by Sue Welford
Drew found himself staring out of the window almost all of the afternoon. The lecturer’s voice droned on and on but he really didn’t have a clue what the woman was on about. He made an effort to scribble a few notes about catalytic converters but they didn’t seem to make any sense. He really didn’t know why he should feel so upset that Cindy hadn’t turned up. The truth was, she had probably merely forgotten. She was just being polite last night, just grateful because he’d helped her out. She may not have had any intention of really meeting him at all.
He had just packed the books into his carrier and buckled on his helmet for the ride home after lectures when Skip nudged his arm. ‘Hey, here she comes.’
He looked up to see Cindy hurrying towards them. She looked stunning in a pair of tight black jeans and a white T-shirt. She arrived a bit out of breath.
She nodded to Skip then smiled at Drew. Gold earrings like little bells swung as she tossed back a lock of hair that had fallen over her eyes. A fine gold chain glowed against the tanned skin of her neck. For the first time he noticed she had a small mole on her left cheek.
‘Look, I’m really sorry about lunch time,’ she said to Drew. I got held up. I hope you didn’t hang around too long.’
‘Only about three hours,’ Drew said.
Cindy pulled a wry face. ‘I’m really sorry.’
Drew grinned. ‘Only kidding. I guessed you couldn’t make it.’
Cindy looked relieved. ‘Thank goodness for that.’
Behind Drew, Skip cleared his throat. ‘Well, see you, old buddy,’ he said.
Drew raised his hand. ‘Right, see you tomorrow.’
‘Bye,’ Cindy flashed Skip a smile as he pedalled off on his push bike. She looked back at Drew. ‘Could I take the books now?’
‘Sure,’ Drew rummaged about in his carrier and came up with them. ‘They’re pretty basic stuff.’
Cindy’s fingers brushed his as she took them from him. Drew was surprised to feel a kind of electric shock shoot through his body. He drew his breath in sharply.
She obviously hadn’t noticed and was thumbing through one of the books. ‘They’re great,’ she looked up at him. ‘Thanks. Actually, my car’s given up the ghost. I think all that rain yesterday was too much for it. It spluttered all the way home last night then wouldn’t start at all this morning. I got a lift to college with my boyfriend.’
‘Yeah?’ Drew raised his eyebrows. ‘I could take a look at it for you if you like.’
‘Hey, that would be great. Would you charge much, I have to pay for stuff like that out of my allowance?’
Drew shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t charge anything, only for new parts if you needed any. I quite often do friends’ car’s for them.’
Her eyes shone. ‘Well... if you wouldn’t mind. It’s sitting in the drive looking sorry for itself at the moment. My dad could do it but he never gets a spare minute. Look...’ She sought around in her bag and came up with a note book. She wrote something down, tore off a page and handed it to him. ‘My number,’ she said. ‘Give me a buzz when you can come round.’
‘Right.’ Drew took the piece of paper and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. He felt as if he was in a daze. Cindy had given him her phone number! Then he came back to reality. Her car had conked out. He was the guy to mend it. The fact that she had given him her number meant nothing. It was purely a business arrangement. He was kidding himself if he thought it was anything more.
He swallowed. ‘I’m pretty busy in the evenings but I’ll give you a buzz at the weekend if that’s OK?’
That’s better, he added to himself. That sounds cool. As if I don’t really care one way or another. It was good job she wasn’t that close to him though. She might hear his heart thumping as if he had just run a marathon.
‘Great.’ She beamed him another of her dazzling smiles. She waved the books at him. ‘And thanks for these. If I read up on engines maybe I could help?’
‘Sure.’ Drew grinned back at her. He tipped the bike forward off its stand and swung his leg over the saddle. ‘There’s no hurry for them back, it’s stuff I did last year.’
‘Right.’ Cindy was gazing at him. ‘Hey,’ she said suddenly. ‘I don’t even know your name.’
Drew was just about to tell her when an open topped sports car came roaring up and parked on the other side of the road. Carl sat at the wheel wearing a pair of dark glasses. He looked like a movie star. He sat for a moment with his elbow resting on the edge of the open window.
Cindy waved to him then turned back to Drew. ‘There’s my boyfriend, I’d better go.’
‘See you, then,’ Drew said.
She smiled. ‘Yes.’
Drew watched her get into the car. She leaned across and kissed Carl on the cheek. He saw her show him the books and glance at Drew. Carl turned his way too. Drew could see he was frowning. The he said something else to Cindy, put the car into gear and roared off down the road.
Drew sighed, switched on the ignition and headed off home.
Drew’s mother was in the kitchen as he came in. He put his jacket round the back of the chair and dumped his helmet on the table.
Mary Devlin was tall and slender like her son, with light brown hair and blue eyes. Drew had got his dark good looks from his father.
She was just getting her coat on ready to go to work. She was a nurse at the local hospital and looked tired from a week’s night shift.
‘Good day?’ she asked as Drew got a Coke from the fridge, pulled the tab and took a swig.
‘Yes, thanks... ‘ Then he thought about all the time he’d spent hanging around for Cindy and her not turning up. ‘Well... OK, I suppose.’
‘You don’t sound too sure.’
He told her what had happened.
‘It doesn’t sound as if it was her fault,’ his mum said.
‘No, it was just a bit of a waste of time, that’s all.’
She patted his arm. ‘Never mind.’ She picked up her bag. ‘I must go, I’ve got to stop off at the supermarket before I go to work.’
‘I could have done the shopping,’ Drew said.
She shook her head. ‘It’s OK, I’ve got to get stuff for Sophie’s cookery lesson, it’s a bit complicated.’
‘I could still have done it.’
Mrs Devlin dropped a kiss on top of her son’s head. ‘Yes, I know. But it’s all right, really.’
Drew frowned. ‘Couldn’t Soph have got her own stuff?’Mrs Devlin sighed. ‘She’s having tea over at Joanne’s. Anyway I’ve got to do a bit of shopping for myself, a bit extra won’t hurt.’
‘You’re a real mug, Mum, you know that?’ Drew said angrily. His sister, Sophie, was just about the most selfish person he’d ever met. His mum had enough to do without having to run around after her as if she was still a little kid.
‘Tell me about it,’ his mum said with a weary smile.
Drew caught her hand. ‘You look tired, Mum. Get Soph to do her own shopping next time, huh?’ He made up his mind to have a word with his sister when she came in.
‘Now don’t go on at her, Drew. She still misses her dad, you know.’
‘She’s not the only one,’ Drew looked past his mother and gazed out of the window.
His mother put her hand on his shoulder. ‘I know. Look, Drew, I must go or I’ll miss the bus. See you in the morning.’She went out and shut the door quietly behind her. Drew saw her hurrying down the path and along the road to the bus stop. Things were tough enough for her without having to run around after Sophie all the time. He would definitely have a world with his little sister when she came in.
Just as Drew was getting his tea, the ‘phone rang.
It was Skip.
‘How did you get on with the body beautiful?’
Drew laughed. ‘What do you mean, how did I get on with her. I was just lending her some books that’s all.’
‘Oh.’ Skip sounded disappointed. ‘I thought maybe you’d ask her out.’
‘You’re nut
s,’ Drew said. ‘Anyway she’s got a boyfriend. Carl Hickson.’
Drew heard Skip snort down the phone. ‘Hickson! Trust him to have all the luck.’
‘Exactly,’ Drew said.
‘So you’re not going to see her again?’
Drew explained about the car. ‘She gave me her phone number,’ he said.’
‘Her phone number?’ Skip put on a silly voice. ‘She must be attracted to you then.’
‘Don’t be daft... I told you she’s going out with Hickson... she’d hardly ditch him for me, would she?’
‘No, but she must think you’re OK, all the same,’ Skip said.
Drew ran his hand through his hair and leaned against the door frame. ‘Skip, you’re fantasising.’
‘I’m not, you know. Think about it, Drew. She doesn’t need you to get her car going. By the looks of her, her family’s loaded. She could take easily take it to a garage.’
Drew explained about her allowance.
‘You wait,’ Skip said wisely. ‘I know about these things.’
Drew laughed again and hung up.
He thought about what Skip said as he munched his way through two helpings of spaghetti bolognese. Even if her parents were rich it didn’t mean they handed everything to her on a plate. If they did then she wouldn’t be driving around in a clapped out Mini in the first place would she?
He was still thinking about it as he got ready for work. He was just about to leave when his sister came in. He knew she’d arrived because the front door banged hard enough to break the glass.
‘That you, Soph?’ Drew came out of the bathroom and called down the stairs.
‘Who do you think it is, Snow White?’
Sophie had the knack of always answering one question with another. She stood in the hall taking off the black cape she’d got from the Oxfam shop. When she arrived home with it a week or two before Drew had told her she looked like Dracula’s daughter. She’d given him one of her witch looks and stormed off up the stairs in her black DM’s and mauve Mini-skirt.
Sophie barged through into the front room and slammed that door too. Drew heard one of her Heavy Metal tapes blaring out. The neighbours would be banging on the wall before long.
He finished shaving and put on his best jeans and sweatshirt. He didn’t really know why he was putting on his best stuff. He didn’t usually dress up to go to work. He supposed, in the back of his mind, he reckoned that if he happened to see Cindy he wanted to be wearing something decent. When she did eventually find out what he looked like beneath his helmet he wanted to look his best. He stared at himself in the mirror. He turned sideways and flexed his muscles. He supposed he wasn’t that bad looking. Not hunky like Carl of course, but then who was? Then he realised he was being pretty silly anyway. Even if he did bump into her she’d hardly take much notice of him. Especially if she was with Carl and especially if he happened to be wearing his grotty green overalls. He could tell by the way she had looked at Carl when he saw them together that she thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.
Drew poked his head round the front room door to speak to his sister before he left. ‘You going to be OK on your own?’
Sophie sat with her feet up on the settee chewing a lock of her hair. She didn’t look at him. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think you should have some company if possible while I’m out.’ Drew said patiently.
‘Judy’s coming round, isn’t she?’ Sophie mumbled.
Judy was Sophie’s friend from two doors down. Drew’s sister might be pretty disagreeable around the house but he reckoned she must have some charms. She had more friends that anyone else he knew.
‘Well, don’t raid the fridge.’
‘If I do you won’t be here to stop me will you?’ Sophie made a face without looking at him.
Drew went in and sat on the arm of the sofa. ‘Why don’t you cheer up for a change, Sophie?’ He was going to mention the shopping but Sophie looked unhappy enough without upsetting her even more. Drew was like that, always trying to spare people’s feelings if he could.
‘I’m perfectly cheerful,’ Sophie scowled. She jumped off the sofa and switched off the cassette player. She swept past him and ran up the stairs. He heard her bedroom door bang.
He shook his head, rose and went out.
It was such a balmy evening that Drew decided to walk to work. He loved walking along by the river. His favourite place of all was just along from the road bridge. It was a place he and his dad had discovered years ago. If you went down the bridge steps and over the stile you could walk along the river into town. Half way along there was a disused boathouse in a narrow man-made creek. It was hidden by rampant hedges and great weeping willows that grew over the entrance. No-one had used it for years. You could push your way through and sit by the willow trees on a spring day and watch kingfishers feeding their young along the banks of the inlet. Or gaze at swans gliding past as if they had all the time in the world. He often went there for a bit of peace and quiet. If he wanted to study, or read in the sun or just sit and think for a while.
There was no time to linger this evening though. If he didn’t get a move on, he’d be late for work. He strode along the footpath, up over the lock gates and made his way through the riverside gardens to the Pavilion Hotel.
As he crossed the car park Drew noticed Carl’s car by the entrance to the fitness centre. Maybe he’d give his work-out a miss that evening. He just wasn’t in the mood for sparring with Hickson tonight.
The car was still there when Drew finished work. On his way to the locker room, he spotted Max talking to one of the porters in the corridor.
‘Coming for your work-out?’ Max called as he saw Drew walking towards them. He nodded goodnight to the porter.
‘Thought I’d give it miss tonight,’ Drew said.
‘You’ve gotta keep at it if you want to look like me,’ Max grinned and flexed his forearm.
Drew grinned back. He’d never get as big as Max in a hundred years. ‘Well, man, I’ll keep trying,’ he joked. Then his face fell. ‘Truth is I didn’t want to see Carl tonight. If he’s in one of his sarcastic moods I just might smack him in the mouth.’
‘You won’t have to,’ Max said. ‘He’s not here.’
Drew frowned. ‘His car’s outside.’
Max shook his head. ‘Well, I haven’t seen him all evening. He must be doing something else.’
‘OK, then,’ Drew said, changing his mind. ‘I might just see you, then.’
Max slapped him on the back. ‘Good man. I’ve told you before, you don’t want to let him get to you.’
Drew pulled a face. ‘I keep trying.’
In the locker room Drew took off his overalls, grabbed his sports bag and made his way through to the gym.
Loud rock music hit him as he went inside. The place had almost emptied out as it usually did this time of the evening. In one of the mirrors Drew could see the reflection of a blonde girl lying on one of the benches pumping iron. He drew in his breath. He’d recognise those tanned legs anywhere. Cindy.
Max had appeared and was grinning at him from behind the counter. ‘Stop starin’, Drew. You can be arrested for those thoughts you’re havin’.’
Drew hadn’t realised he was gazing at her so intently. He scratched his eyebrow. ‘Who me?’
Max grinned again. ‘Yes, you. If I was twenty years younger I’d be havin’ them myself.’
Just then, Cindy came over to get a drink from the cold cabinet. She was wearing pale pink cycling shorts with a faded black T-shirt that said ‘Bondai Beach’ on the front.
‘Thanks, Max.’ Cindy handed him a fifty pence piece. She pulled the tab and took a swig from the can. She wiped her face on the sweatband around her wrist. She nodded to Drew.
‘Hi,’ she said, frowning slightly.
He swallowed quickly. ‘Hi.’ His voice sounded husky so he cleared his throat noisily. He glanced at her face then looked away.
Cindy was regarding
him with a puzzled look in her eyes. One dark blonde eyebrow creased in a slight frown.
‘You know Drew Devlin?’ Max said by way of an introduction. ‘Drew this is Cindy Raven.’
‘Hi,’ Drew said again. He was thinking what a crazy surname for someone so blonde as Cindy. He dropped his eyes again, suddenly too shy to return her curious gaze.
Someone called Max from across the gym to go and adjust one of the machines. He left the counter. Cindy was still staring at Drew. She narrowed her eyes slightly then took another drink from her can.
‘I saw you the other evening, didn’t I?’ she said. ‘You had a bit of an argument with Carl.’
So she had noticed him after all. Drew scratched one eyebrow. ‘Er.. yeah. we go back a long way, me and him.’
‘Oh? He didn’t say.’
Drew shrugged. ‘No reason why he should.’
‘No, I suppose not.’ She was still looking at him as if there was something about him she couldn’t quite make out.
‘How were the books?’ he said lightly.
A ghost of a puzzled smile crossed Cindy’s generous mouth. ‘Books?’
‘Yeah,’ Drew said. He smiled. ‘Car mechanics...’
Cindy hesitated then her face broke into a broad grin. She slapped her hand to her forehead. ‘Of course... I knew I knew you. You’re my knight in shining leather?’
‘Window cleaning’s not my only talent you know.’
Cindy laughed loudly. ‘I don’t believe it.’ Her eyes sparkled. She looked Drew up and down and he was so glad he’d worn his best clobber he could have jumped for joy.
‘Wet leather I should have said.’ She was still smiling.
He put his hand to his chest and grinned. ‘That’s me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I just didn’t tie you up with...’
‘With the guy in the yukki green overalls cleaning windows?’
‘Er...well... to be honest, no I didn’t.’
He could see she was embarrassed. ‘It really doesn’t matter,’ he said quickly.
She took a deep breath. ‘The books are great... a bit complicated.’
‘It’s better when you’re actually working on an engine,’ Drew said. He leaned against the counter and tried to look relaxed although his heart was thudding. ‘You know, the diagrams and stuff actually mean something.’