by Jacky Gray
She whirled and stood by the exit, blocking his way. He finally figured this meant Kat should be on her own.
Luke headed off toward Kat but, as he reached her, he saw Liv coming toward them. He hissed his plea. “You must tell them, soon.”
“But we said ...” Kat’s expression changed from surprise to concern.
“Please, it’s important.” He poured everything he had into the laser beam emitting from his eyes. “Ring me when you have.”
“I’m out tonight with Mum and Dad.” She spotted Liv’s approach and adopted a convincing facsimile of anger. “I thought I told you to stay away from me. Leave us alone, can’t you?”
Liv laid into him with the ferocity of indignation. “Can’t you get it through your thick skull, you’re not welcome? Just go away.” She shoved at him, hard.
He wobbled before regaining his balance. That hip really didn’t need another bash.
As he left, Jude appeared, followed closely by Terry, with a grin on his face.
14 Worst Kind of Hero
Jude couldn’t believe her eyes. Instead of doing the decent thing and buggering off, Luke swung round and collared Kat. What a nerve. In her haste to run him off the ice, she nearly bowled over a wee lad who wobbled out in front of her. Apologising to him and his angry mother, she didn’t see the pack of speed-skaters racing across the middle and nearly got entangled with the guy at the back who gave her an ugly mouthful. As she approached them, Kat shouted at Luke and Liv pitched in, giving him another shove. Good. Serve him right if he took another tumble.
As she got there, he scooted off.
Before she could speak, Terry joined them, chuckling. “Hey, you lot look as though you’re brewing up trouble like the three witches. What’s cooking?”
Jude whirled round. “Nothing much, we just saved you from another thrashing from Luke, that’s all.” Her tone was grim; he obviously had no clue about his narrow escape.
“I thought I saw him earlier.” Terry cocked his head. “I didn’t think he could come today. Didn’t you mention something about work?”
“Sometimes he only does mornings.” Kat peered at Jude. “What do you mean about saving Terry from a thrashing?”
“Luke’s been stalking him since he got here.” Jude scowled in the direction Luke had exited. “As soon as Terry went off to the loo, Luke dived straight after him. I managed to stop him though, put him on the ice.” Her smile had no humour. “That should have cooled him off.”
Terry looked understandably alarmed. “You mean you pushed him over?”
“Nah, more of a football tackle. I swept his feet from underneath and he went sprawling into a pool of water.”
“What on earth possessed you to do that? What if he’d landed on his bad hip, again?” Kat’s face went all wobbly. “It’s already bruised from DD’s little stunt; you could have put him out of action for months.” She whispered something which sounded suspiciously like, “He wasn’t meant to get hurt.”
But Jude was too upset to figure it out as Kat’s outburst pierced her cocky complacency. She remembered how he’d struggled to get up; if it wasn’t an act, he must have been in real pain.
Guilt made Jude lash out. “How can you pretend to care about him? You told him to stay away from us. And he must have been ok, because he came straight over to talk to you. What did he want?”
“I’ve no idea. I didn’t give him a chance to speak.” Kat was obviously concerned about Terry as she turned to him with an anxious expression.
His reaction surprised Jude. “Why are you so sure he wanted to beat me up again?”
“Why else would he watch you like a hawk? And chase after you?”
“He could have needed the loo.” Terry glared meaningfully at Kat, who widened her eyes with an unspoken message.
“Yeah, sure.” Jude sensed the pair of them were hiding something. She glanced at Liv, who seemed equally bemused by the undercurrents.
Terry tried a weak explanation. “He might have wanted to sort out a Bugsy rehearsal. I heard him talking to Ray on Thursday.”
“Why are you so sure he wasn’t going to beat you up?” Jude kept up the pressure like a dog worrying at a bone.
Terry frowned. “Why would he?”
“Because he still thinks you’re gay.” Liv’s tone suggested her conclusion was the obvious one.
“That’s not true at all; he’s not a gay basher. I’m surprised you could think that. He thought I’d been telling people I fancied him and he didn’t want anyone thinking he was bent.” Terry’s passion seemed misplaced as he stuck up for the thug. “Anyway, he’s done me a favour. I can’t think of any other way I could shake that label.”
“But he didn’t have to thrash you to a pulp to make the point; he’s a despicable coward.” Jude recovered her former anger.
“He didn’t – he’s not. You mustn’t think that.” Terry looked intensely uncomfortable. “Oh dear. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“What wasn’t supposed to happen?” Liv glared at them.
“You lot weren’t supposed to hate Luke.” Terry shot Kat a pleading glance. “Can’t we tell them?”
“Tell us what?” Liv’s alarm triggered Jude’s feelings of betrayal.
She rounded on Kat and Terry. “What the hell’s going on with you two?” A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach suggested Jude had done a bad thing.
Kat put her finger to her lips and shook her head. “Just that we can’t possibly let Luke come to Stratford with us after this.” She nodded her head at the group of year ten kids on a bench behind them, on the other side of the barrier.
Terry stretched and raised his voice. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough. Why don’t we go and grab a hot chocolate or something.”
Liv picked up the hint immediately. “Yeah, good idea, my ankles are starting to go.”
Twenty minutes later they were safely installed in a corner booth of the least popular café in town.
“Right. There’s no one around, so what’s the big mystery?” Liv demanded.
Kat explained Luke’s idea to help Terry and get back at Diana. Terry filled them in on how they’d made it appear so much worse than it actually was.
Liv nodded. “That explains it. I wondered how come you looked good as new when we cleaned you up; I thought maybe the bruises might take a while to come out.”
“It looked so real; we all thought ...” The sick feeling in Jude’s stomach reached out with cold tentacles to chill her limbs.
“You were supposed to.” Kat looked equally miserable.
“Why couldn’t you tell us? You obviously knew about it, and Terry.”
“Luke and I only thought it up after you lot left on Thursday night; we didn’t have time to tell anyone before it happened. And anyway, it worked better because you all reacted with genuine disgust. It might not have been so real if you knew the plan.”
“But you both knew and you managed to be convincing.”
“I didn’t have much to do; it was easier this way. And Terry didn’t know ’til after he ran out with Luke.”
Terry’s face was a picture of comic-book fear. “Yeah I didn’t have to act too much; Luke can be proper scary.”
“But all those awful things I said to him. I even hurt his hip; he really crashed down on the ice and he struggled to get up.” Jude closed her eyes against the memory, her voice almost a whisper. “I said nasty things while he was in pain ...”
She broke off, horrified by what she’d done; then her eyes sprang open as rage fuelled her words. “There was no need for any of this crap, today. You could have told us, it wouldn’t have made any difference.”
No one met her angry gaze as she tried to understand the consequences of what she’d done.
Finally, Kat spoke in a low tone. “Luke insisted you shouldn’t know until next week. He wasn’t supposed to be coming today.” She glanced round dramatically, making sure no one had come into the café, before continuing. “Yo
u see, it’s important everyone thinks he’s well out with us so it won’t come as a big shock when he takes up with Diana. After all, he did say some horrid things about her over the anonymous letter in French.”
Liv nodded. “She’s already been sniffing round him. She couldn’t keep her hands off him in IT. And then in food tech she was gazing at him like she could eat him.”
“There you are, then. It’s working already.” Kat tried a smile.
“But I still don’t see why you couldn’t have told us before now.”
Terry touched Jude’s arm, trying to reason. “You saw the year tens at the ice rink. If we’d been all pally with him it would soon have got back. Now they’ll be saying you tripped him up and Kat told him to get lost.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Liv backed him up. “I was evil to him a couple of times, as well. I probably wouldn’t have been so vile if I’d known.”
“Exactly.” Kat looked on the verge of tears. “I can tell you it’s a real strain. He’s being such a hero and you have to spit in his face. Most of the time I freeze and pretend he’s someone I really hate ...”
“Like Diana?” Jude spat the name out.
“Like Diana. Or I blank him and say as little as possible. But I feel like pooh afterwards.”
Liv nodded. “Oh, God. You’re right. It’s not gonna be easy.”
“The sooner you get cracking on this plan to get even with Diana, the sooner we can put it to bed and welcome him back into the fold.”
“Blimey, Jude. Your clichés are getting way modern – been watching some recent movies have you?” Liv grinned.
“Stop wisecracking and start figuring.” Jude scowled. “We need to get this sorted before half-term so he can still come to Stratford with us.”
15 Why Was Life So Complicated?
Liv knew the best way to focus on any problem was to run; this would free her mind to concentrate on the puzzle and get rid of a few extra calories. She got off the bus by the park; grateful to be in leggings and trainers. It would get hot in her coat, but the sauna effect would sweat off a few more ounces. That’s bullshit, Tranter. The article said it’s merely fluid loss and it’ll all go straight back on as soon as you drink. Liv had read so much about diet and exercise it all began to contradict itself.
Some people regarded their diets as the only way of shifting weight: their last, best chance for weight-loss. Others would bang on about the benefits of pumping iron for increased metabolic rate and improved muscle tone “the sure-fire way for a trim, toned body.” So far, nothing seemed to have made any difference. She’d eaten less than a sparrow for the past couple of weeks, walked every chance she could and even managed a couple of short jogs, although Mum was getting suspicious about the length of time it took to post a letter or pick up some cling film from the corner shop.
As she reached the edge of the children’s playground, Liv broke into a steady run round the outer path and tried to focus on the problem. Not easy when she could see nothing but the flash of hurt in Luke’s eyes when she’d said he had a thick skull and wasn’t welcome. He must think her a mean cow, she’d have to apologise when she saw him next.
She tried to remember her original idea; it went along the lines of getting Diana to fall for someone – Luke being the obvious choice – and for him to encourage her and play along for a while. Then he’d dump her so she’d experience the humiliation of being used and publicly ridiculed the way she always did to other people. Like you. Yeah, like me, but I’m not the only one.
Liv’s resolve wavered; maybe it was too unfair. Did she have the right to manipulate someone’s emotions like that? What if DD really did love Luke? How would she feel if Ray asked her out simply because someone had told him to? Wasn’t that exactly what she was doing to Terry? Encouraging him until he built up the courage to ask her out when all the time she mostly felt sorry for him. Oh, God. Why was life so complicated?
She slowed to a fast walk, putting her hands on her hips to open her lungs and gulp in some oxygen. What she needed was inspiration, some way of hitting Diana where it hurt – her image and so-called popularity – but without an emotional entanglement. A public humiliation which would make her see the error of her ways. An idea started to form and she picked up speed again to let it germinate.
Maybe something on open night? No, it might reflect badly on the school and Jude and Luke could be implicated. A Halloween party? Good idea but too late for the Stratford visit which didn’t happen ’til the end of half term. On the right lines, though: an event DD – or rather her mother – would organise. They could sabotage it or, even better, persuade nobody to turn up.
Yeah, this was really cooking now. Luke could suggest it and fan the flame, which shouldn’t be too difficult with her ego. Meanwhile, they could secretly announce a rival event: a fund-raiser for the firework display. Yeah, the PTA committee were always begging for donations. They could hold it on the Wednesday before half term and then everyone could be in on the last day to rub her nose in it. Or would that be too evil? Nahhh.
She glanced at her watch. Apart from the short breather, she’d been running for almost twenty minutes; having a problem to chew over had certainly taken her mind off her lack of breath and jelly-like legs. She slowed down again and headed for the entrance nearest her road. Although she knew she wasn’t supposed to, she unzipped her coat and took it off to cool down. Her sweatshirt stuck to her, and her legs felt uncomfortably hot. She didn’t need a mirror to know her face glowed so red it was almost purple. Thank goodness she wasn’t likely to bump into anyone she knew.
Would Terry still want to go out with her if he could see her now? He hadn’t said anymore about their date, as though he didn’t really believe she’d said yes. Liv appreciated this; the longer he left it, the better chance she’d have to do something about her shape. She’d settle for not bulging out of the only decent outfit she had.
Thinking back to that night reminded her she still had to get to the bottom of Ray’s strange behaviour. She refused to believe he’d deliberately set out to hurt Terry, but what other possible motive could he have had? By the time she reached her front door, she was no further on, so she dropped it for now. The best way to be sure would be to ask him outright, but he might lie about it.
Jude and Kat had some good suggestions when she rang them up to try out her idea. Then she rang Luke; a tough task because she really wanted to apologise face-to-face. Understandably, he acted cool when he came to the phone, but got quite enthusiastic when he realised the new plan meant he didn’t actually have to go out with Diana. His task was solely helping to promote her party and making her think he’d be her date for the evening. He suggested they get Ray involved with designing and printing the tickets on his pc and asked if she wanted to go round to Ray’s tomorrow with him to talk it all through.
“That is, if it’s still on. We arranged it before all this stuff with Terry came out. Pun intended.” She heard the grin in his voice as he continued. “I haven’t spoken to him since then.”
“What do you think about what Ray said on Thursday?”
“How do you mean?”
“It was a tad rotten of him to say it in front of everyone the way he did.”
“Nah, he thought everyone knew. And anyway, it’s all turned out well in the end, hasn’t it?”
Liv thought about Luke’s easy acceptance of Ray’s innocence when her dad dropped her off the next morning. Was she wrong to be suspicious of Ray? Maybe. She’d simply play it by ear; he might not be so ready to admit to anything with Luke there. As she walked up the path, Ray answered the door to Luke.
“Hi, mate. Wasn’t sure if you’d still show up.” Ray was understandably more surprised by Liv’s presence than Luke’s. “Hello, Liv. What are you doing here?”
“I’m not stopping if he is. Can I come in, please?” She barged past both of them, for the benefit of any onlookers, then Ray went to organise drinks.
When she was sure no one could see them f
rom outside, she gave Luke a big hug, squeezing him tightly and burying her head.
After his initial surprise, he returned her hug. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this, but I must do it more often. It’s not in the script, is it?”
Liv raised her head from his shoulder, powerless to stop the tears brightening her eyes. “No, you big lummox. You’re simply the worst kind of hero, that’s all. I’m so sorry for the way I treated you yesterday.”
He cuffed her chin affectionately. “No worries, you weren’t to know.”
Ray returned from the kitchen. “Hang on a sec, have I missed something? This guy pounds a wimp half to death and you’re calling him a hero? All I do is call the guy a faggot and I get the iceberg treatment.” He shook his head. “I know girls are supposed to go for a bit of rough, but that’s real extreme.”
“Stop, Ray. If you hadn’t missed skating yesterday you’d know what I’m on about.”
“Whatever. I had to go to the hospital.”
The look on his face stopped Liv from finding out more. Instead, she launched into an embroidered account of Luke’s plan, only stopping when Ray’s mum brought in a tray with tea and biscuits, disappearing quickly.
Luke refused to take all the credit as he swiped a digestive. “Hold on a sec. Kat came up with some of the good bits, like using Pete’s fake blood.”
“Yeah but you and Terry were simply superb. You saw that bit, Ray. But you missed Jude rugby tackling Luke on the ice yesterday. By the way, how’s your hip? She was frantic she’d hurt you.”
“She was?” Luke’s face brightened for an instant before a frown darkened it. “Seemed quite pleased with her handiwork last time I saw her.”
“Before she knew why you were doing it. When she found out, she got quite angry with Kat for not telling us earlier.” Liv sipped the tea, grimacing at the lack of sugar. She refused the biscuits Ray offered.
Luke seemed pleased by the idea of Jude getting angry on his behalf, but Liv didn’t question why as she launched into an explanation of her idea to get back at Diana.