“What?” came from the front; her mother’s voice a croak.
Tiana dropped her gaze. “I promise I’m telling the truth,” she breathed in, knowing she was well and truly fucked whatever she said. “I only did it for Ash. It was Ashley Rata who was at our house yesterday. I love him, Mum. I would never cheat on him and especially not with someone as horrible as Isaia.”
Silence filled the van for several seconds before Monika opened her big fat mouth again. “Then who was that Claydon boy that hugged you at school today. Ash’s mates saw it, even Jenna.”
“What?”
“Stop saying what! Was it Isaia?”
“No. Levi dropped me off. He gave me a hug before he left.”
Monika frowned, her expression now uncertain.
The van turned into the hospital car park, the large white building looming, formidable like her mother. Her aunty pulled into a space and yanked on the handbrake. After a giant slam of a door, her mother slid open Tiana’s.
Tiana looked up at her. “Mum, I promise I’m telling the—” A slap stung her cheek, making her cry out.
“You’ve not only disgraced your family, you’ve put your brother’s life at risk. And I don’t believe anything that has come out of your mouth, other than you slept with that Rata boy.”
“I didn’t sleep—” A slap silenced her again.
“I know the name Rata. My own daughter sleeping with the son of a criminal,” the last words hissed out. Her mother raised a hand again, making Tiana flinch. “Right now you’re going to see your brother, to see what has happened to him because of you. You will not say a word; you will follow me and do exactly as you’re told. And as for Tonga, I don’t care what your father says; you are going—full stop—because I don’t want to look at you anymore.” Her mother turned and walked across the car park, leaving Tiana sitting stunned.
Her aunty shut the driver’s door and came around. “Out, girl.”
Tiana moved on autopilot. Tonga. She couldn’t go to Tonga. She couldn’t.
12
Ash
Ash couldn’t wait to check out of school for the day. His mates were driving him nuts, constantly telling him that Tiana had cheated.
‘You’re a bad judge of character,’ Joel had said.
Ash’s reply, ‘Yeah, that’s why you’re my mate.’
‘You trust people too much,” Marko had added.
Ash’s follow up, ‘True, so where’s that money you owe me?’
And Ant? He’d hit him, because even Joel’s mouth was cleaner than that bastard’s. Tiana wasn’t a slag or any of those other things that Ant had said. Ant didn’t know Tiana as well as he did, and it wasn’t fair that his mate was slagging her off when she wasn’t there to defend herself. So, until she looked him in the eye and admitted to cheating on him he wasn’t going to listen to anyone. But…#~%$*&~+?^!!!!!!
…until that happened, he really needed to fix the fuse in his brain that was ready to explode, because it was telling his heart to take a flying leap.
His brain: She cheated.
His heart: She didn’t cheat.
His brain (and bloody Joel again): You said that about Katy.
His heart: Tiana’s different.
His brain: You’re gonna get hurt.
His heart: I already am.
He wandered down the main road with his head down as students milled around him, making their way home. All he wanted to do was crash, because apart from what had happened today, he was dead tired. After the crazy shit that had gone down the day before, he’d been too wired to sleep, kept picturing Tiana in front of him doing all sorts of sexually explicit stuff, and after a few unsatisfactory hand-jobs he decided to get his frustration out in a better way. Though, the images he’d drawn of Tiana really didn’t help either.
“Ash, wait up!”
Jenna was running towards him, her pink and blonde hair flying everywhere in the wind. Just what he didn’t need right now. He couldn’t understand why she kept bothering him if she thought he’d been such a crap boyfriend and a lousy fuck.
A couple of weeks after they’d had sex she’d asked to get back together again. As if, because there was no way he would put up with someone that had insulted him so badly, then acted like it didn’t even happen, expecting him to do the same. Okay, he’d done her wrong, but he’d apologised and moved on, but nope, Jenna refused to let things go.
He started walking again, ignoring her.
“You goin’ home?” she asked.
“Obviously.” He stopped at the crossing. Like an average day after school, the main road and sidewalk were busy—the foot traffic more hazardous. A few paces away a girl hollered at some boys, upset over a hock that one of them had spat into her hair. The boys laughed in response.
“I’ll walk with you,” Jenna said.
He glanced at her. “Why?”
“Like old times. Plus, you look lonely.”
“I’m not. After today I’d rather not be around anyone.”
“Yeah, sorry ‘bout what Tiana did.” She gave him a sympathetic look that came across as fake.
“I didn’t see it, so as far as I’m concerned it didn’t happen.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope.”
“Talk about sticking your head into sand. What other clichés can I use? Oh yeah, stop sticking your head up your arse and saying, ‘I can’t see shit.’”
Ash laughed. “You made that up.”
“Nope, my mother says it to my brothers when they say they can’t find things.
He shook his head and smiled.
She started tickling his side. “Cool, at least I achieved something today, cos you’re so much sweeter when you smile.”
Trying not to laugh, Ash swatted her hands away. She knew he couldn’t handle being tickled. The cars stopped at the crossing just at the right moment. He took off across it, hoping she’d go away. He slowed to a walk on the other side of the road, ignoring Jenna as she appeared at his side again. They walked in silence for a few minutes, then turned onto his street. Houses, people, cars and trees went unnoticed as Ash kept his head down, doing his best to ignore Jenna. She grabbed his arm as he stepped towards the road.
“Oi! Look where you’re goin’,” she said, as a car zipped past. “You could’ve gotten red rubber poisoning.”
He shook his arm free. “Red rubber what?”
“Hit by a car.”
“You say the weirdest things.” He crossed the road. His stepfather’s van was parked in its normal spot in front of the garage.
She followed. “It’s a proper saying.”
“Didja hear that from your mum too?”
“Nah, my dad.”
Unable to help himself, he smiled as he walked up the driveway and across the grass. He pushed open the front door and toed off his boots. He glanced up in disbelief as Jenna started taking off her shoes. “I didn’t invite you in.”
“Too bad, cos I’m already here.” She pushed past him and yelled out, “Hi, you li’l toe-rags, I’m back!”
Ash’s eight-year-old brother and sister squealed like the little porkers they were. They jumped up from in front of the TV and ran for Jenna, fighting over giving her a hug and almost bowling her over in the process. She grinned and hugged them back. Ash had always liked how well she’d gotten on with his siblings. He looked around the room wondering where his thirteen-year-old brother was, because like the twins Dante was usually glued to the telly at this time of day, and dominating the remote.
A new cartoon started, reeling the twins back to their well-worn spots on the carpet. Ash’s stepfather came through the kitchen doorway and frowned at Jenna. Unlike the others, Chaz couldn’t stand her.
“G’day, Mrs. Rata,” Jenna said.
Chaz growled and disappeared back into the kitchen.
Ash laughed. “And you wonder why he doesn’t like you.”
“It was an innocent mistake. He looks so pretty in that apron.” Grinning
like a loon, she took off down the passage.
Ash couldn’t believe her nerve. “Hey! Where ya goin’?” He followed her into his bedroom and dumped his bag. “Out!”
She super-glued her arse onto his bed and scanned the walls. “Nice drawings. I haven’t seen these ones before.”
Scenes of his family played around the space, his little sister skipping in one, her twin kicking a rugby ball in another. Above his clothes cabinet Dante performed a haka with a fake moko—a Maori facial tattoo—his chest bare and his tongue stuck out.
“I like Dante’s one the best,” she said.
“If he heard that he’d be jumping on you in a second.”
“I miss his lame come-ons. He was so cute.” She stood up and moved past him, making him think she was leaving. Instead, she shut the door. “Your stepdad’s nosy.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, he’s certainly that. He’s always goin’ through my stuff. But, I still want you out.”
“What’s with the apron?”
Ash sighed, knowing he was going to lose this battle. He plonked his butt on his bed and looked up at her. “He lost his job, so now he’s taken over the house. I reckon he enjoys staying home too much, cos every time my mum mentions he should get another job he makes excuses. He’s bloody weird, cos what kind of guy likes cleaning and doin’ the laundry?”
“It’s the only way he can get into your knickers.”
He pulled a face. “You’re disgusting.”
She laughed. “You have no sense of humour sometimes.”
“You’ve got a warped sense of humour, and you don’t know what he’s like to live with. He’s always patting my head like I’m a bloody dog, and he’s even given me talks ‘bout things that old folks shouldn’t be doin’ anymore. I know he doesn’t mean to annoy me, but I wish he’d stop it.”
“You mean sex?” she said, sitting next to him.
“Yeah.”
“Mum does the same thing, says I shouldn’t be afraid to talk to her ‘bout it. But, it would be too embarrassing, I’d much rather ask Cassidy, like I shoulda before we had sex. If I did that we would still be together.” Jenna looked down at her hands. “Wish we could go back and fix things.”
The room went uncomfortably silent, the only sound coming from the cartoons in the lounge. It was nice to talk to her in a friendly manner again, but the reference to their failed attempt at sex made him want to shove her out of his room. Yeah, he still found her hot, and the way she left an extra button of her blouse undone hadn’t gone unnoticed, but he really didn’t want to start things over, especially since all he wanted was Tiana.
“Um…” Jenna paused. “I should’ve said this way sooner, but I’m really sorry ‘bout how I acted after we had sex. It wasn’t your fault, I realise that now. And I was a right cow to you with all that stuff I blatted out to your mates.”
Ash looked at her in surprise. Jenna never apologised for nothing. She stared at him with an embarrassed expression, her cheeks as pink as the streaks in her hair.
“Well,” she said. “You gonna say something?”
“You apologised?”
She blew out a sigh. “It does happen.”
He went to say, Yeah, right, but thought better of it. “Thanks. And I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to hurt ya.”
“I know. Cassidy told me pussies take a bit of loosening up.”
Ash let out a bark of laughter. “That sounds so wrong coming from a chick.”
“Just keeping it real, babe,” she said in a mock male voice.
He laughed again. He really did miss this about her, the jokes and the funny expressions. If it hadn’t been for the disastrous loss of both of their virginities he was sure she was right: they would’ve stayed together. Yeah, he’d forgotten how much he’d liked her.
“So, what do ya wanna do now?” she asked.
“Sorry, I wuz planning on catching some shut-eye.”
“It’s not even four o’clock.”
“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
She did an exaggerated pout. “Are you gonna kick me out?”
He smiled. “I did try earlier.”
“You know, I’ve really missed all of this with you: the talking, the laughing.”
“Me too.”
She smiled wide, then before he knew what was happening she was kissing him on the lips. He jumped up. “What’re ya doin’?”
She stood, her expression upset. “I thought you wanted it.”
“I’m not a cheat.”
“But, Tiana broke up with you.”
“No, she didn’t.”
“Well, after what I saw today, it doesn’t look like she agrees.”
“She said nuthin’ to me, so as far as I’m concerned nuthin’ has happened.”
“You really need to get your head outta your arse.”
He glared at her. “So, it’s back to insulting me again.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. You’ve just gotta accept she’s done the dirty on you and move on.”
Ash opened his door. “Just leave, okay.”
“No, Ash, don’t be like that. I’m sorry you’re upset, but Tiana did this, not me.”
“She did nuthin’.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. She cheated on you.”
“You have no proof.”
She shook her head. “You really are gullible.”
“Will you just leave?”
“If you need proof I’ve got it right here.” She pulled something from her pocket and held it out.
He took the piece of paper. “What’s this?”
“The guy who had his hands all over your so-called girlfriend gave me his number. He was clearly a player. Go on, ring him. Ask if he’s goin’ out with Tiana.
He unfolded the note and stared down at the messy scrawl. “This is Tiana’s number.”
“Eh?”
He looked up at her confused expression, the memory of Tiana’s brother driving out of the school car park returning. “Did the guy who hugged Tiana have spiky brown hair?”
“Yeah.”
A smile lit up his face. “That wuz her brother.”
Jenna’s face dropped, then a string of swearwords left her mouth, making him laugh. “Stop laughing at me,” she snapped.
“I’m just happy.”
“You would be a helluva lot happier with me.”
“Just leave, Jenna.”
Her gaze moved to the doorway. Ash looked behind him at his now grinning stepdad.
In an exaggerated fashion, Chaz stepped to the side and swept out an arm. “Milady, I think he wants you to leave.”
“Get stuffed, you apron wearing faggot!” Jenna stormed out of the room. A few seconds later the front door slammed.
Laughing, Chaz entered the room and placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. “I was afraid you’d gotten back together with her.”
Ash smiled. “Nah, I like Tiana.”
Chaz pulled him into a hug, making Ash stiffen in surprise. “Just as long as you’re happy, I’m happy,” his stepdad said, holding him for what seemed like ages before letting go.
Ash stared at him, not knowing what to say or how to react.
“Don’t look so stunned, boy,” Chaz said. “Didn’t your father ever hug you?”
“Maybe when I wuz li’l.”
“That man really has a lot to answer for. You just need to relax and let people care for you.” He placed a hand on Ash’s head.
“I let people care,” Ash said, refraining from smacking it away.
Chaz removed his hand. “Doesn’t look like it to me with the way you froze up when I gave you a hug. You know, I do care about this family like it’s my own.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Ash said, feeling guilty. “Still gettin’ used to having another … um … father type person around.” Chaz had been married to his mother for several months now, and even though some of the things his stepdad did was annoying, the guy had tried hard to fit in with their family reg
ardless of Dante’s efforts to push him out.
Chaz smiled. “No worries. Just lighten up a bit and don’t get so worried if I wanna show that I care for you. Okay?”
Ash nodded.
“Good boy.” Chaz tousled Ash’s hair, then disappeared down the passageway.
Ash shut the door and drew the curtains, then pulled off his clothes and climbed into bed. Maybe he should lighten up on his stepdad. The guy did try to be nice to him and was definitely a hell of a lot nicer than his father.
13
Levi
After waking up in hospital, Levi hadn’t known what the hell had happened, until a few seconds later his head decided to say hello in the nastiest way.
“Motherfucker.” He raised a hand to his bandaged head, touching the aching pit called his left ear.
“Levi, watch your language!”
That sounded like his mother. He blinked and looked to his right. Nope, no mother just his cousin and dad in chairs with a green curtain at their back. His father reached out and took Levi’s hand. His old man looked ecstatic, which considering how Levi was feeling he didn’t understand what was so fucking great right now.
His father squeezed his hand. “You’re going to be alright, Son.”
“Sure doesn’t feel like it. What happened?”
“You were knocked unconscious. You woke earlier, but fell asleep again.”
“I only remember Isaia sucker-punching me.” And he was definitely going to get that bastard back, though he was an idiot for allowing it to happen.
His father let go of his hand. “I’ll get a nurse to give you something.”
Levi watched him leave, then realised there were more of his family on the other side of the bed. If he’d been at a funeral he was sure there would’ve been happier looking people. Levi’s mother and aunty were seated, while Tiana stood a few paces back like a scared deer ready to make a dash for it.
“Did someone die?” he asked.
“Don’t say that, Levi,” his mother snapped, “because it very well could’ve happened. I’m banning you from going anywhere near Isaia again.”
“Oh, come on, Mum, we’ve had fights before, it ain’t a big deal.”
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