by Edie Baylis
Why the fuck he’d ended up with that retard as his cousin he’d never know, but as long as no one found out they were related, he wasn’t too bothered. Besides, the only reason he was going along with it wasn’t because they were family, but he’d actually thought Paul’s plan was pretty damn good. Furthermore, it echoed his own feelings anyway, so it was all good.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Stuart scowled. At least it was Saturday and he wouldn’t have to wind himself up watching the stupid tart walking to her silly fucking car. All self-important because she now worked in an office.
The only bonus of them moving in next door was that he was getting nicely in with Seth. Although they’d always been on speaking terms, they’d never been ‘mates’, but over the last couple of months he’d found if he came out of his front door at the same time, he could strike up a friendly conversation. It had got even better when after a few days he’d been invited in for a smoke and a beer.
When Jane had returned from work to find him sitting on their sofa, her face had been a picture. Stuart smiled. Especially as Seth had been thoroughly stoned and was laughing helplessly at his jokes. Since then he’d timed his subsequent visits very well - each time pissing Jane off further.
The other night he’d spent hours settled on their sofa, making sure he was part of every conversation. When he’d finally left at 2am they’d been having a row. Perfect!
Stuart didn’t know why they bothered with each other anyway. They were always arguing. Most of the arguments, apart from being about him, were over Jane’s job or Seth’s dealing. From what he’d heard through the cardboard walls, she hated people round the flat. This was of course why it was even more enjoyable to invite himself round on a regular basis.
Stuart rubbed his hands together. If Jane had a problem with people being there, then she’d have even more of a problem it being him. He knew she despised him and the feeling was mutual.
With any luck, his presence would help split them up: along with the bits of information he’d been feeding Seth’s paranoid mind to get him thinking – those little seeds of doubt about Jane, which caused him to pick even more fights with the snotty cow. It was all good.
Congratulating himself for his good work, Stuart looked around the messy room for his shoes. Locating them under a pair of jeans he jumped off the bed with a spring in his step.
The sunlight wasn’t annoying him anymore. It was a beautiful day.
ROLLING HERSELF OUT OF bed into a standing position, Jane’s mind caught up with her head in a nauseating cerebral lurch. She stepped over a man with grungy ginger dreadlocks on the floor, only to stumble over someone else.
Studying the man with his shaved head and patched denim a little harder through her blurred vision, she wasn’t sure if she recognised him. She certainly didn’t recognise the other one.
Grabbing one of Seth’s crumpled T-shirts from under the fat skinhead, she dragged it out from under him and glared as she pulled it over her naked body.
Propping himself up in bed, Seth put together the third joint of the morning and looked at Jane with a nonplussed expression. “What’s the matter with you? You should be radiant and glowing with happiness after that good seeing to I just gave you.”
Jane glowered at Seth as he felt around on the bed for his Zippo. He knew she was sick of waking up with people lying on the floor at the bottom of the bed that hadn’t been there the night before. Her brows knitted together in frustration. It was him, not her who insisted on leaving the front door on the latch so people could come and go as they pleased.
A curl of blue smoke escaped from between Seth’s lips and twisted its way towards the ceiling. “Jane you know we need to do this. We need the money.” Holding the smoke in his lungs, he tried to bring his high back up. He was nowhere near as mellow as he wanted to be and her scowling face was winding him up. For fuck’s sake, it wasn’t like he hadn’t been straight with her was it?
He’d explained that in addition to the work from the Highwaymen, he’d be dealing too. It was hardly like she could have too much of an aversion. She took enough gear to sink a fucking ship.
However, he admitted he wasn’t bringing in half as much as he’d planned. Between them they were taking most of it themselves rather than selling it, hence why he had to implement an open door policy to shift as much as possible.
Seth felt his temper rising further as Jane stood glaring at him. “Who the hell’s going to buy it if we never answer the fucking door?”
Jane felt like smashing Seth’s face in watching him taking toke after toke of the joint. Was he not going to offer it to her? “Don’t be sarcastic, you piece of shit!” Her anger flared like a beacon. “None of this was supposed to be going on from here. That’s what we agreed, was it not?”
Pushing himself forward, Seth leant on his thighs and glanced up with a sneer plastered across his handsome face. “No. You agreed that, not me. Who are you? Miss-High-And-Fucking-Mighty?”
“And as for that twat next door. Why do I go to work when you sit here getting wasted with that piece of shit? He might as well move in!”
The bodies on the floor stirred with Jane’s raised voice. “I mean,” she prodded the ginger one with her foot, “who the fuck is this?”
Seth shrugged and ground the joint out into the ashtray. “You think that’s all I do is it, you stupid bitch? Whilst you’re sucking that fat cunt off at work?”
“You what?” Jane screamed, her dark eyes blazing.
Seth smiled nastily. “If I find out you’ve done anything like that it will be the last thing you do!”
“Don’t you dare threaten me Seth Wright. Go fuck yourself!” Jane stormed towards the bedroom door, only to trip over a piece of underlay. Swearing loudly, she regained her balance and stalked out of the bedroom, slamming the door on Seth’s laughter.
Fuming, Jane made her way down the hallway, noticing a new box shoved against the wall which hadn’t been there the day before. Bending down, she leant against the wall and lifted the flap of the box with one hand.
More guns.
Picking one up, Jane tested its weight. It looked like a nice one. She pulled back the chamber, hoping by some miracle it was loaded so she could shoot the giggling bastard. Typical. Not loaded.
Chucking the gun back into the box with a clatter, Jane pushed the lid down with her foot and carried on down the hall, feeling horribly sick. She swallowed a few times in quick succession to quell the rising bile and continued into the kitchen.
Eyeing the devastation which greeted her, she leant against the sticky worktop and tried to stop herself from heaving by taking deep breaths.
Taking a fag from one of many half-empty cigarette packets strewn around, she lit it, her heart banging and her mind speeding. Closing her eyes, she immediately wished she hadn’t and opened them again quickly.
Jane peered into one of the cupboards for the vodka, but saw there was nothing in there apart from a tin of unpleasant-looking soup and used pieces of tin foil to make pipes. Sighing, she opened the fridge where a collection of used tea bags sat on one of the shelves. What the fuck were they for then?
Swaying slightly, she then reached for a bottle of lemonade sitting dejectedly in the fridge door and took a swig before spotting the vodka shining like a beacon behind a pile of half-crushed beer cans and an open tin of dog food by the sink.
Making her way over, Jane narrowly missed treading on a chunk of broken china from the mug she’d thrown at Seth during yet another argument. She crammed a handful of pills into her mouth and swallowed them with a large gulp of neat vodka.
Seth staggered in bare-chested, looking as rough as hell and gave her a bloodshot stare.
Cutting him a filthy look as he flicked the kettle on, Jane stomped out of the kitchen feeling there was more chance of calming down and getting some peace if she sat in the lounge. This was scuppered on finding three bombed-out people spark out on the floor.
Indignantly she opened the p
lywood hatch between the lounge and kitchen and pointed wildly around the room at the various bodies. “Who the FUCK are they?”
Poking his head through Seth surveyed the people on the floor. Shrugging he shut the hatch in Jane’s face to continue rolling another joint.
Past caring, Jane stepped over the bodies and switched the stereo on full blast. She looked down at the Saturday morning shoppers going about their business, blissfully unaware that Planet Zog existed above them.
As she sang along loudly to Led Zeppelin, Jane noticed no one on the floor had moved, despite the thumping music and her raucous singing.
Maybe they were all dead, including her?
Seth entered the lounge, taking no notice of the people on the floor and smiled, listening to Jane sing. He could never stay angry with her for long. Although he should perhaps find out what these people were doing on his floor, he figured he’d deal with her first.
Wrapping his arms around Jane’s waist tightly, he whipped the fag out from between his lips and chucked it to the floor. He wasn’t anywhere near finished with her yet. Feeling her anger dissipate, he tilted her face up and pulled her impatiently towards him.
“Seth...” Jane tried to push him off and avoid his mouth as he slipped his hand between her legs. She was still cross with him. Sort of.
Seth ripped the T-shirt Jane wore clean down the middle and dropped it on the head of one of the men on the floor.
“What’s going on?” the stranger slurred as Seth and Jane stumbled over him.
“Ignore him,” Seth panted, his mouth clamping down hard on her nipple, his fingers making her more than ready for him.
As desire over took her like a train she ignored the people watching and wrapped her hand around Seth’s cock. She closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure as she fell back on the sofa, his mouth on hers.
TWENTY
ELIZA STARED AT JANE. She looked great, but had a face like a slapped arse. For Christ’s sake. It was her bloody birthday and she could do without Jane ruining the night.
Pouring the remains of her pint of cider down her throat, she watched as Jane stared towards the bar. “Just leave him to it,” Eliza snapped, wishing Jane and Seth would just get over their row. “Let’s get wasted!”
“Did you realise when I got back after dropping you off, that wanker was round again? Seth knows I fucking hate him, yet he still lets him in,” Jane moaned.
Eliza sighed. She’d heard it all before. In fact, since Jane had moved into that flat, she’d heard just how much she hated Stuart every day and she’d just about had enough of listening to it.
“Yeah, you told me already,” she muttered, for what seemed like the tenth time in the last hour. “Don’t let the twat ruin my birthday. Let’s just have a laugh.”
Jane wasn’t in the mood for having a laugh, being rational or even listening. “Seth doesn’t give a shit how I feel about anything!”
Eliza groaned. Fuck it. She would enjoy herself even if Seth and Jane wanted to sulk all night.
Watching through the flashing lights as Jane’s face seethed whilst she knocked back glass after glass of vodka, Eliza got up to join the others.
DAVIS POPPED HIS HEAD around the doors of the underground bar and scanned the room. He’d left Spooner on the door upstairs for five minutes during a lull to take the opportunity to go for a piss, but couldn’t resist having a quick check downstairs.
Spotting Jane in the corner, he eyed the expression on her face and frowned. She’d been on one when she’d come in earlier and his normal banter and inherent flirting had gone down like a lead balloon. It didn’t take rocket science to work out it was something to do with Seth.
Glancing over towards the bar, he watched Seth flashing his winning smile at a gaggle of admiring girls and bristled. It had taken days for his black eye to heal and he’d been mercilessly ripped to shreds by just about everyone for getting a whack.
Even Seth had the fucking cheek to laugh and Davis had been forced to swallow the overwhelming urge to smack the prick in his straight teeth. Then to make matters worse, Phil had blanked him the other day, looking at him in that condescending way reserved for wankers.
Clenching his jaw, Davis continued to stare over the crowd watching Seth casually pour four pints at the same time. God, he really thought he was something else didn’t he the smug bastard.
Ok, so he was useful from the brute force side of things, but he was still a twat. Davis frowned. He knew full well Seth dealt gear from the vantage point of the bar, but he couldn’t use that one against him without dropping himself in it. He himself confiscated dope and then resold it.
Maybe he should have a word with one of the coppers that raided the place? That would piss on Seth’s bonfire somewhat wouldn’t it? Or he could ‘accidentally’ let slip to the gaffer that the man had his fingers in the till? The trouble was the tills always balanced and how Seth managed that was a mystery.
It was no good. He’d have to put more thought into it. He didn’t want a reputation of being a grass. His life wouldn’t be worth living...
Maybe he’d have a go on Jane? That would destroy Seth would it not?
Jane looked up from where she was sitting and Davis raised his hand in a wave, giving her one of his best smiles. Yeah, he’d love a piece of her.
DIGGER GRINNED AS HE lifted Jane over his head towards the ceiling. At least after a bucket-load of double vodkas, she’d finally cheered up.
Seth had blanked her all evening, having made no attempt to sort out the argument. In fact, he’d looked over several times to see if she’d noticed him flirting with girls at the bar, but Jane had just looked away refusing to rise to the bait.
As he twirled Jane around, Digger could feel Seth’s eyes burning into the back of his head and sensed the anger crackling between the pair of them. Frowning, he decided he’d get her out at closing before it all kicked off. That way, by the time she got home, they should have both calmed down. It was worth a try anyway.
Digger sighed. Even though he’d fucked up his chance with Jane, he hadn’t been surprised when she’d got with Seth - they were well-suited. It was just a shame their tempers, excessive booze and drug intake got in the way. It needed to stop before it fucked everything up.
ELIZA SAT ON THE BENCH seat, trying to ignore Jake’s advances. She was so pissed off. Jane’s constant scowling all evening had put her in the worst mood ever. It was her birthday. HERS. She should be having a top night, not babysitting Jane’s anger problem or her and Seth’s fucked up relationship.
Glancing at a figure in the shadows partly obscured by the wall, she squinted and tried to focus. Who was it and who the fuck was he looking at? He was definitely staring over here. Christ, he was creepy!
Looking over her shoulder, Eliza followed the lurking figure’s stare, realising he was actually staring at Maggie. With a bolt of recognition she realised it was Maggie’s nutter ex. She struggled to think of his name. Ian! That was it, Ian.
Involuntarily shuddering, Eliza pulled her eyes away and attempted to coordinate her hand through her drunkenness into her bag for a cigarette.
As Digger sauntered over, her stomach somersaulted. She’d made it clear on several occasions she’d like a tumble with him, but it was obviously not reciprocated. She’d even thrown herself at him once, but he’d been having none of it.
Eliza felt her temper spike again. She didn’t usually have this problem getting men, unless of course they wanted someone else more. There was no guessing as to who that was in Digger’s case.
Digger continued to push his way through the crowds back to Jane and Eliza felt like crying with rage and frustration. Her anger flared even further when he handed her a drink. For God’s sake, Jane had been given drinks all bloody night. How many more did she fucking want? It was her birthday for God’s sake, not Jane’s!
The cow was taking the mick right in fucking front of her. Besides, why had she even gone out with Digger in the first place? Jane knew she’d al
ways liked him, but she had to snap him up first. As usual.
Worse still, she knew full well Digger still held a torch for Jane and that was probably the real reason he wasn’t interested. Yes, she’d bet her bottom dollar that was it. In fact, look at her. She was encouraging him right now.
Thank you very much Jane. Why don’t you just fuck everyone’s lives up yeah, Eliza thought bitterly, her temper spiralling out of control. Wasn’t it enough Jane had Seth, without keeping all the other eligible men hankering after her too? She’d just about had enough of it.
Knocking the rest of her cider down her throat, Eliza slammed the glass down carelessly on the table and unsteadily pushed herself to her feet.
Jane was far too busy shouting something down Digger’s ear to have any warning before the back of her hair was grabbed.
“You fucking bitch!” Eliza screamed, pulling Jane’s head around.
Reacting instinctively, Jane grabbed Eliza’s arm and twisted it painfully.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Digger roared at Eliza.
Shocked by the unprovoked attack, Jane stared incredulously at Eliza. “What the hell are you doing you silly cow?” she yelled. “What’s your problem?”
Eliza tried to focus, her face contorting in a mask of rage. “It’s YOU!” she spat, taking an unsteady step forwards. “You fuck everyone’s heads up and it isn’t right.”
Jane was starting to lose her temper. “Don’t be ridiculous! I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Oh yes you do! You’ve got Seth, so don’t pretend you want Digger too. Although you’re probably fucking him as well!”
By now everyone had caught wind something was going down and had stopped to watch. A steely glint formed in Jane’s eyes. There was only so much she was prepared to take. “Shut the fuck up now Eliza, before I shut you up....”
Out of the corner of Jane’s vision she could see Seth making his way over from the bar and Davis step through the double doors. Here we go, she thought smiling. It was funny how quickly word spread when something was about to kick off.