‘If you’re sure . . .’
‘No biggie, come on,’ he said and waved. ‘Hey, Peter.’
The chauffeur waved back. ‘Mr Axford,’ he said, and opened the door to the back seat. Ollie turned, grinned and raised an eyebrow at me as if he found it all amusing.
A moment later I was sitting on plush leather seats being chauffeured through the streets of London. I felt like a princess.
‘Do you want to go and eat somewhere?’ asked Ollie. ‘My treat?’
‘Oh. No thanks. That is, thanks for asking but I ate before I came out and . . .’
Ollie smiled and patted my knee. ‘School night and SP Goody Two Shoes is out?’
‘Maybe. A bit,’ I replied feeling like a twelve-year-old. Get a grip, I told myself. I so wished I had a grown-up sophisticated type of alter ego because I could certainly use her at the moment. Maybe I’d act the part anyway. That’s what Nesta told me she does when she feels out of her depth. She picks a character from a movie and pretends that she’s her. I’d pretend that I was Lady Penelope out of Thunderbirds.
‘Drink?’ asked Ollie, as he opened a mini-bar in front of us.
I nodded and put on a posh voice. ‘Yar, please. Champagne. Vintage. Oh, and I’ll have some caviar while you’re at it, my man.’
Ollie pulled a half bottle of champagne out and held it up. ‘Think this is vintage, not sure we have any caviar though.’
‘Oh! I was only joking . . .’
‘You can have some if you want. I’m going to,’ said Ollie, popping the cork. He leant forward again and found two glasses, poured the champagne and handed one to me.
‘Oh. Thanks,’ I said, as I took the glass and debated whether to have some or not. Stop being such a baby, I told myself. I’d never had champagne before and, as I sipped it, I felt little bubbles go up the back of my nose. It was nice, like pop. I decided not to tell Ollie that I hadn’t had champagne before as I didn’t want him to think that I was immature.
Ollie leaned forward again, flicked a switch and some sultry music began to play through speakers behind us.
‘Hmmm, cool music,’ I said.
‘Yeah. Dad always requests it so they always have the CD when there’s an Axford booking.
‘Yeah. It’s good.’
‘To us,’ said Ollie, and clinked his glass with mine.
‘To us,’ I replied, thinking I knew exactly which of Ollie’s sub-personalities was present at the moment. Casanova. He was sooo smooth.
I sat back and looked out of the window as the car glided through the dark streets of the city. It felt so sophisticated and I couldn’t wait to tell Lucy, Izzie and Nesta about it in the morning.
As the car cruised up towards North London, I began to wonder why we hadn’t stopped off at Ollie’s school.
‘Didn’t you say your school was in Kensington?’ I asked. ‘That’s just down the road from the Albert Hall. I thought we’d be dropping you off.’
He nodded. ‘Just seeing you home safely first.’
‘Oh, you don’t need to do that,’ I said. ‘I’ll be fine.’
Ollie stuck his bottom lip out. ‘Don’t you want me here?’
‘Oh. No. No. It’s not that. I didn’t want to put you out.’
Ollie leaned over and brushed my lips with his, sending a tingly sensation up and down my spine. ‘You’re not putting me out,’ he said, then he put down his glass and moved in closer.
We spent the rest of the journey snogging our faces off and I don’t know whether it was the champagne, the soulful music, the buzz of riding in the back of a limo or Ollie, but it felt faaaanbubblytastic.
Before I knew it, we were cruising down our road. I hoped that some of the neighbours were up so that they could see the car and watch me getting out of it. I could just imagine their tongues wagging the next day. Thank God Mum and Dad were away as they would have had a fit.
‘What number is it again?’ asked Ollie.
‘Number eseven.’
‘Seven?’ asked Ollie.
‘Elesen,’ I said.
Ollie laughed. ‘I think you’re a bit piddled, TJ Watts,’ he said.
‘Nah,’ I said. ‘I don’t drink. Elesen. Eleven.’
Ollie laughed again. ‘I think I’d better see you in.’
That woke me up. ‘Oh. No! Be OK.’
The house was in a mess as, although Paul and I had meant to clear up, we’d kept putting it off. There were takeaway cartons in the kitchen and we hadn’t done the washing-up since last night. And I hadn’t moved back into my room yet after the decorating so all my stuff was all over the upstairs hall. No. Ollie coming in was not an option. I snuggled into him to distract him from the idea. ‘One more song?’
Ollie leaned forward, opened the partition to the front and said something to the driver. Then he closed the partition, turned the music up and leaned back with me again.
Once again, we started kissing. It was nice. Very nice. Snuggly, cosy. Everything seemed to be merging together, the music, the smell of leather, the sensation of Ollie’s lips on mine. I could really get to like this lifestyle, I thought, as I ran my fingers through Ollie’s hair.
Ollie sighed and pulled me closer and then . . . was it my imagination or was his hand creeping up my inner thigh? No. It was on my knee. That’s OK. No. No. It was definitely creeping up. Ohmigod, I thought. This is it. What do I do? This is what Lucy’s been on about with Tony. Wandering hands. Or maybe not. No. Ollie’s hand left my leg and came up to my waist. More kissing. Phew. He must have changed his mind about trying anything. Must remember to soak the paint brushes in turps before we leave for Cornwall. (Cripes! Where did that come from?) Oh no, Ollie had gone back to my knee and, oh no, his hand was moving up again. It was so weird because it partly made me feel tingly and partly made me go rigid with panic, like, what was he going to do next and how should I react? Whatever, I knew that I didn’t want him to do any more than he was already doing. I put my hand over his and moved it up to my waist. Big mistake. It gave him totally the wrong idea. He cupped my right breast in his hand, gently squeezed and let out a groan.
‘Oh, TJ . . .’
Oh jumping Jonahs, I thought, as I moved his hand down again.
Back up it went. My head began to clear fast. I am so not ready for this, I thought. It’s only our second date. He’ll think I’m so easy if I let him carry on. And yet if I stop him, will he think I’m a baby? But he did pay for the tickets for the circus and organise the car home. But no. No. This doesn’t feel right. I don’t owe him anything just because he paid for everything. No. I don’t want to do this.
I pushed him away.
‘Wha . . .?’
‘Stop it,’ I said, and slid over to get out of the car.
‘But I thought you wanted to . . .’
‘Well, you thought wrong.’
I opened the car door and leaned down to pick up my bag.
‘TJ. TJ. Don’t go. I’m sorry. I thought you wanted to.’
I got out, slammed the car door shut and ran into the house.
I felt so confused. Had I given off signals that I’d wanted to go further? If I had, they weren’t intentional. Had I led him on or was he just trying it on? I fumbled with my key at the door. I desperately wanted to get inside. I wasn’t ready to be sophisticated. I wasn’t ready to deal with boys’ fumblings and being grown up. I didn’t know how to be.
All I wanted was Mojo and to get under my duvet and hide.
E-mail: Inbox (1)
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Date: 25th May
Subject: Oh my God!
Darlingus TJ
Gordie Lobachops! How vunderba to hear from you.
And karambo!!! Ollie Axford as in Zac Axford’s son. F . . . f . . . fab fabarooney I looked him up on the Internet. He’s like mega!!! Dad Axford, that is. There were loads of sites about him and a pic of the family. So glam. Two sisters and Ollie wollie dingle dangle
doodle all the way. He looks sooooo cute. Don’t be a picky poo person, make sure you pick the right one.
Let me know how it goes and all and all cor blimey love a duck! You can text me as well as e-mail, yuno.
Life over here in sunshine land is happy dappy Love life okee dokee, new boy from down under at school. We call him Bruce but his name is Dan. Cute as pie and I have offered to show him around. Hahahahahaha.
Miss my mates over there in Englandy land.
Toodleoo.
Hannahharmonicus
PS: Give luvie dovie smackeroo kisses to Scary Dad and tell him that he’s still my pin-up! Glad he’s OK.
PPS:Will get back to you on the God front! I’ll see if anyone over here knows anything . . . You never know.
‘Has he called since?’ asked Nesta after I’d filled them in on the latest in the break at school on Friday morning.
‘Twice,’ I said. ‘And left a text saying sorry, sorry. I haven’t answered his calls or the text. I don’t know what to say. See, it wasn’t just the groping. It was how it made me feel. Really mixed up. Like a hundred thoughts were going through my mind all at the same time and I thought, God, I hope it’s not like this the first time I have sex. You know, that I’m focusing on the experience but also wondering if I’ve given in too soon, wondering if he thinks I’m a kid, am I any good at it, not to mention thinking about paintbrushes.’
‘Paintbrushes?’ asked Lucy.
‘Yeah. Out of the blue, mid-kiss, I suddenly remembered I hadn’t put the paintbrushes in to soak. I mean, how unromantic is that?’
At that moment Miss Watkins came out of the classroom and saw us propped up against the wall in the corridor. ‘Outside, you girls. It’s a lovely day. Go and get some fresh air.’
‘I’ve had that,’ said Izzie as we all pushed ourselves up and headed for the playground. ‘Like you’re kissing someone and part of your mind is thinking that you need to make a phone call or something.’
‘I think you only get that when it’s boring,’ said Nesta. ‘If it’s the right person then all that matters is the sensation of being with them . . .’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Lucy. ‘It can depend on the mood that you’re in. Like with Tony and I, sometimes it’s magic and other times, I think about other stuff. I think it gets like that when you’ve been with someone a while. The passion fades and paintbrushes or phone calls or whatever can take over sometimes.’
‘Well, all I know is that what had started out as a great evening went flat,’ I said.
Izzie linked arms with me as we reached the playground and headed for our favourite bench in the far corner. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry. Most boys have octopus arms and hands. Lucy gets it all the time, don’t you?”
‘Yeah. But that’s just it,’ I said. ‘She’s been going with Tony for ages. Over a year on and off . . .’
‘And on and off and on and off,’ said Izzie, laughing.
‘And he’s been behaving lately,’ said Lucy.
‘But this was only my second date with Ollie. First date if you don’t count meeting in the bookshop. I mean, who does he think I am? Do you think I have a sign on my head that says, Hello boys, I’m easy?’
Nesta grinned and looked at my chest. ‘Er . . . Not on your head, dearie.’
Lucy linked my other arm. ‘Maybe it was that top that I made you for the Diamond Destiny dance. He can’t stop thinking about your jelubis . . .’ She put her hands over her boobs and made a jiggling motion and we all cracked up.
‘Yes,’ said Izzie. ‘He’ll be sending you postcards for the rest of your life. From Peru, from India, from Scunthorpe. Oh TJ. T . . . TTT . . . J. I just caaaan’t stop thinking about your magnificent jelubis.’
‘You looked very nice in that outfit,’ said Nesta. ‘Don’t let some stupid boy who’s got the hots stop you dressing like a hottie . . .’
‘Well, some boys might say I was asking for it,’ I said.
‘Well, they need a sock in the face,’ said Nesta. ‘It gets me so mad that sometimes a girl can’t wear something pretty without some twerp thinking that the only reason she’s doing it is because she wants some oik to ogle her or grope her. As if. Listen, TJ, don’t worry and don’t start dressing down again. You, we in fact, need to learn how to handle these sorts of situations and if it doesn’t feel right, then learn to say, Oi you, noooo. And without feeling bad about it or guilty or obligated or worried that they might think you’re a lesbian. Ollie was trying his luck, that’s all. It’s not your fault. Cute though he is, I had him figured for a player from the start.’
‘But I think he does genuinely like you,’ said Izzie. ‘You said no to him but he’s called since and apologised. That has to mean something.’
‘Yeah,’ said Lucy. ‘He must like you.’
‘Did you ask him about other girls?’ asked Izzie.
‘No. I meant to. We didn’t get round to it.’
‘Too busy playing backseat wrestling,’ said Nesta. ‘But talking of other girls, I have done my homework à la Luke situation and, according to William, Luke hasn’t been out with anyone since before Christmas.’
‘Christmas?’ said Lucy. ‘Veeeery interesting. Isn’t that when you both broke up with him?’
‘Yep. I think he’s still interested in you, TJ,’ she said. ‘So does William.’
‘Er . . . Actually he called a couple of times last night and left a message when I was out. Asked if I’d meet him for an hour this evening in the café at Jackson’s Lane. Said he has something to say.’
‘Are you going to go?’ asked Lucy.
I nodded. ‘I already called and left a message. I got his voicemail but I said I would.’
Izzie rolled her eyes. ‘Some girls have all the luck. Not one buff boy after you but two. Hey, give us one if one’s going spare.’
‘Oh, but you can have either one if you want. You know . . .’
Izzie punched my arm. ‘I don’t fancy either of them. You know that. Not that I don’t appreciate that they are both cute, just they’re not my type. I’m not worried, though. I looked up the progressions in my horoscope last night and it said that I’d have to wait until later in the summer before love comes my way.’
‘What are progressions?’ asked Lucy.
‘The progress of your birth chart,’ Izzie replied. ‘Like what’s coming up next.’
‘Did you look up ours?’ asked Nesta.
Izzie nodded. ‘Lucy’s is steady at the moment. Which we all know. Things with Tony going nicely.’
‘We agreed no complications while he does his A-levels, and they’re coming up next month,’ said Lucy. ‘He’s studying like mad. No two-timing. No wandering hands on his side and no dumping him on my side. He needs to focus. And then . . . we’ll see. If he gets into Oxford, and I’m sure he will, I have to let go.’
Izzie was looking at Lucy with a soft expression when she said this. A cross between sadness and concern, and I thought, hmmmm, Izzie has read something else in Lucy’s horoscope that she’s not saying. I hope it’s not going to be painful when Tony goes but then goodbyes are always hard.
‘What about mine?’ asked Nesta.
Izzie’s face brightened. ‘Fun, fun, fun. No worries there, Nesta. Venus is brilliantly aspected in your chart at the moment.’
‘And, er . . . mine?’ I asked.
‘Ah . . .’ said Izzie. ‘Yes. Um . . . interesting times ahead for you, TJ. Venus is square to Saturn, which means some major life lessons are to be learned about love and stuff.’
‘Major life lessons? Woopeedoop,’ I said unenthusiastically. ‘Sounds like fun. Not.’
I arrived to meet Luke at Jackson’s Lane fifteen minutes late. Everything had conspired against me. After realising that I’d drunk alcohol when I was out with Ollie, Paul had had a personality change and given me the third degree about where I was going and who with and what time I’d be back. Honestly, not even a full week and he’d turned into Scary Dad. I finally got away after he
demanded that I keep my mobile on and that I was back at a reasonable hour. I tried pleading with him that it was Friday and now half-term, so no school in the morning, but he kept on about how we had to close up the house tomorrow and pack and be on the road for Cornwall by midday. I don’t think he likes responsibility very much.
And then there was a delay on the Tube. Signal failure at Whetstone, so I ended up half walking, half jogging. I hadn’t wanted to do that as the weather had turned cloudy and was threatening rain – there was one thing damp weather did to my hair and that was turn it frizzy . . . and I wanted to look good when I saw Luke.
Unfortunately he was already there when I arrived, so I didn’t even get the chance to go to the Ladies and reapply my lip-gloss or comb out the tangles in my hair.
‘Hi,’ I said as I sat down opposite him at the table he had taken in the café area. ‘Sorry I’m late. I . . .’
‘Hey,’ he said and leaned over and took one of my hands in both of his. ‘You look gorgeous. I’m so glad you came. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show.’
‘I said I would. So. You said you had something to say?’
Luke sat back with a serious expression on his face. ‘Wow Right. Yeah. Straight to the point. OK. Yes. I do have something to say.’ He leaned forward, took my hands again and looked deeply into my eyes. I felt my chest tighten as a familiar feeling hit the pit of my stomach. There was no denying it. There was some very powerful chemistry between Luke and me. ‘OK. I’m just going to come out with it, TJ. I know I blew it last time . . . with you and Nesta and not telling Nesta that it was over when I should have. I’ve been cursing myself ever since. I know we have something special. You feel it, don’t you?’
‘I . . .’ I did feel it, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to expose myself so readily. I’d got so hurt last time. ‘I know that there’s something but, well, it was awful. I almost lost Nesta as a mate and I really value her. All those girls in fact.’
‘I know and I’m really sorry . . .’
Mates, Dates and Sizzling Summers Page 8
