Two-Faced (9 page)

‘Yeah, but they’re not the only ones in the book,’ Kim reminded her sharply. ‘You might not be good enough for them, but
some
one will bloody well want you.’

Mia’s face reddened as the barbed words sank in deep and she pursed her lips tightly. Exhaling loudly, Kim closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

‘You know I didn’t mean it like that, so don’t try and put me on a guilt trip. I’ve been behind you a thousand per cent so far, but you’ve got to see this from my point of view. I’ve put everything into it, and I can’t afford to let you give up just because you’re pissed off about a few rejections. They’re idiots if they can’t see how good you are, but it’ll be their loss when you make it. And you
will
. But you’ve got to do your part. Even if it means starting out smaller than we intended. So I’m going to give that agent the photographer told us about a call.’

‘No way,’ Mia protested, pride making her baulk at the idea. ‘He’s not even got a Yellow Pages advert, so he must be well crap.’

Saying ‘Beggars can’t be choosers,’ Kim rooted through her handbag for the slip of paper she’d carelessly stuffed in there – the one she’d thought she would never need. Finding it, she reached for the phone. She could feel Mia’s eyes boring into the back of her head as she tapped in the number, but she didn’t care. This wasn’t just about the money she already owed Len Pritchard,
or
what she owed the other loan shark she’d signed up with to get the rest of the money she’d needed; thanks to Eric, she was in the shit with the gas board as well.

She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him for weeks, and his phone had been switched off whenever she’d tried to ring him. So when he’d shown up out of the blue last week, she’d ignored the door and watched through the nets as he’d tried to get in with his key. Any normal man would have figured out that somebody must be in if the bolts were across. But not Eric. That thick bastard had stared at the door for a full five minutes, scratching his head, before going next door to ask Pam if
she
knew what was going on – and Kim had been furious to hear the devious bitch invite him in for a cup of tea.

And it must have been one bloody
big
cup, because he’d been there ever since.

Enraged afresh every time she heard them laughing or having sex through the thin walls now, Kim had taken to turning the TV up to drown them out. She didn’t even want him any more, she just wanted him to fix the meter, but they wouldn’t answer the door when she knocked and she hadn’t managed to catch them out on the street yet. And now the gas board had sent her a letter, telling her that they’d be coming round next Tuesday – and warning her that they’d be applying for a warrant if she didn’t let them in.

So, yes, Mia might be upset about lowering her sights, but at least she wasn’t facing jail.

‘Hello, Mr Martin?’ Kim said when the phone was answered at last. ‘Sorry to disturb you, but I wondered if I could set up an appointment to see you . . . ?’

Grimacing at the sound of her mum putting on the posh voice she’d been using at the agencies, Mia went back to bed. But just as she’d settled down, Kim ran in and yanked the quilt off her, saying, ‘Get up and have a bath. And don’t take all day about it, ’cos we’ve got to be at Sammy Martin’s dead on six, and we need to set your hair and get your make-up perfect.’

Michelle was exhausted as she traipsed up the path to her home that afternoon. The school netball team had been playing an away match in Altrincham and the minibus had broken down on the way back, so they’d been forced to sit and wait until the school sent another one out to get them. All she wanted to do was have her dinner and go to bed, but she had a load of homework to get through first and she had to go to the library before it closed as well.

‘Where the hell have you been?’ Kim demanded when she walked in.

‘I had a netball match,’ Michelle reminded her, sure that she’d told her about it that morning. ‘But the coach broke down, so—’

‘Oh, never mind,’ Kim cut her off. ‘You’re lucky you’re back or you’d have been locked out. Me and Mia have got an appointment, so make sure you keep the bolts on ’cos I’m sure that bastard tried to get in when I went to the shops earlier.’

‘Maybe you should just give him his clothes back,’ Michelle suggested, dropping her bag and slipping her blazer off. ‘I’ll drop them at Pam’s if you don’t want to see him. At least then he won’t have any excuse to come round again.’

‘And let him think he’s got away with it?’ Kim snorted angrily. ‘I don’t bloody think so!’

Sighing, Michelle began to pull her blazer back on.

‘What you doing?’ Kim demanded. ‘The taxi will be here soon.’

‘I’ve got to get some books for my art coursework,’ Michelle told her. ‘Mrs Hanson says it’s got to be on her desk first thing or she’ll want to know why. And if I have to see her she’ll only start quizzing me about why Mia’s not back in school yet.’

Kim pursed her lips and flapped her hand. ‘Right, fine, go to the flaming library. But be quick, ’cos we can’t hang about if the taxi comes.’

Promising to run there and back, Michelle dashed upstairs and grabbed her card and the books she needed to take back. Head down, she hurried up the road and around the corner. But just as she was passing the shops on the block before the library, a man came hurtling out of the off-licence and crashed into her, knocking the books right out of her arms.

‘Shit, I’m sorry,’ he apologised, squatting down to scoop them out of the puddle they’d landed in.

Their heads collided when they both reached for the same book and Michelle said, ‘Leave it –
please
. I can manage.’

Glancing up at her when he heard her voice, Liam groaned. ‘Oh, God, not
you
again. Are you determined to keep getting in my way, or what?’

‘Ex
cuse
me?’ Michelle gasped, jerking her head up. She blushed when she looked into his laughing eyes because she could see them more clearly than the last time, and they were the most beautiful shade of green. She quickly dropped her gaze, muttering, ‘It’s not me who keeps running round like an idiot.’

‘Hey, I’m a busy man,’ Liam quipped, grinning as he handed one of the books to her. ‘And you’re obviously blind as a bat.’ Chuckling softly when she flashed him an indignant look, he held out his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Okay, quit with the evils. It’s my fault – I admit it.’

‘Yes, it is,’ Michelle agreed clippily, shaking water off the books. ‘And it’ll be your bill if I get charged for ruining these.’

Liam took them from her and wiped them on his jeans before handing them back. ‘There you go, good as new – and if anyone says different, just tell them to talk to me about it.’

Saying, ‘Fine, I’ll do that,’ Michelle sidestepped him and started to walk away. But she’d only gone a couple of steps when he called out her name. She stopped, turned and frowned at him.

Smiling, Liam held up her library card. ‘It’s got your name on it. Or did you think I’ve been following you around asking questions about you, or something?’

Blush deepening, Michelle marched back to him and snatched the card.

‘You’re welcome,’ he drawled. ‘And for future reference, my name’s Liam – just so you know what to call me next time you go tripping me up.’

Aware that he was teasing her, Michelle pursed her lips. ‘Thank you,
Liam
, but I’m not too fond of being knocked about, so I think it’s probably best if we avoid each other from now on.’

‘Shame,’ he murmured, holding her gaze. ‘I’m getting used to picking you up. You’re sort of becoming my good deed for the day.’

‘Oh, so, now you’re a Boy Scout?’

‘Here to protect and serve.’

‘Isn’t that the police?’

‘Probably, but a uniform’s a uniform, and all that.’

Amused despite herself, Michelle shook her head and shifted the books to her other arm.

Tilting his head, Liam glanced at the titles. ‘Please tell me you’re not really into all that old romantic tosh.’

‘Oh, and I suppose you’re an expert on good literature, are you?’ Michelle shot back, sure that he, like most of the lads she’d ever met, had never opened a book in his life unless it contained pictures of naked women.

‘No expert, no. But if I’m going to give myself eye strain, it’s got to have a bit more depth than
that
. Ever tried
Trainspotting
?’

‘What,
literally
?’ Michelle deadpanned. ‘As in anoraks and binoculars?’

‘Hey, that’s pretty funny for a terminally serious girl like you,’ Liam replied good-naturedly. Then, shrugging, he said, ‘Just give it a try sometime, see what you think.’

Surprised to realise that he actually meant it, Michelle was impressed. Not only good-looking and considerate, but a reader, too – rare qualities indeed for a lad who lived around here.

Liam’s phone started to ring. He took it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. Not recognising the number, he answered with a light, ‘Yo?’

Feeling awkward when his face darkened and he abruptly turned his back on her, Michelle decided to leave him to it.

Rigid with rage, Liam said, ‘How did you get this number?’

‘You seem to forget your Aunt Ruth’s my sister,’ his dad reminded him, sounding his usual churlish, drunken self. ‘And family don’t keep secrets. But then, you wouldn’t know about loyalty, would you? Stab me in the back as soon as look at me, you would. ’Cos you’re just like your ma – no respect!’

‘Don’t you even
mention
her,’ Liam snarled. ‘In fact, why don’t you do us all a favour and take one of them knives you were so fond of threatening her with and slice your own fucking throat open!’

‘Aw, now don’t be like that, son.’ His father switched to a wounded tone now, as if he couldn’t believe that his own child was rejecting him like this. ‘You know I’d never have used it on her. But you know what she’s like; she just pushes and pushes till I snap.’

‘Don’t you mean
pushed
?’ Liam corrected him, his voice a low growl of rage and disgust. ‘You can only
push
when you’ve still got breath in your lungs and blood in your veins. But she’s got neither, because she’s
dead
– and
you
killed her!’

‘Aw, don’t talk bollocks! If I was guilty, how come they let me off – tell me that, eh, smart-arse?’

‘Just because she finished it doesn’t mean you didn’t start it. You made her life hell, and I’ll never forgive you.’

‘You don’t mean that,’ his father drawled. ‘Me and your ma might have had our ups and downs, but we’d have been all right if she’d stayed in her place. Anyhow, that’s all in the past, and it’s time you let it go,’ he went on, as if it were a perfectly reasonable thing to expect. ‘You’re my son, and I want you back home with me where you belong. And if it’s going back to the old house where she topped herself that’s putting you off, don’t worry, ’cos they’ve already evicted me. But they’ve said they’ll give me a new place if you agree to come back, ’cos obviously I’ll be responsible for you when you’re having the therapy, and that.’

Filled with utter contempt now that his father had revealed his real reason for contacting him, Liam yelled, ‘Next time I see you you’ll be lying in a box, and I’ll be spitting in your disgusting auld face!’

‘Don’t you feckin’
dare
talk to me like that!’ his father yelled back. ‘I’m your da, and you’ll do as you’re bastard well told!’

Disconnecting the call without another word, Liam ignored the phone when it immediately began to ring again. He’d known without having to ask that it would have been his aunt who’d given his number out. He’d only moved in with her because he’d still been a minor when his father had been arrested on suspicion of murdering his mother, and it had been a choice between her or going into care. And he’d opted for her, stupidly thinking that she’d abide by the social services recommendation to keep his whereabouts secret in order to let him rebuild his life without interference from his father. But now she’d betrayed him she could rot in hell, because he was out of there.

Remembering Michelle, Liam turned round to find her gone. Thinking that the least he owed her was an apology, he headed over to the library and leaned against the wall beside the door to wait for her.

Michelle rushed straight past him when she came out a few minutes later. Stopping in her tracks when he called out to her, she turned back, her books clutched tightly to her chest. ‘Sorry, I didn’t see you. Were you waiting for me?’

Shrugging, Liam stuffed his hands into his pockets. ‘Just wanted to apologise in case you thought I was being rude back there. It was just a bit of an awkward call – family stuff, and that.’

Sensing that he didn’t really want to discuss it, Michelle said, ‘It’s fine, really.’

Grateful that she wasn’t going to hold it against him, Liam glanced at her books. Grinning when he spotted the one he’d recommended, he said, ‘Decided to give it a go, then?’

‘Not because of you,’ she blurted out, feeling the heat of yet another blush crawling up her neck. ‘I just saw it and read the back, and thought it looked all right.’

‘Hope you like it,’ he teased, the light of amusement back in his eyes. Then, taking a deep breath, ‘Look, say no if you don’t want to, but I don’t suppose you’d fancy coming out with me sometime, would you? To see a film, or something.’

Shocked, because this was the very last thing she’d expected him to say, Michelle glanced both ways along the road – sure that his mates must be hiding somewhere, because it
had
to be a joke. Gorgeous lads like him didn’t ask girls like her out on dates.

Taking her hesitation as a sign that she wanted to refuse but was too polite, Liam felt a bit deflated – if not overly surprised. He’d only met her twice, but that was enough for him to know that she was the shy type.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you over the head with it like that,’ he apologised. ‘I just thought it’d be nice to spend a bit of time with you, seeing as all I’ve done so far is knock you over.’

‘It’s all right,’ Michelle assured him, wishing she could shake off the feeling that he was only doing this for a bet.