The Charmer

by Mandasue Heller

  Joel was less than impressed when Maria told him later that afternoon.

  ‘I don’t want you to go,’ he said, gazing at her seriously. ‘I’m not being funny, Maria, but I know what those things are like. Something always kicks off.’

  ‘Vicky didn’t say anything about trouble,’ Maria said. ‘Are you sure it’s the same thing? You might be getting it mixed up with something else.’

  ‘I’m not,’ Joel assured her. ‘Believe me, I’ve been to loads of those nights. They’re full of black guys.’

  ‘Leroy’s black,’ Maria told him. ‘I’ve not met him yet, but Vicky’s been with him for ages, so he must be all right. Anyway, I had loads of black friends when I was growing up.’

  ‘I’m not being racist, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ Joel said quickly. ‘It’s the kind of men that get involved in this kind of thing that I’m talking about. There’s always drugs and guns around, and there’s too much gang stuff going on. It’s not safe. I really don’t want you to get caught up in the middle of some rival crew war. Bullets don’t know who they’re being aimed at.’

  ‘Ooh, stop it, you’re scaring me now.’ Maria shuddered.

  ‘Good, because I’m being serious. I don’t want to lose you.’

  Joel’s eyes were so full of concern when he gazed at her that Maria felt herself melting, and knew that she would not be going to the club with Vicky that Thursday night – or any other. Joel knew far more about this kind of thing than she did, so she’d be stupid to ignore his advice. He was only trying to protect her, and that was an incredible feeling when you’ve had to fend for yourself for most of your life.

  ‘I’ll ring her and tell her I can’t go,’ she said, smiling when he squeezed her hand. ‘But what excuse should I give? I can’t say it’s because of the gangs. She might think I’m being racist.’

  ‘Just say you’ve changed your mind,’ Joel said, shrugging lightly. ‘She can’t say anything about that, can she?’

  ‘She might try and persuade me.’

  ‘Yeah, but you’re stronger than that. When you don’t want to do something, you just say no – simple.’

  Having neatly turned it around, so that Maria now believed that she didn’t want to go, Joel sat with her while she called Vicky.

  ‘See how easy that was,’ he said when she came off the phone, having told Vicky that she’d been thinking about it and really didn’t fancy it.

  ‘I feel terrible,’ Maria said glumly. ‘I’m sure she thinks I’m really up myself.’

  ‘Ah, but we know you’re not, don’t we?’ Joel said, pulling her to her feet and walking her backwards until she touched the wall. Easing her skirt up and her panties down, he kissed her neck as he unzipped himself. ‘There’s not enough room up there for both of us.’

  Kissing Maria goodbye a few hours later, Joel threw his bag into the boot of the car and, blowing her another kiss as she waved him off from the porch, reversed out of the drive and headed off to London for a weekend-long meet with a new boy band called SouthSyde.

  He was actually going to an after-show party at the Palace Theatre with Honey, the soap starlet, then back to her flat for a private party. She and a few of her co-stars from Picture Perfect, and various stars from some of the other soaps, had taken part in a one-off Abba tribute concert for charity. She’d invited him to the show itself, but he’d never been an Abba fan so he’d said he would meet her when it was all over. In reality, he’d had no intention of sitting with Joe and Joanna Public in the audience. He was only interested in mixing with the celebrities.

  Honey was all right, but she was a very young eighteen, so she could be a bit childish at times and that grated on him. But she had opened another door for him and, being a proper coke fiend, the sex was always good, so he was happy enough to carry on seeing her until something better came along. And she’d promised there would be some big names there tonight, so Joel was feeling fairly positive.

  Thanks to Honey and Jippi, he was making a bit of a name for himself in the so-called inner circle of Manchester celebrities. He had so many new clients that he’d managed to distance himself from most of his old punters, which was great. But he still didn’t have nearly enough money to dump Maria. And, anyway, he saw no reason why he should. In many ways, she was the perfect girlfriend – always available, never demanding, and generous to a fault. And he did genuinely care for her, so what more did he actually need?

  Joel just wished she’d sell the house so that he could set himself up in an apartment like Jippi’s – an apartment befitting his new status. But it would be a long time before Maria was willing to do that, because she still seemed to be in the honeymoon stage with it. But that wouldn’t last for ever, he was sure, so he just had to stay tuned for the right moment to suggest a change – and keep a watchful eye on who she took advice from in the meantime.

  Beth was out of the picture now, but Maria’s friend Vicky inviting her to that gig had been too much. Those gigs were quite dangerous, so that hadn’t been a total lie, but that wasn’t Joel’s main objection to Maria going along. It was the thought of her mixing with guys he might have done business with. Not many of them knew his full name, but it wouldn’t take too long to suss it out if she started yakking about him. And she was so crazy about him that she wouldn’t be able to stop herself.

  Still, she’d given in without a fight when Joel had objected, so that had ended well. Any other girl would have known he was talking rubbish and told him to piss off, but Maria didn’t know Manchester as well as they did so she’d bowed to his greater knowledge. It was more a marker of her insecurity than his persuasion technique that made her acquiesce so easily, though. She was forever asking his advice, which he found a bit odd, given how self-sufficient she’d been when they first met. Dropping the barriers had obviously pushed her too far the other way, into total dependence.

  But Joel wasn’t complaining. It was nice to know that something in his life was entirely his. And that’s how he intended to keep it.

  Honey was waiting at the stage door. Waving as he drove past, Joel held up a finger, indicating that he would be one minute. Parking up in the multi-storey around the corner, he checked that he hadn’t forgotten his pre-bagged deals, then strolled around to meet her.

  He could smell the booze from several feet away, so the party was obviously in full swing already. Good. There was nothing worse than that first awkward hour when everybody was being polite and uptight.

  ‘It was brill!’ Honey squealed, rushing up to him and linking arms with him. ‘There were just like so many massive stars in the audience, and they’ve all been coming over to congratulate me.’

  ‘Great,’ Joel said, a tad disappointed to hear that he’d have been among the stars for a good couple of hours already if it hadn’t been for his pride.

  ‘You should have seen me,’ Honey gushed, skipping with excitement as she dragged him inside. ‘I was really good. I sang “Waterloo” with that girl who used to be Sam in EastEnders, then I did “Mamma Mia” with Shelley from Corrie, and we had a right laugh.’

  ‘Oh, yeah?’ Joel said, smiling as if he was really proud. ‘She’s here, is she?’

  ‘Yeah, but don’t mention drugs to her whatever you do. There’s no way she’s into all that, she’s way too nice.’

  ‘I won’t say a word,’ Joel assured her.

  ‘Give me mine now,’ Honey whispered as they neared the backstage area. ‘I’ll go and have a line in the bog. Wait for me outside. When we go in, don’t tell anyone what you’re doing here. I’ve already sounded out everyone I know, so I’ll sort them out when we’re inside. Oh, and don’t forget we’re not together, or I’ll get the sack. My producer warned me to stay single and out of trouble, ’cos they’re toying with the idea of setting me up in a lezzy fling with the hot-dog girl, and they don’t want the public to know it’s not true.’

  ‘It’s cool,’ Joel said, smiling wryly. ‘So, shall I be your cousin again? Or how about your dad, this time
?’

  ‘No way do you look old enough for that,’ Honey giggled, taking the little bag from him. ‘You can be my agent if you want – I’ve just sacked mine.’

  ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘He’s a greedy knob,’ Honey sneered. ‘He waited till he knew I was getting a new contract, then told me he’s whacking an extra five per cent on his commission. But he didn’t have anything to do with me getting a new contract, ’cos the producer had already told me my part was safe for another year. And he didn’t even have to negotiate my pay rise, ’cos we all got one, so there’s no way I’m paying more for him doing less.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Joel agreed, coming to a stop at the toilet door.

  ‘Apart from that,’ Honey said, turning to face him, ‘his wife caught us having a shag on his office couch, so she’s kind of banned him from representing me. Don’t mind, do you, babe?’ She tipped her head to one side and gave him a repentant-little-girl look. ‘I was just feeling a bit horny.’

  ‘None of my business.’ Joel shrugged. ‘I’m only your cousin.’

  Taking a quick look around to make sure nobody was watching, Honey reached out and gave his dick a squeeze.

  ‘Will you mind later, when you’re not my cousin? ’Cos if you think you will, I’d best take my punishment right now.’

  ‘Just get your arse in there and do what you’re doing, so we can go party,’ Joel chuckled, pushing her through the door.

  ‘Wait for me,’ she told him bossily, disappearing with her goodie bag.

  The party was being held on the stage itself, and Joel couldn’t believe how many faces he recognised. Shelley and Rosie from Coronation Street were mere feet away from him, helping themselves to food from the buffet table. Just past them, Sonia from EastEnders was chatting to two fit blonde girls he vaguely recognised from Hollyoaks. And he swivelled his head to ogle when the old Sam from EastEnders sashayed past wearing a tiny skirt and a sexy smile. His heart skipped a beat when he caught a glimpse of Patsy Kensit over by the front of the stage. Standing on tiptoe to get a better look, he nearly died when he saw who she was talking to.

  ‘Have you seen who’s over there?’ he said when Honey came back with the drink she’d got him. ‘Patsy Kensit and Liam Gallagher!’

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ she said, her eyes bright with coke and excitement. ‘I said hello to her before, but she was a bit off with me. I don’t think she watches our show, so she probably didn’t recognise me. I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I’m deffo gonna grab him before he goes. If he heard me singing, he might want me to do a duet with him.’

  In your dreams, Joel thought.

  ‘Great idea,’ he said. ‘Who knows where you’ll end up? You might get a record deal.’

  ‘Shut up!’ Honey squealed, jumping up and down. ‘Shit! Now I’m horny again. Fancy nipping out the back for a quickie?’

  Joel’s eyebrows rose. What – and risk some of these people getting away before he’d had a chance to mingle . . . ?

  ‘Er, no, not just yet,’ he said. ‘I’ve only just got here. Anyway, we’re going back to yours straight after, so why not save it? And we’re not supposed to be together, remember. What if someone saw us?’

  ‘Okay,’ she agreed, giggling as she added in a whisper, ‘I’ll just go and rub my pussy up on the corner of the buffet table – it’s the perfect height.’

  ‘Knock yourself out,’ Joel said, grinning. ‘So long as you save something for later.’

  ‘Do I ever run out of it?’ she teased.

  ‘Not so far,’ he said, sipping his drink. ‘Anyway, weren’t you supposed to be sorting your mates out?’

  ‘So I was!’ Honey said, biting her lip. ‘You be all right on your own? Where you gonna be? I’ll come and find you when I’ve taken orders.’

  ‘I’ll be around,’ Joel said, nodding at a young black lad he recognised from a band he’d see on Top of the Pops. ‘Go on . . . Don’t worry about me. I’m a big boy now.’

  ‘You said it,’ she quipped, giving him another sneaky feel before going off in search of her fellow coke-heads.

  20

  Maria was trying to watch TV, but she couldn’t concentrate. Seeing Vicky again today, she’d actually begun to feel a bit more like her old self, and she’d liked that. Being with Beth was different, because she hadn’t approved of Joel and that couldn’t work. But Vicky hadn’t said a word against Joel, not even when Maria said he couldn’t help her boyfriend, which made life a lot easier.

  Despite what Joel had said, Maria actually had wanted to go to that gig with Vicky. She couldn’t now, because she’d promised him she wouldn’t, but it didn’t make her feel any better about the way she’d told Vicky. She wanted to explain, to make sure that Vicky didn’t get the wrong idea and give up on her.

  Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone.

  ‘Hello again,’ Vicky said, sounding happy. ‘To what do I owe the honour of two calls in one day?’

  ‘I just wanted to explain about before,’ Maria said. ‘Just so you didn’t think I was being funny.’

  ‘I didn’t.’ Vicky sounded amused now. ‘It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I know that.’

  ‘Yeah, but I shouldn’t have said I wanted to go in the first place. I feel like I messed you about.’

  ‘Will you shut up!’ Vicky was actually laughing now. ‘Christ, girl, you’re not my wife. If you don’t want to go somewhere, don’t go – simple.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Maria said gratefully. ‘I was just worried that you’d think I was being funny.’

  ‘You seriously need to chill,’ Vicky said more softly. ‘I don’t know what’s going on in your head these days, but you were really on edge when I saw you earlier. Then you sounded weird when you rang, like you had a gun to your head or something. And now you’re worrying about nothing. Just relax, will you?’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘And stop apologising. Listen, what are you doing tonight?’

  ‘Nothing, really. Joel’s working, so I’m just watching TV.’

  ‘Why don’t you come round here for a bit?’ Vicky suggested. ‘Leroy’s playing snooker with his mates, so I’m just chilling on my own. Kids are all in bed.’

  ‘It’s pretty late,’ Maria said, glancing at her watch.

  ‘Is it hell,’ Vicky countered. ‘This is early for me. My time doesn’t start till I get the kids out of the way. And I don’t have to get up for school in the morning, so I’ll be up for hours yet. Are you expecting your man back soon?’

  ‘No, he’s away for the weekend.’

  ‘So what’s stopping you? Get a cab and get your arse round here, girl.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Maria said uncertainly.

  ‘There you go again,’ Vicky sighed. ‘Just do as you’re told for once in your life. I’m hanging up now . . . Bye . . .’

  The phone went dead in Maria’s hand. Looking at it, she couldn’t help but smile. Vicky and Beth were so alike when it came to speaking their minds – which was probably what had drawn her to Beth in the first place. But where Beth had that small-town mentality that stopped her from going too far, Vicky didn’t give a toss. If it was in her head, she thought nothing of opening her mouth and letting it out. And Maria had missed that.

  She contemplated giving Joel a ring to ask what he thought, then gave herself a mental slap. Was she really that pathetic that she couldn’t make a simple decision like going to visit her friend without getting his approval first? He must be getting so fed up with her; she’d better watch she didn’t turn him right off her. Anyway, he was working, so she couldn’t call him.

  Getting herself ready, Maria phoned a cab.

  It was scary getting out of the cab in the dark when she reached The Skids. Paying the driver, she ran to the door, wrenched it open and clattered up the stairs as if the ghosts of the speed-freaks with their weird eyes and cackling laughs were chasing her.

  Knocking quietly on Vicky’s door, Maria looked around nervously as she waited for
her friend to answer. She hoped to God nothing had happened since they’d spoken; that Vicky hadn’t got all her kids up and gone out somewhere. She didn’t think she could face having to go back down the stairs and out into the dark.

  Opening the door, Vicky smiled. ‘I knew you’d come. You always hated not getting the last word.’

  ‘No, I didn’t,’ Maria said, following her in.

  ‘Did.’

  ‘Did not.’

  ‘See!’ Vicky laughed, showing her into the lounge.

  Maria thought that it looked different with the curtains drawn and the lamps lit; really warm and cosy. And quite funky, too, with its leather couches and beechwood furniture. There was a sleek, expensive-looking stereo system on a unit beside the TV, purring out studio-quality Whitney Houston.

  ‘I didn’t realise how nice it was in here,’ she said, sitting down on the couch.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Vicky said, going into the kitchen for another glass. Bringing it back, she sat down and poured a large brandy and Coke and handed it to Maria, saying, ‘Take your jacket off, for God’s sake. And your shoes. Come on, girl, get comfy.’

  With the help of the brandy, they were soon chatting and laughing about the old days, but without the tension that had been there on Maria’s first visit.

  Before they knew it, it was midnight. Leaning back to look down the hall when she heard the sound of a key slotting into the lock, Vicky said, ‘Hiya, babe. Good night?’

  ‘Yeah, it was cool. I won a couple of ton on the tables. I got you a weed while I was there.’

  The good-looking black guy Maria recognised from the photos on the wall unit walked in and tossed a small plastic bag to Vicky. Seeing Maria, he nodded and smiled. ‘Y’all right?’

  ‘This is Leroy,’ Vicky said, the light in her eyes clearly showing how much she loved him. ‘Lee, this is Maria – my friend from—’

  ‘Yeah, I know, you’ve only told me about a thousand times,’ he cut in. ‘Nice to meet you at last, Maria.’

  ‘Oi! Don’t be giving her the Mr Nice Guy act,’ Vicky scolded him playfully. ‘She’s got a bone to pick with you – haven’t you, Maria?’