Elemental Fear (19 page)

Another rocket screeched into the air. I looked to my left and saw Dominic's tall frame silhouetted by the glow of the colourful explosion in the sky. His broad shoulders looked even more sculptured in the dark, his jaw set in a menacing line, his eyes sparkled in the night, lighting my insides with fire. His hand slid into mine, tracing circles on my palm. I swallowed the emotions building within me.

"Eve!" Elliot shouted impatiently. “Eve!”

"I'm here" I answered hesitantly, letting go of the warmth at my side.

"Go check on the food and make sure everything inside is set.” He demanded frustration clear in his tone.

"She'll miss the fireworks" argued
dad.

"She isn't bothered.” Elliott sneered “Eve go."

"She isn't a bloody dog, and don’t you dare speak to her like she is" snapped dad. I started to walk over the patio towards the back door.

"Dominic go help her out" insisted Jill.

"It's fine honestly it's almost sorted" I replied in a much too panicked voice.

I felt Dominic's large hand press at the small of my back "come on"

We walked in silence through the house to the kitchen. As we passed the staircase Dominic pulled me to him spinning me round to face him into his arms. His strong arms wrapped around me, holding me closely, I could feel the hard planes of his body through his t-shirt, the power his presence exuded.  I knew we could be caught, I knew it was wrong but I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. My soft cheek was a stark contrast to the rough stubble on his cheek and neck.

“I’ve missed you; we’re still friends aren’t we? I just feel like...like –“

“We will always be friends, always” my voice laced with pleading.

“I’m being sent to Paris again. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages and it’s just I have so much to
talk to you about, things I would like to say.” He squeezed me tighter to him, but what he said made me want to step away from him, to hide from what I knew he wanted to tell me. He wanted to have the inevitable speech about him moving in with Vanessa the possibility that he would propose and they would marry and - I couldn’t finish that thought without bursting into tears. My heart ached with the love I held for Dominic, I needed him like I needed to breath. He was my forever. If dreams could be a reality, right now we would be celebrating bonfire night with our families I would be a Layton and with all the joy in the world carrying his child. A tear slid down my cheek and I swiped at it quickly before he saw it. I hated myself for fantasying about such frivolities. I pushed at his shoulders for him to release me.

“I...I...better get...the food sorted” I smiled and turned away from him. I couldn’t tolerate to look
at those beautiful eyes, even if in the dark I couldn’t see the sparkling blue.

“I can help
,” he said softly. I simply nodded, even though it was unlikely he could see me.

*****

My family gathered in the kitchen, laughing jovially about how good the fireworks were. Johan laughed along with them as if he had known them years and I loved that they had welcomed my dear friend into the fold so easily. I smiled across the kitchen at him and he caught my eye and smiled back. Ellie held onto his hand tightly.

“Int tha stoppin’?” Granddad asked Johan and I could see from across the room how he paled. “Cat got yer’tongue lad?”

“No sir...I –“

“Granddad leave him alone
.” Lou laughed as she came into the kitchen.

“I’m on’y askin’ lad if he’s stayin’
.” He turned his attention back to Johan “Tek thee coit off tha’ll not feel benefit when tha gets artside”

Johan’s pale complexion worried me; I had never seen him so dumbfounded. He looked like he was ready to run from the house and never to be seen again. I stepped forward hoping to soothe the
situation. Then his cheeky mischievous grin slid into action “Okay...I’m at a loss.” He looked around the room “any y’all got a Yorkshire translator handy”

The room fell silent, then granddad guffawed, loud laughter causing everyone else to laugh along with him.

“Tha’s alreight cocker” granddad said.

Johan laughed but looked at me and shook his head making me laugh with him. He walked towards me smiling shaking his head.

“He asked if you were staying, and to take your coat off because you won’t feel the benefit when you go outside” when he opened his mouth to speak I held my hand up to silence him “don’t ask, it’s a saying. But I believe you have Granddad’s seal of approval”

“Oh good, yeah that’s good
.” He leaned in and whispered to me “but I hope to Christ he doesn’t speak to me again. I didn’t understand a word of what he said”

I chuckled “No one out of this County ever does” we both laughed and I turned back to the food
trays.

Dad
, mum, granddad, Lou and Johan sat at the dining table chatting, Ellie sat on Johan’s lap reciting her spellings. Elliott stood on the peripheral of the circle with his mum drinking a beer. Dominic stood to the side of me whilst I made final food preparations.

“Need any help?” Dominic asked leaning towards me. I smiled and shook my head causing loose strands of my hair to tickle my nose. I blew it away from my face but it just landed against my nose again, I lifted my hand to tuck it behind my ear. But Dominic beat me to it, gently sliding his fingers through the loose strands, hooking it behind my ear and tracing the line of my jaw with his finger. I shivered at the gentle sensation. To quickly mask my reaction I lifted the pan of chilli and turned almost dropping it when I caught the murderous glare on Elliott’s face.

I stared straight into Elliott’s thunderous eyes as his gaze shifted from me to his brother, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle ticking from across the kitchen. He had a white knuckle grip on his beer bottle as he stared at me. I swallowed and averted my stare back to my other guests and attempted to smile but even then I could sense it came out as more of a pained grimace.

Elliott pushed himself from the wall and stalked towards me; I stepped away from the table and turned back to the work surface covered in trays of food. As I reached for another tray a firm hand gripped my waist and pulled me sideways into a solid unyielding torso. I fixed my stare on the counter top but Elliott placed his beer down and with his free hand roughly pulled my chin so that I was forced to look at him.

“This looks perfect Angel” and then his lips pressed hard against mine, it was a painful possessive kiss meant to send a message – mine.

My cheeks heated because I hated PDA’s, Elliott didn’t offer any kind of affection towards me, his
love is brutal and the less time spent being touched by him the better. He pulled away offered a gleeful smile at me then looked at his brother and winked. My hands shook as I reached for another tray. I swallowed before stealing a glance at Dominic.

“Message received
.” He muttered, I don’t know if I was supposed to hear him but my heart clenched at his defeated tone.

I lifted the food and turned to the table; I blinked back the blessed tears and plastered a pathetically fake smile across my face. I caught the look on Johan’s face and my resolve nearly collapsed, he was staring at me as if, yet again, he could read my thoughts. His empathic looks made me want to curl up on the kitchen floor and bawl my eyes out.

“The pie is steak but the curry is chicken dad. I know you don’t like steak.”

“Cheers baby girl”

“So lad what’s hap’nin’ wi’t footy lately? They dun’t seem to be able to get a good’ol winning streak goin’”

“We’re not doing too bad Bob, at minute we are holding at winning one losing one and for Leeds at minute that aint bad.”

“What’s tha talkin’ bart lad - aint bad? It’s playoff time the need to get the backsides in bloody gear”

“Yeah but you know what happens when they do? They sell of players, look what happened when we got to playoffs –“Dominic started to rant but was quickly cut off by
dad.

“It’s annoys the life out of me
.” Dad interjected into the conversation. “I mean look at Grayson’s season, he got them all the way to playoffs and then they chuffing threw it all away then sold best lads off. What’s point?”

“It’s all
'bart cash these days” Granddad huffed “We off t’match boxing day this year or what?” He turned to look at dad then up at Dominic.

“They don’t play at home Boxing Day this year I think closest is...Dom when is it again?” Dad
asked earning a hard glare from Dominic, he hated being called Dom.

“I think nearest we could possibly get tickets for is either 23rd or after Christmas I think they play on 2nd Jan
.” He scooped a fork of chilli and popped it in his mouth. “Either should be good matches”

“Dominic don’t talk with your mouth full” chided Jill.

“Fancy 2nd then?” Granddad asked ignoring Jill and looking from dad to Dominic. “What bout thee lad, you fancy it?”

Everyone turned to see he was addressing Johan. “I erm...I don’t really understand soccer rules.”

“What? First rule cocker, it’s football not soccer.” Dad chuckled at Granddad’s proclamation “It’s easy to pick up, tha’ll love it”

“I –“

“Don’t let them fool you Johan, all this lot go for is to drink beer, eat pies and moan about how the team play and what the manager is doing wrong.” mum said laughing when all three men scowled at her. “They are pundits in the making, it is ninety minutes of constant moaning...if they win the team is the best in the world...they lose and it’s all ‘so’n’so is crap, he can’t pass for toffee, they can’t defend, I can do better’ blah blah blah”

“In that case, count me in
.” Johan laughed.

Granddad laughed and slapped Johan on the back “I like ‘im, we can keep this’un
.” Johan turned his head towards Elliott

“Are you coming?”

Elliott snorted a disgusted laugh and took a swig of his beer “I support a team in a league worth playing in”

Johan frowned and turned to look at the others for an explanation.

“Pff...more like a load of overpaid pre-Madonna” Granddad snorted “That lad doesn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to football kid, he’s a...” granddad feigned retching “nope can’t say it. Let’s just say kid thy on’y needs to know that you follow lads in white not scum in red.”

“Whatever, you pay same if not more for tickets you lot get, to see a second rate team, when you could be watching a proper match between two premiership teams.” Elliott snapped.

“Leeds were a premiership team before –“ Dad argued

“They were relegated because they are shit” Elliott laughed

“Elliott language” Jill scolded shaking her head.

“Don’t listen to him kid, he knows
nowt He’s a chuffing glory hunter; I remember when t’kid used to run about proud as punch in his white shirt.” Granddad laughed and the others joined in. Elliott’s face flushed with colour before he turned his scowl towards me.

The food was quickly devoured and everyone moved into the lounge to watch soaps, I didn’t
follow them because I never watched them so had no idea who was who. So I sat in a quiet corner with Ellie and played junior scrabble, although she struggled with the concept you couldn’t just make up words with letters you had.

Just after 8.30pm
mum said they should be going because it was past Ellie’s bedtime. The little minx tried with tears and a pet lip to get an extra half hour but mum was totally unaffected and she went and got her little coat on. Ellie gave Johan an extra tight hug, making him promise to take her to school one day next week. Clearly under the spell of “cute Ellie.” He agreed.

“Al’rate cocker I’m goin’ to go get settled. Yer
dad’s tekkin’ me home. Grub were lovely.” Granddad said.

“Thank you for coming, I’ve missed you.”

“Aye me’n’all.” He kissed me on the cheek “Louise get thee sen over ‘ere,” he said motioning to her with a flip of his hand.

“Night night Granddad”

“Look after thee sen and me grandson”

“Who says it’s a boy
?” She said rubbing her flat stomach.

“Me and thee
dad.” He winked and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Jill stepped forward and gave me a hug “thanks for a lovely night sweetheart; I’m getting a lift back with your parents so Elliott doesn’t have to get the car out again.”

“Thanks for coming”

We finished saying our goodbyes to
mum, dad, Ellie and Granddad. Just as we closed the front door Lou’s mobile rang. She excused herself and went upstairs.

I went into the kitchen to find the men sat chatting about interest rates and savings bonds. My
mind automatically zoned out and I started clearing the dirty dishes and scraping leftovers into the bin.

Louise came back down the stairs with a huge smile on her face. “I’m going out for a bit, Darren is
picking me up.” She turned and left the room before anyone answered her. I was beginning to worry about her on/off relationship with the elusive Darren.

“She’s such an idiot, can she not see he’s using her for what’s between her legs. He definitely won’t be calling her when she’s the
size of a fucking whale” Elliott laughed.

“It’s his baby...maybe he wants –“

Elliott snapped his attention towards me and leveled me with an intense glare “He wants what? Saddled with a kid he didn’t even want? Whilst she’s spreading it for nothing, why offer more?” I winced and looked in the direction Lou had gone, dreading Darren saw her the same way Elliott did.

“Elliott come on...he could have warmed to idea of been a
dad.” Dominic offered.

“Yeah right and you didn’t dump Vanessa as soon as she started talking marriage and kids”

Dominic’s posture stiffened, he sat straighter in his chair squared his shoulders “That’s completely fucking different and you know it, you tit!”

“How’s it different? You were happy when she was an easy lay without having to offer more, as
soon as she wanted the ring you bailed on her”

“God you really are a twat sometimes” Dominic snapped.

“Truth hurts little bro,” he said smugly sitting back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. I agreed with Dominic, Elliott was in a seriously disagreeable mood tonight and I had a feeling it was my fault.

A chair scrapped across the floor when I looked up I saw Johan was standing offering Elliott a
condescending smile. “Well thanks for inviting me along, but I’m going to head home now. Dominic you ready man?”

Dominic nodded giving me a solemn smile.

“Thank you for coming” I smiled but I couldn’t hide the quiver in my voice. I wanted to kneel on the floor and beg them both to stay and not leave me alone with Elliott, but I stood rooted to the spot as the man of my nightmares showed them both to the door.

My hands started shaking as I turned and gripped the counter top. My body hummed with dread
as I sensed the impending argument that was sure to follow. I picked the dishcloth up from the draining board and started wiping at the worktop.

I heard him come back into the kitchen, inside my body was on high alert but I tried to appear
calm and relaxed.

Elliott sat back down in the same chair. From my peripheral vision I saw him take a swig of beer from his bottle and place it back down. He was staring at my back; I could feel his eyes watching my every move.

“Did you have a good night?” He asked his voice eerily calm.

“Y-yeah. Did you?”

“Hmm”

I didn’t turn around, I couldn’t look at him. If I turned he would instantly see my trepidation and that would be an instant catalyst. The silence stretched and I felt like if I didn’t speak he would be able to hear the pounding of my heart.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy the fireworks, Ellie was a little –“

“How the fuck would you know? You were in here with lover boy
.” He snapped and I knew instantly I would regret not staying silent. “Come on let’s hear it. The shitty excuses where you tell me nothing happened; he’s just a friend and all that bollocks”

“He is a friend” I whispered.

“You really think I'm that idiot don’t you? I’m just like your idiot of a sister, staying round for the scraps because I love you that fucking much. Well do you know what...” He stood but I still didn’t turn round “LOOK AT ME!” He shouted making me jump. I slowly turned to face him just as his arm reared back and he launched his beer bottle at me. I quickly lifted my hands to protect my face as the bottle hit me with shattering force against my shoulder. I yelped out as the glass cracked against the bone, but it didn’t smash until it hit the floor. I winced as the glass shattered all around my feet, and held my shoulder.

“You fucking bitch, look what you did. It’s always like this with you. Why the fuck do you make
me like this? I give you EVERYTHING, and all you do is throw it back in my face”

“I don’t –“ I shook my head

“Don’t argue with me. I saw the way you looked at him; he had his hands all over you. In front of everyone, you didn’t even try and hide it. What? Does it make the sex better to make me look like a fucking prick?” His face was getting redder by the minute and he was shouting so loud my ears hurt.

I shook my head.

“Did you like his hands on you?” He lurched forward grabbing me by the shoulders. Nipping at my skin. I could barely breath I was in such a state of alarm. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled hard. I couldn’t help crying out.

“You let him touch what is mine, and I can’t have that.” His voice lowered to a menacing growl. And that scared me more than all of the shouting. He turned at his hips looking, searching the kitchen for – something. I watched where he looked to gage what he might be searching for. He let go of me and stepped towards the sink and opened the cutlery draw. He had his back to me so I couldn’t see what he was doing but when he turned around my usual silent resolve broke and I pleaded with him when I saw what he was holding.

“No! No don’t, please no, I'm begging you I'm sorry, I didn’t –“

“It’s too fucking late you little slut. I'm sick of teaching you the same fucking lesson. You. Are. Mine
!” He clicked his fingers and motioned for me to stand before him. When I shook my head and stepped back, he lunged for me grabbing a fistful of hair causing me to slip on the glass. I fell to my knees and cried out landing on the bottle fragments. He held me to the floor by my hair. I sliced my hands trying to gain traction and stop my face from meeting the floor. I openly cried and begged him not to do what I knew he was about to do, but he gripped my hair tighter and I sobbed with pain.