“Which means you don’t needa go back in,” no matter how much I don’t want you out.
“Can I still see you?”
“No, you can stay the fuck away from me.”
“I won’t hurt cha, I’m clean.”
“I don’t care, and I’m goin’ to school soon, so I won’t be here.”
“Doubt it, not with that cute li’l chick I saw go into Hunter’s place.”
Panicked, Ash ran into the lounge and looked out the window. Across the road sat a blue van. The door opened and his father stepped out, holding a mobile phone.
Ash’s eyes widened. “Go away!”
“I’ve been away for a long time.” His father walked across the road. He was about the same height as Hunter, well over six-foot, but wasn’t chubby like his cousin. Instead, he looked muscular in his black T and jeans as he walked up the front lawn, his moko making him appear even tougher: the Maori tattoo curved over his forehead and down his cheeks, finishing under his mouth.
He stopped on the other side of the window. “Open up for me.”
Ash shook his head.
“C’mon, I can’t leave Dante in the van for too long.”
“He can come in, but not you.”
“Nope, I’m part of the package.”
“Get Dante.”
An ear-splitting whistle filled the air, then Dante’s name was shouted. A door slammed and Dante appeared. He walked across the road and up the front lawn, glancing down as he neared the window.
“He’s here, so let us in.”
“I don’t wanna see you,” Ash said.
“You’re already doin’ that, boy, so it won’t make much difference if I’m inside or staring at you through glass.”
“I hate you!” Ash covered the phone and turned to Tiana. “Go to my room and don’t come out until he’s gone. I don’t want him knowing who you are or that you’re pregnant. Okay?”
“I wanna stay.”
“No, go to my room.”
“Ash—”
“Don’t argue; I need you outta ‘ere.”
“Then gimme the phone.”
He hung up and handed it to her. He followed her into the passage, then grabbed Hunter’s cricket bat from the laundry and headed back into the lounge, closing the passage door behind him. He unlocked the front door then ran to the back one, waiting for his father and brother to enter.
Dante appeared first, followed by their father. “You’re a lot taller since I last saw you, Son; you’ve grown into a handsome lad.”
Ash gripped the handle of the cricket bat.
His father glanced at it. “I’m not here to hurt ya.”
“Then what do ya want?”
“I missed ja.”
“I didn’t miss you.”
His father sighed. “I know I have a lot to make up for—”
“Too much, and I want nuthin’ to do with you.”
“You don’t have much choice if you wanna see your brother.” His father moved Dante a few paces forward.
“So, you gonna use him against me?”
“No, Son, that’s not my intention. Since he’s living with me now you’ll be seeing me more.”
Ash thumped the bat against the floor. “One monster goes to prison, another comes out.”
His father shook his head. “I’m not the same, Son.”
“You look the same.”
“I feel different. I don’t take bad drugs anymore, and have been clean for a while, even though I wuz tempted every day in that shithole. You can get them so easily in prison. But I hurt you both cos of them, and I don’t ever wanna do that again.” He placed an arm over Dante’s shoulder. “I wanna be there for you boys instead of the one hurting you.”
“What do ya mean you’re clean of bad drugs? Aren’t they all s’posed to be bad?”
“Not all. I hafta take medication cos I’m bipolar. Wuz diagnosed in prison. I had no idea before goin’ in, just attributed all my problems to recreational drugs. It’s why I had extreme mood swings.”
“What do I care?”
“You care, Ash, I can see it. I hurt you many times and I’m sorry. I know that’s not enough, but I can at least make things right between you and Dante.”
“There’s nuthin’ wrong between me and Dante.”
“You haven’t even spoken one word to him since we got here, not even a hi. What does that tell ya?”
Ash’s gaze shifted to Dante. His brother was staring at the floor. “I didn’t do it on purpose,” Ash said.
“I know, and I’m not criticising you for it. You two have been through things kids should never hafta experience.”
Ash looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then lowered his gaze. “Hunter told me what you said, Dante, and you shouldn’t blame yourself; Mum’s death isn’t your fault.”
Dante covered his face and shook his head.
Their father placed his other arm around Dante and hugged him. “See, baby boy, I told ja he wouldn’t blame you. So, stop punishing yourself. You too, Ash, this ain’t your fault either, and I know you blame yourself cos Hunter told me.”
“None of this woulda happened if I wuzn’t in the picture.”
“Does that mean you think it’s a girl’s fault for bein’ raped?”
“No!”
“Then it wuzn’t your fault. Full stop. No ifs or buts.”
Ash’s head snapped over to the passage door as it opened. Tiana poked her head out. “I agree.”
“I told ja to stay in my room.”
“I wanna meet your father.”
“No.”
She walked over and held out a hand for his father to shake. “I’m Ash’s girlfriend.”
His father shook her hand. “Nice to meet cha, sweetheart.”
“And I’m pregnant with his baby.”
“Tiana!”
His father laughed. “Bloody hell, I’m gonna be a grandfather at thirty-four. You make me feel old. And why aren’t cha afraid of me now? I saw you run before.”
“Ash made me go in there. And I was listening to what you said. You were tryna make him feel better, Dante too.”
“No one believes me when I tell them I’m different.” He patted Dante’s chest. “Except for this one. And if Ash wants to see his bro at any time, I’ll drop Dante off when Hunter ain’t here, otherwise that chubby bastard will shoot me, and I’m not a holy person.” He grinned. “And there’s no way Hunter’s running me outta Auckland, I’ve got a job now and this li’l one has a girlfriend here. You might know her; she’s in your class—”
“Dad, shut up!” Dante shouted.
“Why? You should be proud of hooking into an older woman. And it looks like both my boys have a thing for Tongan girls. Do you know a Lavinia—”
Dante pulled out of his father’s grip and shoved at him. “Shut up, shut up, shut up! I told ja not to tell anyone.”
“Lavinia Kefu?” Tiana asked, her voice barely a squeak.
“Yeah, that’s his girlfriend’s name.”
Tiana shook her head. “Dante’s lying; Lavinia wouldn’t go out with him.”
“She most certainly would, she came to my place, a pretty wee thing, part Japanese looking. Squealed so loud when she saw Dante, almost crushed the poor boy.”
“But she’s goin’ out with a university guy.”
“Who?” Dante shouted. “I’ll bash his brains out.”
Ash started laughing, the situation unreal. He couldn’t believe it; his father was actually telling the truth. He cracked up even more at the look on Tiana’s face. “Christ, this is hilarious; my li’l bro’s bonking my girlfriend’s best mate.”
Tiana shook her head vigorously. “He can’t, Lavinia wouldn’t; she likes Joel. And Dante’s only thirteen, that’s just wrong.”
“No, it’s not!” Dante snapped. “She likes me, not bloody Joel. And he’s her stepbro, so that’s wrong.”
“Goin’ with a thirteen-year-old’s gross. Lavinia wouldn’t do that.”
“Rubbish, you look like a li’l kid.”
“Do not and I’m goin’ to your school next year, so I can hang out with Lavinia all I want.”
“You’re lying, she said her boyfriend’s name’s Ivan.”
“Ha! That’s my middle name; she calls me that over the phone. So, in your face, she doesn’t have another guy.” Dante started moving his arms about in a dance he always did when he won something.
Tiana looked over at Ash. “Stop laughing!”
Ash bent over, laughing so hard his stomach hurt. It was the first time that he didn’t feel like shit since the attack, and the first time that he wondered if there would be more moments like these, because if there were—it was worth living for.
Look for Crying Out Silent,
the second book in the Graffiti Heaven series due out in 2013.
***
About the Author
Marita A. Hansen was born in New Zealand, where her stories are based. Marita loves writing, creating art, watching and participating in football, and running. She ran her first marathon in 2012 and is now planning on completing many more. For more information on Marita check out her blog: maritaahansen.blogspot.com/
***
Other books by Marita A. Hansen
Behind the Hood
from the Behind the Lives series (R18).
GLOSSARY
Not all New Zealanders speak the same. Dialogue can be regional and also relates to socio-economic backgrounds. This is why some characters use different speech patterns from others. The main example is when Ash and Joel use wuz while Tiana and Jenna use was.
Baba - Croatian for grandmother.
Blatted out - Blurted out.
Bludge - To impose on, sponge off others.
Chunder - Vomit.
Dairy - Equivalent to a 7-Eleven store.
Dida - Croatian for grandfather.
Didja - Did you.
Dob - To tell on someone.
Dole – Welfare.
Ja and Ya both mean - You. The ja version is often used after words ending in d.
Jumper - Woollen sweater / Jersey.
Kia Ora - Maori for Hello.
Kiwi - A New Zealander or a native bird of New Zealand.
Lolly - Candy.
Maori (Māori) - The indigenous people of New Zealand.
Manky - Smelly, dirty.
Marae - An area of land where a Maori meeting house is, and a cultural centre.
Moko - A Maori tattoo usually on the face.
Mufti - When students go to school out of uniform.
Munter - Usually refers to an unattractive female.
Netball - A ball sport derived from basketball, and the most popular women’s sport in New Zealand.
Pālangi - A Tongan word used to describe non-Tongans, often referring to Caucasians. The Maori word Pākehā / Pakeha (non-Maori) also refers to Caucasians.
Ratted out - Told on.
Slag off - Insult.
Slapper - A slut, slag.
Squiz - To take a quick look.
Sprog / Sproglet - A small child.
Sweet as - Awesome. New Zealanders often add “as” after certain words to give emphasis.
Tiki Tour - A roundabout way to get somewhere, the scenic route.
Tongan - The people or language associated with the South Pacific country of Tonga.
Wagging – Skipping school.
Year 11 - The third to last year of high school in New Zealand is typically made up of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds.
Special note: Any other variation in spelling is due to where the book is set.
An extract from
Behind the Hood
(Set in 2010)
1
Maia
Maia Daniels knew she should just ignore the boys. Walk past, don’t listen, she told herself. Don’t talk back.
It was ten o’clock on a Saturday night. The gang were sitting on a wall outside Claydon Pub, passing around a smoke. She’d seen some of them at high school, when they decided to turn up that is.
Whooping and yelling came from the pub. A television blared loudly, no doubt replaying the All Blacks’ rugby match against the Wallabies. Maia stopped at the driveway as a purple Holden drove into the car park. Music blasted from inside the souped-up machine, the bass pumping its steady beat out into the night.
“Maia, c’mere,” Tama Harris yelled.
The gang leader was eighteen, tall and solidly built, with a wide, flat nose. He’d shaved off his hair recently, replacing it with a curved pattern called a moko. Usually, the tattoo adorned the face, a sign of a Maori warrior—something to be proud of. But Tama was no one to be proud of, nothing but a dreg who constantly harassed her. Unlike the other boys, he wore his hoodie tied around his waist, his ripped jeans and muscle shirt unsuitable for the cold autumn weather. Maia figured he was probably high on something, either from the weed in his hand or the empty bottles at his feet—or both.
“Hey, Maia! Are ya a double d?” a podgy boy with spiky blond hair shouted.
“They sure felt like it,” Tama replied, his hand actions eliciting laughter from the gang.
A blush ran across Maia’s cheeks. Shit, she hated her breasts. Even in her oversized sweatshirt they still grabbed attention. She pulled her hood further over her head, and rounded her shoulders. After another car passed, she hitched up her track pants and walked across the muddy driveway.
Tama hollered, “Oi! I told ja to c’mere.”
She looked back, aching to give him the finger, but instead jammed her hands into her pockets. God, she was a moron for sneaking out, but ... Ben’s raves were always awesome. Why couldn’t her mum let her go? It wasn’t like she did drugs, and the boys at the party were just mates.
Tama’s scowl changed into a grin. He threw his joint onto the ground and jumped off the stone wall. With a jerk of his head, he indicated for the gang to follow.
Maia’s heartbeat picked up. Still concentrating on Tama, she stepped off the kerb and onto Waiata Crescent. The blast of a horn made her leap back. The front passenger leaned out of a battered sedan, and swore at her. Ignoring the pimply git, she scooted around the car and across the side road.
A loud wolf-whistle made her jump. She glanced over her shoulder. Tama’s eyes were fixated on her, promising things she didn’t want.
He grabbed his crotch. “I like ya from behind, Maia.”
All the boys, except for Mikey Thomas, laughed. Tama’s cousin looked away as though uncomfortable with what was happening. He was fourteen and in her class at school. She thought he liked her; either that or he had a staring problem. Yeah, she’d only noticed because she was usually checking him out too.
Maia wondered if she could lose the gang by cutting across the highway. Traffic was heavy, making this option just as dangerous as stopping for Tama. Further up the road, past the tyre yard, the video and liquor stores’ lights were on. The neon sign of the happy video man was a welcoming sight. It was maybe a hundred metres away. She thought she had a chance of outrunning Tama. She was fast, damned fast. If she’d showed up to school enough, she probably would’ve been on the track team.
“Maia, pretty Maia,” Tama taunted. “I’ve got sumpthin’ to show you.”
Maia wasn’t sure whether it was a knife—or something else in his pants. She knew he carried a switchblade. He’d stabbed her brother in the arm once when Nike attacked him with a baseball bat. She’d always wondered whether this was why Tama harassed her. But she couldn’t blame Nike for it. Leila, his girlfriend at the time, had caused the fight. The bitch had cheated on him with Tama, then cried rape after he found out.
“Leave me alone, Tama,” she said, remembering the last time he’d approached her. She’d kicked him in the balls for grabbing her breasts. “Nike said he’d beat the living snot outta you if you came near me again.”
“I’d love to see him fuckin’ try. Plus, you o
we me, bitch.”
Maia knew she should keep her mouth shut; that whenever she spoke it got her into trouble. Her mother had told her countless times, “You speak too much, Maia, you should listen more.”
She grinned, unable to help herself. “What do I owe you? More bruised balls?”
She heard a slicing noise behind her, the sound of a switchblade being opened. Shit!
“Get her,” Tama yelled.
Maia took off, her legs pumping hard and fast.
Behind the Hood is available from Amazon.
Graffiti Heaven (Graffiti Heaven #1) Page 32
