Class A (20 page)

*

James, Junior, Nicole and April arranged to meet at lunchtime, to bunk off and go to the cinema. They swapped uniform for casual clothes as soon as they got out of the school gate. James had loads of money, so he paid for tickets and popcorn and stuff.

It was a stupid thriller. Nicole started giggling every time this American actor spoke in a fake-sounding London accent. James and Junior started putting two fingers in their mouths and whistling noisily every time this fit actress came into shot.

The only other people in the cinema were a few pensioners. One bloke kept shushing them until Nicole turned back and waved her fist at him.

‘Shut it, you old git.’

The old man toddled off to make a complaint. The cinema manager came in and told them all to behave or else he’d chuck them out. James settled down to the film. He got a shock when he noticed Nicole and Junior had their arms around each other and an even bigger one a minute later when they started
snogging
.

They were all over each other. Nicole’s leg was up in the air and James kept getting kicked. He got up and moved down two seats so he was sitting on the opposite side of April, away from any flailing limbs.

‘They’re getting on well,’ April grinned.

She grinned for a long time. James watched half a minute of the film and she was still grinning at him. He realised the girls had planned an ambush. Nicole already knew Junior fancied her because he’d asked her out before. James felt like he’d been hooked on a line and reeled in, but he checked April out and realised that as traps go, it wasn’t a bad one.

April was decent-looking, with long brown hair and fit legs. James slid his hand under the armrest and put it on top of April’s. She twisted in her seat, so she could rest her head on James’ shoulder. James turned around, breathed April’s smell and kissed her on the cheek while she grabbed a few of his
Maltesers
.

They stayed that way for a couple of minutes, until April moved away and blew chocolate breath over him.

‘So,’ she whispered. ‘Are you gonna snog me or what?’

James figured
 
what the hell, it’s my birthday
. They
snogged
for ten minutes, breaking up when the movie got near the end and turned into a big car chase and punch-up that was actually worth watching.

Nicole and Junior started messing around. They poured the dregs and melted ice from the Coke into one cup, then spat in chewed-up chocolate and bits of popcorn off the carpet. Nicole held the cup between James and April.

‘Gob in that,’ Nicole said.

James and April obediently spat into the cup.

‘That better not end up anywhere near me,’ James said.

Nicole grinned. ‘Don’t you worry.’

As soon as the titles came up, Nicole and Junior dashed over and caught up with the old man as he doddered up the aisle.

‘Excuse me,’ Nicole said politely.

The old man turned suspiciously.

‘What is it?’

‘I just wanted to apologise for disturbing you,’ Nicole said. ‘I realise it was dreadfully inconsiderate of us.’

The old man smiled. ‘That’s OK, I suppose. Just don’t do it again.’

‘Yeah,’ Junior said. ‘It’s people like you that fought in hundreds of wars so that kids like us could be here today.’

‘We’d like you to have this as a token of our appreciation,’ Nicole giggled.

She chucked the contents of the cup at the old man, who wheezed in shock as the foul liquid drizzled inside his clothes. His jumper had massive stains and bits of popcorn stuck down the front.

‘That’ll teach you to be a grass,’ Nicole shouted.

James looked stunned as Nicole and Junior broke into a run. He and April chased after them, knowing they’d get into trouble if they stuck around. When they got to the foyer, Junior launched himself into a rack of peanuts and snacks, spilling them over the floor. None of the cinema staff earned enough money to bother going after them.

They ran a few hundred metres from the cinema and cut into a side street. James was livid.

‘Are you two retards or something?’ he shouted. ‘What the hell did you do that for?’

‘Who put a bug up your arse?’ Nicole grinned.

Junior was laughing so hard he couldn’t stand up straight.

‘He was an old man,’ James stormed. ‘That was totally out of order. You could have busted his hip or something.’

April didn’t say anything, but she stood beside James, showing she was on his side.

‘I hope he
 
has
 
broken his hip,’ Nicole shouted bitterly. ‘I hope he drops dead.’

‘Nice,’ April said.

‘I can’t stand old people,’ Nicole said bluntly.

‘You’ll be old one day,’ James said.

‘Nah,’ Nicole said. ‘Live fast, die young, that’s my motto.’

‘Where are we going now?’ Junior giggled. ‘Shall we get something to eat? I’m starving.’

Being friends with Junior was part of James’ mission, but sometimes your emotions take over no matter how hard you try.

‘I’m going home,’ James said shortly. ‘I feel like a shower.’

‘You’re not throwing a major strop, are you?’ Junior asked. ‘You’re still coming down the youth club tonight?’

‘Sure,’ James said, half-heartedly. ‘Everyone’s gonna be there.’

‘I’m smuggling some of my dad’s beers in,’ Junior said. ‘Let’s all get totally smashed.’

Junior and Nicole wandered off towards a burger place with their arms around each other. James waited at the bus stop with April. When her bus came, he gave her a quick kiss.

‘I’ll see you at the youth club tonight,’ April said. ‘Don’t let those two idiots spoil your birthday.’

‘I won’t,’ James said.

But he couldn’t help feeling it all the way home. There’s a difference between mucking around and being nasty to someone. The thing with the old man had left a bad taste in his mouth.

20. CELEBRATION

The incident with Crazy Joe was supposed to be kept quiet, but it was the kind of story that travels fast and gets wilder every time it’s told. The story, combined with Keith Moore’s seal of approval, had made James into a well-respected face.

He got a good vibe when he walked into the youth centre alongside Kerry and
Dinesh
. Waves and smiles came from all directions. He sat at a table with Junior and Nicole, who looked like they’d already downed a few of the beers that were stashed under the table. Junior was in a good mood and James didn’t want to make a big deal about what had happened at the cinema earlier.

‘Beer?’ Junior said, passing a can across the table.

Drinking was banned, but the youth club supervisor always just sat in the corner translating books into German. If there was a punch-up, he’d phone upstairs and get a couple of guys from the boxing club to sort it out; apart from that, you could get away with anything.

‘Cheers,’ James said, cracking the can open.

April pulled up a chair next to James and they kissed. He felt awkward doing it with Kerry sitting a few metres away.

The next couple of hours passed in a blur. Kids came and went. Everyone was taking the mickey out of everyone else and drinking. Kerry and
Dinesh
only took sips, James and April had a couple of beers, while Nicole and Junior got completely trashed. One time, Nicole got the giggles so badly she fell off her chair.

*

The youth club closed at ten and James thought he’d better have a slash before they headed home. He was in a grand mood as he drifted downstairs to the foul-smelling basement toilets.

‘You forgive me, don’t you?’

James turned around and realised Junior was peeing beside him.

‘For the old man?’ Junior slurred. ‘Nicole’s got a thing about old people. We got carried away.’

‘Course I forgive you,’ James said. ‘Don’t sweat it.’

‘I’ve got something for you,’ Junior said. ‘Come outside.’

They went into the space at the bottom of the stairs between the boys’ and girls’ toilets. Junior pulled a pillbox out of his jeans and popped off the lid. There was a stubby metal straw inside and a thin layer of white powder in the bottom.

‘How long have you been snorting coke for?’ James gasped.

‘Since the cinema.’

‘No wonder you two have been acting like
nutters
,’ James said. He knew that coke gave you a high, but he’d never realised that it could make you act totally crazy.

‘Give it a whirl,’ Junior said.

James had packets of cocaine in his locker at school and under his bed at home. He’d been tempted a couple of times, but it had never seemed quite this easy: a few centimetres from his face with a mate urging him to test it out.

‘I’m not sure I want to get into that stuff,’ James said.

‘You tart,’ Junior laughed. ‘What harm’s one snort gonna do?’

Nicole came out of the girls’ toilet and looked at James.

‘The birthday boy doesn’t want any,’ Junior giggled.

‘Good,’ Nicole said. ‘More for me.’

She shoved the metal straw up her nostril and vacuumed up half the coke left in the pot. Her head shot backwards and she wiped a tear off her cheek.

‘You’ve
 
got
 
to, James,’ Nicole rasped, sounding like she was pinching her nose.

‘It’s not gonna blow your mind or nothing,’ Junior said. ‘It just makes the world seem like a nicer place.’

‘Except inside your nose,’ Nicole giggled. ‘That goes like a chunk of rubber.’

James looked into the dish. There was only a tiny bit left and he was curious to try it, just once. Nicole gave him the straw. James pushed it up his nose and leaned towards the white powder.

‘Come on, you guys,’ Kelvin shouted. ‘I’m locking up.’

He was at the top of the stairs. Junior pulled the coke out of sight before James had time to sniff. James spun around, hiding the metal straw in his hand.

‘Give us a second,’ Junior shouted.

‘
Now
,’ Kelvin shouted. ‘Don’t mess me about.’

The three of them staggered upstairs, through the youth club and on to the pavement out front. The nights were starting to turn cold. Kerry, April and a big bunch of other kids were standing around shivering. James found April.

‘You want to come round to our house?’ James asked. ‘It’s only ten minutes’ walk.’

April shook her head. ‘Kelvin’s giving me, Junior and
Dinesh
a lift home. I’ll have to smuggle Junior in round the back. If our dad sees him in that state, he’ll go bonkers.’

‘OK,’ James said, leaning forward and giving April a kiss. ‘I’ll speak to you tomorrow. Maybe we can go to the Reeve Centre or something.’

‘Cool,’ April smiled. ‘It looks like you’ve got your own set of problems over there.’

James turned around in time to see Nicole hurl up in the gutter.

*

Kerry went in first and checked the coast was clear.
Ewart
and Zara had gone up to bed early, which was a relief. James and Kyle dragged Nicole into the kitchen and draped her over a dining chair.

‘I’m gonna die,’ Nicole sobbed, resting her elbows on the dining table. ‘I feel so ill.’

Kerry ran her a glass of water. ‘Drink that,’ she said. ‘Alcohol dehydrates you. The water will stop you getting a hangover.’

James hadn’t drunk anywhere near as much as Nicole, but he decided a drop of water would do no harm and ran a glass for himself.

‘I think I’m gonna be sick again,’ Nicole moaned.

Kyle got one of the buckets from under the sink and stood it on the table. Nicole leaned into it, her sobs echoing into the plastic.

‘Get us a tissue,’ she groaned. ‘My nose is running.’

James ripped off a square of kitchen towel and handed it over. When Nicole took the bucket away from her face, they all saw her nose was bleeding.

‘Oh, my god,’ Kerry gasped. ‘I think we should wake Zara up.’

‘No,’ Nicole begged. ‘I’ll get into trouble. Take me to bed and I’ll sleep it off.’

Kerry grabbed the roll of kitchen towel and the bucket and took them upstairs to the girls’ bedroom. James and Kyle each wrapped one of Nicole’s arms around their back, picked her off the chair and helped her stumble along the hallway.

‘Nicole,’ Kyle said firmly. ‘We’re at the bottom of the stairs. Lift up your legs.’

Nicole’s head slumped forward and her legs gave way. A fresh wave of blood began streaking out of her nose.

‘
Oh, Jesus
,’ Kyle said desperately. ‘Put her down.’

Kerry was coming back down the stairs to help them. When she saw Nicole’s limp body on the hallway carpet, she spun around and burst into
Ewart
and Zara’s room.
Ewart
raced downstairs in his boxers. Kyle was taking Nicole’s pulse.