Rain In My Heart (11 page)

Chapter Nineteen

              With my head in a muddle, I stood up.  I was desperate to pee.  I couldn't hold it anymore, so I crept through the darkness, down to the stairwell.  When I was certain no one was about, I pulled down my jeans, squatted and pissed into the pool of black water.  The relief was instant.  But as I dressed and darted back up the steps, yet again, Byron appeared. 

            
 ‘
Does
n’
t know when to stop,does he
?’
he said.

            I tried to squeeze past without catching his eye, but he blocked my path, like he was desperate to hold my attention, start a conversation.

'I'm talking about your ex
.
’

            
 ‘
My ex -
?
’

            
 ‘
The text you just got
.
’

              I blinked.

‘
Did you -
?
’

‘
No, I did
n’
t read it.  I do
n’
t pry into other peopl
e’
s messages.  It was obvious from the look on your face.  Honestly, they say
I
have problems?  But Marshall Finch is in a whole different league.  Thirty-eight texts in one lunch break
?
’

He glanced at the ceiling.

‘
If I were you, Kate,
I’
d have him arrested.  Ther
e’
s something called a restraining order, you know.  With one of those, he wo
n’
t be able to go within a mile of you.  I read about it in one of those stupid crime magazines
.
’

‘
Thanks
,’
I said warily
.‘
Thanks for the concern.'

All I could think was how did he even know about Marshall?  Sure, it had been the town gossip over the summer, but Byron did
n’
t strike me as the type of person people gossiped to. 

Chapter Twenty

              We started to burn the next candle.  I sat as close to it as I could, desperate to absorb its warmth.  It was properly dark now
–
and cold.   The rain and wind whipped around the windows and did
n’
t stop for a second.  In the distance, we heard alarms and sirens, reminding us that our town was in crisis.  Once or twice we heard a helicopter, which sparked hope that we were about to be saved.   When the sound got further away, everyone acted like they had
n’
t heard it in the first place.

              At one point, I nearly fell asleep.  I was so drained and hungry and thirsty, I no longer felt hungry and thirsty.  I just felt numb.  The boys went off with one of the other candles to see if they could find useful things.  I lay with my head on Leo
n’
s hoodie, closed my eyes and drifted away.  I awoke moments later when I heard Gemma sobbing.

            
 ‘
You okay
?’
I said softly.

            
 ‘
I ca
n’
t do this any more,' she said.  'I really need to get home.'

              Her face was wet with tears.

            
 ‘
You still worried about Rascal
?
’

              As soon as I said this, she started to shake.  Her legs and arms locked rigid.  It was scary.  I looked for Greg, but she grabbed my hands.

            
 ‘
Kate
,
’ she gasped.
 ‘I’
m in
trouble
.
’

              This was
n’
t what I was expecting her to say.

‘
Trouble
?
’

‘I’
ve done something stupid, something awful.  I can't say. 
I’
ve just
got
to get home
.
’ 

            
 ‘I’
m sure Rasca
l’
s okay, Gem.  H
e’
ll be with a neighbour or something
-
’

            
 ‘
But I
lied
,’
she whispered, hanging her head with shame.
 ‘I’
m not worried about Rascal.  I could
n’
t care less about Rascal.  I
t’
s Molly
-
’

              Suddenly, I knew what she was going to say,that sh
e’
d left her little sister, Molly - who was only eight -that sh
e’
d left her alone.  Alone in the flood.

            
 ‘
I was supposed to be babysitting all day
,’
she whimpered.
 ‘
My mum made me promise.  I didn't tell her about the detention.  I knew if I did, she'd just phone the school and get me out of it.  But I wanted to see Greg.  I wanted to hang out with him.  So I did a deal with Mol.  I said she could have my allowance if she did
n’
t tell.  She was happy with that.  Sh
e’
s quite capable of looking after herself...under normal circumstances
.
’

              She began to sob again.  I felt sick.  The thought of little Molly, alone in the dark, in the filthy wate
r
…

            
 ‘
Oh, Gemma
,’
I said, unable to hide my dismay.
 ‘
What have you done?  She's only eight!'

            
 ‘
Yo
u’
ll help me, wont you
?’
she said desperately.
 ‘
You'll help?  I heard the boys talking about jumping from a window, trying to get to the ridge at the back where the fourth years hang out.  I
t’
s the nearest bit of land that has
n’
t been submerged. The boys thought it might be too risk
y–
there's a big drop.  But I do
n’
t know, I think i
t’
s worth a go
-
’

I could
n’
t believe what she was suggesting.  We were on the third floor.  The drop was huge, not to mention the raging torrent at the bottom.  And the ridge was hardly a place to head for.  It was covered in brambles and thorn bushes.  I wanted to do something for her, but there was no way I was leaping from a third floor window, to escape into god knows what. 

            
 ‘
If the boys do
n’
t think i
t’
s safe
,’
I said
,‘
I do
n’
t think we should try it
.
’

              My reluctance made her angry.

            
 ‘
But Molly needs me!  Don't let me down, Kate!  You've got to help me get out!'

              'Le
t’
s try phoning around again
,’
I suggested
.‘
I'll talk to my mum.  Or Gre
g’
s dad. 
I’
ll get Greg
-
’

            
 ‘
No
,’
she snapped.
 ‘
Do
n’
t tell Greg.  Or your mum.  Or anyone.  No one knows what
I’
ve done.  My mum'll kill me if she finds out.  And Greg, too.  If he discovers I left Molly on her own, that's it.  He'll dump me for good.  He already thinks I don't look out for her properly.  He said so the other day when we were arguing.  Promise me you won't say anything to him.'

'What's wrong with you?' I demanded. 

            I couldn't believe her selfishness, couldn't believe that she was determined to put her boyfrien
d’
s opinion of her before the welfare of her little sister.  What was it Byron had said, about people being selective with the truth?  Suddenly, it felt like the entire room was tangled with deceit.  I started to wonder who I could truly trust. 

'You say Molly's in trouble and needs you, but you're not prepared to put your neck on the line to help her!'

            Gemma started shushing me.

            'It's not my fault,' she hissed.  'I didn't know a flood was coming!  I didn't ask for this!  I just want things to go right with Greg. What's wrong with that? My life was
crap
until I met him.  He's the only good thing I've got.'

            Thanks.

I was just about to serve more of my dismay, when the room exploded with cheers.  Happy, bouncy whoops and cheers.  My heart leaped into my mouth.  Were they cheering because we about to be rescued? Was this it?

In the shadows, I saw Curtis and Leon leaping onto Byro
n’
s back, ruffling his hair and laughing.

            
 ‘
Boy done good
!’
said Curtis.

            
 ‘
So, so good
!’
added Leon.

            
 ‘
You da man, Byro
!
’

              And then I saw, in their hands, beers.  Beers and chocolate and bags of crisps.  Tha
t’
s what they were cheering about.  Alcohol and snacks. I did
n’
t know whether to laugh or cry.

Chapter Twenty One

              For the next hour, Byron was treated like some kind of demigod.  He claimed h
e’
d stumbled over the food and drink while looking for warm clothing in the supply cupboard.  He even showed us the bag it was in, a Hurst College PE sack.

            
 ‘
I knew she'd have a secret stash
,’
said Curtis.
 ‘
Naughty-naughty, Miss Nevis
.
’

              In a weird way, I was grateful.  Th
e‘
fin
d’
had a hugely uplifting effect.  Gemma and I left our argument behind. The mood brightened. Every mouthful, every sip felt reviving.  But to me, somehow, it all seemed a bit too
neat
.  I mean, one minute we were desperate and hungry and anxious, the next, we were rolling in beer and crisps. Something didn't feel right.  Something didn't fit.   I recalled how shifty Byron had seemed earlier when I'd caught him creeping round the pottery wheels, how he'd been shoving something into the corner.  Coincidence?

            He came towards me, chinked his beer bottle with mine.

'Feeling better, Kate?' he asked. 'You've got some colour in your face again. There's nothing quite like satisfying an empty stomach is there?'

'No.  I guess not. The beer's making me a little lightheaded though - '

'Right.  Yes, that's what it does.  Alcohol blurs clear thought.  Do you, er, do you drink alcohol often?'

'Not really. It depends who I'm with.'

'Is it fun?'

'Sometimes.'

I couldn't tell for certain, but it was as if Byron was trying to flirt with me. It was awkward. I kind of preferred it when he was being difficult.  Thankfully, we were interrupted by Curtis.  He clapped us on the shoulders. The drink had put him in a playful mood.

‘
Let's have a game,' he said.  'Truth or Dare.  For a laugh.  It'll pass the time.  Who wants to go first?
'
’

'You,' said Greg.  'Since it's your idea.'

'Well, I pick dare,
obviously
.'

Curtis proceeded to perform a list of silly tasks provided for him by Leon and Greg.  He stripped to his waist, stood in the squall beneath the broken window, and sang 'Singing' In The Rain' at the top of his voice.  Then he tried to ignite his own fart
. 
He revelled in the attention, the stupidity of it all.

'Who's next?' he said, as his energy finally flagged.  'What about you, Byro?'

Byron leaned back on his elbows, acted like he had
n’
t heard.

‘
What's it to be
?’
Curtis pestered.
 ‘
Truth?  Or
dare
?
’

‘
I do
n’
t know this game
,’
said Byron.  'I don't know how to play.  Count me out.'

Curtis laughed.
 ‘
No exemptions.  And the rules are simple.  We give you a choice, then depending on what you pick, we give you a challenge.  I
t’
s up to you.  Do you want to spill the beans or make a dick of yourself
?
’

‘
Who wins
?
’

‘
I
t’
s not a win/lose thing,' said Leon.

‘
In that case
,’
said Byron coolly
,‘
I pick truth
.
’

Leon and Curtis looked at each other.  Byron waited. 

‘
Okay, got one.  Your challenge is to tell us why you're here, why you're
really
here?'

'I told you already. I heard Miss Nevis was planning a mural and I wanted to help.'

He looked at me as he said this, like he was checking for my reaction.

Leon shook his head.

'Something tells me yo
u’
re leaving out a few significant details,' he said.

'Kissy-kissy, Miss Nevis,' goaded Curtis.

They fell about laughing.

'Maybe I could ask
you
a truth, Leon?' said Byron.

Leon shrugged.

'Be my guest.'

'How many girls have you had unprotected sex with in the last month?'

Leon squirmed.  So did I.

'None,' he said sharply, folding his arms, eyes hard on Byron.  'This is lame.  Someone give me a dare.'

            
 ‘
Kiss Katy,' said Curtis, with a wink. 

                         I should have known.  I buried my face and cringed. The alcohol was muddying my thoughts.  Did I trust Leon?  Or not?  Did I want to kiss him? The one thing I certainly knew was that I did
n’
t want to do it in front of everyone, in such a forced, artificial way.   It was childish, like we were fourteen again, playing spin-the-bottle in Gemm
a’
s mu
m’
s garage. Before I could argue, however, he crawled over, leaned towards me.  I could smell his skin, the wax in his hair.  Our eyes met.

'With tongues
,
’ said Curtis - this was sport to him.             

            
 ‘
You do
n’
t have to do anything you do
n’
t want to do
,’
Leon whispered.
 ‘
Not for Curti
s’
s amusement anyhow.  Let's just pretend.'

              We held our faces close.  My heart thumped like crazy. I wanted him to kiss me, SO MUCH, but at the same time, I was terrified.  In the end, I allowed him give me a tiny peck on the cheek then pulled away.             

            
 ‘
Cop out
!’
said Curtis.

But that was it.  That was as far as I was going. For now.

Once the buzz of Truth or Dare faded, Leon came up to me again.

'That
was
a cop out, you know
?
’ he whispered, eyes bright.

            
 ‘
Well, what were you expecting
?’
I replied
.‘
Full-on snogging?  Followed by a lap dance
?
’

              I blushed.  Then we both fell about laughing.  Despite Byron's warning, I knew I still fancied Leon like crazy.  I couldn't help myself.  He slipped his hands around my waist and the sensation made me soar.  I lay backwards, placed my head on his chest, felt like all my worries were melting.  It
had
to be good.  It
had
to be true.  Seconds later, Leon nodded over my shoulder.

            
 ‘
We've got company
,’
he said.

              I automatically assumed he meant Byron, then saw Gemma standing above us.  Her face was white and her eyes were startled, like she'd had a shock.  She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

‘
I - I - I - I
-
’

‘
Gem?  Wha
t’
s the matter
?
’

              I looked down at her hands.  I could see she was holding one of the phones, just about, because her fingers were trembling so much.  She beckoned me over, took me into a corner.  I figured she must have received some information about Molly.  Was it bad news?

             'What is it?' I begged.  'What's happened?'

            
 ‘
Just look
,’
she whimpered, pointing to the screen on the phone.
 ‘
You have to look
-
’