by Edie Baylis
She glanced towards Ned and Zed sitting a few yards away attempting to cook something over the camp fire. Ned was so stoned he was putting food around the edge of the pan rather than in it.
Turning away to light a cigarette, Maggie tried not to laugh, but picking up the scent of burning, she turned back to the fire where thick, acrid smoke rose from the contents of the pan. Zed had wandered off and was having an in-depth conversation with a tree and Ned had passed out.
A fat bloke with matted green hair was propped against one of the old camper vans playing with himself, not giving a fuck it was broad daylight. He was surrounded by people taking it in turns to drunkenly throw stones at him and he appeared not to notice the rocks bouncing off the top of his head. He just continued staring at the sky whilst his arm stretched over his large belly, his hand pumping furiously up and down.
Maggie grimaced and turned away. There were just some things that were just too gross.
She tried to remember whether she’d got any dope left. She could do with a bit of a toke to calm her nerves. Picking at her fingers, she absentmindedly wondered what Jane and Seth would do now.
Apparently they’d been living in the car since being kicked out from where they’d been staying. The police turning up and arresting them for something to do with a house had been the last straw it seemed. They’d already been keeping the family up half the night with their constant slanging matches and noisy sex. The dog had howled all day and the kids had freaked out by the constant stream of ‘weirdos,’ as the woman had put it, which were coming round. They’d been given their marching orders and that had been that.
Maggie couldn’t help but smile. They should have put the rest of the money Jane had won when she’d bet her car at poker on a deposit for a flat. Instead, true to form, they’d gone on a bender and blown the entire lot in one weekend. They’d drunk the pubs dry, snorted enough coke to finish off a football team and then rolled up to the poshest hotel in town in the middle of the night demanding a room. They’d spent the remainder of the weekend taking more drugs and racking up complaints from the rest of the guests and when they’d left, they’d grabbed as much stuff as they could carry and jumped out of the window.
Admittedly she didn’t know Seth too well as she’d disappeared with Ian not long after he’d got with Jane, but knew he was just as crazy. Those two loved each other passionately, but their combined volatile personalities were dangerous. It was unsurprising people hung around to see what would happen when they kicked off. It was like a fucking film.
Maggie’s attention was suddenly diverted by Seth’s Senator roaring into the field. Watching Jane get out of the car, she ran over.
“Brought you a smoke,” Jane grinned, hugging Maggie and handing her a large reefer. “Let’s get it going.”
Smiling, Maggie grabbed Jane’s hand as they walked across the field. “What you doing here?”
Jane glanced back at Seth who was following them. “Oh, just passing....”
Nodding politely at Maggie, Seth continued towards the campfire where Ned was lying, unsuspecting that his deliverance had arrived.
TWELVE
JANE LEANT BACK IN the car seat and blew smoke slowly out of her lungs. The music playing on the stereo was tripping her out and she needed to change it, but couldn’t cope with rummaging around in the glove box for a different tape.
Looking out of the window into the gloom of the night, she stared at the towering chimneys from the derelict factory opposite that cast long-fingered shadows onto the car park and sighed. They seriously needed to find somewhere else to crash. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too long before they’d get the money for a flat.
Glancing over at Seth in the passenger seat, Jane smiled. His eyes were closed and his legs were stretched out as far as possible. Zoned out, a soft smile played on his lips and the moon cast weird reflections on his face making it appear to sparkle. Even after all this time, she found him beautiful.
One thing was for sure and that was she couldn’t smoke any more dope. She was at risk of falling asleep and they had stuff to do. As Bob Dylan’s voice continued to thrum through her body, she fiddled with a tassel on her jacket and desperately tried to concentrate.
At least she wasn’t working at the box factory anymore. She’d binned off her new job after a week, courtesy of the perverted foreman who’d tried to stick his hand down her top. He was probably now on Seth’s list of things to deal with, but Jane didn’t care either way. The only score she was hell bent on settling right now was with Debbie. Being as Ned had now been offloaded, it was her turn to shine.
She’d spent the last few days clocking Debbie’s movements and as far as she was concerned it was game on as soon as possible. In the meantime, she’d gone for an interview for a receptionist. Well, why not? She’d see what happened.
Taking a swig of vodka from the bottle, Jane banged down a couple of uppers and nudged Seth.
Seth was off in a world of his own and inwardly accepted they shouldn’t have smoked the fourth joint. Squeezing Jane’s hand he tried to pull himself together.
Clumsily he pulled her over the gearstick and ran his fingers down her face. “Let’s get some fresh air,” he murmured against her lips.
Teasingly nibbling his bottom lip, Jane opened the passenger door and fell laughing onto the grass verge. Rolling himself out of the car and on top of her, Seth pushed her knickers deftly to one side.
IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE Phil sat with his back to the bar with a pint of lager in his hand. He glanced between the thick steel bars over the window and fingered the roll of money in his pocket, hoping Seth would be on time. The boys had more work for him if he wanted.
Running his thick fingers over the stubble on his shaved head, he glared at the pair of Capuchin monkeys in their glass-fronted case set into the wall. He hated monkeys at the best of times and this pair were looking at him. He didn’t like anyone staring at him, especially monkeys.
Quickly moving his eyes away, he resumed gazing out of the window and checked his bike parked in the middle of the long row outside the converted semi-detached house. Clocking the cop car cruising slowly past for the third time in the last ten minutes, he hoped Seth wouldn’t be too drunk when he rocked up. He didn’t want him getting a tug.
“SETH, WHY DO WE HAVE to go tonight?” Jane whined as they pulled into the estate. “I know you’ve got to pick the cash up but couldn’t that wait until tomorrow?”
Turning towards her, Seth smiled. “You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
Jane wasn’t convinced. It wasn’t that she minded going to the Chapter House. In fact she loved it there and thought the world of Phil. It was just she could have done with another round of the roll-around on the grass. The reduction in their sex life since living in the car was getting frustrating to say the least.
As they pulled up alongside the collection of heavily chromed-up machines lined up outside the Chapter House, she wondered whether they could book into a hotel for a couple of days with the money they were collecting.
Phil opened the door and grinned, exposing his gold teeth. Stretching his arms out towards Jane as they walked up the narrow garden path, he swept her backwards and planted a sloppy kiss on her mouth.
Smacking Seth on the back he pumped his outstretched hand. “Come in, come in. Let’s have a fucking beer or ten eh?”
Following Phil into the Chapter House, Seth watched Jane disappear to hug some of the other Highwaymen and pulling up a stool, he eyed the monkeys in their glass prison. “See the monkeys are still watching you, Philip?”
“Hmm,” Phil grimaced, his bulging blue eyes rolling with mock disgust. Fishing in his pocket, he handed the wad of notes to Seth. “Yours, I think?”
Seth nodded, quickly placing the roll into his shirt pocket and picked up the pint poured for him by the biker behind the bar. “Thanks mate.”
“Some more work if you want it?” Phil muttered quietly.
Seth cocked his eyebrow at his friend and
gave him a lopsided smile. “You know me...”
“That I do, Seth. That I do.”
Seth grinned at Jane perching on Wazza’s lap and laughed as she played with the big biker’s hair. God, he loved that woman. Now he had the readies he’d get that flat. Then they could be together without being beholden to any other fucker.
He’d also booked the hand fasting ceremony. Ok, he knew she kept saying they didn’t need a piece of paper to prove how they felt, but he wanted to do it properly. First the hand fasting, then the church.
Happily slugging down the rest of his pint, Seth replaced his glass on the bar.
Feeling Seth’s eyes burning into her back, Jane fought against the urge to turn and look at him. Draining her glass of vodka, she locked her eyes onto Wazza’s beard and pretended to listen as he droned on about the latest Motorhead concert. She was running out of excuses not to go back to the bar now her glass was empty, but before she could get up he appeared.
Smiling, Seth swapped the empty glass out of her hand with a full one. “I’ve got some news.” Flicking his tongue in Jane’s ear playfully, he sauntered back towards the bar, knowing she’d follow.
“Excuse me one minute,” Jane muttered to Wazza, who smiled benevolently as she lifted herself off his lap.
At the bar she wrapped her arms around Seth’s neck, resisting the urge to unbutton his shirt and trail her mouth down his chest. “What’s the news then?”
Seth patted his chest pocket. “Looks like we’ve got our flat.”
Jane’s eyes moved to the fat roll of notes and arched an eyebrow. The job must have been a big one to pull in that sort of cash. “Fucking brilliant! When can we get it?”
Seth’s mouth reached for hers as he pulled her forward. “I’ll phone them tomorrow.”
Phil laughed. “For fucks sake! Can’t you guys get a room?”
Seth’s eyes sparkled. “That’s exactly what we’re doing, mate and some!” Moving his lips to Jane’s ear, he whispered, “Our wedding’s in two weeks’ time. That ok with you?”
Smiling, she looked into his green eyes, her heart hammering with excitement and nodded. She couldn’t wait to marry him.
Seth grinned at Phil. “We’re getting married in two weeks mate and you’re invited!”
Phil laughed watching Seth invade Jane’s mouth hungrily. He loved those two.
THIRTEEN
DEBBIE BREATHED A SIGH of relief. Well almost. She’d still got ten minutes until the end of her shift at the new bakery job and she’d had one of those days.
No amount of paracetamol had shifted the bloody headache she’d woken up with this morning. It might have been something to do with the eight pints of cider she’d put away at the Black Eagle last night, but on the other hand, it may have been because she hadn’t gone to bed until 4am. She couldn’t sleep and had just about had enough.
She’d been trying to get in touch with that mental case Paul for three weeks, but couldn’t find the fucker anywhere. When she hadn’t seen him in the Eagle, she’d gone round to his place and banged on the outer door for what felt like ten years.
Finally a greasy fat twat in a string vest had opened it. Running his tongue over his lips the man had stared at her like a bloody retard, but eventually Debbie had deduced Paul had moved out one night without warning. The man said the first anyone knew about it was when the ‘To Let’ sign went up.
Frustrated, she’d then gone to Paul’s work and learnt from a man smoking outside that he’d buggered off from there as well. He’d disappeared one lunchtime and never came back.
Back down the Eagle, still no one had seen hide nor hair of him, so she’d no clue what had happened or where he was. Apart from that, she’d stayed in waiting for Seth to appear again which hadn’t happened either and she was getting pissed off. She’d been even more pissed off to hear he was back with Jane. Had all her hard work and planning been for jack shit?
Gritting her teeth, Debbie slammed the metal tray she was holding onto the work surface angrily. A couple of minutes left before she could leave. Come on, she needed a bloody drink.
WALKING HOME IN HER bright green uniform, Debbie was still fuming. Stopping at the corner shop, she picked up a pack of fags, a ready meal and another two litre bottle of cheap cider. She’d only got two bottles left and she’d need lots tonight. Her plan was to get really drunk. All this crap was starting to make her ill.
It was bad enough fending off Tracy and Aunt Barb’s questions about the pregnancy. She still hadn’t feigned the ‘miscarriage’ and knew they were starting to wonder, but she wasn’t going to worry about that now. She just wanted to get drunk and punch someone. Like Jane. All of this was her fault.
Finally reaching the flat, Debbie groaned. Her feet were killing. Putting the key in the lock she pushed the door open and kicked it shut with relief.
Tripping over an empty box and a pile of dirty washing in the hallway she swore under her breath. Now to bung this chicken curry thing in the oven for half an hour and make a start on the cider.
Flicking the light on, Debbie ventured into the kitchen, promptly dropping the bags on the floor in shock. The bottle of cider landed on the curry, splitting the cellophane packet open and the messy contents spilled over the cracked lino. “What the...?”
Sitting at the chipped table, Jane looked up slowly and smiled. “I trust I need no introduction?” Picking up a glass of cider, she took a swig. “Is this really all you’ve got to drink in this filthy shit hole, Debbie? Cheap cider?”
Debbie was so gobsmacked to see the Psycho-Bitch sitting in her kitchen, she couldn’t answer the question. Her fat mouth flapped up and down silently. Come on get a grip. Do something, she thought to herself. All of her previous bravado had vanished and although she didn’t want to admit it, she felt extremely uncomfortable.
“Oh, I know,” Jane’s cold eyes glanced at the glass in an expression of disgust. “I didn’t particularly want to drink from one of your glasses either.” Her eyes travelled back to Debbie’s. “But I was thirsty. I’ve been waiting a very, very long time for you.”
“How... How....”
Lighting a cigarette, Jane blew the smoke directly towards Debbie. “How did I get in?” she smirked. “It was extremely easy. If you know what you’re doing, that is.”
“Wh-What do you want, Jane?”
“What do I want?” Leisurely taking a couple more drags from the cigarette, Jane ground the remains directly onto the table top. “Not much really.”
With the speed of a panther, she jumped from behind the table like a coiled spring and pinned Debbie to the door, crushing her windpipe. “Just wondered why you thought you could fuck with my life, you fat slut!” she screamed, her voice rising.
“I... I....” Debbie stammered, her eyes wide with terror as she gasped for breath and tried to prise Jane’s vice-like grip away from her throat.
“Thought you could make up bullshit and fuck me over?”
“C-Can’t breathe,” Debbie wheezed, her eyes bulging.
Jane smiled sarcastically. “That’s the general idea you thick bitch!”
With her free hand, she yanked Debbie’s head backwards and held it steady. “Do you know how fucking easy it would be to slice your throat? Have you any idea how much I want to kill you?”
Feeling a tell-tale trickle between her legs, Debbie wondered if this could get any worse.
Jane’s grip tightened. “Thought you could drug up my man did you, you dirty bitch?”
Unable to move her head to nod or shake it, Debbie scrunched her eyes shut instead.
“DID YOU?”
Trying to swallow, Debbie found she couldn’t do that either and turned light-headed. Hearing white noise as well as a funny whistling sound in her ears, her head thumped. As the room started to spin, she realised she was going to hit the deck. Suddenly the pressure lifted as Jane let go. Slumping forward, she staggered towards the table, desperately gulping in air.
Leaving Debbie to wheeze a
nd retch, Jane folded her arms. “You disgust me!”
Weakly looking up, Debbie was unable to retaliate. If she moved she’d shit herself, pass out or both. Her eyes were watering and most of the blood vessels in them had broken under the pressure of the stranglehold.
“Did you really think you could break us up for long?” Jane smiled. “Oh, and it appears you’ve pissed yourself”.
“I’m sorry,” Debbie whispered, not knowing what else to say. Could she get a knife out of the drawer without Jane getting there first?
Unfortunately her eyes must have moved unconsciously with her thoughts because Jane immediately turned towards the drawer and opened it.
Pulling out a carving knife, Jane turned it slowly around in her hand, the blade glinting in the light. “After one of these by any chance?”
Seeing the panic across Debbie’s face, Jane smiled. “You’ve got to be a lot better than that to outwit me, bitch. And a damn lot fucking quicker!”
“I-I wasn’t goi....” Before she’d even comprehended that Jane had moved, Debbie was pushed back against the door. “No... NO! Don’t!” she blubbered, starting to cry. Why the fuck had she started this? Everyone had been right, she shouldn’t have gone there. Jane was a fucking psycho.
Grabbing the front of Debbie’s uniform, Jane sliced between the two collars with the knife. “Let’s see exactly what Seth’s missed shall we?”
As Debbie screamed, Jane laughed heartily and placed the knife on the table. Grasping the collar, she tore the material hard and the uniform fell to the floor into the puddle of piss.
Standing back, her eyes roamed slowly up and down Debbie’s dirty grey stretchy bra and pink piss-drenched knickers. “Dear, oh dear...” Tutting loudly, she counted the rolls of fat. “You don’t look pregnant to me. Just fucking fat and dirty!”
Debbie burned with humiliation and shame. “I’m not pregnant...”