Flick Page 3

  I stand in the porch watching her go. ‘I might see you sometime around college; I’m coming up to see Kev at some stage,’ I call. Go on, Flick, tell the whole world, I think as our neighbour looks up from his gardening. Becks doesn’t reply, just opens the car door and slides into the back seat wordlessly. I wave as they speed off. No one waves back.

  CHAPTER 6

  I dare not ask Mam if I can go out with the girls this weekend and instead spend all my time up in my room practising one of my favourite Snow Patrol songs, ‘Chasing Cars’, on the guitar, and dreaming of Becks.

  ‘Oh my God, I really love that song,’ Fee says on Monday morning when she hears me singing it.

  ‘I know; it’s so cool. I’m nearly able to play it.’

  ‘Wow,’ she breathes. Of course she’s not so impressed when I tell her that Kev was home at the weekend, and I don’t dare mention Rebecca.

  ‘What?’ she screams. ‘You’re kidding me?’

  ‘Look, I’m sorry, Fee. I swear I didn’t know he was coming and he was gone first thing the next morning.’

  ‘Jeez, Flick, you could have at least texted and pretended you needed a book or something and I could have brought it up! I can’t believe you never even thought of me.’

  I bite my lip. ‘Sorry, Fee.’

  She’s still going on about it on Tuesday. All the while I’ve been thinking of a way to see Becks again. On Wednesday I stop putting things off and ring Kev. He’s in foul humour.

  ‘So, how’s Becks?’ I ask after a few minutes.

  ‘She’s gone,’ he says matter of factly, ‘and I don’t give a damn how she is.’

  ‘Gone? Gone where?’ I’m horrified.

  ‘We’ve split,’ he says grudgingly.

  ‘Oh my God, really?’ I ask.

  He doesn’t reply. My mind is racing. This is definitely a sign, I think.

  ‘Look, I have to go,’ Kev says.

  ‘Wait,’ I say, ‘I wanted to ask you something.’ It takes a while but after a lot of persuading I manage to coax him into letting me, Fee and Kar come and stay with him the weekend of his match. I figure it’s the best weekend, what with Mam and Dad being away, and I’m hoping that once the girls get a few drinks into them and Kev starts having his beloved match analysis I’ll be able to sneak off to look for Rebecca. How I’m going to find her is another matter, but I’ll think about that later.

  I’m all excited when I meet Kar and Fee on the way to school on Thursday morning.

  ‘OK, spill the beans, Costello, what is it?’ Kar says.

  ‘Let me guess,’ Fee interrupts, ‘Tom wants you to go steady?’

  ‘No,’ I snort in disgust.

  Kar laughs.

  ‘I was talking to Kev last night,’ I begin.

  ‘And you’re getting excited about that?’ Kar asks, turning her nose up. ‘You’re just weird, Costello!’

  ‘Oh my God, what did he say? You do know your brother is the finest guy in this damn town?’ Fee says.

  ‘Except he’s not in this town,’ Kar interrupts.

  ‘Don’t I know it,’ she says.

  Fee and Kev have kissed on at least two occasions, which has certainly not put Fee off liking him, crazy as that seemed to me. ‘He kept going on about this big football match that he has in two weeks,’ I say.

  ‘Bloody football,’ Fee butts in. ‘I mean, what the hell do guys see in running after a damn ball around a field?’

  ‘It’s all about skill and it’s not only guys that do it,’ I say.

  ‘Well, it drives me crazy. I can’t stand the bloody game!’

  ‘That’s a pity,’ I say, ‘because he did say he’d love if we went up to see it.’

  ‘What?’ she screams.

  ‘He said if we wanted to go and see the match, we could, and we could kip in his house that night! But I’ll tell him you’re not interested.’

  ‘Oh, shut up!’ she says. ‘You know I’d pretend to be interested in sumo wrestling if Kev was involved.’

  I laugh. ‘What about you, Kar?’

  ‘Excluding your dear brother,’ says Kar, ‘there will be twenty-nine eligible players, a ref, two sideline officials, coaches and a college bar full of potentials, so yeah, of course I’m there! And you never know, Costello, you might even get lucky!’

  ‘You know what? I think I just might.’

  CHAPTER 7

  The next two weeks are just mad. We discuss and plan our weekend away over and over again and then it’s Friday and Mam and Dad are dropping me to Kar’s house. Already I have butterflies in my stomach.

  We spend Friday night in Kar’s bedroom listening to CDs, eating pizza, trying on outfits, painting nails, putting on fake tans and listening to Kar telling Fee how to hook Kev. Most of it involves Fee not looking at or talking to Kev at all.

  ‘So you’re sure your Mam will let us go tomorrow?’ I ask as we finally drag ourselves into bed.

  ‘For the tenth time, yes,’ Kar says. ‘You know I can twist Mom round my little finger so stop going on about it.’

  ‘OK, OK, I’m just making sure.’

  In the morning I wake to Kings of Leon blasting out of Kar’s stereo and immediately cover my head with my pillow.

  ‘Wakey wakey, sleepy head,’ Kar shouts, jumping up and down on the bed.

  ‘I love this song,’ Fee squeals and follows suit.

  ‘Can’t you at least turn it down? It’s hurting my head,’ I complain. The bouncing stops and I’m just sighing with relief when the covers are ripped off me and Kar pushes me out of bed. I land with a thud.

  ‘Ow, I bloody well –’

  The girls are on top of me, tickling me before I get the chance to say any more. I squeal and try to push them off but they won’t give up. I’m half laughing, half screaming when the door opens. Both Kar and Fee look towards it but it’s impossible for me to see who’s there.

  ‘What the hell are youse screaming at, you bunch of lezzers?’ barks Ryan, Kar’s brother.

  ‘Get the hell out of my room,’ Kar shouts, grabbing a shoe and throwing it at him.

  ‘Lesbos,’ he sneers as he ducks for cover. Fee throws another one and, seeing my opportunity, I wriggle free and stand up. ‘Oh, a threesome!’

  I turn puce while Kar flings a hairbrush. ‘You’re such a sleaze, Ryan,’ she shouts, missing him yet again. He starts making kissing noises.

  ‘Mom,’ Kar calls, ‘Ryan won’t get out of my room.’

  ‘Mom,’ he mimics.

  I don’t realise I’ve done it till Kar’s sandal is whirling through the air. It hits Ryan on the ear. Both Kar and Fee gasp. I just stand stupidly with my mouth open. He touches his ear in disbelief before striding towards me with this weird smirk on his face. I begin to back away and almost immediately fall over Kar’s other sandal. Ryan pounces the moment I hit the ground, pinning my hands above my head. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I look up into his face as his piercing blue eyes stare down at me.

  He grins. ‘Lucky shot Costello.’

  I swallow.

  The girls spring to my rescue. Kar dives on Ryan’s back, making him fall right on top of me, while Fee, as always, follows. For those seconds Ryan’s head is right by mine, his lips against my ear.

  ‘Hey,’ he whispers, ‘at last we’re finally getting to know one another.’

  ‘I can’t breathe,’ I whisper back.

  ‘Get off,’ he roars at Kar and Fee; ‘you’re hurting her.’ He throws them off his back in one move and drags me to my feet. He gives my hand the smallest squeeze and stares at me for a second or two more. ‘Are you OK?’

  I nod. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say hoarsely.

  ‘Are you crazy?’ Kar shrieks. ‘What the hell are you apologising to him for?’

  ‘Don’t be; I’m not,’ he whispers as Kar continues to shriek. Then he turns and walks away. I catch Fee staring at me, her eyebrows raised quizzically while Kar tells Ryan to go to hell and slams the door after him. I shake my head adamantly, silently warni
ng Fee to keep quiet, and quickly disappear into the bathroom.

  * * *

  The traffic is crap and it doesn’t help that Kar’s Mam takes a wrong turn on the way to the bus stop.

  ‘Mom, what the hell are you doing?’ Kar shouts.

  We’re stuck behind a truck on a one-way street.

  ‘Isn’t this the way?’ her Mam asks innocently.

  ‘It’s the other direction.’

  I begin to laugh, not at what Kar has just said, but with relief. We’ve missed the bus; we can’t go! All night I’ve had the worst dreams of things going horribly wrong with Fee and Kev and of searching for Becks and never finding her or finding her and the others finding us! Now I can relax knowing none of that can happen and I won’t have to lie to Mam and Dad either. Kar looks at me, then at Fee, then back to me.

  ‘I don’t believe this,’ she says, ‘you’re laughing, she’s crying! Am I the only sane person in this car?’ She doesn’t wait for the answer. ‘Look, Mom, just take us to the train station.’

  The smile fades from my face. ‘But … but … I can’t afford the train,’ I say lamely.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Kar says, ‘Mom’ll pay; it’s her fault we’ve missed the bus.’

  Half an hour later we’re sitting on the train, and as we make our way out of the station I bury my niggling doubts and join in the girls’ excited chatter. It’s going to be a great weekend!

  CHAPTER 8

  In the end we only get to see about twenty minutes of Kev’s match, which suits us just fine. When it’s over Kar insists we get some grub, and for the umpteenth time goes over how we’re supposed to act when we get to the pub and the bouncers. Finally it’s time to head back.

  Fee actually begins to jog just to get there quicker which I’ve never seen her do before. Mind you, it lasts for all of ten seconds before she slows to a fast walk.

  ‘For God’s sake,’ Kar snaps, ‘act cool.’

  We queue up, fake IDs ready, but all it takes is for Kar to bat her eyelids and pout her lips for us to get in. She struts through the crowd so confidently that I can see people stopping and staring. When she nears the bar she turns and waits for us.

  ‘OK,’ she hisses, ‘I see them; two o’ clock but don’t look now.’

  ‘Oh for God’s sake, Kar,’ I say, ‘he’s my brother. Where the hell is he?’

  ‘There,’ Fee gasps, pointing, before Kar has time to answer.

  ‘Ohmygod, please tell me he hasn’t seen you pointing at him and would you take that silly look off your face, Fee,’ Kar orders, ‘or he’ll run a bloody mile.’

  I walk over to Kev, leaving Fee and Kar to follow behind.

  ‘Hey, sis.’ He smiles, tousling my hair.

  ‘Ke-ev,’ I groan, trying to put my hair right, just as Fee and Kar come up to us.

  ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ Kev is all smiles.

  ‘Hey.’ Fee is beaming all over her face.

  Kar sighs and gives a quick hi.

  ‘So, great win –’ I begin.

  ‘Girls, this is Mike,’ Kev interrupts as some guy hands him a pint. ‘You might have seen his lovely legs on the field.’

  Mike pulls his jeans up slightly and wiggles his leg.

  ‘Mike is my housemate,’ says Kev, ‘not by choice, of course.’

  ‘Shut up Kev,’ Mike interrupts, ‘on to more important matters.’ He edges in closer. ‘What will the lovely ladies have to drink?’

  ‘So, is he single?’ Fee asks Kev as Mike heads back to the bar.

  ‘It depends on who wants to know.’ Kev smirks.

  ‘No, it’s not for me; I was just wondering for Flick and Kar,’ she stutters.

  ‘Oh, right, why, are you going out with some one?’ he asks.

  ‘Ah no, not at all,’ she gushes, turning an even deeper red.

  ‘So you’re not interested in Mike?’ Kev persists.

  ‘No,’ Fee gulps.

  ‘How come?’ he asks innocently.

  ‘I … I,’ she looks quickly towards Kar, knowing she has already said too much. ‘He’s just not my type,’ she replies quickly.

  ‘And what is your type?’ he asks, raising an eyebrow.

  Fee gazes at him with this lovesick look on her face.

  ‘Great; just great,’ Kar hisses sarcastically beside me. ‘So much for staying cool.’

  ‘Shut up Kev,’ I interrupt.

  Kev gives Fee a last quick look before turning to me. ‘He’s single – nobody’s willing to take him so he’s as free as a bird!’ he says.

  I feel Kar nudge me. ‘Game on!’ she whispers.

  Mike arrives back from the bar. ‘For the lovely ladies,’ he says, handing us our drinks.

  Almost immediately someone comes over to congratulate them and Fee is back in front of us.

  ‘Well done with Kev! Really well played!’ Kar says sarcastically.

  ‘It wasn’t my fault. He backed me into a corner,’ Fee replies. ‘Anyway, what do you think of Mike?’

  ‘He’s got potential,’ Kar says.

  ‘Yeah, he’s cute,’ I reply.

  He’s certainly good looking, for a bloke. He’s a little taller than Kev with dark curly hair that’s gone a little shaggy and he’s really fit looking.

  As if sensing that he’s being scrutinised, Mike looks over and flashes a quick smile. I smile back. Aghhh, I think, looking quickly away.

  ‘I saw that,’ Kar interrupts, ‘a very sly tactic, playing the Ms Sweet and Shy card. This is going to make for a very interesting night.’ She immediately turns and heads back towards the lads.

  ‘I thought one of the rules was to play it cool if you were interested in someone,’ Fee growls as she stares after Kar who’s now laughing with them.

  ‘You know Kar,’ I say, ‘she makes up her own as she goes along. But hey, I’m just heading to the loo, why don’t you go over to Kev?’

  ‘Really?’ she asks.

  ‘Defo,’ I say, ‘I know if I was interested in someone I wouldn’t be waiting till the end of the night to make a move … Life’s too short, Fee.’

  ‘You’re right,’ she says delightedly. I turn and within seconds I’m lost in the crowd. I give a final look back; all four are chatting away. OK, I think, now all I have to do is find her! I just hope she’s here somewhere.

  CHAPTER 9

  The bar is mobbed and I begin to wonder whether there’s any point in looking for her and what I’d even say if I did find her. I turn abruptly to head back to the others and collide with some girl.

  ‘Jeez, I’m really sorry,’ I begin.

  She gasps and quickly wipes her alcohol-soaked top.

  ‘Can’t you bloody well watch where you’re going?’ she snaps.

  I bite my lip. ‘Sorry,’ I mumble again but she’s storming away. I look after her, feeling embarrassed, and am just about to turn back when someone catches my eye. I look again and there’s Rebecca laughing and talking and looking as beautiful as ever. I stand frozen and wonder again if I should just walk away and live with my dreams and memories. Life’s too short, I hear my voice telling Fee. And you know she likes you. Go on – it’ll be worth it in the end!

  I squeeze through the crowd, veering towards the bar so that I come up behind her, then quietly call her name in the hope that everyone else will continue on with their conversation.

  ‘Hi Becks,’ I say to her back.

  She doesn’t respond. Some of the gang around her stop talking and peer over at me. I ignore the girls, tap her on the back and call her name again. She turns and for a second an uncertain look crosses her face.

  ‘It’s Flick … Kev’s sister,’ I falter. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Oh my God, Flick,’ she says with a laugh, ‘what are you doing here?’

  ‘I, uh … I was up watching Kev’s match and then we came drinking,’ I reply with a smile. ‘So, how are things?’ I ask.

  ‘Great,’ she says, taking a sip of her cocktail; ‘better than ever.’ She gives a knowing look towards her friends.
‘Hey, guys, did I tell ye about going down to Kev’s home for the weekend?’

  And I stand there and stupidly listen while she drools over how gorgeous Dad was and scoffs at Kev for being a real mammy’s boy and Mam for being Mam.

  ‘You don’t half like the older men, Becks,’ someone says and there’s another roar of laughter.

  She turns back towards me with a smirk. ‘So –’ she begins just as her phone starts to ring. This is all an act, just so the others won’t know, I think, looking into her face. She beams at me as she says a quick goodbye to whoever it is on the other end and I swear my heart skips a beat. I smile at her but she ignores me and turns back towards the girls with a squeal of delight.

  ‘You’ll never guess!’ she screeches.

  ‘What? Tell us,’ they laugh, squeezing in closer around her. I stand watching their backs for a few seconds longer. Becks has already forgotten about me. With a sigh I walk slowly away.

  It doesn’t take me long to get back to the others. Kev and Fee are now as close to one another as is humanly possible without physically touching while Kar and Mike seem to be really sparking off one another.

  ‘You see,’ Kev says looking towards me, ‘I told you she wasn’t lost or squashed or locked into a cubicle or on a bus back home!’

  I laugh with them and even join in the conversation for a while. About twenty minutes later I’m still listening to the lads going on about the match when I see her wading through the crowd towards the doors. I watch her leave, alone. She’s going, I think, and I’m never going to see her again. That little voice in my head starts niggling, telling me to follow her, to let her know how I feel. It persuades me that once we’re alone she’ll be back to the way she was.

  ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ I tell Kar quietly. She seems too interested in Mike to care so without another thought I leave as quickly as I can.

  Outside it’s cold and dark except for a few orange lights that give off a dull glow. I search around and see her halfway down the car park, leaning against a car, smoking. I check that there’s no one around before walking towards her.

  ‘Hey, Flick,’ she says carelessly. She flashes a brilliant smile. ‘Fancy meeting you out here.’ I smile back. ‘You aren’t by any chance following me, are you?’ she continues.