by Jacky Gray
“And this would be a problem because ...?”
“Back to the old besmirching routine.” He sighed and held her hand, gazing into her eyes for a while. Shaking his head, he drank some more water and offered her the glass. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford to go to college anywhere else in this country; the rents are way too high.”
She sipped. “So we’ll carry on as we are for the time being.”
“Carry on what as we are?” Kat’s mum walked in, heading to the fridge and pulling out a chicken and a pack of sausages.
Liam sprang up, almost knocking over a chair. “Oh - um - I ...”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you jump; must be guilt. I shan’t ask what you were up to.” She moved to the cupboard and pulled out some vegetables. “Now what is it you were carrying on?”
Kat put down the glass, thankful her mum hadn’t come in a few minutes earlier. “The band suggested Jude and I could do some more backing vocals. I wondered whether they wanted us to come along to rehearsals.” She knew she was babbling, but this wasn’t too far from the truth. “Liam said Gary might be funny if it got to be a regular thing; he might feel threatened.”
Her mother’s glance said she’d bought it, but she wasn’t happy. “And what about your school work? You mustn’t be neglecting it to go off singing in bands.”
Liam recovered his composure, playing along with the fib. “That’s pretty much what I said, Mrs Flynn.”
“Now how many times must I tell you? Mrs Flynn is Kat’s granny. Call me Kath, or Aunty Kath if you must. Now, will you shoo out of my kitchen? I have a Sunday lunch to prepare.”
“Want any help? I’m a dab hand with a spud peeler.”
“Hasn’t your ma got you well trained? You’re all right, I can manage. You two run along and plan the next Take Zone or East Street Boys.”
“Motherrrr!!”
5 Ray’s Cover Story
Liam passed a hand across his brow in a parody of relief, and headed off to the den. As he opened the door, Kat heard her little sister, Sinead, squealing with delight.
“UncaLiam, UncaLiam. Where Kat? I want her play with me.”
“She’s busy right now.” He turned back and gestured for Kat to scarper, then bent to grab the delighted girl and twirl her around. “Can I play?”
Kat blew him a kiss and scurried up to her bedroom, reaching it as her phone chimed out “My Name is Tallulah.” She swiped the picture of Liv, closing the door as she spoke. “Hi, hun. I was about to call you. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Listen, I need to say this quick while there’s no one around. Will you do me a big favour? If anyone asks about last night, tell them Paddy just happened to be at the disco and gave me a lift home early ’cos I didn’t feel well.”
“But …”
“Hear me out. Nobody needs to know about the incident with Jimmy. The story is Paddy and Luke were playing pool and Luke passed the cue to Ray accidentally and he stood up to take it.”
“You mean you’re not telling your mum and dad? But he nearly ...” She heard a noise outside and lowered her voice to a hiss. “After what happened? What if he tries it again?”
“Oh I don’t think he will. And anyway, Luke rang; he’s got a plan to make sure I’m never on my own; he and Jude even offered to come running with me.”
“When did he call?”
“A while ago, why?” Liv hesitated, her voice wary.
Kat explained about his tiff with Jude.
“Oh dear, I wondered what he meant about her coming off her high horse. For a couple of sporty types, they’re so dramatic.” She giggled. “I guess it’s hanging out with drama queens like us.”
“I’m sure they’ll work it out.” Kat recognised her friend’s misdirection technique and nipped it in the bud. “Enough about them; I can’t believe you’re not going to tell your parents after everything you’ve been through.”
“That’s exactly why. They don’t need any more aggro, and I don’t want to be wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of the year.”
“I didn’t think your folks were like that.” Kat frowned.
“No, but mum totally freaked when I broke.” Liv’s voice shrank. “And Dad wouldn’t want me to muck up my chances for good grades.”
Kat couldn’t keep the shock out of her tone. “I’m sure they’d be more concerned about you being physically assaulted and your mental wellbeing.” Where was this pity-party coming from? Not Liv at all.
An unexpected sound got Kat’s attention. Pausing, she tried to figure what her friend could be doing to make such a strange noise, somewhere between a gasp, a sob, and a hiccup. “Liv? Are you ok?”
“Yes. I’m … never mind.” A shaky sigh.
Kat sensed something major drove Liv’s reluctance, and made a non-committal sound, trusting her friend had a sound reason for the decision not to tell.
Liv obviously took it as encouragement, as she burbled on. “My dad would be straight round the school and Jimmy would be kicked out. How much more likely is he to do something dangerous then?”
“I see what you mean, but I’m not happy about it.”
“Please, Kat. At least for a couple of weeks. I really don’t need the extra pressure from my folks. And if they insist on going to the police, I’d have to relive it all again. I couldn’t bear to do that.”
Hearing her friend’s desperation, Kat relented. “I suppose it’s not hard to keep away from Jimmy at school. Then you could always stay at mine or Jude’s until your folks are home.”
“No point being at Jude’s if she’s off skating.”
“Ray’s, then.” She paused, wanting to understand her friend’s motives. “I still don’t get the big tale about him. Why you can’t tell them what really happened?”
“Because his mum and dad would be straight round to mine and we’re back to square one with Jimmy being expelled.”
“I suppose so.”
“Anyway, we spent ages coming up with that story last night. Ray surfed the net about his condition, and came across a site which said a reversal could be triggered by an act of passion, aggression or omission – simply forgetting he was paralysed.”
“So which one was it, really?”
“Probably all three. Anyway, we didn’t get a chance to let Paddy and Luke know, so would you pass it on please.”
“Oh dear. I’d better do it soon. Paddy’s already telling everyone about his epic adventure last night and laying it on thick.” Kat grinned. You know what he’s like.”
“I can imagine.” Liv’s voice had a matching grin, and she paused for a beat before changing the subject. “Anyway, enough about me. What’s this I hear about you and Jude up on stage with Purple Tarantula?”
Again with the misdirection, but this time, Kat let it go. “What did you hear?”
“Not much, actually, Luke threw it into the conversation; then claimed he knew nothing. I think he was fishing more than anything. Worried about all those long-haired geeks cosying up to his girl.”
“We did get some attention at the end, but Liam and Gary got all protective and sent them packing.” She described the way Liam had tricked them there under false pretences, but Jude had been way more up for it when he called them to the stage.
“Really? Miss I-can’t-possibly-play-Tallulah leaps up on stage, and Miss I-can-rock-Blowsy-and-Tallulah cowers in the wings? What is wrong with this picture?”
“I suppose if you put it like that …”
“Just telling it as it is. Maybe she didn’t mind hiding behind this Gary character.”
“Yeah, it is a lot easier to support than play the leading lady.”
“Kudos to both of you. Doing a gig in front of a bunch of students is way more impressive than a school show. You both Rock. Big time.”
“So do you. No one pulls off Tallulah like you do.”
“Talking of her, I finally remembered what happened the night when I blacked out after the show. Ray kissed me backstage.”
&nbs
p; “Finally.” Inside, Kat’s heart formed a fist and punched the air.
“I know, right.” Her velvety chocolate tone suggested Liv had a creamy-cat grin. “It was entirely wonderful, but I didn’t think I could cope with what it might do to poor Terry.”
“Who we now know doesn’t mind a bit.”
“Right. Anyway, he kissed me again last Wednesday at his house and it must have triggered a memory, so I’m in a heap on the floor again.”
“We did wonder ...” Kat couldn’t resist teasing. Then the thought struck her. “Does this mean he’ll never be able to ...?”
“We thought about that last night, but I’m over it now, apparently.” More chocolate in her voice, this time with a spicy note – hot chilli.
Kat smiled like a proud mother. “When will he start walking again?”
“It’s not a hundred percent but, knowing Ray, he’ll make it happen one way or another. His mum’s chuffed to little pieces and I’m going round after lunch to finish off the chemistry lab.”
“Have fun. Do everything I would do and so much more.”
“We’ll try.”
6 If you Ever Want to Talk About It
Ray’s step mum greeted Liv with a spontaneous hug and tactfully managed to clear Ray’s dad out to leave them alone in the front room.
“What’s going on?” Liv sat next to Ray on the sofa and pulled the stuff out of her bag.
He hugged her, dropping a brotherly kiss on her cheek. “Caroline really likes you. She knew how lost I’ve been without you, and she was really helpful when I wanted to send the rose.”
“So, it was her writing on the card?”
“Yep. She’s a good ’un. Anything less like a wicked stepmother I can’t imagine. In fact ...” He stopped, reaching for her science book, opening it on the relevant page.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.” Liv pulled her book away from him.
“No, really. It doesn’t matter.” Ray beckoned for the book.
She closed it and slid it behind a cushion, her message clear. “It does to me. There’s nothing I hate more than unfinished sentences. I’d rather you said nothing at all. If you can’t trust me with what’s on your mind, we might as well forget it.”
“Whoa, that’s a bit intense.” He recoiled.
“I’m sorry, it’s just the way I am. So, come on: in fact, what?”
“I – I can’t remember.” A slight tinge stole up his cheeks, giving him away.
“Liar. That’s another thing I hate. Lies. Either you tell me or I walk out the door.”
“And finish this before we’ve even started? You wouldn’t dare.” Despite the confident words, his tone vibrated with doubt.
“Don’t ever dare me to do anything unless you’re prepared to take the consequences.” With a glare, she packed up her stuff.
“Don’t go, Liv. Please. I stopped because you won’t like what I have to say.”
“How can you possibly know that?”
“Because I know you well enough, by now.”
Liv took the heat out of her stare and softened her tone. “Try me. I’d much rather you were honest with me.”
He took a deep breath. “I told her about last night, about you and Jimmy.”
“You did what? But we spent so long getting the story sorted about the pool cue.”
“Yeah, I tried it first, and they seemed to buy it.” He shrugged. “But later, when she came into my room to say goodnight ...”
“Your mum still does that?” Liv’s turn to recoil.
“Yeah, doesn’t yours? Anyway, she asked a lot of questions and I accidentally mentioned you were there.” Another shrug. “It didn’t take much for her to get the full story out of me. She’s a skilled interrogator.”
“Terrific, she’ll be straight round telling my folks and the school ...”
“No, she won’t.” Ray’s tone held a flat certainty.
“Again, how can you know?”
“She promised.”
“Yeah, right. This is an adult we’re talking about; they definitely can’t be trusted.”
“She can this time, believe me.”
“And you’re so convinced because ...?” Another expectant glare.
“I’d rather not say. Will you trust me on this one?”
“On your performance so far? I don’t think so.”
He looked uncomfortable, as though trying to make a difficult decision, then held her gaze with a serious expression. “You must promise never to say a word of this to anyone. Even Kat and Jude.”
She nodded, miming “cross my heart and hope to die.”
“The reason she won’t tell anyone, is because it happened to her, too. Which is why she picked up on it as soon as I mentioned you.”
Liv could barely choke out, “Really?”
“Yep.” Ray’s grim expression said how hard it had been for him to hear the tale. “She didn’t say much except she was a bit older than you. Similar circumstances: a guy in the sixth form who’d had too much to drink.” He glanced at her. “She didn’t tell her mum, either.”
“Shi -- takay mushrooms.”
“What?”
“It’s an alternative to swearing. Mum got it from an old movie called Spy Kids. I’m trying to improve my language in front of Davey.”
“Anyway, Caroline said if you ever wanted to talk to someone about it, she knows exactly what you’re going through.” He kissed her hand, and stared deep into her eyes.
Liv felt as though he was trying to infuse her with his courage, but the mere thought of describing what happened brought her skin out in goosebumps. She lowered her head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. Right now I just want to forget it ever happened.”
“Yeah, I can appreciate that, but the offer’s always there.” Ray pulled her toward him, hugging her close as he nuzzled her hair.
Breathing in his familiar smell, she clung onto his support for a moment. Their “must get working” timeout coincided, as she gave a final squeeze and he popped a kiss on the top of her head.
Pulling away, he held out his hand for the book, opening it on the correct page. “Right then.” He looked at the table of figures. “What does this say? Your writing’s appalling.”
She grinned. “I know. I don’t do girly writing.”
7 Self Defence
Liv smiled as Kat came into Monday registration, full of beans. “Mum’s agreed to a party on Christmas Eve after Midnight Mass.”
“What good’s that? It’ll be time to go before it’s even started.” Ray didn’t look impressed.
“The mass doesn’t start at midnight; it’s usually all over by ten. You could always come earlier for a drink and come along with us.”
“Me in a church? I only do weddings and funerals, and then only under protest.”
“Oh come on, it’s usually a good craic. I’ve been a few times.” Luke backed Kat up.
Ray looked sceptical as Lenny came in to start maths and they all took their places. Halfway through the investigation into how the gradient changed on different points of a curve, he leaned toward Liv and whispered, “Go on, then. I will if you will.”
“Will what?” Liv turned pink as her mind leapt through the possibilities of what he was proposing.
“Go to the mass.”
“No, Raymond. It’s a travel graph of distance against time. Mass has nothing to do with it.”
His reply was whippet-quick. “But surely a greater mass will increase the inertia.”
Liv stifled a giggle, wondering how he managed to keep a straight face.
Lenny had her “That Don’t Impress Me, Much” head on. “Yes, but we’re dealing with a car, which has a constant mass.”
“Unless you pick up a hitch-hiker.”
“Enough.” Her tone dropped several dozen degrees. “You don’t really want to spend an hour tonight doing the next exercise, do you?”
“No, miss.” Ray always knew precisely when n
ot to push it. Unfortunately Lenny prowled around for the rest of the lesson; she seemed never to be far away.
It was lunchtime before Liv said, “I will.”
“Hey, this will be our first official date.”
“What will be?” Luke’s ears flapped from several desks away.
“Kat’s Christmas Eve party, are you going?”
“You are kidding. Where else do you get a barman par excellence?”
“Kat’s dad. Your dad. Paddy. Rory. Liam.” Jude counted them off on her fingers.
Luke grabbed her hand, pulling her toward him and tickling her waist. “You’re supposed to be on my side, wench.”
“Just trying to ground that big old ego of yours.” She side-stepped and skipped out of the room.
The banter carried on at lunch; they were all on good form. Liv caught Luke scanning the crowds regularly, and it finally hit her he was looking for Jimmy. He and Ray had stuck to the girls like glue at break and escorted them to and from the languages block for French.
They could have saved themselves the trouble. Halfway through lunch, Paul rocked up and told them Parr had phoned in sick. His mum reported a stomach bug which would keep him off until the end of term.
“Wow a whole two days. I had almost a week off with Ghandi’s revenge.” Ray’s face scrunched at the memory.
“But the important thing is, Liv won’t have to worry about him jumping out from behind the science block or anywhere else he might hide.” Jude’s smile reassured, but Luke disagreed.
“I don’t think we can afford to be too complacent. Just because he hasn’t registered doesn’t mean he won’t turn up at school. It’s the sort of trick he would pull. Am I right, Paul, or am I right?”
“You’re right. I don’t want to scare you or anything, Liv. But for God’s sake, watch yourself. He’s not the sort of person to let this go without some sort of comeback. Try not to go anywhere by yourself for the next couple of ...”
“Days? Weeks? Months? How long do I have to creep around, afraid of my own shadow?”