Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [32]
‘So, do you like Simon?’ said Colin.
‘Oh … no. He’s all right, I guess. But he’s not …’
‘Not Nick?’ he suggested.
‘What? How did you –’
‘Doesn’t take a genius to work that one out. Just be careful Jacki, he can be a bit of a dickhead.’
‘What do you mean?’ Part of me didn’t want to know what he’d done in the past.
‘He’s just not very dependable. That’s all. I suppose he’s all right though, if you like the brooding handsome type.’ Nick was kind of quiet, and I guess that could come across as moody, but I found it strangely attractive for some reason. Colin was probably just looking out for me, not wanting me to get my hopes up. But it was too late for that.
When we reached the top of my lane I began to take off Colin’s jacket.
‘Keep it for tonight,’ he said.
‘There’s no need, honestly, sure I’m home now,’ I said, nodding in the direction of the caravan.
‘Well, OK. I’ll see you tomorrow, if you’re up to it.’ He smiled at me as he put his jacket back on.
‘Colin, I’m not even that drunk!’
‘OK. And I’m not even that gay,’ he replied, then turned and headed back down the lane.
I stood there until Colin had been absorbed into the darkness, and I could no longer hear his footsteps. I sat down on the strip of grass beside our hedge and rested my head in my hands. Great, now most of my new friends thought I was on drugs, and Colin thought I was a complete lightweight. Probably every one of them thought I was very strange. I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t want Mum to ask me how my night went. I didn’t want to lie down. I didn’t want to go to sleep. A song circled round in my head. The rhyme I’d heard the little girl singing in the hall earlier.
Miss Jane had a bag
And a mouse was in it.
She opened the bag;
He was out in a minute.
Chapter 10
I slept in late the next morning – Mum had already left to meet the kitchen guy. I didn’t feel well at all. I made an empty promise to myself never to drink again, then put on some make-up. My eyes still looked tired. The recurring nightmare had become such a guaranteed part of my routine that I wasn’t even surprised when I’d woken up with a jolt, shaking and sweating. The nightmare was so strange. It was such a relief to wake up.
I ate a bowl of cereal and put on the least creased outfit from my suitcase – a short vintage floral dress and blue cardigan. Every time I opened the suitcase I felt guilty. I knew Alf’s open letter was hidden in my shoebox. I tried not to feel too bad though. It wasn’t like it was important … I’m sure he could do without a creepy note telling him to keep his mouth shut. But then I remembered reading somewhere that it was an actual crime to open someone else’s post. And if Mum found out she’d freak; she was really particular about that sort of stuff. I rummaged beneath the clothes and took the letter out. I was going to tear it up. I held it in my hands, and prepared to rip. But then something told me not to. It’s hard to describe, but I just had this feeling that something bad might happen if I did. So I put it back underneath the clothes and snapped the suitcase shut.
Mum had left a pink Post-it note on the fridge saying she wouldn’t be back until late. I didn’t feel like spending the afternoon alone, so I grabbed my bag and headed for the café. I still felt kind of sleepy as I walked along, listening to Thin Lizzy on my iPod. But there was a nice breeze in the air, so I’d completely woken up by the time I reached the café. An old-fashioned bicycle stood outside, with a basketful of flowers and a sign with the words CUPCAKE CAFÉ in bold pink lettering. I peered in the window. A woman was busy arranging a display of cupcakes on the counter. She spotted me, unlocked the door and ushered me inside.
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Lovely day, isn’t it?’ She wore a badge with the name ali attached to her apron