Two-Faced (12 page)

‘So how come you were on the phone so long?’ Mia snapped accusingly. ‘It only takes a second to say no, but you said he was on for ages.’

‘Well, yeah, but only because he was trying to persuade me,’ Laura murmured, wishing now that she hadn’t told her. ‘Anyway, why are you mad at me?
I
didn’t ring
him
.’

‘I’m not mad, I just don’t see why you’re acting so excited if you’re not interested. Anyway, I’ve got to go, the taxi’s here.’

Mia scowled as she cut the call. It didn’t surprise her that they were all speculating about why she hadn’t gone back to school, but it pissed her off that they thought she was scared of Sandra. She wished she’d never told Laura to keep it a secret that she wasn’t really hurt, because at least then she could have set them all straight. But she couldn’t risk any of the teachers finding out, or they’d be bound to try and force her to go back.

‘Where’s that necklace you said you were wearing?’ Kim asked just then, interrupting her thoughts.

‘Can’t be bothered looking for it,’ Mia muttered.

‘You can’t wear that dress without it,’ Kim told her. ‘You’re showing too much boob, and you need the necklace to hide it. Go on – go and find it while you’ve still got time.’

In the bedroom, Michelle was running the hot-irons through her hair. Since her mum and Mia had met Sammy Martin, they were always whizzing in and out for meetings and coaching sessions. And while she didn’t begrudge Mia her excitement as the first audition drew closer, she couldn’t help but feel left out, because they were acting more like best friends than mother and daughter, forever discussing what Sammy had said, or giggling about the champagne lifestyle they would soon be living.

Michelle hadn’t met Sammy, because she was never invited along to any of their meetings, but she figured he must be good if he’d managed to get Mia on side. And her mum seemed to have taken quite a shine to him as well, because she always seemed to be quoting him.

‘Remember what Sammy said about this . . . Remember what Sammy said about that . . . Sammy said . . . Sammy said . . .’

Michelle actually suspected that her mum had a bit of a crush on the agent, because she’d started to take more pride in her appearance and she went into posh-voice overdrive whenever they spoke on the phone. But whether or not that was the reason, he seemed to be having a positive effect on her, because she’d started to pull up her socks in other areas of her life – like getting the gas meter sorted out.

Michelle didn’t know how she’d done it but she was glad that she had, because it had been stressful hearing her fretting about being sent to prison. And, even better, now that she no longer needed Eric to put the meter back her mum had finally dropped her obsession with him and Pam.

Not enough to stop her from calling them all the bastards under the sun whenever she heard them moving about next door but enough to give Eric back his clothes – in return for her key.

The key which Michelle now possessed.

Not that it gave her the freedom to come and go as she pleased, because her mum was so convinced Eric had made a copy that she still insisted that Michelle put the bolts on whenever they went out. And usually Michelle did, but having fobbed Liam off so many times already with excuses about having too much homework or revision when he’d rung her about their date she’d finally agreed to meet up with him, fearing that he would lose interest if she didn’t. And she’d chosen tonight, knowing that her mum and Mia were being taken out to some fancy restaurant, so they would be out for hours.

After rushing home from school this afternoon she’d done her homework and then jumped in the bath, her plan being to get ready while her mum and Mia were too preoccupied to notice. Then she would lie on her bed reading until they had gone.

Which was sound in theory, but Michelle should have known that Mia would smell a rat if she caught her making such an uncharacteristic effort with her appearance. And she didn’t help herself by blushing guiltily when Mia barged into the bedroom now.

Instantly suspicious because Michelle
never
straightened her hair and she was wearing decent clothes for a change, Mia said, ‘What are you getting tarted up for? You’re not coming with me and mum.’

Blurting out the first thing that came into her mind, Michelle said, ‘Sylvia’s coming round. We’ve got some coursework to finish, so we thought we might as well do it together.’

‘So why you getting tarted up for that?’ Mia demanded. ‘Unless you’re a pair of lezzers now.’

‘I’m only doing my hair,’ Michelle muttered. ‘And I’d have thought you’d be pleased, considering you’re always telling me I look like a tramp.’

‘I get it,’ Mia hissed, remembering the boy she’d seen Michelle talking to at the library that night. ‘You’re going to see that lad, aren’t you?’

Fronting it out, Michelle said, ‘What lad?’

‘Don’t play dumb,’ Mia spat, pursing her lips spitefully. ‘You know exactly who I mean – that lad from the library . . . your so-called
friend
.’

Frowning as if she didn’t know what Mia was talking about, Michelle tutted after a second and said, ‘Oh,
him
. God, no, I haven’t seen him in ages.’

‘I know you’re lying,’ Mia retorted angrily. ‘It’s written all over your face. I bet you haven’t told mum, though, have you?’

‘You’re wrong,’ Michelle insisted, wishing that Mia would keep her voice down.

‘We’ll see about that!’ Mia snatched up the necklace she’d come for and marched down the stairs, yelling, ‘
Mum
 . . . guess what Michelle’s doing!’

Michelle slammed the hot-irons down in despair and determinedly blinked back the tears that were stinging her eyes. Crying would only prove Mia right because they both knew that she wouldn’t get upset if she’d been telling the truth about Sylvia coming round.

Inhaling deeply when her mum shouted for her a minute later, Michelle composed her face into an expression of innocence and made her way downstairs.

‘What’s this I hear about you thinking you’re going out to see some lad?’

‘I’ve already told Mia I’m not going anywhere. Sylvia’s coming round, that’s all. We’re going to do—’

‘Some coursework,’ Kim finished for her. ‘Yeah, she said you were going to say that.’

‘It’s true,’ Michelle insisted. ‘And you can ring Sylvia’s mum if you don’t believe me. I’ve got her number in my bag if you want me to get it.’

‘Do I buggery,’ Kim snorted. ‘But if I find out you’re lying, you’ve had it – so be warned.’

It had been a gamble, but Michelle had known that it would pay off because her mum would rather die than talk to any of her friends’ parents. She thought they were all snobs who looked down their noses at her because she was a single mum living on benefits in a council house. Which was probably what they
would
have thought if they’d ever met her, but she’d never shown the slightest inclination to attend parents’ evenings or any of the sports matches – let alone the various school plays – so it was highly unlikely that they ever would.

The taxi arrived. When she heard its horn Kim held the cigarette she’d just lit between her teeth and slipped her coat on. Then, picking up her handbag, she held out her hand. ‘Give us your key – just in case you’ve got any funny ideas about sneaking out.’

Gritting her teeth to prevent herself from bursting into tears of frustration, Michelle glowered at Mia.

‘No point giving me evils,’ Mia smirked. ‘If I’m not allowed to see boys, I don’t see why you think
you
can.’

Reiterating that Sylvia was the only person she’d be seeing tonight, Michelle shrugged. ‘But it’s okay if you don’t trust me, mum. Even
you
must get me mixed up with Mia sometimes.’

Astounded that this jibe had come from
Michelle
– who normally wouldn’t say boo to a goose – Kim was unusually lost for words. But when the taxi horn hooted again, she tutted. ‘Oh, forget it. I can’t hang around all night waiting for you to go upstairs.’ She herded an indignant Mia through the door and yelled back over her shoulder, ‘Just make sure you keep the bolts on. And I want that Sylvia gone by the time we get back, ’cos I don’t like the idea of your snotty friends nosing around my house.’

Michelle held her breath until she heard them getting into the car and driving away. Well, she’d got away with it – but only just. And Mia would be furious that their mum had sided with her just now, so life was probably going to be hell for a while. But Liam was worth it.

She ran back up to her room, finished doing her hair and looked herself over in the mirror. Her hair didn’t look anywhere near as smooth or shiny as Mia managed to get hers, but it was all right. Taking a tube of lip gloss out of Mia’s bulging make-up bag now, she slicked on a thin coating and then headed out.

Already nervous about the possibility of her mum doubling back and catching her on the street, Michelle pulled her hood up and kept her chin shoved down into her collar. When she reached the library five minutes later, she hesitated when she saw Liam surrounded by the local gang who hung out there. They were troublemakers who came here at night to drink alcohol and smoke weed – and to pick on anyone who strayed onto their turf. And knowing from the little that Liam had told her that he hadn’t lived in Manchester for long, she dreaded to think what they were going to do to him.

Spotting her just then, Liam touched fists with the lads and walked towards her. Tipping his head to one side when he saw the fear in her eyes, he asked if everything was all right.

‘Yeah, fine,’ she murmured. ‘I just thought they might be hassling you.’

‘
Them?
’ Liam glanced back. ‘No way. We’re cool.’

Hoping she hadn’t offended him, she said, ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise you knew them. It’s just that they’re not exactly big on being friendly to strangers.’

Liam chuckled and said, ‘Aw, you were worried about me. But there’s no need, babe, I can handle myself. Anyway, they’re not that bad when you get to know them. They might
think
they are, but they’re smart enough to know who to mess with and who to leave alone.’

Sneaking a side glance at his handsome face as they set off towards the bus stop, Michelle wasn’t sure she liked what he’d just said. It was almost as if he was implying that he was some sort of gangster – and that wasn’t who she’d thought he was at all.

‘You don’t have to look at me like that,’ Liam said quietly, making her jump because she hadn’t realised that he’d seen her doing it. ‘I’m not a thug, but I’m no idiot, either. It just makes life easier for me
and
them if we all know where we stand from the off – don’t you think?’

Blushing when he looked straight at her, Michelle shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t know. I try not to get involved in things like that.’

‘Which is precisely why I like you,’ he said.

And it was true: he
did
like her – quite a lot as it happened. Having grown up with a master of deception, who could switch from despicable wife- and child-beater to caring husband and father in a nanosecond at the sniff of a uniform, Liam prided himself on being able to see through bullshit and suss people out on sight. He’d had Michelle down as a nice girl from the start, and after talking to her a few times over the phone he knew he’d been right. She was sweet-natured, intelligent, gorgeous, and classy. Like tonight, for example . . . he could tell she’d done something different to her hair, but unlike some of the other girls he’d dated who went over the top when they were going out she’d kept it subtle. Same with the lip gloss and the clothes – just that touch more special than usual, but still her.

When they reached the bus stop a few minutes later, Liam glanced down the road and, seeing no buses, sat down on the narrow plastic bench. He glanced up at Michelle when she stayed standing and patted the seat beside him.

Folding her arms, she perched at the other end of the bench.

‘What’s with the distance?’ he teased. ‘Scared I’m going to bite you?’

‘No, course not.’

‘Well, move up, then.’

Michelle held herself rigid and slid towards Liam, acutely conscious of their arms touching. She’d been dreaming about this moment for days but now that it was here she was terrified.

A taxi turned onto the road and drove slowly past. Amused when Michelle huddled even deeper into her jacket and followed the cab with her eyes, Liam said, ‘What’s up? Is someone after you?’

Taking a shaky breath when the car had passed with no sign of her mum having been inside it, Michelle shook her head.

‘Well, you’re not yourself,’ Liam persisted. ‘Is it me? Have I done something?’

Michelle bit her lip. She couldn’t tell him that she was scared her mum would catch her, because then he’d think that she was a child who couldn’t be trusted. So, instead, she lied, saying that she was just a bit tired.

‘Must be all that school work you’ve been doing,’ Liam said. ‘And there was me thinking you were just making excuses not to come out with me.’

Smiling shyly, glad that he’d accepted her explanation, Michelle felt a sudden shift in his mood. Glancing round when he gazed past her, she saw a black Mercedes which had just driven past reversing back. The driver stopped at the kerb in front of them, slid the window down and jerked his head at Liam in a summoning gesture.

Liam made no move to get up and merely jerked his own head in reply.

‘Don’t play silly fuckers,’ the man drawled, his dark eyes flicking casually over Michelle. ‘You know if I was after you you’d already be on the floor with my foot up your arse. Get over here; I want a word.’ Sucking on a spliff now, creating a halo of thick white smoke around his head, he added, ‘In private.’

‘Sorry about this; won’t be a minute,’ Liam murmured and strolled towards the car.

Davy Boyd, the Merc’s driver, was his aunt’s boyfriend, and Liam had no beef with him. But if there was going to be trouble over him walking out on her, Liam knew that he’d either have to stand and fight – in which case he’d end up dead. Or run – and he had too much pride to run from any man.