flat on your own all day.”
Again Anna felt a lump in her throat, as if tears were not far away. It was good to have friends.
Sonja too was trying to get over her disappointment over Owen’s no-show. If there was to be no romance and no welcome surprise party, she was just going to have to be brave. She should come up with another way of filling her time, making sure she didn’t have a second to mope.
The band would be playing as usual later tonight, Matt’s party was tomorrow and Cat’s pantomime on Saturday; but she needed more than that lot to keep her longing for Owen at bay. Sonia willed her brain to come up with something.
Maya and Joe had already beaten Kerry and herself round to the End after college, and Matt was sitting with his arm wrapped protectively around Gabrielle, guarding her like a prized work of art.
“You know, we all ought to meet up somewhere again on Christmas Eve, like we did last year,” Sonja said brightly, sliding into the booth. “We could go to Enigma - they’re supposed to be putting on a brilliant night.”
“Sounds good,” replied Matt, “especially since I know the DJ who’s doing it, so I might be able to wangle a few free tickets for us.”
“I don’t know. I got turned away for being under age last time we went!” winced Maya.
“Don’t worry,” Matt reassured her. “If we get passes off the DJ, then we can just sail in, no problem.”
“I know - we could all have a kissing competition, like last year too!” Sonja beamed. “See how many snogs you can get in say, an hour. I’m bound to win, now that you’re off the scene, Matt.”
“Oh, I dunno,” Gabrielle piped up, “if the first prize is good enough, I might give you lot a run for your money myself!”
Matt looked at his girlfriend as though she’d just smacked him in the teeth. He never expected her to come out with something like that.
“It’s OK,” she smiled, patting him on the leg, “I’m only joking.”
Matt gave her a squeeze and rested his head on top of hers. He felt so lucky to have met someone like Gabrielle. He wouldn’t miss the snogging competition at all, not with her around.
He was convinced this was going to be his best Christmas ever. He had been buying Gabrielle presents for weeks and had spent loads of money. He wanted to make her Christmas as special as he possibly could, because as far as he was concerned, she was worth it.
“Show of hands for Enigma then!” trilled Sonja, counting their unanimous approval.
Though Sonja would have swapped all the clubs in the world for a romantic night in with Owen this Christmas Eve.
CHAPTER 15
ON A HIGH
“Coo-ey! Joe! Wait up!”
Joe was wandering along the road, on his way to Matt’s house to help him set up for the party. He had been mulling over The Loud’s gig last night as he walked, inwardly congratulating himself when he’d played well, working out why he’d gone wrong when he hadn’t.
Overall, it was a better show than the one the week before. Everyone felt that. For one, there were more people in the audience, and instead of the band having to fight for them to take notice, people seemed to be listening from the opening song onwards. It was good, he told himself, really good.
He turned to see who was calling him.
It was Cat. Again.
Joe felt he’d hardly been out of her sight these past few days. It was as if she was following him around. Mind you, he couldn’t help but be pleased to see her. Especially since she was being so pleasant to him at the moment.
“Hello, Cat,” he grinned. “Long time no see.”
“Hello, my handsome Prince Charming,” she said, lowering her eyes and fluttering her eyelashes at him. “You know we must stop meeting like this. People will start to talk.”
She linked her arm through his as they strolled up the road.
“Looking forward to Matt’s party?” he asked her almost nervously.
Cat wrinkled her nose. “I’m not going.”
Joe was alarmed to realise he felt disappointed.
“Why not?”
“Well, I might come later, if I’m not too tired. It’s just that I’m on my way to college - it’s the first showing of Cinderella tonight.”
“Tonight? But I thought there was just one show - the one we’re all coming to tomorrow…” Joe was amazed that Cat hadn’t mentioned this to anyone before.
“Yeah, tonight is for all the kids. You know -the ones from the charity the proceeds go to.�
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“Right,” nodded Joe. “So - how are you feeling about it?”
“Jittery,” she laughed with a wobbly voice. “It’s just that feeling that I’m bound to fluff my lines…”
It was the most candid Cat had been so far about the pantomime. Somehow, she didn’t mind telling Joe more than she would the others. She felt that he would be one of the few people not to laugh if she fell flat on her face.
“Wow, you mean you’ve got lines to say as well? I didn’t realise. I thought you were just in the chorus.”
“Well… I do have one or two things to say… But, actually, I’m convinced that the less you have to say, the bigger a thing it becomes in your head.”
“Don’t worry, Cat,” Joe reassured her, “I’m sure you’ll knock ‘em dead.”
“Do you think so?” said Cat, genuinely pleased. “That’s such a lovely thing to say, Joe. I hope you’re right.”
“I’m sure I am,” he replied, smiling at her. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you up there on stage tomorrow. You’re going to be brilliant.”
“Oh, Joe, I could kiss you,” Cat said. “In fact…”
She stopped in the street, reached up to Joe’s face and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Joe blushed furiously as he felt a little tingle of excitement run through his body.
Wow! he thought.
Cat giggled at his reaction.
“You’re such a sweet boy, Joe,” she cooed. “Why haven’t you got a girlfriend?”
Joe blushed purple. He didn’t quite know how to answer that one.
“I… er… uh…” he spluttered, looking for suitable words. All he could think of was: because I’m a dork… because I’m so weird-looking no girl could possibly be interested in me… because I have no confidence in myself and therefore can’t chat girls up.
Fortunately, he stopped himself from saying any of those things: instead he looked at the ground and wished it would swallow him up.
“I know why it is,” Cat announced.