Carnage

by Heather Atkinson

  “So he finally plucked up the courage,” said Rachel. “Good for him.”

  “Proposing to Jules must take a backbone of steel.”

  “They’re really great together.”

  “They certainly are. I’m very grateful to him for making my sister so happy after everything she’s been through. I’m quite certain this time it’s for keeps.”

  “You romantic you.”

  “I was about to be before Jules interrupted.”

  “She wants you to give her away?”

  “She does and she wants you to be matron of honour again. I said we’d discuss the details tomorrow when it’s not the middle of the night. What have I said?” he added when she chuckled.

  “I’ll bet there was a time when midnight would have been the middle of the day for you.”

  “Yes, when I was younger and enjoyed dull things like nightclubbing.”

  She slid her arms around his neck. “Have I actually tamed Ryan Law?”

  “Well, I am more domesticated but don’t worry, I’ll always have my wild side, which I intend to show you after I’ve massaged you.”

  “Let’s get up those stairs then wild thing,” she grinned, taking his hand and pulling him from the room.

  CHAPTER 7

  “We’re back,” announced Jules, bursting through Cathy and Jez’s front door, grinning when she heard a cry from the direction of the lounge.

  Josh and Zach tore down the hallway towards her, flinging themselves at her.

  “Woah, you nearly knocked me over,” she smiled, hugging them, delighted by this warm reception.

  The boys relinquished her to hug their father.

  “Alright little bruv?” grinned Jules as Jez jogged downstairs, yawning and rubbing his eyes. As it was a Sunday he’d forgone his usual smart suit for black jogging bottoms and a grey t-shirt.

  “I might have known you’d be the source of all the noise. You’re back early, aren’t you?”

  “It’s nearly eleven o’clock,” she retorted.

  “It is?” He glanced at his wife who emerged through the kitchen door. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “Because you needed the rest,” she replied. She looked back to Jules and Mikey. “Did you have a nice time?”

  “We did,” grinned Jules.

  “You look like you’re bursting to tell us something,” said Cathy.

  Jules held up her left hand. “We’re engaged.”

  “Oh my God, that’s wonderful,” beamed Cathy, hugging her.

  “Well done mate,” said Jez, shaking Mikey’s hand. “Glad you finally plucked up the courage.”

  Jules frowned. “It’s not that scary proposing to me, is it?”

  “I’ll bet it was terrifying,” sniggered Jez.

  “Ignore him,” said Mikey, wrapping an arm around her. “But I was afraid of spoiling our relationship.”

  “Like I would have said no,” she replied, kissing him.

  “Please don’t do that in our hallway,” grimaced Jez.

  “Leave them alone,” said Cathy. “They’re in love.”

  “Will you be one of my bridesmaids?” Jules asked her.

  “I’d love to,” she grinned.

  “And will you be my best man?” Mikey asked Jez.

  “Course I will mate,” he grinned.

  Leah wanted to help her mum and dad. God knew they’d done enough for her over the years and she wanted to give something back. It was Monday morning, she was back at college and her first lesson of the day was biology.

  Jacob Wright sat at the back of class, as usual looking all sexy and brooding with his dark hair, the fringe flicking into his eyes, which were deep and dark and almond-shaped, like a cat’s, lips permanently sulky. He didn’t pay her any attention but she didn’t take it personally. He never paid anyone any attention. She couldn’t help but smile when Mr Mitchell walked in and gave him a wary look, no doubt afraid of getting another broom in the face. At least it would teach him to treat his students with more respect.

  Leah could hardly concentrate on what Mr Mitchell was saying, she was so concerned with mulling over what she was going to say to Jacob. How did you gain the trust of someone who seemed to hate the entire world?

  She was so consumed by these thoughts that she didn’t realise Mr Mitchell was speaking to her until Sarah nudged her in the ribs with her elbow.

  “Are you with us Leah?” he said.

  “Yes Sir. Sorry.”

  “Good,” he said before addressing the question he had been attempting to ask her to Sarah instead. He never gave her any trouble. In fact she’d never taken any crap from any of her teachers. She’d never even had so much as a detention, even when she’d been fighting with other students. That was what happened when you were Rachel and Ryan Law’s daughter.

  Finally the class finished and everyone started packing away their books. Jacob always ensured he was first out the door, packing up at record speed and Leah rammed her books into her backpack in order to catch up with him.

  “I’ll meet you in the library at lunch,” she told Sarah, rushing off before her friend could question her further.

  Leah struggled to keep up with Jacob’s long-legged stride as he made his way through the sea of students that had emerged from the rest of the classrooms. She spied him heading outside.

  She followed him out the door a few seconds later, looking around the bright, sunny gardens. A swish of black caught her eye and she saw him heading towards a large tree at the edge of the grounds. She watched as he let his backpack drop and he sat down, leaning back against the tree, taking a book out of his bag and burying his nose in it, ignoring the world around him.

  Taking a deep breath, Leah meandered towards the tree. She stood before him, waiting for him to look up but he didn’t, continuing to read his book. She cleared her throat but still he didn’t acknowledge her presence.

  “Jacob?” she said when she realised she was going to have to speak first.

  “What?” he said without drawing his attention from the book.

  “What are you reading?”

  “What’s it to you?”

  “I wondered if I could ask you a question about the homework Mr Mitchell gave us?”

  “Why?”

  “Do you always answer a question with a question?”

  He sighed and looked up and Leah felt her breath catch in her throat. God his eyes were gorgeous. She’d thought they were dark brown but now she saw there were little flecks of gold in them, making them glitter in the sunlight. It was the first time she’d been so close to him, which was why she’d never noticed before.

  “Why don’t you ask that girl you sit next to?” he said. “Sally.”

  Leah was amused at the thought of what Sarah would think of him getting her name wrong after how much she’d panted after him. “She’s called Sarah and she’s not sure either.”

  “Why are you asking me?”

  “Because you’re the best student in the class.”

  “I don’t think old Mitchell would agree.”

  “Hey, you didn’t reply with a question,” she smiled.

  He snapped the book shut and got to his feet, annoyed. “What is this, some sort of dare?”

  “Eh?”

  “Come and chat to the weirdo. What are you going to win for being so brave?”

  “What are you on about?”

  “Everyone’s looking at us,” he hissed.

  Leah glanced over her shoulder to see a number of students watching curiously. “It’s not everyone.”

  “It’s enough.”

  “What do you care?”

  “I don’t,” he shrugged.

  “I didn’t come over here for a bet. I only want to ask you a homework question.”

  “I’m sick of being treated like the freak just because I can’t be arsed with all the petty shit the rest of them are so absorbed with - oooh, is my hair okay? Did you watch that celebrity crap on the telly last night? Are Beyonce and Jay-Z gettin
g divorced?”

  Leah couldn’t help but chuckle at his impression of a nineteen year old airhead.

  “It’s so pathetic I can’t stand it,” he ended.

  “Your cheeks have gone all red,” she said.

  “Oh piss off. I’m not interested in your bets or any stupid jokes you want to play.”

  “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she said, thrusting her face into his.

  “Think you’re tough little girl?”

  “I know I’m tough and after the people I’ve faced if you think an angry little boy like you intimidates me then you’re dead wrong.”

  “You’ve no idea what I’ve done,” he glowered.

  “Right back at you.”

  “I’ve heard about you. You’re Rachel and Ryan Law’s daughter. If you think that scares me it doesn’t.”

  “It bloody should. My dad took down three serial killers.”

  “So I heard. Doesn’t mean you’re tough though.”

  “You want us to go here and now?” she snarled, throwing her arms wide. To her consternation he looked amused. “Don’t laugh at me,” she yelled, stamping her foot.

  “Now everyone’s looking at you like you’re the loony.”

  Leah glanced over her shoulder, furious to see some of the students were sniggering. When she glared at them they hastily moved on.

  “Sit down then,” he told her.

  “What?” she barked, her head snapping back round to face him.

  “I said sit down and show me what you’re stuck on.”

  It took her a moment to recall what he was talking about. “Oh, the homework.”

  “It was nice that everyone looked at you like you were the freak. Took the focus off me for once.” With that he sat back down on the grass. “The offer expires in the next ten seconds.”

  “Okay,” she said, sitting beside him and taking out her biology book. She glanced at him as she flicked through the pages. He actually looked amused, the bastard. Still, he had a very nice smile.

  Jules had only just arrived home after picking up the boys from school when there was a knock at the door.

  “You two eat your snack while I get that,” she told them, placing their cereal bowls before them and heading to the door. “Amber,” she said with surprise when she found her standing on the doorstep.

  As always Amber was dolled up to the nines wearing full make-up, a short, clingy dress, covered in so many sparkling jewels it almost hurt to look at her. Jules thought she was setting herself up to get mugged. However, for once her expression was contrite. “Hi Jules.”

  “What do you want?”

  “To see my boys.”

  “Why now? You’ve hardly bothered with them the last couple of years.”

  “I know and I feel so bad. I admit I went off the rails a bit when Mikey divorced me but I’ve had time to get over the trauma…”

  Jules rolled her eyes.

  “And I want to be a mum to them again. I only hope I haven’t left it too late.”

  “That’s for the boys to decide but I can’t let you in without Mikey here.”

  “I didn’t think you were the type of woman to need permission off a man.”

  “I do when it concerns his own children.”

  “He won’t mind.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  “I know Mikey, he’ll be glad I’ve come to see my children.”

  When Amber attempted to step inside Jules stood before her, blocking her way. “I said no.”

  Amber’s eyes flashed but she forced herself to remain polite. Agitating Jules wouldn’t help. Besides, if she went up against her she’d lose. It was then the light caught the ring on Jules’s left hand. One thing Amber always noticed was jewellery. “Is…is that an engagement ring?”

  Jules nodded. “Mikey proposed at the weekend.”

  Amber felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. She’d never thought it would come to this, she’d assumed that once Mikey had got Jules out of his system he’d dump her, tiring of her big mouth and pushy ways. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought he’d actually marry her. “C…congratulations,” she eventually managed to rasp.

  “That looked like an effort,” replied Jules with an infuriating grin.

  Amber ran a hand through her hair, giving herself time to calm down. “We’ve all moved on. I’m happy for you both.”

  Jules’s look said she didn’t believe her. “Listen,” she said, just wanting the dizzy cow off the doorstep, she had to get back to the boys. “I’ll tell Mikey you popped by and that you want to see the boys. He’ll call you about access.”

  Amber knew she wasn’t going to get any further and it was more than she’d expected. She had thought Jules would just slam the door in her face. “Thank you. I’ll wait for him to call then.”

  Jules watched her head back to her sporty little car, tottering down the drive in her high heels, closing the door with relief when she finally got in it. Amber had been known to throw epic tantrums, especially when she didn’t get her own way. Maybe she was finally growing up?

  She walked back into the kitchen to find the boys tucking into their cereal, her heart swelling with love when they grinned at her, milk dripping down Zach’s chin. How she wished they were her biological children. It had been easy to pretend she was their real mum when Amber hadn’t been bothered with them but now it seemed she wanted back in their lives. She wouldn’t do anything to sabotage that, she loved the boys too much to take their real mum from them. She just hoped it didn’t affect her relationship with them.

  Leah returned home, buzzing with excitement.

  “Mum, Dad,” she said, rushing into the living room.

  “Hi sweetie,” said Rachel, looking up from the paperwork she was poring over at the table by the window that looked out over rolling fields. “Did you have a good day?”

  “I did and I’ve got some news for you.”

  “What’s that?” she said.

  “Jacob Wright invited me out after school tomorrow.”

  Rachel’s eyes turned black and she let the pen drop to the table while Ryan looked up from his book, gaze hard.

  “What?” said Ryan.

  “I know you said not to go near him but actually he’s alright. I got stuck with my biology homework and Jacob helped me out with it, he’s so smart.”

  Ryan and Rachel glanced at each other, worried by the dreamy look in their daughter’s eyes.

  “I hope you didn’t go off alone with him?” demanded Rachel.

  “No. I stayed on the college grounds, we were surrounded by people. We were perfectly safe,” she snapped.

  “Please don’t tell me you agreed to go on a date with him?” sighed Ryan.

  “Actually I did but he’s really nice.”

  “Nice?” he exclaimed. “Ashley described him as feral.”

  “Well he’s not,” she retorted. “You’d probably like him Dad, he’s really smart, like you.”

  “Don’t think flattery is going to help you.”

  “It’s true.”

  “After the nightmare we went through with Reid,” said Rachel. “Why on earth would you want to get involved with a man like Jacob?”

  “He’s not like Reid, he’s nice.”

  “You thought Reid was nice once.”

  Leah huffed and pouted. “Have you ever met Jacob?”

  “Well, no.”

  “Then how can you possibly know?”

  “Don’t take that tone with me young lady. We thought you would have learnt to stay away from bad boys. Now you’re all starry-eyed over another one.”

  “Maybe if everyone gave him a chance instead of rubbishing him he wouldn’t be so bloody moody.”

  “Don’t swear,” said Rachel.

  “You don’t see what he goes through at college, he gets picked on all the time because his clothes are old and have holes in. Plus he gets hassle because he’s smarter than everyone else. Dad, surely you understand what that
’s like, after what you went through when you were a teenager?”

  “Yes, alright, I suppose I can but that doesn’t change the fact that he has a criminal record.”

  “So do you but you’re nice.”

  “Leah,” exclaimed Rachel.

  “No, it’s a fair point,” said Ryan. “But please understand Leah, we’re only trying to stop you repeating past mistakes.”

  Leah looked down at her feet. Her parents could have been killed because of her falling for the wrong man. She took a deep breath and lifted her head. This time she was certain she wasn’t wrong. “I’m not. Thanks to the Reid nightmare I know what to look out for and believe me, Jacob is a million miles from that wanker.”

  Rachel considered telling her off for her language then decided not to bother. She just seemed to be wasting her breath. “I can understand that honey but you’re still so young and it’s easy to be blinded by a handsome face.”

  “I said I’d go out with him to get a burger, that’s all. What harm can it do? Besides, I might find out something useful about his family, to help you.”

  “Don’t make out like you’re going out with him to be altruistic,” countered Rachel.

  “I’m not but I still might find out something that could help you. Oh please,” she whined when they still looked unsure. “Ever since the Reid thing I’ve gone right off men. My friends don’t know what went on, apart from Bianca. People keep making jokes about me being gay because I haven’t been out with anyone for ages but I really like Jacob and not just because he’s fit.”

  “Why do you like him then?” said Ryan, genuinely curious.

  “Because he’s really smart and when you get him to open up he’s funny and interesting. We spent a lot of time talking and I felt really relaxed with him, which is a big deal for me after what I went through.”

  Rachel and Ryan looked at each other and nodded.

  “Okay Leah,” said Rachel. “You can go on your date.”