by Gina Keliher
“I don’t know. But I think we should certainly leave it for now. After that story earlier no one wants to hear you’re going to get us all murdered.” She takes one look at me and shrugs, “I’m sorry but it’s true. I think for now you need to pull yourself together. We’re both going to stay at your mum’s tonight.”
“No, not mum, that’s even worse than telling Adrian!” I’m shaking my head so fast I’m getting dizzy.
“We won’t tell her, if your dad hasn’t let slip already. If he has, we make up some lame excuse about some creep that had a damned Being that you got rid off. As long as Ian doesn’t keep bumping into your dad that will work for now, but strength in numbers. Should he still be around, me you and your mum can handle him. Come on, go wash your face and let’s go see what’s for dinner.”
Chapter Forty Two
Poppy looks like hell. I don’t think she slept a wink. Of course no ‘Takers’ came charging through the door while we were catching up on Britain’s Got Talent. I was kind of hoping they would as this episode was really boring.
“So what did you have planned for today?” Poppy asks. She means have I come up with a plan?
I’m in the shower and Poppy has the lid down and is sat on the toilet. Really, I don’t think I was going to climb naked out of the window. Yes, she took my clothes to be on the safe side but still won’t leave me alone for a second. “No plans. Just staying out of trouble.” I say lightly. What else?
“I’m bored with shopping and movies.” Now that surprises me. “Want to go horse riding?”
“Sounds perfect. Bring your polo stick just in case?” I tease.
She sniggers and I poke my head around the shower curtain. She looks at me and smiles. That’s my Poppy.
The local stables know us and we opt to do the two hour ride to RichmondPark. They usually offer this in small groups but as experienced riders and people they know, Poppy and I do it alone.
There really is nothing better than feeling the wind in your hair and the speed and strength of a horse. No traffic, blaring horns, red lights, old ladies taking forever to cross the road, school kids and lollypop ladies. Just fresh air and trails through undeveloped land. Perfect.
We’ve hardly spoken but we don’t need to. Yesterday is over and today we’re friends again doing what we love.
“Give me the notebook.”
“But it’s new; I just got it yesterday for my birthday. You’ve taken my iPhone, please leave me alone.”
We ride up to see three boys of around seventeen picking on a younger boy of maybe ten or eleven.
“Hey, bullies, what’s going on here?” Poppy says as she dismounts. She’d smelt something wrong before I saw them.
“Get out of here. This doesn’t concern you.” One of the older boys shouts.
“They took my phone and now they want my computer.” The kid cries. “They have knives.”
He’s genuinely terrified. I can see where his backpack has been cut off his back and he’s clutching his mini computer to his chest. I’ll give him credit. Most boys would have thrown it down and run away.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, not yet approaching the kid for fear of sparking the older boys into unnecessary action.
“They stabbed me.” He’s going into shock. It’s not a deep wound but I can see where his shirt is ripped on the sleeve. They must have nicked him while cutting his backpack. All over a few gadgets.
“He’s fine. Just a big snivelling cry baby is all. Get out of here and no one needs to get hurt.”
Poppy and I look at each other. No doubt people are going to get hurt but it won’t be us. The three boys all have damned Beings.
“Come here honey, they’re not going to hurt you anymore.” I bend down and wave the boy over. “Can you hold my horse? He’s very well behaved and he won’t hurt you.”
The boy looks a little nervous at first but once he’s taken the first step, he starts running to safety. He’s still clutching the computer but he’s taken the reins.
“You shouldn’t have done that. We were just teasing. All a little harmless fun.”
“They’re lying, they do this all the time. He’s been in juvie.” The kid points at one of the older boys. “They were going to kill me.”
“Some people never learn.” Poppy says shaking her head.
Unfortunately there’s been a lot of this on the news lately. Kids just gone bad. Bullying turning into murder. What’s worse is that there’s no sign of remorse. They truly believe that as some kids are weaker, they have the right to torment them. It disgusts me.
“You girls are going to get hurt and then we’ll get what we wanted anyway. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sorry it has to end this way.” One of the bullies remarks as he pulls out a switchblade.
I’m not sorry.
Martial arts have always been fun to Poppy and I; we’re very good at it.
Knowing where to kick with your heel, knowing how to use a back-fist strike and exactly where to place an elbow or fist are invaluable lessons. The first thing we do is let our bodies completely relax. You strike harder from this posture than a tense one.
The first boy charges me and the second and third run at Poppy.
I bend and the boy flips over me. A well placed chop and he’s unconscious. Not good enough. A punch to the throat. It’s over.
The first boy at Poppy has his knife straight out. She grabs his wrist so quickly he doesn’t know what’s happened. A twist a snap and the blade is in his heart.
The third boy actually pulls out a gun. Where did that come from? It’s all happened so fast he can’t even know his partners in crime are dead yet.
Poppy launches herself at him. She hits him square in the chest and knocks him arm out. The gun discharges but the shot’s wide. His arm is broken with the impact and the gun is now useless on the ground.
I run over to help but there’s no need. I didn’t see it but his eyes are vacant. No Being left.
We run over to the young boy who is still clutching the reins but is now in complete shock. I hold him and rock him while Poppy calls the police.
A short time later the young boys’ mother shows up. The cops won’t let us talk to her and she’s sobbing uncontrollably. The boy has had his arm bandaged and still won’t let his notebook out of his grasp. Wow I admire his tenacity.
“Clive confirms your story ladies. Seems it was self defence. You probably saved his life. Those three have been in the system for years. I blame the parents. If you can’t teach morals and respect you shouldn’t be allowed to have kids.” The policeman shakes his head. “This could all too easily have ended very differently if you hadn’t ridden along.”
It’s obvious he’s suspicious. Two young girls defeated three boys. They’re dead and our ponytails are still perfect.
“You’re free to go for now but no leaving the country. I’d say there’ll be an enquiry but having met the parents of these three before, I doubt it. They’ve never showed they cared yet.” He’s still shaking his head as he walks away.
We mount up and ride home.
We'll need to let Adrian know when we get home. He'll keep an eye on matters at the police station - Adrian has never said for sure, but we think a ‘Gifted’ works there and helps us cover things over. At least, if there is a follow up investigation, Adrian will know about it long before there's a knock on our door.
Chapter Forty Three
It’s been one of the longest short weeks ever. You know when you seem to have done a thousand million things but it feels like just a few hours have passed? Well, I went to bed yesterday realising that I hadn't given the guys their gifts from Bath.
Actually, Lisa text me and asked if Robbie liked his t-shirt.
I decided that we should all have lunch in the Green Man pub and thankfully everyone was up for it.
We met at one and have been sitting here giggling and eating for half an hour or so.
"It's pink!" Stefan insists.
; Poppy looks like she about to weep, "Alice you told me the colour scheme was reds and purples, wines and gold’s."
"He's winding you up." I laugh, but she doesn't look convinced.
"Pink won't go with my outfit or my hair!" She moans.
Annabel is in fits of giggles - to the point she can hardly breathe. Is it my imagination or is she starting to wear makeup? And I know she’s had a haircut.
"Well, I've hired a pink tux!" Robbie adds.
And that sends us all into another round of giggles.
I reach behind me and pull out my shopping bags from Bath. I offer Poppy her bag first. "A little something for you all from Bath," I say, passing out the other gifts.
Stefan is the first into his bag and he pulls out the small box of earrings I'd bought Annabel. "Hey Robbie, you can borrow these to go with your tux!"
At that moment Annabel holds two of Stefan’s shot glasses up to her eyes and says, "Don't forget your glasses when you go to pick it up!"
When the next bout of laughter has passed, Stefan and Annabel exchange bags. She immediately puts the earrings on and with her new haircut, they look fabulous.
Stefan is reading the useless bits on info on his Bath shot glasses.
Poppy pulls out her dress and is positively purring over it, twirling in circles while holding it up to her.
Robbie is the last to open his. He looks at the t-shirt and the 'I'm a killer, not a lover' logo with a dead pan face and I wonder if he likes it. Then, to my amazement, he stands, strips off his current tee and puts the new one on.
To me, he did it in slow motion, and judging by the stares from other females in the bar it was slow motion for them too! Rippling six-pack clothed again, there's an audible sigh.
"I'm sure he does it on purpose!" Annabel whispers to me.
Poppy leans in from the other side of me and adds "That swine! How dare he... not do it more often!"
The three of us are typical giggly girls over a hot body.
I love my friends dearly. How could I put any of them in danger? How could I have been so stupid?
Chapter Forty Four
Sheila called last night asking if we could possibly pick up the puppy today instead of tomorrow. That's probably not a bad idea, as tomorrow is pedicure and manicure day.
I called Jason and asked him if he could collect the puppy, and he said he'd do that and still be at our house for noon to wrap presents.
Next on the list was Lady Howard. After all Poppy needed to be somewhere else so it was a surprise when she got home. "Actually," Lady Howard said, "I need to take her to test drive a few cars! So it’s no problem at all."
Well, Poppy is overdue for a new motor - she's only had this one since she passed her test last year.
I also sent a text to the guys asking them all over. I tell them about the puppy, and I want them all there to see Poppy's expression.
It's gone one o'clock. Jason called over an hour ago, saying that he was on his way to pick up the puppy, but he's not arrived yet.
Robbie is sitting in the corner armchair facing the door scowling. Stefan is on the floor, surrounded by everyone's carrier bags and about thirty rolls of wrapping paper, we really don't need that much. Annabel is in the kitchen making a brew.
I still can’t get over her hair. She's now sporting a very fashionable straight bob, and it looks so shiny and healthy I'm jealous. She also has that look of satisfaction that comes with just finishing the best meal ever. Hmm.
Poppy was ridiculously excited about going to test drive some new cars, as anyone would be. She left the house saying, "I might have to get a pink one!" I'm thinking that was a joke.
"Maybe Jason had to stop off and deliver more drugs to Adam to sell to kids." Robbie breaks the silence.
"He's getting lighter," I say, "I swear he is."
"Maybe. If we're lucky, he'll bring Ian and we can end all of this right now."
My heart does a little somersault. I wish it would stop doing that every time I hear his name. I know what he wants and my brain is in perfect working order, it’s just every other part of me that's pining for him.
Annabel brings the tea in, with biscuits. She's wearing a little makeup again. I must ask her who the new man in her life is.
Oh my God! What if it's Ian? What if he's playing her too to get to us all?
My paranoid brain is interrupted by the doorbell.
Jason is positively beaming! His grin almost reaches from ear to ear. And in his arms, cradled protectively like a baby, is the cutest puppy in the world. Big brown eyes blink uncertainly, until I do that crazy stupid puppy voice that all humans make, "Oh, who's a beautiful puppy? Coochy coochy coo!"
The door way behind me fills up with the others who are immediately bowled over by this tiny little creature.
Jason is laughing and saying hi to everyone. He doesn't even care that they're all here.
"I couldn't keep them away!" Is all the explanation I give?
Stefan takes the puppy, and gives Jason a welcome break from the attention.
"She's gorgeous!" Annabel screams with delight.
Robbie laughs, "It's a furry rat!"
"Poppy will love her, Jason." Stefan gently puts the pup down, and she sits there staring up at all of us with those huge eyes, smiling. Ok, she was panting a bit, but to me, dogs always look like they're smiling when they pant.
"She will?" It’s the first thing he's said.
We all nod.
"What is it?" Robbie asks incredulously.
"A Maltipoo. Its a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle."
Stefan grins, "A Maltipoo puppy for Poppet. It's perfect!"
Not much present wrapping takes place in the first few hours, as we all end up in the garden playing with the little bundle of fun. But puppy soon tires and ends up falling asleep on the rug under the kitchen table. She is too cute.
We wrap the presents and by the time we get around to ribboning the last one, we're all exhausted.
"Where's Annabel?" Robbie asks.
"She went to the loo." I reply.
"But that was fifteen minutes ago!"
We all shout her name at the same time, just as she re-enters the kitchen. "What?" She asks.
She looks great! "Have you been borrowing the girls’ make-up?" Stefan asks, smiling, "you look a knockout!"
She blushes, "Just a little. You don't mind do you, Alice?"
"Of course not! You look lovely!"
"It's not too much, is it?"
Now I know I'm puzzled, and I'm pretty sure everyone else is. Who's she making herself gorgeous for?
My answer is the door bell. "Oh! He's here!" Annabel stutters, "It's Glen, ok? Now no-one say a word because I know what you're all thinking!" And then she turns on her heel to let him in.
"Glen?" Stefan asks.
We all giggle a little, but only because they're a match made in heaven. Why didn't I think of him earlier?
Glen walks into the kitchen and even he's smartened himself up. Another hair cut (I wonder if they went together), smart expensive jeans, a great blue stripped shirt. Casual but quite the transformation.
Annabel is beaming and blushing. Normality is need here. "Robbie, put the kettle on for Glen," I say, "and Glen, come and meet Poppy's present!"
"Meet it?" Glen asks, confused.
We all laugh, and Annabel looks grateful. I wink at her. We’re all happy for her.
The phone rings at seven. It's Parker giving us some warning time. "They're just paying the bill at the restaurant so we'll be about 40 minutes."
A mad panic ensues, with us hiding presents and tidying up the wrapping paper. Ten minutes later, we're sat at the kitchen table drumming our fingers.
"Where Poppet's Poo?" Stefan asks.
Naturally, that has us in fits of laughter at the same time as a mild panic. We find the puppy fast asleep behind the sofa. We're all cooing over how sweet she looks when the sound of a key in the front door shushes us all.
We all plonk
into the chairs and try to look natural.
Poppy bounds into the house, "Alice!" She calls, "You should have seen..." She enters the lounge and takes us all in, "Hello everyone!" Her gaze lasts a millisecond longer on Annabel, "Oh, don’t you look gorgeous!" She cries, "Hi Glen, hi Jason, what’s going on?”
A small scratching sound comes from behind Poppy. Her birthday present has just woke up and is looking as cute as ever doing a huge yawn.
Poppy screams. Literally a window shattering noise. "Oh my God, she's gorgeous. She, he?"
"Happy birthday Poppy." I say.
"She's from you?!" She so excited her voice is ten octaves higher than usual.
I nod and squeeze Jason’s hand. “From both of us.” I think Poppy’s eyes are going to pop out of her head if they get any bigger.
Puppy is now wide awake, tail wagging, smiling, panting and doing little hops and skips at Poppy's feet. She knows who her mummy is already.
Then she wets herself, the dog that is.
We all start laughing and Poppy scoops her up as I run to get some kitchen towels. "My poor baby!" There's that annoying puppy voice again, "did mummy get you all excited?"
Puppy answers by licking her face.
The other 'dog' presents follow or else the poor thing will be without it's collar, lead, six toys, plush beanbag bed and of course the ballerina costume. We had the bowls out earlier.
The others had bought puppy goodies too. Food, chews and treats, more toys. Then Glen surprises us all by pulling out a big box. He hands it to Poppy with a huge smile on his face. "This is also for the puppy from Annabel and me." He says.
Annabel stands next to him and slides her arm around his waist. "We hope you both like it!"
There's a small moment of stunned silence, did they just 'come out'? It doesn't last long though. After all, a present is a present, and Poppy loves presents!
