“Don’t you dare!”
“I was only joking, but that might not be a bad idea, cos I betcha the slimeball wouldn’t turn her down.”
Furious, Tiana shoved him.
“Okay, don’t have a cow.” Still grinning, he lifted a finger to his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die, I promise that no one I know will touch him tonight.”
25
Ash
Chaz poked his head into Ash’s bedroom. “You ready to go?”
Ash pulled on his jacket. Yeah, he was well and truly ready, couldn’t wait to get booze down his throat, anything to put today behind him. Though, in a way he felt sorry for the prop, especially when the guy’s dad had shown up. The poor old bloke had tears in his eyes.
But Ash still couldn’t understand the dude trying to kill himself over not getting his own way. Okay, it wasn’t as basic as that. He’d caught snatches of conversation from the passage, and it sounded like the guy wasn’t lying about the cops, although Ash didn’t believe it had anything to do with Tiana, because she would’ve said something to him. Plus, Monika’s name was mentioned—who he knew was a bloody liar—so she must have laid the complaint. He wouldn’t put it past her after all the rumours she’d spread about Tiana. There was also other stuff talked about, such as the guy missing his mother and brother. Well, shit happened to everyone, and suicide was a weakling’s way out. Pop the trigger, lay that bullet to rest in your head, and like magic all your problems disappeared in a puff of smoke. Like hell, your family were burdened with them instead. It was selfish in his opinion; a childish way of giving everyone you loved the ultimate finger.
Ash followed Chaz outside as the phone started ringing. Chaz ignored it and locked up. Ash stopped by the poor excuse for a car, the metal contraption an embarrassment to be seen in. He’d wanted to walk, but Chaz had insisted they drive, still concerned over Ash getting popped in the crown jewels.
They hopped in, then his stepdad reversed down the driveway. The piece of junk coughed out smoke like an emphysema patient that hadn’t learnt to quit smoking. But his mother loved the car, proclaiming that it had never let her down. Personally, he thought it was more to do with money than liking the trash heap.
After a five minute drive, Chaz cut across Claydon’s main road and into the pub’s driveway. Ash got out and stuck his hands into his leather jacket, the dark bringing a cold snap. He straightened, trying to make himself look as tall as possible as he followed Chaz to the entrance, hoping no one would question his age, because he didn’t have fake ID.
They stopped in front of the bouncer, the ugly bruiser looking Ash up and down with a “You’ve gotta be kidding me” expression.
“Got my stuff?” Chaz asked.
The bouncer’s expression changed to a look of disgust. “A guy?”
“Don’t be stupid, this is my stepson.” Chaz placed a hand on Ash’s back. “It’s his eighteenth birthday present.”
The bouncer glanced behind him, then back at Chaz. “Money?”
Chaz passed over what looked like fifty bucks, then put something into his pocket. “Ta, mate.”
The bouncer stepped aside for them. Chaz pushed Ash through the doorway and guided him past people dressed in leathers and denim. Since it had just gone six the pub was half empty. Though, Ash knew it would be packed later, as every time he’d gone past on a Saturday night it was always overflowing with drunks.
“I told ja there wouldn’t be any problems,” Chaz said.
“That’s cos you slipped him a fifty, you could’ve tried a twenty first.”
“Nope, it wasn’t a bribe, I owed him money.” Chaz sat down on a bar stool and patted the neighbouring one. “Sit, it’s time for your first beer.”
Ash laughed. “My father gave me my first beer when I wuz eight.”
Chaz shook his head. “He really is a shit. I hope he doesn’t cause any problems now he’s out. I thought that kid banging on the door earlier was him.”
“Me too.”
Chaz waved at the nearest bartender. “Two pints, mate, don’t care which kind, just as long as it’s red. Put it on my tab.”
“Sure, Chaz.” The bartender filled two large glasses, handed them over, then went to serve another customer.
“Drink up,” Chaz said, bringing the beer to his lips.
Ash picked up his and glanced at Chaz’s, annoyed that he’d gotten the smaller one. “Your glass is bigger than mine.”
Chaz sprayed out some of the beer. Laughing, he wiped his mouth. “They’re both pints, you dumbarse.”
Ash grumbled, “I’m not dumb, mine’s still smaller,” then took a gulp. He cheered up as the cool liquid slid down his throat, the realisation of where he was making him feel good. He swallowed then refocused on Chaz. “Can I have a ciggie?”
“No, it’s illegal.”
“You’re letting me drink beer.”
“No, I mean it’s illegal to smoke in pubs.”
“You’re kidding me?”
“Nope, and what’re you doing trying to bum a smoke offa me for? I wouldn’t give ya one.”
“Why not? Hunter would.”
“Hunter’s an idiot.”
“No, he’s not,” Ash snapped, the happy hour no longer on him. No one insulted his cousin.
Chaz rolled his eyes, then a slow smile spread across his face. “Okay … he’s not dumb, but I bet he’d agree with you that my pint is bigger than yours.”
“Yeah, he would, cos it is.”
Chaz laughed. “You’re adorable.”
Ash screwed up his nose. “That’s not a compliment. Juliet’s adorable, not me. Well, she’s not adorable with her butt-face, but you know what I mean.”
Grinning, Chaz lifted his glass to his lips, swallowed down some beer, then swivelled around on his bar stool. Ash did the same, giving the room a once over. Low and high tables were arranged in a row with patrons either sitting or standing. A large TV screen covered one wall, while another one played the same rugby match around the corner of the bar. A din of voices filled the room, the words merging into one. He glanced over at the small stage, where the band was setting up their instruments. A woman mucking around with the microphone smiled at him. Ash smiled back, thinking she was pretty for someone Chaz’s age.
She clipped the microphone to its stand, then sashayed towards him. He noticed a snake tattoo curving around her left thigh and disappearing under her short black dress. She stopped in front of him. “Like what you see, hun?”
He looked up at her face, embarrassed that she’d caught him perving.
Chaz laughed. “Forgotten Tiana already, have ya?”
“No,” Ash snapped.
The woman placed a hand on Ash’s lap. “My name’s Kirstie, you wanna go for a walk?”
“I can’t, I’m here with my stepdad,” Ash said, looking at Chaz for a way out. Instead, Chaz seemed to be enjoying his discomfort.
Kirstie smiled at Chaz. “You don’t mind, do ya? I’ll bring him back soon.”
Chaz placed an arm around Ash’s shoulders. For once Ash didn’t want to push Chaz away, because at that moment it didn’t feel weird. Instead, it felt fatherly, telling him that Chaz would protect him no matter what—like earlier. Shit, Chaz was even willing to take a bullet for him, that revelation making Ash look at his stepdad in a totally different light.
“Do you like ‘em barely out of the cradle?” Chaz asked Kirstie.
Kirstie’s face went red. “No, I was just gonna show him some band equipment.”
“Bullshit, you want to take him out back for a quick shag.”
“I never said that,” she spluttered.
“Then get your hand offa his dick.”
She whipped her hand back. “I wasn’t touching it.”
Oh, yes, she was, Ash thought, trying to get it under control. Mrs. Mullen and her false teeth, Mrs. Mullen and her false teeth…
Chaz continued, “Go find someone your own age, my stepson ain’t interested in old bags.”
/> “I’m not old!”
“You must be at least twice his age.”
She huffed, then spun around and barged through a group of guys laughing over her humiliation, the snake tattoo on her leg saying hello to her butt-cheek and bye to Ash.
“She didn’t look old,” Ash said.
“You’re only fifteen.”
“I’m sixteen next week.”
“If you really want to get some, go on then. With the way she was touching you it’s a sure thing.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Then strain in your dick before you poke someone’s eye out.”
Ash covered it, his face burning. “It’s not my fault, she wuz bloody rubbing it.”
Chaz patted Ash’s back. “Calm down, I’m just kidding, you did good. Not many guys would turn her down, and besides what I said, she is hot.” He tapped Ash’s glass. “So relax and have some more beer. We’re here for the booze, not chicks. Don’t let her spoil our night.”
“Too right.” Happy with Chaz’s words, Ash raised his beer and gulped down the rest, then slammed the empty glass on the counter.
“Let’s see if you can do that again.” Chaz waved at the bartender. “Fill it up, mate.”
Ash’s eyes almost popped as another pint was placed in front of him. “I don’t know if I can down a second one so fast.”
Chaz grinned. “A man wouldn’t say that.”
“I wuz kidding.” Ash picked it up and forced himself to drink more as Chaz laughed. He could handle booze fine, it was only sculling it that was too much, like a beer version of a brain freeze or a stomach upchuck. He put the drink down and pulled off his jacket, the heat now getting to him. “Stop laughing.”
“Sorry, mate, I couldn’t help it. Take it easy, it’s not a race to see how many beers we can drink. Enjoy it.”
Ash nodded. That was exactly what he wanted to do.
Staccato noises came from the small stage, the band getting ready to play. The female that had hit on him stepped onto the stage and yelled out to the crowd in an angry voice, “Welcome us, you load of bastards!” The crowd shouted a reply, almost as if it was rehearsed. The singer yelled something again, what Ash assumed was the band’s name, then the thud of the drum and the whine of the guitars started playing. The singer’s husky voice followed with the words to an eighties classic—a Joan Jett song that his mother liked. Ash grinned. He was definitely going to tell his mates he’d been hit on by a rock singer.
Chaz’s head bobbed up and down to the music. Ash picked up his beer and drank some more. As the song rolled into another one, he noticed his glass was empty and placed it back on the bar. Chaz yelled at the bartender over the music to refill it. Ash didn’t care at that point, he was enjoying the night.
Two females, a dark haired one and Jenna’s eighteen-year-old cousin, stopped in front of them. Ash had only met Carly once, but he remembered her well after the girl had embarrassed him by asking if he and Jenna were doing it. The question wasn’t the problem, who she said it in front of was—Jenna’s whole family. Plus, Carly looked like an older version of Jenna, just without the pink streaks.
Carly whispered something into Chaz’s ear, while her mate eyed Ash up. Chaz raised his wedding finger and pointed to his ring. Carly pulled a face and pushed her mate out of the way, focusing on Ash. She swayed a little, and not to the music.
“Do ya remember me?” Ash asked.
She frowned at him for several seconds before replying. “Didja go out with Jenna?” she slurred.
Ash nodded.
A huge smile lit up her face. She leaned in close and whispered into his ear.
Ash’s eyes widened. “Both of you?”
She grinned and nodded.
He’d be a liar if he said he wasn’t tempted, but nah, he couldn’t, he loved Tiana and there was also no way he could do anything with Jenna’s cousin. He shook his head. Carly pouted, then went to sit on his lap.
Chaz held out a hand. “He’s not your personal chair.”
“Faggots.” Carly grabbed her friend’s arm then disappeared into the now packed pub.
Ash downed the rest of his beer, then stood up. “Needa take a leak.” He pushed his way through the crowd and into the Men’s. After doing his business, he headed back to Chaz to find a fourth (or was that a fifth?) pint on the bar. He picked it up happily and gulped it down as the crowd roared at the latest song, a popular drinking anthem he’d heard his father sing with his mates when he was little. He put his glass down on the bar and started nodding his head to the music. After a few more songs his eyes closed, the feeling of floating making him sleepy.
“You alright, Ash?” Chaz asked.
Ash forced his eyes open. “Tired.”
“You wanna go home?”
Ash raised a hand to his head, dizziness overtaking him. He fell forward, almost knocking Chaz off the bar stool. One of his arms was pulled over Chaz’s shoulder.
“Definitely home time,” Chaz said.
With the help of his stepdad, Ash half walked, half stumbled through the crowd. His surroundings looked unreal—like a movie, while the noise in the pub sounded muffled. Chaz moved his grip to Ash’s waist as Ash almost fell down the front step. Behind them the bouncer slung words at Chaz.
“He’s drunk, so shut the fuck up!” Chaz snapped at the bouncer.
Ash forced his eyes to stay open as Chaz steered him towards the car. His stepdad unlocked the passenger door, helped Ash in, then ran around to the driver’s side. Ash drifted off to sleep as the car engine started.
Something jolted him awake. Ash opened his eyes. Confused, he stared at his house through the car’s windscreen. How’d they get home so fast?
His door opened, then darkness took him…
He woke up in bed. His shirt was tugged over his face, suffocating him briefly before it was removed. His arms flopped down like dead weights. Chaz said something, his voice distant.
Blackness consumed Ash again…
Movement awoke him, a shift in position. He was lying on his stomach…
…sleepy, numb…
The drawing of Dante on the wall looked blurry as though under water. Ash felt something wet touch him below, but didn’t know why. He closed his eyes, feeling like he was drowning in sleep…
Prod… He didn’t understand…
Prod… He forced open his eyes…
Prod… Someone was…
Ash screamed.
26
Jenna
Sunday, August 27.
Clean your room, do the dishes, stop watching so much TV, blah, blah, blah…
If Jenna didn’t get out of the house in the next minute she was going to swear at her mother. She snatched up her jacket and pushed open the front door, letting it slam behind her as she exited … or more accurately slamming it on purpose. A holler came from inside. She ignored her mother’s banshee wail and pushed through the gate, her house practically sniffing the sidewalk. She had mucked around for most of the morning, bored out of her mind. Her plans to spend the day with Cassidy had been ruined, because her best friend was still annoyed with her over Friday. She had explained to Cassidy why she’d needed to sit with the Catholic congregation as well as Joel, but the stupid cow thought she was lying. Well, stuff Cassidy, she could visit Ash instead, and maybe talk some sense into him. They had something special before they’d ruined things with sex, a cool connection that he didn’t seem to have with Tiana. Ash didn’t sit with Tiana in class, which said everything to her. Okay, he did on Friday, but that was a oncer, and when she was with Ash they’d always hung out together—in or out of class.
She headed onto Jasper Avenue, where a flock of Catholics were exiting the triangular-shaped church. She crossed the road, narrowly missing getting hit by a large SUV, the monstrosity beeping at her. She gave it a not so friendly wave with her middle finger, then jumped over Joel’s fence and onto his property. She pushed their shaggy and overly friendly dog away, then hurdled the back fen
ce like a track star. It didn’t look like anyone was home anyway. She glanced back, noticing a window was open. Okay, maybe Joel was, but she didn’t care because it was an excellent shortcut to Ash’s place.
Not knowing the owners of the next property, she sprinted across the backyard, through the empty carport and down the driveway, then took a left onto Ash’s road, happy that no one had spotted her. Cars that had been heading for the soccer fields were doing clumsy U-turns, and in the process creating a traffic jam. She discovered the cause further up—a police car blocking the road. As she neared Ash’s property, she stopped at the sight of cops and plain-clothed people swarming his front yard, going in and out of his house.
She ran for his place. The police officer indicating for people to turn around stepped in front of her. “You can’t go past here, Miss.”
“But my friend lives over there,” she said, pointing at Ash’s house. “What happened?”
“I can’t say. You’ll have to get your parents to contact the police for information.”
“No, please, tell me now. His name’s Ashley Rata.”
The police officer grimaced. “I’m really sorry, but I can’t tell you what happened to him, other than he’s been taken to Middleton Hospital.”
“Hospital! Why?”
“Like I said, I can’t tell you.”
“Bastard!” Jenna turned and ran, almost smacking into an old lady coming out of a property in a dressing gown. A middle-aged man was aiding the frail looking woman, her stooped figure trembling. Jenna recognised Mrs. Mullen, Ash’s neighbour with the ill-fitting false teeth.
“You poor dear,” Mrs. Mullen said, eyes fixed on Jenna.
“What happened to Ash?”
“It’s horrible, so horrible.”
“What the hell happened?” Jenna said, barely able to stop from shouting at her.
“He was attacked. The poor boy was unconscious when they put him into the ambulance. And his mother…” The lady stifled a sob. “The mongrel murdered her. Dante, oh, the poor child came screaming to my house, banging on the door for help. I got such a fright, near well had a heart-attack. But, it was my fault. Poor Natasha wouldn’t have returned from Dargaville if I hadn’t rung her. I heard some yelling coming from her place yesterday afternoon and assumed it was that horrible ex-husband she’d mentioned. If I’d rung the police and not her maybe she would still be alive.”
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