Oh my goodness! Tobey had actually made a decision. I opened my mouth to rib him, but decided against it. After all, I didn't want to put him off making another one at some point!
'Why're you putting on your trainers?' I asked as I watched him fasten them.
'I'm walking you home.'
I stared at him. 'I live next door, Tobey. I think I can make it from your front door to mine without too much trouble.'
'I didn't say you couldn't. But I'm still walking you home,' Tobey insisted.
I decided not to argue. To be honest, it was kind of lovely having Tobey looking out for me. He was definitely a lover, not a fighter. In a clash against Uncle Jude or anyone else come to that, he'd be about as much use as a chocolate frying pan, but it was still sweet.
twenty-one. Tobey
'Jessica, have you moved your bed in there?' I hissed through the locked bathroom door. 'You're not the only one with a bladder, you know?'
'W-why aren't you at work?' Jessica's voice sounded strange, husky, like she was still more than half asleep.
'I've got the day off,' I said, annoyed. 'Why aren't you at work?'
'I'm not feeling well,' said Jessica.
'Well, could you not feel well in your own bedroom and let someone else use the bathroom please?' I mean, I was sympathetic and all that, but Godsake! My bladder was about to explode.
If Mum wasn't back from her night shift and fast asleep in her bedroom, I'd've been battering at the bathroom door by now. What on earth was Jessica doing? She'd been in there for ages. Being the sole guy in a house with two women was a real test of my patience. After all the girly things I'd seen over the years in our family bathroom, it was a wonder I didn't need some serious therapy.
'Jessica, I need to use the bathroom. NOW!'
'OK! OK!' There came some strange noises from inside the bathroom.
When the door finally opened I launched myself into the room whilst trying to push Jessica out at the same time. She was wearing Mum's old dressing gown, which was at least three sizes too big for her, and she had the bath towel draped over her arm.
'Where're you taking that?' I asked, pointing at the towel.
'To the laundry basket.'
'Why?'
'It's wet.'
'What am I supposed to use?'
'Get another one.'
I frowned as I took a closer look at my sister. 'Godsake, Jessica. You look rough.'
'Thanks,' she intoned, her eyes half shut.
'You look like you've been left out in the rain all day and put away wet.'
'I'm tired. OK?' She glared at me.
'Then take some vitamins and try some eye drops. You look like a vampire.'
'Bog off.' Jessica strode off back to her bedroom. She bumped into the wall twice, though, so as a dramatic gesture it kind of failed.
Frowning, I sniffed at the bathroom.
'Why does it smell of vinegar in here?' I called after my sister.
'Nail polish remover,' Jess called back before entering her room.
Godsake! Couldn't she use that stuff in her own room and not the bathroom? My bladder dictating my pace, I ran to the airing cupboard, grabbed a towel from above the hot water cylinder, and ran back to the bathroom. It was not unknown for my mum or sister to slip into the bathroom ahead of me when my back was turned. And the fact that Jessica had only just come out wouldn't stop her from trying to pop back in. I was going to have a lovely long shower, wash my hair and shave before Callie arrived. I wanted to be clean and look neat without making it look like I'd been to a lot of trouble, or any trouble at all come to that. Time to get to work on making myself irresistible.
Callie didn't turn up until mid morning. I sat in the front room, listening to my favourite rock band with the volume turned down low so as not to wake Mum. I kept glancing out of the window, watching the passers-by. The moment I saw Callie go past my window, I sprinted into the hall. I opened the door before she had her finger halfway to the doorbell.
'Mum's asleep,' I gave as the reason why I'd come to the door so quickly. But to tell the truth, Mum had nothing to do with it.
Callie was wearing a light-blue, sleeveless, V-necked Tshirt and dark-blue jeans. She wore her hair loose for a change and it fell in curly waves around her face and down past her shoulders. Her earrings were gold, reflecting her skin tone. She smiled, her eyes warm brown today. She looked so good, my stomach kinda hiccupped. Every time that happened it took me by surprise. Wasn't sure I liked it much either. It made me feel . . . exposed, like wearing trousers with no bum to them. But I had no control over the way my body reacted to her, no matter how much I tried to rationalize my feelings or find a logical explanation for what she did to me.
'How are you?' I said, opening the front door wide for her to enter.
'I'm fine,' Callie sashayed past me. I was never really sure what that word meant until that moment when she did it. Then I knew all right!
I glanced up the stairs. No sounds, but I still lowered my voice. 'Are you OK after last night?'
Callie nodded. 'I'm fine.'
'I . . . you look . . .' I stopped babbling like an idiot and leaned in to kiss her. My arms wrapped around her, her arms wrapped around me and we kissed like we had less than one minute before the world ended!
When I finally let her go, Callie laughed. 'What was that for?'
'Just saying hello.' I grinned.
'I can't wait to see how you hold a conversation then?' Callie teased. 'Any chance of a coffee?' She walked ahead of me into the kitchen. By the time I got there, she was already taking out two cups. 'You gonna have one with me?'
'Yeah, go on then.'
I put on the kettle whilst Callie spooned coffee into both cups and two sugars into mine.
'Where's your sister?' she asked.
'In her room, probably on her phone where she'll be for hours.'
'What're we going to do after our coffees?'
'What would you like to do?' I asked.
I knew what I'd like to do, but there was no way Callie would go for that with Jessica in the house.
'Can we watch a DVD?' she asked. 'And can I choose it?'
Oh hell, no!
'We can't,' I said quickly. 'We have to go and see Dan soon.'
'Not for hours yet. Please, Tobey. I fancy relaxing on the sofa and watching a film or two,' said Callie.
'But, Callie . . .'
'Please. For me . . .' She started batting her long eyelashes in my direction. 'We could cuddle up . . .'
'Oh all right then,' I said, my heart sinking at the prospect of hours spent watching soppy films. 'Damn it, Callie, I must really like you or something.'
'Or something,' Callie agreed with a wink.
twenty-two. Tobey
'So where's Dan then?' Callie asked, looking around.
'I don't know,' I replied stonily. I checked my watch. Twenty minutes past four. I must've been truly dim to believe he would show up. I'd give him five more minutes. I looked around. There was a good-natured impromptu football match going on, mostly Noughts but also some Crosses. Callie and I stood on the sidelines, half watching as we waited for my so-called friend to put in an appearance. The Wasteland was pretty crowded, even for a Saturday afternoon. I glanced at Callie, taking in her slight frown as she watched the football. She hadn't said much as we'd walked to the Wasteland. Something was definitely gnawing at her.
Callie glanced up at the sky. 'Can we not stay here too long? I think it's going to rain.'
'Thank God,' I said.
The weather over the last two weeks had been diabolical, hot as hell and twice as fierce. We were all about due for a break. That was probably why the Wasteland was so crowded, because the air had cooled down a bit. Being outside today didn't feel so much like being an insect tortured under a magnifying glass.
'How much longer do we have to stay here?' Callie asked.
'No idea.'
'When is Dan going to get here?'
'How the hell
should I know?'
'Well, excuse me all over the place,' Callie snapped back.
'Sorry, babe.' I leaned in to kiss her.
'You're forgiven.' She smiled when at last our kiss ended.
'Get a room!' some git called out from the football pitch.
Callie and I shared a smile and ignored the wolf whistles and ribald comments. Apart from Dan's vanishing act, the day hadn't been too bad. In fact, it'd been on the great side of good. Callie returned to her house and brought back a DVD which was a certain-sure cure for insomnia. The thing was so slow, I swear I could feel my hair growing. So whilst she was watching it, her back pressed against my chest, her feet up on the sofa, I wrapped my arms around her and made the most of holding her tight, touching and stroking her body, nibbling on her ear and kissing her whenever the film's plot slackened – and the plot wasn't exactly drum tight.
Plus whilst Callie had been watching the film, it had given me a chance to zone out and do some serious thinking about my predicament, as well as Callie's uncle. If Jude McGregor really was alive, if somehow he'd escaped the devastation at the Isis Hotel, then I would need money to get Callie away from him. With money, Callie and I could escape to some place where her Uncle Jude would never find us. It would mean missing school and my exams, but I'd do it in a heartbeat to keep Callie safe. I wouldn't tell her of my plans just yet. I had to get enough money together first. Deliveries?
Now if Dan would just show his face, Callie and I could be off and doing. I had plans for today. An expensive meal, a film or maybe even a theatre trip to impress her and then we'd take it from there. We had the whole evening ahead of us. And we could discuss our future together when the time was right. I'd have to pick my moment carefully. I looked at Callie and realized that we had our whole lives ahead of us. Callie and I, together.
A surprisingly chilly breeze brought me back to the Wasteland. The wind ruffled my hair and tugged at my Tshirt. I glanced up. The clouds were definitely getting darker. Callie was right. Rain was coming. Though I found it hard to care about the rain, the sun or anything in between at that precise moment. Callie's gold hoopearrings glinted, catching my eye. Not that I needed her earrings sparkling in my direction to make me look at her. She was so damned beautiful it was hard to take my eyes off her. I put my arm around her, or at least I tried to. She shied away before turning to face me.
'What's the matter?' I asked.
'Tobey, when are we going to talk about what happened last night?' Callie began, albeit reluctantly.
'Why?'
What was there to talk about? Godsake! This wasn't going to be one of those girly 'let's-analyse-the-thing-todeath' talks, was it?
Callie looked here, there and anywhere but at me. 'I know . . . I know it probably didn't mean as much to you as it did to me, but—'
Whoa!
'Where'd you get that idea?'
'Well, you didn't mention it all morning,' said Callie.
'What was I supposed to say?' I frowned. 'Great shag?'
Callie glared at me. 'See! Everything is a big joke to you.'
What was she on about?
'What're you on about?'
Was Callie deliberately trying to pick a fight? Or maybe I'd been such crap in bed, she was trying to find a way to dump me.
'Tobey, I don't regret what happened last night, really I don't. But I've been thinking all morning that maybe we shouldn't do it again, at least for a while.'
'Why?' I asked, aghast. Looks like I'd been right. I know it hadn't been the world's most polished performance, but it was my first time too.
'Last night was about comfort and getting lost in each other to shut out the outside world. I just don't think that's a good enough reason to carry on . . . doing it.'
'Is that all last night meant to you?' I asked, acutely disappointed. 'A bit of comfort and a way to take your mind off your uncle?'
'Don't you dare say that,' Callie rounded on me. 'You're the one who kept crowing about not being a virgin any more. You're the one who said you did something really stupid yesterday, so being with me was obviously just your way of forgetting your problems for a while.'
'That's not true,' I denied.
'Isn't it? OK, Tobey, no teasing, no jokes, no evasions, just the truth. How do you feel about me?'
I opened my mouth to tell her straight, only to snap it shut again. I wanted to tell her, I really did. But certain words were very hard to retract. Once they were out, they took on a life of their own and if I said them, they might turn round and take a chunk out of my arse. Callie was watching me intently.
'This is ridiculous. You're being really stupid,' I said at last.
'Thanks,' Callie said, not attempting to mask the hurt in her voice. 'That confirms what I thought.'
'Callie, I . . .'
'Forget it, Tobey. I was drowning, you threw me a lifeline, now it's over.' Callie shrugged. 'I was stupid to hope it meant any more to you than that.'
'Hi, you guys,' Dan yelled out from several metres away.
'Look, we can't discuss this here,' I told Callie. 'Once Dan gives me my money, we can go for a meal and talk about it. OK?'
'Nothing to talk about,' Callie said coldly.
Why did I suddenly feel like I was clinging onto our relationship by my fingertips? Probably because that was exactly what I was doing. It was a choice between yanking open my chest and showing Callie my heart with all the risks that involved – or losing her anyway.
'Callie, we need to talk,' I said.
'Talk or listen to you insult me some more?'
'Talk.'
Callie didn't reply.
'I'm sorry I called you stupid,' I said, exasperated. 'Can we please just go somewhere and talk? Please?'
Callie didn't answer. Instead she turned to face Dan. I did the same, feeling like I was drowning. Dan approached us, a big, beaming smile on his face.
'What's the point of having a flash watch if you still can't get anywhere on time?' I snapped when he got close enough.
'I'm here now, aren't I?' Dan couldn't see the problem. 'Hi, Callie. You're looking fine, as always.'
'Thanks, Dan.'
'I mean it. You look real fit,' he said, moving closer to her.
Annoyance began to bubble inside me like a saucepan of water heating on a cooker.
'Callie, I can take you places and buy you things that Tobey hasn't even dreamed about.' Dan's smile was an oil slick on his face as he regarded her. 'Tobey's my mate and all, but when're you going to dump the loser and go out with me?'
Callie gave me a filthy look, then turned to Dan like she was seriously considering his offer.
'You even think about making a move on Callie and I'll break every bone in your body,' I told Dan straight. 'And when you're buried, I'll dig you up to break each bone all over again.'
Dan and Callie stared at me. Then they both burst out laughing. What was so damned funny?
'Someone's got it bad,' Dan said.
Callie looked at me, a strange light twinkling in her eyes. All the ice in her expression had melted. I turned away from her so she couldn't get the full effect of the blush cooking my face.
'Now you see, Tobey,' she said softly. 'That's all you had to say!'
'I don't know what you mean,' I mumbled, deciding to ignore them both till they stopped laughing at me.
Beyond the football pitch, across the grass, a black WMW pulled up. If I hadn't known any better I would've sworn it was McAuley's car. But what would McAuley be doing at the Wasteland on a Saturday afternoon? Two suited Nought men I'd never seen before got out and ambled across the grass towards the football pitch as if they didn't have a care in the world.
'So, Callie, when did you first manage to wrap my friend around your little finger?' Dan asked, holding an imaginary microphone to her face.
'Well, Dan, it all started when I was seven years old . . .' Callie squeaked out like her lungs were full of helium.
Dan had his back to the two men, who were slow
ly but surely heading in our direction. Something wasn't right. I looked around. A white saloon was parked on the opposite side of the pitch. Two men got out of that car, two Crosses. They also started heading towards the football pitch. I turned back to the two Nought men walking towards us. They were talking to each other, but the prickling on the back of my neck was getting worse. The two Noughts were only a few metres away now. They reached beneath their jackets – and then all hell was let loose.
'GET DOWN!' I yelled.
But my words came too late.
twenty-three. Callie
Several loud bangs sounded, like lots of cars backfiring in quick succession. Each noise made me jump. I looked around. The whole world reduced speed to ultra slowmotion. Every colour, every sensation was heightened except . . . except all I could hear now was my heart strumming. The world was slow, my heartbeat was fast. Strange combination.
All around us, people scattered like points on a compass. I could see their mouths move, watch their frantic expressions, but still the only sound was my own heartbeat, growing ever faster. It was like a drum inside me beating its own time. What on earth was going on? I looked around. Men with guns. Men with guns on either side of the pitch, shooting at each other. And all of us in the middle.
Get down, Callie.
Drop down.
Get down. NOW.
Two Cross men had their guns drawn and were shooting past us in the direction of the road behind us. I turned just in time to see McAuley, sitting in the back of his car, the back window all the way down. Flashes flared from inside the car. Bullets? Bullets. My head turned this way and that. Tobey was shouting at me, his mouth moving oh so slowly, too slowly to make out the words. But he was trying to tell me something important, something urgent. That much was evident in his eyes. And he was pulling at me.
Stop pulling me.
Dan was already on the ground.
GET DOWN, CALLIE . . .
From inside his car, McAuley fired his gun. And his gun was pointing straight at us. The gun jerked in McAuley's hand. He'd fired. And again. I didn't have time to warn Tobey or push him out the way. I stepped in front of him.