Pretty Twisted (11 page)

‘Hugh was right; you are a guttersnipe,’ I muttered, and did my best to clean him up with the end of my sleeve.

As soon as my watch showed ten, I got up, thankful that this horrific evening was almost over – and saw Abby snuggled up to Brian. He was stroking her hair, saying something I couldn’t catch, and she seemed to be drinking it in. I began to feel a little panicked – there was no way she’d want to go now. What should I do? Maybe Jonathan would know.

I went up and tapped Hugh on the shoulder.

‘Could I use your Internet?’

He looked amused. ‘The days when I got decent Internet are long gone, I’m afraid. My piece-of-junk laptop’s in an advanced stage of dying. You’re better off trying the cafe at the end of the road – stays open till two.’

It was a good job I had Jonathan’s number, I thought, slumping down on the beanbag. Right now I didn’t care if Jonathan was who he said or not, I needed to talk to someone I trusted.

He replied to my text a few minutes later:
Can’t you go home alone?

no. dangerous + dont want 2 leave abby.

Want me to call you?

no dont want them 2 overhear. dad out 2nite shouldnt no im late but still worried. will hav 2 catch last train.

‘Get the feeling we’re the odd ones out?’

I looked up at Hugh, then across the room. Gabe and Claudia were still snogging, and now Abby and Brian had started too.

‘That’s nothing new,’ I muttered.

‘Why don’t you come and sit over here with me?’

I stiffened. ‘What?’

‘Promise I don’t bite.’

‘No, thanks.’

For a moment Hugh looked confused, then he laughed. ‘Oh Christ, you think I’m trying to hit on you. Well, sorry to disappoint, Ros, but I’m not interested in kids. Nothing personal. All I meant was you might like to bring that beanbag somewhere you can see the telly.’

Cheeks red and not looking at Hugh, I shuffled into a better position. I didn’t like how amusing he seemed to find me, but at least he wasn’t ignoring me like everyone else was. I was beginning to feel like my beanbag was a tiny island in a sea of coupleyness. It was just as well that the television volume was loud enough to drown the sounds from the sofa.

I tried to watch the comedy show, which seemed to be going on forever, but I didn’t get any of the jokes. Every time Hugh laughed, I jumped. It began to feel like I was trapped in a very weird nightmare.

At least Dog provided a distraction. He started sniffing at some fresh takeaway cartons on the floor. When I picked them up, he stood up on his back legs and begged so cutely that I fed him all the leftover chunks of beef, though I was getting peckish myself.

I kept hoping I could catch Abby’s eye, but she didn’t look my way. At half past eleven I knew I was going to have to muscle in or face being stuck here all night. I got up and shook Abby’s arm.

‘Abby, the last train leaves soon. We need to head off.’

She looked up. ‘Oh, right.’

‘Why don’t you stay here?’ Brian rubbed a hand across her shoulders. ‘Seems to be what your mate’s doing.’ He nodded at Claudia, who was still busy with Gabe. I wondered when they’d found the time to breathe.

To my relief Abby shook her head. ‘Um, I promised Ros I’d go back with her.’

‘Well, she can stay too. She seems pretty attached to that beanbag.’

What an idiot, I thought angrily.

He put his arm round Abby. ‘You don’t have to go, do you, sweetheart?’

She giggled, not looking at him.

‘I’ve got all my jewellery stuff upstairs. I’ll show you how I make earrings. You can keep a pair if you like.’

‘That’d be great, but . . . maybe another time? It’s just, I said to Ros—’

‘Why not now? You don’t need your mate to make your decisions. Come on, Abby. You want to stay, you stay – simple as.’

Why wasn’t this guy getting it? Realizing I would have to step in, I took her arm.

‘No, we really have to go. Now.’

For a moment I thought Brian wasn’t going to let go of her. But, after a moment, he did. There was a sulky look on his face, like a kid who hadn’t got his own way. Ignoring him, I pulled Abby down the stairs to the front door. The cool air outside felt wonderful after the house’s stuffiness.

‘That was a pretty long half an hour!’ I cried. ‘What were you playing at?’

‘I was having a good time,’ said Abby. ‘Brian is so cool, isn’t he?’

‘So is he your boyfriend now? Or was he too busy slobbering over you to talk?’

‘He doesn’t slobber! Look, it’s obvious he really likes me. He said I have beautiful eyes.’

‘Abby, that’s the most unoriginal line in the world!’

‘How would you know? Has anyone said it to you?’

I looked away.

‘Come on, Ros,’ Abby said pleadingly. ‘Maybe you didn’t have the greatest evening, but aren’t you happy for me? We both have boyfriends now – isn’t that awesome?’

‘Oh, shut up, Abby!’ I snapped, feeling grumpy, worried and mean all at once. ‘Let’s just get back, OK?’

out now
, I texted to Jonathan.
heres hopin dad isnt bak yet.

Crossing fingers. Will be online when you get back if you wanna chat.

There were rowdy people in our carriage on the journey home, and though they didn’t bother us, I was glad I wasn’t alone. Abby chattered away – now that she was out of the house, her don’t-care attitude had changed to a second-thoughts attitude. ‘It’ll be OK,’ she kept saying. ‘Your dad will be out for ages yet. We’ll get away with it.’

But Dad’s car was in the drive.

‘Oh crap,’ Abby whispered.

My mobile showed several missed calls. ‘He must’ve tried to ring while we were underground,’ I said, blowing my breath out slowly and trying to stay calm. ‘He’s going to hit the roof.’

‘Maybe we could sneak in and make out we were in your room all the time . . .’

‘You think he won’t have looked there?’

‘I could still go home,’ said Abby in a small voice. ‘If I get in without waking my parents, I could pretend we argued or something and I came back. I’ll get into trouble, but it won’t be as bad.’

This was so unfair! I was the one who’d been sensible, who’d hated every minute of being in that house, and yet I was the one who was going to take the rap.

‘Run away then,’ I snapped. ‘Thanks for nothing.’

‘What else can I do? It’s bad luck your dad being here so early. I’m sorry, Ros!’

‘Look, just go, will you? There’s nothing you can do.’

Abby left, looking near to tears. I stared at the front door a long time before opening it. As quietly as I could, I made for the stairs.

‘What time do you call this?’ Dad appeared in the sitting-room doorway, arms folded and expression cold. ‘Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? You were supposed to be home almost two hours ago, Ros! Where the hell were you?’

‘The cinema.’

‘For seven hours?’ He gave me a look that made me feel very small indeed. ‘Haven’t you lied to me enough?’

‘I was with Abby the whole time,’ I hedged, trying desperately to think of a convincing story. ‘It’s not like we were in any danger.’

‘I don’t care if you were with a whole group of people. You’re fourteen, and there’s no way you should be out this late. Have you been wandering the streets?’

‘We only went to Kensington.’

‘Kensington! Why Kensington?’

I shrugged.

‘You weren’t meeting that boy from the Internet, were you?’

‘No.’ But I’m meeting him tomorrow, I thought, and felt my stomach dive. ‘He doesn’t even live in London, Dad.’

‘Are you lying to me, Rosalind?’

‘No, we were just looking around, really. I thought you’d still be out.’

Dad went very red. Massive blunder alert, Ros!

‘So you thought you’d go behind my back. Do you do this every time I’m not home?’

‘No – this is the first time, honestly. I’m sorry you were worried, but I’m
fine
. Can’t we just leave it and go to bed?’

‘You’re not getting out of this that easily, young lady. You’ve let me down tonight; that’s selfish, Ros!’ He paused, but I had nothing to say. ‘Have you ever given a thought to how difficult things have been for me without your mother? Holding down a job and bringing up two girls? There are times I’ve been as miserable as hell, but I’ve kept going and tried to be the best dad I can. I thought you understood that I wanted you back by eleven because I care about your safety, not because I’m a mean old man who wants to spoil things.’

I swallowed. How did he know exactly what to say to make me feel most guilty? ‘Sorry.’

‘You’ve always been the one with your head screwed on. I don’t expect this from you. How am I going to know you’re keeping safe when Petra and I go away to Paris at half-term? I only booked that holiday because I thought you girls could look after yourselves for a couple of days. There’s no way I’m going if I can’t trust you.’

‘Sorry,’ I mumbled again.

‘Go to bed.’ He turned from the door, and I saw him go to the drinks cabinet. I hovered, wishing we could get the bad feeling out of the air. He glanced at me as he took out a bottle of whisky.

‘I’ve nothing more to say to you.’

And there was nothing more for me to say. I went upstairs and cried into my pillow, wishing life wasn’t so unfair.

When I felt a bit better I switched on my computer. Jonathan was online, just like he’d said he’d be.
im in the doghouse,
I told him, trying to type quietly so Dad wouldn’t hear.
dad was home.

Oh crap. Let me guess, he was mad at you.

yup. feel really bad now.

Did you explain?

no way! hed prolly explode if i told him wed been round at an older guys house! so angry – abby said 30 mins & we stayed 2 hrs! just cos she didnt want 2 look stupid in front of every1. >:-(

Maybe she was banking on you making a fuss about going home.

wot do u mean?

No one wants to be the one to break up a party. Sometimes when I was out with Freya and she seemed to be having a good time I’d find out later that she’d wanted to go home but waited for someone else to suggest it. Kind of confusing.

u can say that again. tnx 4 bein on call 4 me.

No worries. It’s not like I’ve anything better to do. Actually, I’ve had a shit evening myself. Tell you about it when we see each other tomorrow.

Never had a smiley emoticon made me feel less like smiling.

Jonathan

Saturday 27 September, 10.15 a.m.

Mum tried to return to last night’s conversation over breakfast, but I avoided getting drawn in. I felt very relieved when she dropped me off at the station and I was alone – or rather, alone until I saw Lucy standing by the barriers a few feet away.

Just my luck! I tried to hide behind the vending machine, but she spotted me and bounced over.

‘Hi, Jonathan! What are you doing here?’

‘Waiting for a train?’ I suggested, but my sarcasm was lost on her.

She waved her carrier bag in my face. ‘Look, new computer games! I’m heading to my friend’s in Ipswich to try them out. You up for joining us?’

‘Um, thanks but no thanks. I’m off to London to meet a mate and then stay at my girlfriend’s.’

It had only occurred to me after agreeing to meet Ros that Freya wouldn’t necessarily like the thought of me having lunch with another girl. After some thought, I decided not to tell her. Freya and I were going through a rocky enough time as it was. What she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her.

Lucy sat next to me on the train. After babbling about the games for a while she said, ‘We should hang out more. Want to go to the cinema sometime?’