Billie Jo (12 page)

'Go to the station and tell the girls that we can't make
it. Tell 'em me nan died this morning.'

Jamie was fuming. 'I can't do that. You're out of order,
Dan. They're nice girls. You're such a fucking arsehole.'

Danny cut his pal off, grinned and turned his attention
back to the slag.

Furious, Jamie slung his phone onto the bed. He was
sick of doing Danny's dirty work and this was the final
straw.

Billie and Carly glanced at one another. It was freezing
and the boys were over an hour late. Trudging towards
the nearby cab office, Billie squeezed her friend's hand.

'Maybe my nan was right after all.'

Miserable and cold, it was an effort for Carly to answer.
'What's your nan got to do with us being blown out?'

' "Never trust a man, Billie, until he's seven days dead,"
that's what she kept telling me.'

Disillusioned with boys and life in general, the girls
travelled home in complete silence.

Furious at being stood up, Billie Jo and Carly made a promise
to give Romford market a wide berth. Three weeks their
pact lasted, until finally their curiosity got the better of them.

'Now are you sure I look OK? Do I need any more
lip gloss?' Billie asked nervously.

'You look lovely, Billie, you always do.'

With the butterflies in her stomach reaching fever pitch,
Billie pushed Carly towards the boys' stall.

'Now remember what I said. Don't look at 'em and
just walk past with your head held high.'

Nodding, Carly smiled.

'Come on then, let's do it.'

Nearing the fruit and veg stall, Billie recognised
Danny's dulcet tones, long before she saw him.

'Mangoes. Come on, ladies. Come and try Danny's
mangoes. Two for a pound today and you won't find any
juicer than mine.'

Determined not to let his cockney charm soften her,
Billie grabbed Carly's arm, stuck her nose in the air and
marched straight past him. Spotting her, Danny slung the
mangoes onto the stall.

'I'll be one sec, Jeff,' he told the guvnor, as he sprinted
over to Billie. Clocking the girls, Jamie carried on serving.
He felt dreadful about standing them up and was far too
embarrassed to face them.

'Billie, I've been hoping to bump into ya.'

Glaring at him, Billie said nothing.

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of the way of
the oncoming shoppers. 'Listen to me, babe. I am so, so
sorry I let you down. You've gotta let me explain, something
terrible happened that day.'

About to pull her hand away and storm off, Danny's
next sentence changed Billie's mind.

'Me poor old nan died, God bless her. Passed away on
the morning that I was meant to be taking you out.'

Feeling like a gooseberry, Carly squeezed Billie's arm.
'I'll be in Debenhams, mate. Come and find me when
you're ready.'

Looking into Danny's soulful eyes, Billie felt awful for
doubting him. 'I'm so sorry, Danny. Your poor nan.'

Acting was easy to Danny. Knowing he'd got her exactly
where he wanted, he played on it.

'Cancer, it was, Bill. She'd been ill for ages and I'm
just glad she's not in pain no more. I still wanted to meet
ya that night but me poor mum was distraught. I'm the
eldest, I couldn't leave her, could I?'

Billie's eyes filled with tears. How could she have
doubted him?

'I understand, Danny. Your mum needed you and you
did the right thing. Was it your mum's mum that died?'
Danny nodded solemnly.

'Things have been tough at home and I could really
do with some cheering up. How about we go out this
coming Saturday? I'll have a word with Jamie and you
have a word with Carly.'

Billie nodded. He was just so lovely. 'Where shall we
meet you?'

'Same place and time as before. Seven at Romford
station and I swear on my poor old mum's life that I won't
let you down again.'

'OK,' Billie smiled.

Hearing his guvnor yelling his name, Danny softly
kissed her on the lips before bolting back to the stall.

'All sorted, Jamie Boy. Came out with me old nan
classic. Birds love a sob story. Saturday night we're
meeting 'em.'

'I ain't going,' Jamie said, as he carried on serving.

Danny smiled at his pal. 'They're well up for it. What's
a matter with ya, ya pussy?'

Jamie shrugged. He was used to Danny's lies and
normally took no notice. He didn't even have a nan, the
lying bastard. This time he felt differently. There was
something about the girls, especially Billie, that made
him want no part of this particular fabrication.

Sighing, he handed the old dear he was serving her
bag of potatoes. He was bound to be roped into going.
Danny would find a way to badger and bribe him, until
finally he gave in, he always did.

'He kissed me. He kissed me,' Billie screamed, as she
finally spotted Carly.

Carly listened intently as Billie repeated the story.

'So we're meeting them on Saturday?'

Billie grinned. Giggling excitedly, the girls headed
back to work.

Billie started to get ready at four o'clock on the Saturday
afternoon. Ten outfits and two hours later, she was finally
ready. Studying herself in the mirror, she was pleased
with the results. After trying on the whole of her
wardrobe, she'd finally decided on a pair of fitted jeans,
a Dolce & Gabanna T-shirt, black pointed high-heeled
boots and a black cropped jacket.

Although confident that she looked the part, Billie had
never felt so nervous in her life. She'd had butterflies in
her stomach all day, no appetite, and her heart was beating
like a drum. Picking up the Dior handbag, Billie couldn't
decide whether to take it out with her or not. The bag
had been the last present that her dad had bought her on
the Boxing Day before he'd died. It was so full of sentimental
value that she didn't want to use it. She could still
remember the conversation they'd had as though it was
yesterday.

'How much?' her dad had said. 'And that's meant to be
in the sale! They're having a fucking laugh, ain't they, the
robbing bastards.' Five minutes later, he'd bought it for her.
'Only the best for my Princess,' were his exact words.

As tonight was to be a new chapter in her life she
decided to take the bag out with her. Hearing the doorbell
ring, Billie let Carly in, put on her Blue CD and
opened a bottle of her mum's wine. Carly was going to
come back with her later and stay the night. Her mum had
gone away with Nathan for a dirty weekend and Billie
hated sleeping in the house alone. Without company, she
had too much time to think and far too many memories.

Billie booked a cab for quarter to seven and handed
her friend a glass of wine. 'I hope they turn up this time.'

'Of course they will,' Carly replied confidently.

Billie topped up her glass. She wasn't so nervous now.
Even her hands had stopped shaking. Billie wasn't usually
much of a drinker, but tonight she'd craved it. Danny was
so cheeky and full of chat that she needed some alcohol
just to be able to talk to him.

'My stomach's going over. How do you feel?' asked
Carly.

'I've never felt like this before. I've even been on and
off the toilet all day with nerves.'

Carly laughed at her friend. 'Christ, Bill, you have got
it bad. I've been nervous, but not as bad as you. I feel
OK because we're going out in a foursome. I'd feel much
worse if I was on my own with Jamie.'

Billie giggled. 'I think I'm in love. I've never met
anyone like Danny, he just does it for me. He's the most
gorgeous boy I've ever seen.'

Carly poured the last drop of wine out of the bottle
into her glass. 'Danny's not my type. He's too loud for
me, I like the quiet ones. At least we know we'll never
fall out over blokes, eh? You like them dark and noisy
and I like them blond and quiet.' Hearing a loud toot,
Billie looked out of the window. Their cab had arrived.

Danny O'Leary leant against the station wall, fag in hand,
watching the birds walking past. Clocking a leggy blonde,
he winked. 'Here a minute,' he shouted as she smiled at
him.

The girl strolled towards him. 'Do I know you from
somewhere?'

Danny gave her his killer smile. 'You don't, but would
you like to?'

The girl was taken with him. 'I dunno, I might do.'

Danny gave a hearty chuckle. 'Listen, I'm busy
tonight, babe. I'm meeting me sister, but give us your
number and I'll give you a bell.' Danny stored her number
in his phone and wolf-whistled as she walked away. Her
skirt was up her arse and he could see right up it. He
knew without a doubt he'd have his hand up there by
the end of the week. He could always tell the dead
certs.

'What the fuck's wrong with you, Danny? You've got
a beautiful bird who's meeting you in a minute and you're
still trying to pull an old dog like that.'

Danny smirked. 'You're just jealous, Jamie, 'cause you
ain't got the O'Leary charm. You'd love to be able to reel
'em in like I do. Anyway, say Billie ain't my type, a man
needs a bit of back-up.'

Jamie felt gutted as he looked at his mate. He really
hoped that Billie Jo didn't like him. Fat chance of that, all
birds liked Danny, every single fucking one of them. Jamie
would have given his right arm to be taking Billie Jo out
tonight, but no such luck. He was stuck with the ugly one.
The only hope Jamie had was Billie seemed much more
intelligent than the birds that Danny usually went for. With
a bit of luck, she'd see him for what he really was.

Danny was a good mate in other ways. He was a good
laugh to work with and to go out with, but he treated
women like shit. Jamie had been brought up by his mum,
Valerie. An honourable woman, she'd drummed it into
him from an early age to always respect the female sex.
His mum would be horrified if she knew how Danny
treated women. He'd never told her. Whenever Danny had
called round for him, he'd put on his charming act. Yes,
Mrs Jackson, no, Mrs Jackson. He'd even gone as far as
bringing her flowers.

'What a lovely boy,' his mother had said to him on
many occasions. Little did she know the real Danny
O'Leary.

Billie and Carly got dropped off before the station. As
they saw the boys they felt relieved. Billie clocked Danny's
outfit straight away: faded jeans, black T-shirt, suit jacket
and black shoes. He looked gorgeous. As Billie got closer
she noticed the beads around his neck, and that did it.
She was truly in love.

For the first time in his life, Danny was lost for words
as he saw Billie Jo walk towards him. He'd always seen
her in work clothes before. Tonight she looked different.
She looked really classy, like a catwalk model.

Finding his voice, he took the initiative. 'There's a pub
I know in the marketplace, girls. You won't need ID there,
the guvnor's a pal of mine.'

The evening passed quickly and Jamie decided that he
quite liked Carly after all. Danny and Billie got on like
a house on fire. The spark between them was strong
enough to set a bonfire alight.

With no one wanting the evening to end, the four of
them headed to a local Indian restaurant.

By this time Billie was extremely tipsy and had taken
leave of her senses. 'Come back to my house,' she insisted.
'My mum's away for the weekend.'

As the cab dropped them in Emerson Park, Danny
knew all his Christmases had come at once. Not only did
he actually like this bird, but she lived in millionaire's
row.

Billie found some lager for the lads and opened another
bottle of her mother's wine for her and Carly. She then
put on some music and sat on the sofa next to Danny.

'How is your mum now? Is she still upset about your
nan?'

Ignoring her question, Danny put his arm around her
shoulder. 'You got any Oasis, babe?'

Billie looked at him lovingly. 'No, sorry, Dan, most
of the music down here is my mum and dad's and that's
mainly country and western. My CDs are in my room,
but I've got no Oasis. Shall I go and get us something
else?'

Danny kissed her forehead. 'No, don't worry, let's just
talk. Where are your mum and dad on holiday?'

Having had her tongue loosened by the alcohol, Billie
launched into her life story. Her dad's death, her mum's
drinking, Jade, her brother, the whole caboodle. Drunk
and emotional, she burst into tears. Danny took her by
the hand and led her from the living room into the kitchen.
Finding the kettle, he made her a cup of black coffee.

'Thanks, Danny,' she said gratefully. Embarrassed by
her behaviour, Billie pulled herself together. 'I hope I
haven't put you off by my blubbing. I'm so sorry for
crying. I always get emotional when I talk about my dad.'

Danny looked into her eyes. 'Stand up, Bill, I want to
give you a cuddle.' Taking her into his arms, he held her
close. Looking at her pretty face, he felt himself shiver.
Billie initiated the first kiss. As Danny explored her mouth
with his tongue, she felt an overwhelming sexual desire.

As he tilted Billie's chin towards him, Danny smiled
at her. 'I really like you, Billie. Can I see you tomorrow?'

Billie studied his handsome face and was reluctant to
let him go. 'Why don't you stay the night, Danny? My
mum's not due back until tomorrow evening. Obviously
I don't mean that in a sexual way, but we can snuggle up
in my bed and have a kiss and cuddle.'

Danny grinned at her. 'It's up to you, Bill. If you want
me to stay, then I'd like to. But I'm a gentleman, and I
don't want you to think I'm taking liberties.'

Too inebriated to think straight, Billie said goodnight
to Carly and Jamie and led Danny up to her bedroom.
As she took off her jeans, she felt vulnerable. Leaping
under the quilt, Billie kept the rest of her clothes on.

Danny stripped down to his boxer shorts and climbed
into the bed. The spark and sexual tension between the
two of them was undeniable. Billie was experiencing feelings
that she never knew existed. Danny, being quite an
expert with women, knew exactly what buttons to press.
Slipping his hand into her knickers, he stroked her gently
between her legs. He really fancied her, and the fact that
things were moving at a faster pace than expected suited
him down to the ground.

'I really like you, Billie. Actually, I more than like you.
Let me make love to you, eh?'

Whether it was the amount of alcohol she'd consumed,
her desire to be loved, or the feeling of his hand down
below, she would never know. Somehow she found herself
agreeing to his request. 'I want to, Danny, but I'm not
sure. Have you got anything to use? You know, one of
them rubber things.'

Danny shook his head as he struggled to insert himself
inside her. 'No, babe, but don't worry, I know when to
pull it out. Everything will be fine, trust me.'