Flick Page 2

  She reaches for the phone. ‘And Karen definitely doesn’t know that girl that was drugged before?’ she asks as she dials the number for directory enquiries.

  I shake my head again, ‘It was just a story going around school,’ I murmur. Ohmygod, ohmygod, I’m screwed; she’s getting the bloody cops involved. There’s still no way I’m telling the truth, though, not now, no way. So I stand watching her as she rings the Cove. Thankfully it rings out. She leaves a message, of course, with her name and number and then she dials the number of the police station. I listen as she retells the story; she’s more definite that my drink was spiked with every passing minute. I cringe listening to her and nearly have heart failure when she gives both our names and the phone number. Eventually she hangs up.

  ‘What? What did they say?’ I ask.

  ‘They say that without a positive blood sample there’s nothing they can do. Neither are there any witnesses to anyone spiking your drink and they have no previous reports regarding something like this ever happening in the club. So they’re going to do absolutely nothing.’ I sigh with relief.

  She’s ranting on about how bad the whole system is.

  ‘It doesn’t matter, Mam,’ I say.

  ‘Of course it does,’ she says, staring at me. ‘Don’t you remember how bad you were? And look at your neck; it’s disgraceful.’

  My hand automatically covers it. She goes to the cupboard and grabs the Arnica cream, telling me to put some on. ‘Didn’t you know what he was doing?’ she asks. I bite my lip. I can hear the anger back in her voice.

  ‘We were just kissing,’ I mumble.

  ‘You have to have respect for yourself, Felicity; you can’t let boys just take advantage and do whatever they want.’

  ‘I know,’ I say, feeling the first tears sting my eyes. ‘I hate myself as much as you do, Mam; I hate that I let this happen,’ I blurt and I begin to cry.

  ‘Felicity, of course I don’t hate you,’ she says quietly after a few seconds, ‘and I don’t want you to hate yourself. I’m just worried about what’s happened and I’m really scared that it could happen again,’ she murmurs.

  ‘It won’t happen again.’

  ‘Look, we all make mistakes. I just don’t want you making mistakes that might get you into trouble … with boys.’

  I look at her and nod before staring again at the floor. She gives me a quick hug.

  ‘Now go back upstairs and try and get your homework done before dinner,’ she says as she pulls away, ‘and I’ll call you when it’s ready.’

  I reach the door. ‘Thanks, Mam,’ I say, relieved that it’s all over.

  CHAPTER 4

  By Friday afternoon I’m totally worn out. All week I’ve been on my best behaviour at home and have tried to be as invisible as possible in school and it’s bloody tough going. The lads were such idiots and never left me alone and as for Mam, she persisted in ringing the Cove every day until someone answered her call. She wasn’t impressed when they told her that kids make up stories like that all the time when they want to get themselves off the hook for something. They insisted that no one spiked my drink because things like that don’t happen there, nor could I have taken any drink or drugs as they don’t serve alcoholic drink in an under-eighteens club and absolutely no drugs are allowed on the premises. Whatever happened to me, they said, happened after I left the Cove and has nothing to do with them. Mam’s absolutely disgusted with their attitude and hasn’t stopped going on about it since.

  So the second I get home I grab some snacks and head straight up to my room to veg out. Mam and Dad got me this really cool laptop at Christmas to help me … uh … study. But so far I just tweet and live on Facebook and that’s what I’m doing when I hear a noise downstairs.

  What the hell? I jolt upright, then freeze. Someone’s trying to get in. The hairs prickle the back of my neck and my stomach flips. No one’s supposed to be here; Mam and Dad won’t be home for hours. Within seconds the door opens and I hear Kev laughing as he bangs it closed behind him, then muffled voices. The other voice sounds extraordinarily like a girl. Seconds later there are pounding footsteps on the stairs before they veer towards Kev’s room on the other side of the hall. The talking and laughing stops as bed springs creak. Gross, I think, sliding off the bed.

  I sneak downstairs. I open the front door ever so quietly then close it with a bang. I head in and slump onto the couch and switch on the box. I wait. Sure enough, within seconds Kev is thumping down the stairs. I twist towards the door, ready to feign shock at seeing him.

  ‘Hey sis.’ He grins as he strolls in.

  I’m just about to reply when this tall, thin girl with short blonde hair and beautiful green eyes appears behind him. I open my mouth but nothing comes out so I just end up staring.

  ‘Flick this is Becks,’ he says.

  ‘Hey,’ she says and grins.

  ‘Hiya,’ I say, grinning stupidly back and staring at her dumbfoundedly.

  * * *

  Mam is so not taken with Becks and is even more disgusted when she doesn’t like the fab meal Mam’s spent the evening preparing.

  ‘I mean, how could anyone not like melon?’ Mam asks, looking from one of us to the other when Becks has escaped outside for a cigarette. ‘It’s practically flavoured water, for God’s sake.’

  It turns out that she pretty much doesn’t like any of Mam’s dinner; instead she heads out for another ciggy with Kev hot on her heels.

  ‘Go and call them,’ Mam orders when the dessert is ready.

  I reluctantly do as I’m told and roar for Kev.

  ‘Oh for God’s sake, Felicity,’ Mam complains, ‘I asked you to call Kev and Rebecca, not the whole neighbourhood.’

  Mam silently fumes for the rest of the meal; I sit dreaming and Becks doesn’t seem too bothered by any of us so that, unfortunately, leaves Kev telling Dad about some football quarter-final he has in three weeks. Dad’s gutted that it’s the same weekend as the romantic break he’s planned with Mam. He looks towards her, his mouth open, ready to suggest something but he closes it again when he sees her stony face. After dinner Kev and Becks spend most of their time out in the freezing cold, smoking, while we chill out in the sitting-room. Mam actually seems to be relaxing a little – that is, until Kev pops his head in at about ten.

  ‘We’re wrecked,’ he yawns, ‘so we’re going to hit the hay.’

  ‘OK.’ Mam smiles and turns to me. ‘Felicity, I didn’t realise Rebecca was coming home with Kev and I just put fresh sheets on his bed; can you run up and get some for yours as well? They’re in the hot press.’

  ‘Mam,’ Kev interrupts, ‘Becks can stay in my room.’

  ‘No, she can’t,’ Mam says, ‘she’s staying in Felicity’s room.’

  ‘Where in my room?’ I interrupt.

  Mam glares at me. ‘In your bed, with you, obviously, or would you have her sleep on the floor?’

  ‘Mam, I’m eighteen,’ Kev snaps as he opens the door wider, ‘and so is Becks. What’s the problem?’

  ‘The problem,’ Mam replies adamantly, ‘is that this is our house and we make the rules.’ She looks at Dad, then back at Kev. ‘And I don’t care whether you are eighteen or not; while you’re single and under our roof, you’ll do as we say.’ There’s a moment of silence and in it I hear the back door click closed. No doubt Becks is having another cigarette.

  ‘We sleep together all the time in college; what’s the difference with sleeping here?’ he persists.

  ‘Kevin, I can’t do anything about what you do in college; I just hope that you take proper precautions, look after yourself and respect Rebecca,’ Mam says, ‘but I do have a say in what you do here and I don’t think that asking you to sleep in separate rooms for a night or two is too difficult. Now please calm down.’

  ‘You’re living in the dark ages,’ he growls. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’

  ‘Don’t talk like that to your mother,’ Dad interrupts in a voice of steel; ‘I won’t have it.�
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  ‘I don’t know why I even bothered coming home,’ he continues.

  ‘Kevin,’ Dad says, ‘you keep telling us that you’re eighteen so why don’t you start acting like it?’

  ‘Well, stop treating me like a little boy,’ he snarls.

  ‘You’re not sleeping with your girlfriend under our roof and that’s final,’ Mam says obstinately. Kev gives both Mam and Dad a look of disgust before turning and walking out. I make a quick escape behind him.

  I’ve just made the bed and shoved the last of my clothes into the wardrobe when I hear a noise behind me.

  ‘Love the decor,’ Becks smirks as she comes in.

  ‘It’s a bit childish really,’ I mumble, mortified. The walls and the curtains are pink. ‘I should have fixed it up years ago … I just never bothered.’

  I head towards the dressing table and begin to open drawers and rummage for God knows what. Meanwhile Rebecca has dropped her bag and is heading straight for the window.

  ‘Mind if I smoke?’ she asks, pulling a joint from her pocket. ‘I’ll sit here by the window,’ she promises as she pushes it open then searches for her lighter.

  ‘No, that’s fine,’ I lie. ‘Maybe I’ll just turn off the light, nosy neighbours and all that,’ I murmur as I close the door and switch it off.

  ‘Whatever,’ she shrugs, taking a long drag. I watch the spark flicker. She inhales deeply, then slowly exhales. How does she make everything look so sexy? I wonder. I don’t realise I’m staring at her till she looks over and offers me a drag.

  ‘Thanks,’ I say, walking over and taking it. Almost immediately I feel my head go light; after the second drag it starts to spin. ‘Wow, that’s good stuff,’ I say.

  ‘The best,’ she says. We drift in and out of conversations; she never stops complaining about her father while saying how cool and sexy and gorgeous Dad is. I laugh embarrassedly again.

  ‘This stuff is definitely going to my head,’ I admit after a little while.

  ‘Hey, have you ever had a blow-back?’ she asks.

  ‘I’ve never even heard of it,’ I say with a yawn.

  ‘Well, I’d have one end of the joint in my mouth and you’d have the lit end in yours and I’d just blow it into your mouth.’

  ‘What? There’s no way I’m doing that.’

  She laughs. ‘Well, I suppose we can do it without the joint. Here, I’ll show you.’ She inhales on the end of the joint then leans towards me until her lips are on mine and she’s gently blowing smoke into my mouth. I pull away in shock. Within milliseconds all my senses are on edge and I’m wide awake. She looks at me, still grinning, and I immediately wish I hadn’t reacted the way I did.

  ‘Wow, I wasn’t ready for that,’ I babble. ‘What do you call it again?’

  ‘A blow-back.’ She sniffs as she stares into the empty garden below. She takes another drag then hands it to me. I take a few puffs and get all giddy and brave.

  ‘Hey, do you mind if we try that blow-back thing again?’ I ask. I gulp back the fear that’s causing a lump in my throat.

  ‘Sure,’ she shrugs. She takes a long drag and leans towards me again, I slowly part my lips and close my eyes. Gently her mouth presses on mine, I inhale deeply. Please may this last for ever, I pray, but already I feel her pulling away. In desperation I lean towards her and I press my lips ever so slightly against her. She kisses me back and a shiver runs down my spine. Thank you, God, I think. Her kiss is soft and I never want it to end but all too soon she’s pulling away again. I stare at her, not understanding why the kiss has ended, but wait, still hopeful.

  ‘I want to smoke the end of this before it burns out,’ she explains.

  ‘Sure,’ I nod, watching her. Eventually she flicks the stub out the window. I make a mental note to find it in the morning before we have another inquisition. When I look back towards her she’s staring at me. I give a small smile as she leans towards me, then she hesitates.

  ‘So you’re not worried about your nosy neighbours?’ she whispers. I can’t even speak, just shake my head. She smirks just before her lips touch mine, and I’m in heaven again and oh my God she’s so sweet and gorgeous and I’m just melting. After a few minutes she pulls away again. ‘I’m wrecked, I have to go to bed,’ she says, standing up.

  ‘Oh yeah, me too,’ I say, trying to sound cool and relaxed. She turns and heads towards the en suite and I’m left sitting alone with my pounding heart in the darkness.

  CHAPTER 5

  I spend so long in the bathroom fixing myself up and imagining what’s going to happen and what I’m supposed to do that when I come out Becks is in a deep sleep – she’s even snoring. I make as much noise as I can getting into bed and even have a mild coughing fit in the hope of waking her but nothing works. I stay awake most of the night in the hope that she’ll remember me and wake up but she doesn’t budge. At about five I give up and my eyes finally close. There’s always tomorrow, I think as I nod off. But by the time I wake up Becks has gone. I throw on my dressing-gown and race downstairs to find Mam sitting at the table alone.

  ‘Where’s Becks? And Kev?’ I pant.

  ‘Oh, good morning, hon. How are you? Did you sleep well?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, so where are the others?’

  ‘Well, your Dad’s golfing and Kevin and Rebecca have gone out,’ she says.

  ‘Out? Out where?’ I ask, hoping they’re just out smoking again.

  ‘You know Kev,’ Mam says, ‘he never tells me anything.’ She goes back to reading her paper while I trudge back upstairs. Although I shower and dress I spend the rest of the morning lying on my bed, totally depressed. I wake to the sound of the front door slamming.

  ‘Kev-in,’ Mam wails, ‘do you have to be so aggressive?’

  There’s no response, just footsteps on the stairs.

  ‘Hurry, Becks,’ Kev pleads as he heads towards his room, ‘I don’t want us to be late.’ Suddenly Becks breezes in. I stare at her. She’s red-faced and red-nosed from the cold and looking prettier than ever.

  ‘Hi,’ she says.

  ‘Hey,’ I reply as coolly as I can.

  She grabs her bag and pulls out leggings and a top; she’s stripped and changed in seconds. Then she bends and begins to pack up the rest of her things.

  ‘What’s the story?’ I ask in what I hope is an ‘I don’t care’ voice.

  ‘There’s some mystery tour for Dave’s birthday; we all have to be on the bus at two, before he gets there.’

  ‘Right,’ I reply, ‘but why are you taking your bags?’

  She grins. ‘Kev was really peeved that he had to sleep alone last night so one of the lads is putting us up tonight.’

  ‘Does Mam –’

  ‘Becks, come on, we’ll be late,’ Kev roars as he races downstairs.

  ‘Ah, relax,’ she says as she continues to stuff creams into her bag. She zips it up and walks towards the bathroom where she starts putting on make-up. I follow her and lean against the door.

  ‘That should be good,’ I lie. She shrugs while grabbing the rest of her stuff, turns and nearly bumps into me. ‘Oh, sorry,’ I say, moving out of the way.

  ‘Come on, Rebecca,’ Kev shouts. She picks up her case and rolls it towards the door, I follow. I hear Dad and Kev’s voices in the hall. ‘Becks,’ he shouts again.

  ‘Coming,’ she calls, then stops and turns back to me. ‘I absolutely hate when people shout at me; it’s so bloody rude,’ she says. I nod stupidly in agreement. She looks at me, then, letting go of her case, she bends towards me and kisses me right then and there on the mouth. I’m shocked and thrilled all at once but then I hear Kev charging back up the stairs. I begin to pull away but Rebecca continues to kiss me. Oh my God, we’re going to get caught, my brain screams as every muscle in my body goes rigid. At the last possible second she stops, turns and puts her hand on her bag, just as Kev appears.

  ‘I was about to call you,’ she says calmly. ‘Will you carry this down?’ He grabs the case and looks towards m
e, then looks again.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ he asks seeing my red face and shocked expression.

  ‘Nothing,’ I say turning away.

  ‘Becks, we’ll be late,’ he says.

  ‘Kev, it’s half past one and it takes fifteen minutes to get to the bus that leaves at two; you do the math. I need to pee.’ She turns and walks towards the bathroom.

  ‘There’ll be traffic,’ he shouts as she closes the door, ‘and we want to be there before two, not at two.’ There’s no response from Becks. I raise my eyebrows and smirk.

  ‘Don’t say a word,’ he grunts as I open my mouth to speak.

  ‘I was just going to say goodbye.’

  ‘Whatever,’ he says and heads out the door. ‘Just hurry,’ he shouts back to the closed door, ‘I’ll be in the car with Dad.’ He thumps back down the stairs and I wait for Rebecca. Within a minute she’s back.

  ‘Now, where were we?’ she asks. I feel like a puppy dog waiting for a treat and ready to do anything to get it. She pushes me gently towards the wall and begins kissing me again. I can hear the car starting downstairs and I try not to think of Kev and Dad waiting. She’ll be gone in a minute – just enjoy it, I think. The horn blows but she ignores it. She must really, really like me, I think; she doesn’t even want to go! Abruptly she pulls away and gives a quick grin before turning and striding towards the bathroom. She looks in the mirror, puts on more lippy, fixes her hair and heads out the door.

  ‘Thanks,’ I say lamely, following her downstairs. She just smiles. I want to ask her when I’ll see her again and how we’ll organise it. I want to discuss where we could meet and what we’d do, but I don’t. She has her hand on the door and I’m standing so close to her and silently praying that she’ll kiss me again when Mam appears out of nowhere. I take a step back and automatically turn puce.

  ‘Oh,’ she says, ‘I thought you had gone ages ago.’

  Rebecca gives me a dazzling smile before opening the door. ‘See ye,’ she calls over her shoulder as she walks away.

  ‘I can’t believe she didn’t even say thank you,’ Mam whispers before heading back into the kitchen.