Sugar Secrets…& Conflict

by Mel Sparke

  “So that’s why they won!” said Billy. “Well, it couldn’t have been down to talent.”

  “Or costume design…” chipped in Andy.

  “Anyway, who cares?” sniffed Joe. “This whole competition’s been totally low-rent. I mean, this club’s totally tacky for a start. And that record contract wasn’t worth anything. The chance to record an album at ‘Kenny’s Studios’ by the shopping centre and release it on ‘Kenny’s Kuts’ record label? How corny is that? It’s hardly Sony or Virgin, is it?”

  Ollie said nothing. He simply looked hopelessly glum and stared morosely at the voucher The Loud had been presented with for coming second.

  Dylan leant over and took a closer look at the wording on it.

  “This voucher gives a course of one month’s unlimited relaxation treatments at all Kalifornia beauty salons… I don’t believe it – that’s also owned by Kenny! Is this a stitch-up or what? So which one of you lucky guys gets to use this?”

  Everyone except Ollie managed to raise a smile at Dylan’s gentle sarcasm.

  “What a waste of time…” Ollie muttered finally. “I was so sure that this was it! Oh, well, so much for stardom beckoning. It’ll be back to normal in the caff tomorrow…”

  “Except it won’t,” said Joe.

  “What?” frowned Ollie.

  “Uh, nothing,” Joe shook his head.

  “No, go on,” Ollie pressed him.

  “Well, it’s not going to be normal, is it? Thanks to this stupid competition, hardly anyone’s speaking to each other!”

  “And that’s my fault, is it?”

  “Yes,” said Joe defiantly. “You’ve just been charging along with this thing, not caring about what other people think, not even bothering to listen to what anyone else has got to say! It’s like you don’t even know what’s going on in my life. You don’t have a clue what I was doing yesterday and you don’t have a clue what’s been going on in my head either!”

  The other lads were hardly breathing, they were so intent on this bust up breaking out between the two best mates.

  “Are you trying to tell me something here, Joe?” said Ollie, his face white and pinched with hurt and anger. “‘Cause it sounds like it! What’s the deal – are you saying I don’t listen to you? Go on then, surprise me! Tell me something I don’t know!”

  “OK, for your information, I passed my driving test yesterday – not that you’d be interested,” Joe stated bitterly.

  “Wow, Joe, I—” OIlie began, taken aback at his friend’s news.

  “But that’s not my big news,” shrugged Joe, his jaw clenching as he spoke. “Thing is, OIlie, I’m moving to London in September. And I’m leaving the band.”

  CHAPTER 21

  APOLOGIES AND THANK YOUS

  “So I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry!”

  Kerry gazed earnestly across the Formica table at her friend, concerned and amazed that Maya had been going through all this worry over Alex without telling anyone.

  “But I didn’t really listen to you, Kez. I wasn’t around so I didn’t realise just how bad things had got between everyone in the crowd!”

  “Well, hopefully, it’s not going to be like that for much longer. After we got back home from the city last night, Ollie promised me that he’s going to sort everything out, as from today, starting with Anna.”

  Both girls automatically glanced round to check for signs of any Ollie/Anna bonding as they both hurried about serving customers this busy Sunday morning.

  “Probably hasn’t had time yet,” Maya reassured a fretting Kerry.

  “So anyway,” Kerry said, turning her attention back to Maya’s concerns. “You definitely think there’s something going on between Alex and this girl?”

  “Well, yes. I mean, I was so sure he was holding stuff back from me that I just couldn’t bear to see him last week; so I didn’t turn up to photography club,” Maya explained. “When he phoned to find out why, I pretended I didn’t feel well. I said the same thing when he phoned on Thursday to see if we were going to the Railway Tavern. I said to him, ‘I can’t go, but why don’t you? You can always take your friend Holly. Again.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing – he just went quiet. That’s why I know something’s up.”

  “Didn’t you see him this weekend?”

  “No – he was away visiting his sister.”

  “Still, Alex and you are so cool together. I’m sure there can’t be anything going on with him and that woman,” said Kerry, who was sure of no such thing.

  “Kez,” Ollie interrupted, appearing suddenly at their table. “Don’t worry – I’m not bottling it. I will try and work things out. When I’ve got a sec…”

  “I hope so…” whispered Kerry as he dashed away again.

  “So do you feel better?” said Meg, taking a sip of her tea.

  “I suppose,” shrugged Joe, kicking his feet up on to the coffee table. “But it’s not too brilliant, falling out with your best mate, and having him give you the silent treatment for the whole journey home.”

  “Mmm, I wish I could have come yesterday. Given you a bit of moral support.”

  “Don’t worry, it wasn’t a very nice atmosphere anyway.”

  “What, the competition or falling out with Ollie?” Meg gently teased him.

  “Both!”

  “Never mind. It’s over now. And if Ollie reacted like that, it’s probably just ‘cause he’s hurt – and it must be weird for him, thinking of you moving so far away after all the years you’ve known each other…”

  “It’ll be weird for me too, starting over, with no friends…”

  “Ahem – apart from me!” Meg corrected him.

  “Apart from you,” smiled Joe. “At least you won’t be far. Brighton’s only an hour away, that’s if poor students like us can afford the train fares back and forth!”

  “But you’ll have your—” Meg began then stopped herself.

  “What?”

  “Oh, nothing. I – I—”

  Meg’s momentary fluster was interrupted by a “Coooo-ee!” from the door; Joe’s mum was back from popping out for the Sunday papers.

  “Joeyyyyy!” she called. “Joe! Matt’s here to see you!”

  “Matt?” said Joe, squinting. “Bit early on a Sunday morning for him, isn’t it?”

  “Well, let’s go and see what he wants then!” grinned Meg, reaching out and grabbing Joe’s hand.

  He was quite happy to be dragged anywhere by Meg, but Joe had to admit this was a little odd. It wasn’t just the fact that Matt was up and about so early; why didn’t he come straight in? Why was he hovering about outside? And why was his mother beaming at him as he went by, for all the world like she’d won the Lottery?

  “Just a little something for you, Joey love,” his mum’s voice came from behind him as her son stood rocking on his heels on the doorstep.

  The white Fiat had seen better days, that was for sure, but with the balloons tied round the aeriel and the thick red ribbon around the steering wheel, Joe was certain there was no other car he’d rather have.

  “Like it?” grinned Matt. “Your mum asked me to help her choose it, so don’t blame her if you hate it!”

  “And don’t worry, I didn’t tie the balloons on very tight – so you don’t have to drive around town with them all day!” giggled Meg.

  “I – I – I love it. And I would happily drive around in it all day with the balloons tied on it. Aww, Mum… come here!” Joe managed to choke out, before enveloping Susie Gladwin in a big hug. “How can you afford it?”

  “It’s nothing much! It’s only an old banger that me and Matt picked up at the garage down the road yesterday morning,” she chirped, patting him fondly on the back. “Just my way of saying how proud I am of you: passing your driving test… dragging yourself to all your exams even though you were ill… and getting offered that place in London…”

  Joe hugged her even tighter, profoundly gratef
ul to have such a wonderful, understanding mum.

  He hadn’t even heard the phone ring.

  “Sorry, I just picked that up,” said Meg, interrupting the mother/son moment and pointing to the phone in the hall. “It was OIlie for you, Joe. He just asked if you could make it down to the End at closing time today. He says he needs your help…”

  Joe blinked. It seemed like today was going to be full of surprises.

  “Going down to that café again, hmm?” said Susie Gladwin. “Well, you’re going to need these…”

  Joe gave his mother a broad smile and grabbed the set of keys she was dangling in front of his nose.

  CHAPTER 22

  MAKING THINGS RIGHT

  “It’s him,” said Sunny, barging into Maya’s room without knocking.

  “Oh,” muttered Maya, knowing full well that her sister was talking about Alex.

  Sighing she made her way out of her room and began padding down the stairs towards the phone. She glanced at her watch: it was 2.30 pm on Sunday afternoon. Alex must have got back early from his sister’s and decided to call her straightaway. Not that Maya knew what she was going to say to him…

  With three steps to go from the bottom, Maya froze.

  Alex was standing in the hallway, gazing soulfully at her.

  “Fancy a walk?” he asked, his eyes flicking imperceptibly towards Sunny, who’d followed Maya down the stairs like a stalking shadow.

  “I’ll get my jacket,” she murmured, walking over to the coat rack.

  “So you’re right – I did go quiet when you suggested that I should take Holly out on Thursday. I was just a bit freaked out, since I’d just got in and listened to the message she’d left on my answering machine, pestering me to do exactly that!”

  “But I don’t understand,” said Maya as they strolled through the park. “Why didn’t you just tell me how she was acting?”

  “I didn’t want to tell you that stuff, not while you were all wrapped up in your exams!” Alex tried to explain. “I didn’t think it would make you feel too happy, me saying, ‘Oh, hey, Maya – I think my ex is coming on to me. She keeps phoning me up all the time and she’s definitely been flirting with me!’”

  “Well, I’d rather have had that than worry that you were hiding something!”

  “OK, so I handled it wrong. But I was just thinking of you!”

  Maya gazed up into his deep-set grey eyes. He was telling the truth, she could see that.

  “Well,” she smiled at him, reaching out for his hand, “I guess it’s not your fault that women find you irresistible…”

  “Urgh,” groaned Alex, “but I don’t want anyone finding me irresistible – it’s too complicated! I just want you…”

  “Good,” said Maya. “Well, just keep that answering machine on then!”

  “Yes, ma’am!” laughed Alex, saluting her. “So, come on, where would you like to go now we’ve got this sorted?”

  “Actually, since you said that, you’ve reminded me of something,” said Maya thoughtfully. “Can we go round to the café? Kerry said that Ollie’s got something planned for closing time. He wants all of us in the crowd to be there. I think he’s trying to do some sorting out too…”

  As she stood waiting patiently for her customer to count out the money for his bill, Anna gazed dreamily over the top of the till and then did a quick double take.

  When did they all arrive? she wondered, glancing over at the crowded window booth. Last time Anna had looked, only Matt, Joe and Meg were there. Now they’d been joined by Sonja, Andy and Cat… and Billy, with Maya and Alex too.

  Her heart lifted – it had been ages since all the crowd had been together. And it was right about closing time; she could lock up after this customer and maybe sit down with everyone for five minutes before they left and she had to start cashing up. That would be lovely – Anna had missed all her friends so much lately.

  But then her heart sank. There was no sign of OIlie – was he up to his skiving tricks yet again? Dorothy had said she would take care of the final tidying in the kitchen, so why wasn’t OIlie out here wiping tables?

  “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks,” Anna smiled at the customer, following him to the door. “See you again!”

  She flipped the ‘closed’ sign round on the door, but didn’t slip the latch off yet. She still had the window table to gently move on…

  “Sur-PRISE!!”

  Anna nearly leapt out of her skin as she turned round and was bellowed at by everyone. She was even more surprised to see OIlie standing sheepishly by the counter, a ribbon-wrapped bottle in each outstretched hand and an envelope clenched between his teeth. Behind him, Dorothy stood in the doorway to the kitchen, beaming.

  “Anna, I– mumph,” mumbled Ollie, before awkwardly taking the card out of his mouth and starting again. “Anna, I have been a total pain in the—”

  “Ollie!” Kerry yelped, censoring his language.

  “Well, you know what kind of pain I’ve been, Anna,” he shrugged with a laugh. “I just got carried away with all this band stuff—”

  “And what a waste of time that was!” guffawed Billy good-naturedly from the sidelines.

  “Exactly. Anyway, Anna, I’m so, so, so sorry – and just to show how sorry I am, I’d like to give you this – our prize from yesterday. Urn, sorry about the teeth marks.”

  Everyone went quiet, waiting to see what Anna would say. She said nothing, only stretching forward to take the voucher out of his hand.

  “I, well, all of us in The Loud thought that you could make better use of it than any of us. And I thought you could probably do with some relaxation sessions after what I’ve put you through recently!” Ollie smiled his lopsided smile, looking shy and adorable all at once.

  Again, Anna said nothing. She raised her eyes from the voucher to the gift-wrapped wine in Ollie’s hands.

  “Oh, these,” said Ollie, following her gaze and looking in turn at the bottles as if he’d forgotten he was holding them. “These are just from me – I thought we should all just celebrate being, y’know, together. They’re not proper champagne or anything. I could only afford cheap fizzy stuff on the wages I get here—”

  “Ollie,” Anna interrupted him.

  “Yes?” he said, blinking

  Matt and the others held their breath.

  “Call yourself a waiter?” Anna laughed, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Where are the glasses then?”

  “Woo-hoo!” yelped Ollie, instantly clattering one bottle down on the counter and priming his thumbs to pop the cork on the other.

  As the fizzy stuff erupted in a cascade of froth, everyone leapt to their feet, scurrying over to help Dorothy, who was frantically passing out glasses.

  “Feel like I haven’t talked to you properly in ages,” said Sonja, suddenly appearing next to Anna, her blue eyes wide and earnest.

  “I feel the same,” Anna smiled, passing her a full glass. “Let’s catch up soon, yeah?”

  “Yes, soon,” Sonja smiled back warmly, before laughingly being bundled to one side by Billy as he attempted to claim his own glass of bubbly stuff.

  “Heard Joe’s news yet, Anna?” grinned Billy as Dorothy passed him some wine.

  “No,” Anna shook her head. “What’s happening?”

  She glanced over at Joe and Meg, who were clinking their glasses together.

  “I’ll let him tell you himself!” said Billy tantalisingly. “Bit of a bummer for The Loud, but it’s brilliant for him – that’s all I’m going to say!”

  Anna bit her lip and wondered what was going on. But before she had a chance to go over to Joe, she felt someone grab her hand and squeeze it.

  “I’m so pleased!” Dorothy whispered to her. “It’s so lovely to see you and Ollie make up!”

  “Thanks,” smiled Anna, squeezing the older woman’s hand back. “I was so worried about you and Irene saying you’d leave…”

  “Ah, now – you didn’t really fall for that one,
did you?” winked the old lady. “As if Irene and I would ever do that to you…”

  Anna opened her mouth and shut it again, suddenly realising she’d been duped. But it had worked. If Ollie hadn’t apologised in the grand style he had, Anna had been all set to do it herself as soon as the café had closed.

  “Hey!” came a deep, booming voice over the laughter and the radio that had been turned up. “There’d better be some of that left for me!”

  Anna and the others turned to see Nick standing in the doorway, lightly tanned and sporting an Elvis T-shirt.

  “So this is what happens when I go away for two weeks, is it? You lot have one long party…”

  At the irony of that comment, Anna and OIlie exchanged wide-eyed glances. For a split second they stared at each other open-mouthed, then the giggles hit OIlie first, sending bubbles of fizzy wine shooting unexpectedly out of his nostrils.

  “OIlie!” exclaimed Kerry, thumping her boyfriend’s back in an effort to help him regain his composure.

  But it was too late.

  OIlie, Anna and now everyone but a puzzled Nick and a concerned Kerry were lost to fits of giggles…

  I can’t believe how much I’ve messed up, Sonja thought angrily. Everyone else is having a fabulous time because it’s the end of exams and I should be too. As it is, I’ve got nothing to celebrate. She stared at the unread magazine in front of her and wished she was anywhere but in the café right now.

  Sonja suddenly felt stupid for coming here with the others. She had thought it might lift her spirits a bit, maybe take her mind off her problem. But now she was here and because it was obvious everyone else was in such a good mood, she wished she had stayed at home. In her room. Alone.

  For the first time in her life Sonja felt she was drowning and it was a sensation that was completely alien to her. She had always been so sure about the path her life was going to take. Get good grades throughout school, go to university, get a First in Public Relations, get a good job with a flat and a nice car, have a career, a good time, loads of money, and a fab boyfriend (preferably Owen)…