Sugar Secrets…& Rivals Read online

  “Modelling. Guys. You know, the usual stuff. I’ve invited her to come out with us tomorrow night. That’ll be cool, won’t it?”

  It most certainly will not be cool, Kerry thought, as feelings of insecurity and resentment surged up. Why did Sonja suddenly want to go around with someone who’s only in town once in a blue moon? And someone she’d never had much to do with for all those years when Natasha did live at home? Why the sudden girlfriends act?

  Kerry realised she was as jealous as hell, but she didn’t have the guts to say anything about it.

  “Yeah, sure, that’d be great,” she lied. “Anyway, I must go, I can hear Lewis messing about upstairs. I’ll see you tomorrow. But ring me if Ollie knows anything about Joe.”

  “Yep, I’m on my way. See you.”

  Kerry put the phone down and resolved not to spend the rest of the evening getting worked up about Sonja and Natasha’s new friendship. After all, there was no real reason to be so bothered…

  Was there?

  Joe woke up with a mouth like the Gobi Desert and a raging thirst. The inside of his head was exploding at two-second intervals. He was lying face down on top of his duvet and he had absolutely no idea how he’d got there.

  He turned over and squinted at the Mickey Mouse clock on his wall. It said 7.30. Whether this was am or pm, Joe didn’t know. It was daylight outside, but at this time of year that didn’t mean a thing.

  Hauling himself into a sitting position, Joe noticed that he was still fully clothed - he even had his dealer boots on. His upper body was wet through, for some reason, and he stank. Of what he wasn’t sure, but it was a deeply unpleasant smell. It reminded him of walking through a dark alleyway that’s been well used as a toilet.

  Joe couldn’t think why he smelt like that. He had little recollection of anything much at all, though it was obvious he’d been on another bender. His encounter with Catrina on Sunday hadn’t helped his state of mind, but deep down Joe knew this was just an excuse. He’d been unhappy for ages. Years probably.

  The worst thing was, he didn’t know why he was so down on life. OK, so he was useless with girls, he had a complex about his looks, he was an oddball who didn’t fit in, he often felt lonely, but was that really enough?

  Joe often wondered if he was one of those people destined never to be happy, but he couldn’t bear the thought of going through life in a sort of permanent depressed haze. He’d realised a while ago that if he drank himself stupid, he could forget for just a few hours.

  The clash with Catrina had sent him from feeling reasonably confident about himself to the depths of despair. That was why he had gone out boozing on his own last night. And then…?

  Well, he’d woken up in his bed with wet clothes on, feeling as if he’d been hit by a convoy of army trucks.

  The thing that was worrying him most was how he’d got back home. Had he got here under his own steam or not? More importantly, had his mum seen him in such an obvious state and, if so, how livid was she going to be on a scale of one to ten when he emerged from his room?

  Joe’s mum was very protective of her son and extremely involved. Ever since his father had left home to live with another woman four years ago, Susie Gladwin had focused all her love and attention on her only child to suffocation point. Joe felt as if he was under scrutiny at all hours of the day and night.

  His mum liked to take him shopping or go to the cinema with him. She’d probably even come to college with him if he let her. And when he did go out on his own, she wanted to know where he was going, who he was going with and what he was up to.

  If she so much as smelt alcohol on his breath, she wanted to know how much he’d had, whether he was drunk (and if so, why) and whether he’d been ‘getting up to any nonsense’ with girls (if only!). Much as he loved his mum, he did wish she’d give him a bit more space.

  Joe got out of bed very slowly and deliberately so as not to upset the balance of his fragile body. Last night wasn’t the first time he’d been out of his head, but he’d never before felt so completely clueless about what had happened. Suddenly he felt out of control and it scared him.

  As he got changed he concentrated hard, again trying to remember what had happened last night.

  The only face he could recollect was Matt’s. Where did he fit in?

  Suddenly, Joe’s stomach heaved with an awful sensation of queasiness. Dashing to the bathroom, he practically threw himself through the door. With his head stuck down the toilet, Joe had a vivid sense of déjà vu. He suddenly recalled being in Matt’s garden… feeling very wet… throwing up.

  With a great effort he focused his brain a little more and gradually began filling in the gaps…

  CHAPTER 7

  TWO’S COMPANY…

  “And she thought I’d make a brilliant model, said I had the right figure and face and everything]” Sonja stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room and studied her figure with appreciation.

  “Natasha was convinced I’d be snapped up straight away if I went for it,” she continued. “Isn’t that great?”

  Kerry lowered the magnified mirror she had been using to peer critically at her face. “It’s sickeningly great,” she replied, a touch of bitterness in her voice. “What did God think he was doing when he dished out people’s looks?”

  Sonja spun round to face her friend, a mystified look on her face. She wasn’t entirely sure what Kerry was going on about.

  “I mean, look at you,” Kerry went on. “There you are, tall, tanned and gorgeous. Perfect figure, looks to die for, nice teeth, shiny hair. You eat like a pig and stay stick thin. Then there’s me…”

  Kerry leapt up from the bed and stood in front of the mirror next to Sonja.

  “Just look at it,” she grumbled, stretching her arms out wide in despair. “Short, lumpy, fat thighs, huge arse, no boobs, hair I can’t do a bloody thing with, blind as a bat. Complete stinking failure, actually!”

  Sonja stared wide-eyed at her friend, astonished by the intensity of her unexpected outburst. Kerry was obviously having a Bad Hair Day, or suffering from PMT, or something.

  “Don’t be silly, Kez,” she clucked, soothingly. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about - you’re really attractive.”

  “Yeah, compared to a pig, perhaps!” Kerry took off her glasses and squinted into the mirror. A blurry blob with frizzy hair squinted back. “Mind you, not even pigs have got eyesight as bad as mine,” she sighed dramatically.

  “For God’s sake, stop whingeing,” Sonja chided. “I mean, it could be worse - you could look like Cat.” She chuckled a little. “Now, as I was saying, Tasha was really encouraging. She said I had great bone structure, perfect for being a model. What do you think?”

  “I think Natasha is absolutely right, you’d make a great model,” Kerry said magnanimously. “If that’s what you really want to do, then you should go for it.”

  “Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t, at least not in the long term.”

  “So why are you going on about it?” Kerry demanded a little irritably.

  “I’m not! I just wanted your opinion, that’s all. But if you’re in such a foul mood I won’t bother…”

  Sonja gave Kerry a withering look which immediately made her friend wish she’d kept her mouth shut. Of course Sonja was right - she was in a foul mood and had been since she’d got to Sonja’s house two hours ago.

  They often met up at each other’s homes to get ready for a night out together (mostly at Sonja’s because she had more space). They usually had a couple of drinks while they got changed, experimented with different clothes, listened to CDs and generally got into the party mood.

  But tonight, ever since Kerry had arrived, all Sonja had done was go on and on about blasted Natasha and what a ‘laugh’ they’d had the previous evening. She hadn’t even thought to ask how Kerry was, what sort of day she’d had or anything remotely to do with anyone else.

  And when Kerry had tried to change the subjec
t and ask if there was any news about Joe, Sonja admitted that she and Natasha had been having such a great time at the café, she’d completely forgotten to call on Ollie. They’d even gone to the pictures together and caught the later showing of the film she was supposed to have seen with Matt.

  “Ooh, come on, hurry up,” Sonja announced looking at her watch. “I told Tasha we’d meet her at eight. Mustn’t be late.”

  No, we couldn’t possibly be late for Tasha, Kerry thought bitterly. It wouldn’t do to keep poor Tasha waiting, would it? Never mind that I’ve spent hours of my life waiting for Sonja to turn up because she’s hardly ever on time. Oh no, suddenly we must all break our backs just because it’s ruddy Natasha!

  Kerry deliberately took her time finishing her nails; she had already decided that this was going to be a really bad night out.

  Sonja grabbed her bag from the dresser, opened the door and waved at Kerry to follow her, which she dutifully did. The girls then made the short walk to the bar where they had arranged to meet Natasha.

  As she walked through the door, Kerry half expected to see Matt or Catrina or one of the others. But tonight there were only the faces of people she barely knew. Oh, and Natasha sitting on a bar stool already being chatted up by a suave-looking older guy in a posh suit and tie.

  Catching the girls’ eyes as they walked in, Natasha pulled a ‘help me’ face over the guy’s shoulder. Immediately taking the initiative, Sonja strode over to where they were sitting and touched Natasha’s bare thigh.

  “Sorry I’m late, darling,” she cooed, “I got held up. I hope no one’s been hassling you.” She leant over and kissed Natasha on the lips.

  The guy at the bar’s eyes nearly popped out of his head while Kerry hung back in the doorway, deeply embarrassed by Sonja’s spot of acting.

  “Uh, no,” Natasha replied, immediately cottoning on. “This is John. John - meet my girlfriend.”

  Crimson-faced, the poor guy was already beginning to beat a hasty retreat. Once he was out of sight, the duo collapsed in hysterics and the tone of the evening was set.

  As Kerry had expected, it was the start of a rotten night playing second fiddle to the Sonja and Natasha show. And even though she couldn’t find any particular reason to hate Ollie’s sister, the fact that she and Sonja seemed to have such a good time together was enough to make Kerry retreat into a shell of unease in their company. The fact that they didn’t even seem to notice that Kerry was there didn’t improve the situation.

  Half-way through the evening Natasha suggested they go to a club called Henry’s.

  “I used to go there all the time when I lived at home,” she beamed. “I know Henry and he used to let me in even though I was only fourteen. He thought I was much older, tarted up in make-up and heels and little dresses. It was such a hoot! The music’s great and there’s always tasty guys there. C’mon, what do you say?”

  Kerry didn’t know what to say. Henry’s had always looked a bit sleazy to her from the outside and she’d never had any desire to go in there at all.

  “Oh wow, yeah, great! Let’s go!” Sonja hollered before Kerry could think of a way to wriggle out of it.

  Without bothering to find out what Kerry wanted to do, Natasha and Sonja left the bar and began heading up the street towards Henry’s. Reluctantly, Kerry tagged along behind.

  As soon as they got inside the club, Kerry’s heart sank even further. The place had changed hands several times since Natasha had last been there and with dingy lighting, faded soft furnishings and floors that your feet stuck to as you walked, it looked as if it had seen better times.

  Still, there was a dance floor and music - and that was all the girls needed really.

  Sonja and Natasha immediately made a beeline for the dance floor and began grooving wildly to an obscure 70s track. In no mood to join them, Kerry found a seat on the edge of the dance floor, wishing she was at home with a cup of hot chocolate and a Friends video.

  She had no idea that she was being watched.

  CHAPTER 8

  … AND THREE’S A CROWD

  Joe stood in a dimly-lit corner of the bar at Henry’s and took in Kerry’s every move. It didn’t take much working out to realise that she was incredibly uncomfortable sitting there.

  And no wonder, he thought. What the heck is she doing in a dump like this?

  Joe had been coming to Henry’s off and on for several weeks. It was an open-house kind of establishment where you could drink for twenty-four hours a day if that was what you wanted. He had been flabbergasted when he’d seen the girls walk in.

  The only reason Joe came here was because it was so seedy it was unlikely that anyone he knew would ever set foot in the place. And that meant that his secret was less likely to be discovered.

  But now? Now he would have to leave before he was spotted.

  But Joe didn’t want to go. The sight of Kerry looking so pretty, so lonely and so out of place made him long to walk up to her, talk to her - dance with her even.

  But he knew he would never have the nerve to do any of those things. She would laugh in his face - any girl would.

  No one in their right mind would want to dance with someone who (as Catrina had so rightly pointed out) was boring, dull, had no life and appalling dress sense.

  Joe knocked back his drink, slid down from his stool and stumbled from the club.

  This is awful, thought Kerry as she peered into the blackness around her, trying to make out what sort of place Henry’s was. Her eyes scanned the dingily-lit room.

  Apart from the dance floor and the six or seven people on it, there didn’t appear to be much other life in the place.

  There were a couple of scruffy-looking guys sitting at a table in one corner, and a few blokes at the bar, but apart from that, no one.

  What on earth was she doing in such a dump? Kerry’s mood became blacker by the second.

  The thing that angered her more than the fact that she was in a dirty little dive that stank of stale beer and toilets, was that Sonja and Natasha were obviously having such a great time. They had barely said a word to Kerry all evening - they’d just danced and laughed and whispered together like a couple of silly schoolgirls. God, they were infuriating!

  Kerry looked at her watch. Only 11.30 pm. Maybe she should say she felt sick, then she could call a cab and leave the party animals to it. The idea appealed enormously.

  Just as she was about try and get Sonja’s attention, Natasha came bounding off the dance floor.

  “God, this place is crap!” Natasha laughed as she plonked herself down opposite Kerry.

  “What do you mean?” Kerry frowned. “I thought you were having a good time?”

  “Oh, I am. I’m having a brilliant time,” Natasha explained. “I haven’t had such a good laugh in ages. But this place is just so grim. Have you noticed the kind of weirdos that are in here?”

  “No other type, is there? Anyway, where’s Sonja gone?”

  “To find the loo.” Natasha looked around the dingy room. “Y’know, this place used to be dripping with fit guys. I can’t believe it’s gone downhill like this. I’m really sorry to have dragged you both here.”

  “Don’t worry - it’s been an experience, I guess. And at least we’ll know not to come here again.”

  Kerry smiled at Natasha and felt a little guilty about the negative thoughts she’d been harbouring.

  Natasha actually seemed to be a very nice person. If she had a bone to pick with anyone, it should be Sonja since it was she who was being so completely insensitive to Kerry’s feelings.

  Or was Sonja just being typically Sonja - boisterous and flighty and out for a good time with anyone who cared to come along? Maybe Kerry was just being oversensitive…

  Kerry was coming to the conclusion that perhaps she wouldn’t pretend to be ill after all. Perhaps she ought to just throw herself into the evening and have a good time. Sort of, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

  Just then Sonja came back.

>   “You won’t believe what just happened,” she gabbled excitedly. “That guy over there just asked me if I wanted something to make me feel good…”

  “What? What did he mean?” Kerry was confused.

  “Drugs?” asked Natasha, cottoning on immediately.

  “I guess so,” Sonja replied, looking at Natasha, goggle-eyed. “I told him I felt good enough without them, thank you very much, which I don’t think he appreciated.”

  Natasha giggled into the back of her hand while Kerry frowned. Now she knew this place was the pits. To have total strangers come up to you and offer you drugs was awful. This club obviously attracted just the sort of people Kerry didn’t want to be mixing with. She got up from her seat.

  “Right, that’s it, I’m going,” she announced determinedly. “I’m not staying in this dump a second longer.”

  Natasha stood up too. “yeah, I think you’re right,” she said. “Anyway, there’s not one fit guy here so I guess we’re wasting our time. Do you fancy going on somewhere else?”

  “No way!” Kerry groaned, at the same time as Sonja squealed “Yeaaah!”

  Hearing Kerry’s objection, Sonja added, “Oh come on, Kez, don’t be such a bore! We could go to that new club that’s opened down by the bus station. You know - Enigma. It’s supposed to be the place to go now.”

  Kerry was incensed.

  How dare Sonja call her a bore! If anyone was boring it was her.

  At least Kerry didn’t spend her entire life thinking only about herself. Now that was boring and as far as she was concerned, it was one of Sonja’s worst traits. Along with the insensitivity, brashness and the fact that she was a completely disloyal, flighty, fickle, fly-by-night friend.

  Kerry stopped short of voicing her opinions. Instead, she counted to ten and gave a strained little smile in Sonja’s direction.

  “I really think I’m going to go home,” she said calmly, “however boring that may be. Why don’t I walk with you to the taxi rank, then I’ll get a cab and you two can go on and have a good time? I really don’t feel up to going anywhere else now. I’m whacked. And I’m sure you’ll have a much better time without me.”