by Jacky Gray
The frown which settled on Ray’s face at the start of her description, turned several shades darker by the time she finished. “Is that it? Didn’t he try to have a go at you or something? The guy should have been in major trouble with pretty much everyone.”
“In theory, yes. But, if you remember, we didn’t tell anyone who could give him grief. No parents, no teachers – the worst that could happen is the loss of Paul’s respect.”
“Which should be punishment enough from what Luke says. Paul’s a good guy.”
“Actually, I still think there is a good guy somewhere inside Jimmy. I refuse to believe the guy I fell for was nothing but a front.”
Ray snorted. “So how would you feel if he attacked someone else?”
“I don’t think that would happen. You didn’t see the way he …” She gulped, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “He was crying for God’s sake.”
“Crocodile tears.”
Liv hesitated. She wanted to annihilate his pithy rejoinder, but spotted something torn driving his reaction, so she cooled her tone. “I really think he’s changed. That night was a throwback brought on by peer pressure and too much alcohol.”
“Does this mean you still fancy him?” Ray’s face matched the raw emotion in his voice.
She pulled him close, and her kiss left him in no doubt about who she really fancied. The CD had finished and he swapped it for an old favourite from The Script, then wheeled over to the bathroom, saying, “Back in a tick, I’ve got something to show you.”
21 First Steps
Kat took a deep breath before entering the kitchen. She hated lying to her mum, but Liam seemed to think it necessary.
“Sweetheart, you look gorgeous, doesn’t she, Liam?” Her mum gushed like a tap.
“Gorgeous.”
Did she imagine the shades of camp in his answer?
Her mum didn’t appear to notice as she regarded his on-the-pull get-up. “Where did you say you were going?”
“Just into town with a bunch of guys from uni. Grab a few beers, maybe a curry. If it gets too late I might crash at Simon’s.”
“Well, I’d rather that than have you drinking and driving.” Her mum nodded approval.
“No chance, I’d leave the car at their place and walk into town.” He addressed Kat directly. “Off to set the town on fire? Or is it a big date?”
“A chill night; probably catch a movie.” Her glare told him to stop laying it on so thick.
He toned it down a notch or two. “Can I drop you anywhere?”
“That would be cool, thanks.”
Her mum added grateful thanks, saying what a great help it would be not to have to go out. She hugged Kat, then returned to her task.
With a rueful grin, Kat wished for the umpteenth time they could avoid all this subterfuge and admit out loud they were going out. As she fastened her seatbelt, Liam winked.
“Are you dead set on a movie? Only I’ve had a better offer.”
“Sounds interesting. Does it include lots of alcohol and dancing girls?”
“Depends on you.”
“I’m intrigued.” She grinned. “Surprise me. If I don’t fancy it, we could still go for the movie.”
“You’re on.”
~*~
“Can I open them yet?” Liv sighed; patience had never been a virtue of hers. Her mum often said she couldn’t be bothered to wait in the queue when the patience got handed out, and Liv had started borrowing the expression.
“No, keep them closed a couple of minutes longer.” His voice sounded close; just outside the door.
What on earth could he be doing? And could she trust him not to do something evil? She shuddered, remembering year four when Jack Kelly had told her to close her eyes and hold out her hand. He filled it with slimy frogspawn from the school pond; she’d screamed the place down.
Still, at least she’d get some notice; she would hear the slight squeak of his chair as he wheeled back in the room. Or not.
She jumped when his arms surrounded her from behind. His signature trick was to pull her into his lap, but this couldn’t be right – his arms were round her shoulders. She spun around, nearly flooring the pair of them. He’d crept up behind her, walking without a stick or anything. She threw her arms around him and they overbalanced, landing in a heap on the sofa.
“My God Ray, that’s amazing. How long have you been walking?”
“That’s pretty much the first time without a stick. I knew I could make it during the physio session this afternoon; something clicked. But I wanted you to be the first to see.”
“Except I didn’t see you; I had my eyes closed. Are you going to do it again?”
“So you can watch me tottering like a toddler taking his first steps?”
“No, you dummy.” Her grin softened the insult. “Don’t you think there should be some kind of qualified medical staff there to make sure you’re not straining something?
“I don’t intend to get that energetic. Unless you’re offering?”
Liv figured his meaning, and raised her hand as if to slap him.
He caught it easily, forcing her arm down behind her back as he adopted a calming tone. “Only joking. I thought because it was your fault I got out of my chair in the first place, you should share in the consequences.”
“Such as?” She looked into his face a few inches away from hers.
“This.” He closed the gap and kissed her like it was the first time. In a way it was: She sensed a new self-awareness as he became something other than the cripple label he frequently used.
A huge release of energy sizzled between them; something bigger than she’d ever experienced. It felt like a merging of souls: This passionate combination of strength, wit and insecurities matched her own peculiarities in a way nobody else had ever come close to.
They pulled apart, panting, eyes searching each other’s faces for a clue to what had just happened. Her free hand reached out to touch his face and he caught it with his own, pressing it to his cheek, then his lips as his gaze locked with hers. A second later they kissed again, this time a gentle meeting of minds and senses as they got lost in the feel, smell and taste of each other.
22 Does Your Mother Know?
“This is so cool.” Kat snuggled into Liam on the well-worn sofa, too thrilled with the privacy to notice the state of the student house. The impressive sound system treated them to Gary’s combination CD of potential songs for Purple Tarantula.
Liam grinned, borrowing the lyrics to an Abba track. “Does your mother know you kiss like an angel?”
“Ewww. Not an image she’d want in her head. And anyway, aren’t angel kisses some kind of chocolate meringue thing?”
“Mmm, sounds about right. Sweet and tasty, just like you.” He made a show of sampling, then smacking his lips with a devilish grin.
She rolled her eyes and listened to the chorus. “Gary can’t be serious about doing this song; it’s too girly.”
“I wonder what she’d say if she could see us like this?”
“Who?” Kat frowned, trying to make Gary fit with a “she.”
“Your mum.”
“Still not getting it.”
He sighed dramatically. “As in, ‘Does your Mother Know?’”
“Duh!” Shaking her head, Kat glimpsed the concern behind his light tone, and reassured him. “I think she’d be fine; she really likes you.”
“So why did you tell her you were out with the girls tonight?”
“Because you told me to think of an alibi.” She pulled away. “I can’t believe you’re asking me this.”
“I’m sorry. The whole besmirching paranoia. I can’t get over that you’re here with me.” Liam put his arm back around her shoulders and shuffled closer so their thighs were once again touching. She relaxed into him so she fitted back into the curve of his body like a jigsaw piece.
“I wish we could say something, I’m sure she’d be pleased to know her oldest daughter is walking out
with the son of her favourite cousin.”
“For about thirty seconds until she realises that same son is sleeping under the same roof as her dearest darling daughter. Then it becomes something entirely different. I metamorphosise into the worst rapist since Casanova.”
“Put another record on.”
“Corrine Baily Rae. No, wait. She sang, ‘Girl, put your Records On.’ Or something.”
It took Kat a moment to catch on to his encyclopaedic music knowledge. “Ha, ha. Will you be serious for once in your life?”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “Oh, I’ve never been more serious in my life. I want to tell the whole world you’re my girl, but until I finish at uni or find myself somewhere else to live, I can’t.”
“No chance you could live here?” Kat glanced around the generous living room.
“Eventually. I’m working on it. They know I’m keen, but it’s down to when someone leaves. Simon and Deep are only first years like me, but the other two lads only have a few months to go.”
“Where are they all, right now?”
“On a Friday night with a plethora of pubs, inns, and hostelries open? Can’t imagine. But we definitely won’t see them before midnight.” He stretched out on the sofa, pulling her down with him and treating her to his expert kisses, angelic or otherwise.
Lying in his arms, she traced the pattern on his shirt with a lazy finger. “Did you mean what you said about stopping the night here?”
“Duh, how does that work? I drop you home and come back here. Why would I? No. I just wanted to reassure your mum; she said something about drink-driving earlier. I didn’t want her worrying; don’t forget she thinks I’m out on the pop.”
“Have you had too much to drink?” She sat up, reaching for her mobile. “I could call Mum and tell her I’m stopping over at Jude’s or something.”
“Behave.” He frowned. “Nah, it’s non-alcoholic lager. Pretty dire, but there’s no way I’m risking losing my licence.”
Kat barely listened as she unlocked her phone and swiped a few screens to call Jude’s number. A wild notion had settled into her mind, the result of months of frustration at not being able to get together. And before that, so many weeks of regret because nothing happened at the beach on their last day together.
It was different now, with her being nearly sixteen and him surrounded by lots of much older, more attractive and much more available girls. Especially since he hung around with guys who had their own place; they were probably doing it all the time and boasting about it. She had visions of them having the same sort of conversations as her brothers; he would start to feel proper left out stuck with a schoolgirl.
All of this flashed through her mind as the phone dialled out, connected and started to ring.
He sat up next to her. “Kat. What’s going on?”
Kat shook her head, willing Jude to answer. Never mind her resolve never to have sex until she married. She loved Liam – at least she was in love with him – pretty much the same thing.
It was a gamble. If Jude would cover for her, she would stop the night and to hell with the consequences. If not, she’d go home.
She hoped he had some kind of protection …
23 Uptown Girls Encore
“Hello. Kat? This is a really bad line.” Jude’s voice crackled.
“Hi, hun. Where are you? Can you speak?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I need an alibi for tonight; can I say I’m stopping the night at yours?”
“No, that’s not a good idea.”
Kat ignored the frantic negative gestures Liam made at her, and pressed on. “Why not? I know your dad was annoyed about the exam, but I thought you said he’d got over it. Please, Jude. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
The phone cut off, and Kat hit redial. Liam pressed the red button and took it off her.
“What are you doing? Give me my phone back.”
“In a minute. What are you doing? Or more to the point, why are you doing it?” His voice cracked as he rubbed his face with his hands. “Do you honestly think I’m going to finish with you if I don’t get inside your knickers tonight? Because if that’s how low your opinion is of me, we might just as well end it now.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s …” Words failed her.
“What?” His glare softened. “Why are you in such an almighty hurry? I thought better of you.” A cheeky quirk of the lips. “And I’m sure your mum didn’t think she’d raised a loose woman.”
“You mean a slag, right? You just called me a slag – or should I say a ho-ah? And did you disrespect my mother as well?” Kat slipped in and out of accents and TV characters to suit the clichéd phrases.
“You have to remember this is not a unilateral decision. It takes two to tango, and I’m not ready for those particular dancing shoes.” He grinned. “Now we’ve cleared that up, you can have your phone back.”
As he handed it over, it played “Cold as Ice.” Kat swiped Jude’s piccy. “Hi, hun. I don’t know what happened. Thanks for calling back.”
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t call home because my folks think I’m stopping round at yours tonight.”
“Do you not think you should have let me know?” Kat turned a shocked face to Liam, who merely shrugged. “What if I’d rung your house instead of your mobile?”
“As if. Anyway, now you know. Sorry.” Jude’s tone suggested she was trying to end the conversation.
“Just a minute, lady. You’re not getting off that lightly. Are you with Luke?”
“Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
“Tell me what I’m thinking first, you dirty mare.” Kat’s eyes twinkled.
“We’re in Coventry.”
“What? No way.”
“Yes, way. I came down for the competition, and Luke found out and followed me. We’re staying in a bed and breakfast.”
Kat borrowed her dad’s phrase. “Jaysus, Mary and Joseph. What are you like?”
“Like a girl on a mission. Look, I gotta go. Bye.”
“Bye, hun.” Kat put the phone on the table in stunned silence.
Liam huffed a sigh. “Have I got this right? Jude’s stopping the night with Luke and she told her parents she was with you.” He shook his head. “Did you guys get together and decide this was THE NIGHT?” He added air quotes to the capital letters. “Are Liv and Ray sat on a sofa somewhere getting all steamy, too?”
“Oh my goodness. Liv. I must tell her. Hang on a sec.” As Kat searched for Liv’s number, Liam swigged his beer.
~*~
Liv and Ray broke apart with a jump at the sound of her mobile.
She checked the display. “Why would Kat be calling me at,” she checked the time, “nine o’clock? I thought she was out with Liam.”
“You’ll never know unless you answer it.” Ray sat up, releasing her so she could sit more comfortably to answer the call.
“This better be important.” Liv did her stern voice; Kat’s timing left a lot to be desired.
“Jude’s in Coventry with Luke.”
“So her folks changed their minds about the competition, no biggie.” Liv rolled her eyes at Ray, who grinned as he trickled his hand down her arm, causing all manner of yummy sensations. “Certainly no reason …”
“They don’t know she’s there. She ran away on her own.”
WTF? “But you said Luke’s there. You’re not making sense.”
“She must have been planning this for weeks; she handed all her homework in early. Somehow Luke sussed it and followed her.”
“So they’re both in Coventry and none of their parents know?”
“Probably. But the important thing is, she’ll be performing tomorrow with only Luke to support her.”
“Unless you fancy a trip to Coventry tomorrow morning.” Liam’s voice sounded in the background.
“But wouldn’t we have to leave really early? Sorry, Liv. Liam’s suggesting we go and watch Jude tomorrow
.”
Liv grinned. “I heard him. Great idea.”
“I’d be happy to take you two as well.” Liam’s suggestion brought an excited squeal from Kat, and a vigorous nod from Ray.
“Thanks, Liam. You’re a star.” Liv’s mind went straight into organising mode, all thoughts of her romantic encounter forgotten.
24 A Fate Worse than Death
“Oh no, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” Jude locked her phone and put it in her bag as they resumed their walk through the city centre, past a big fountain with multi-coloured lights.
“What?” Luke frowned. You seriously didn’t want Kat to find out? But she’s your best friend.”
“Yeah but it’s a hell of a responsibility. She’ll get into all kinds of trouble if my folks find out she knew, and if she tells Liv ...”
“Can you honestly imagine she hasn’t done that already?”
Even though she knew he was only trying to make it better, Jude’s heart sank. “That’s it, then. She’ll be honour-bound to tell, and my dad will be on his way as we speak.”
“I think you should credit your friends with a little more loyalty than that. Liv knows as well as Kat how important this is to you. She wouldn’t deliberately sabotage your chances, no matter how desperate she was to let your folks know.”
The last thing Jude needed was the truth. She scowled as he warmed to his theme.
“And why would she let them know in the first place? Because she hates you and wants to see your big ideas smashed? No, that’s not Liv at all. She was more pleased than anyone I know when you won the medal at Fernley, and when you got a chance to play Tallulah.”
“Ok, I get it, Liv’s a good mate.”
“No, you don’t get it at all. She’d be totally right to warn your parents. Don’t you think they’d want to support you if you bombed? How do you think they’d feel if you won and they weren’t there to see it? Doesn’t your mum deserve to be part of your big day?”