Sugar Secrets…& Rivals Read online

  CHAPTER 16

  FROM BAD TO WORSE

  “So he just ran off?”

  “Yep, he didn’t say goodbye or anything. And he looked so hurt. I’m really sorry, Ollie. I didn’t know you hadn’t seen him. I just assumed everyone knew by now.”

  Kerry and Ollie were huddled in a corner of the End-of-the-Line café, away from Catrina, Matt and Maya, who were sitting at their usual table by the big bay window. Kerry was so mortified about telling Joe Ollie’s news before Ollie had had a chance to that she’d immediately gone to look for him to confess.

  “I think Joe was the only one who didn’t know.” Ollie replied. “Basically because he’s never been there when I’ve called on him. Or at least if he has, then he hasn’t answered the door.”

  Ollie registered the look of anguish on Kerry’s face and tried to think of something to say to make her feel better. “It’s not your fault, Kerry - you weren’t to know. I just wish he wasn’t being so elusive at the moment. He isn’t in any of the places you’d usually expect to find him. The band are rehearsing tomorrow night. I only hope he turns up.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he will.” Kerry brightened up at the thought. “Joe wouldn’t miss a rehearsal for the world.”

  “I know. They only happen once in a blue moon and he’s the keenest of the lot, so we’ll have to wait and see.” Ollie’s expression changed. “Oh, and I caught Cat on her own earlier and warned her not to say anything to anyone.”

  “And?”

  “And she said she had no intention of mentioning it. She was hoping to see Joe to apologise. Can you believe that?”

  “What? Cat apologise? Wonders never cease! It’s not like her to back down - she must feel really bad.”

  The pair broke off from their whispering as they spotted Anna coming back from the kitchen with Kerry’s order of fries for the group.

  “Hey, Ollie, why don’t you knock off for the night?” said Anna brightly. “I’ll finish up here. There’s not much left to do and I don’t suppose anyone else’ll come in now.”

  “Really, Anna? That’s great. Cheers.”

  Ollie whipped his blue and white striped pinny off and took the tray of food over to the others.

  “So, Ol, have you decided whether or not you’re buggering off round the world yet?” drawled Matt.

  “Nah, not yet. I’ve still got a lot of thinking to do.”

  “Christ, what is there to think about?” Catrina rasped. “I’d be off like a shot.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Matt added.

  I wish it was as simple as that. Ollie thought. He hadn’t told anyone that Elaine had talked about never coming home. He thought it would be better if he kept that bit to himself.

  “Well, I’d have to think long and hard,” Maya countered. “I’d really miss my family and friends.”

  “Yeah, but Ollie doesn’t have that problem,” Cat piped up. “He hasn’t got any friends.”

  Ollie was stopped from having to think of a bitchy reply by the ping! of the doorbell as Sonja came into the café.

  “Hi guys,” she said brightly. “I thought I might find you lot here.”

  “Hello stranger,” Matt replied. “Where’s your sidekick?”

  “Huh? Oh, you mean Tasha! She’s gone back to London. I’ve just been to the station actually. I gave her a hand with her luggage and stuff.”

  Sonja slumped on to the long seat next to Matt. “I thought I’d invite her back down for your party next weekend, Matt.”

  “You’ll have a job,” Ollie countered. “She goes to Japan on Wednesday.”

  “Wh-what do you mean?” asked Sonja, perplexed.

  “She’s off to Japan to work. She won’t be back for weeks.”

  “Oh!” Sonja was clearly taken aback. “So how come she didn’t mention that to me?”

  “Search me,” Ollie said. “She probably never thought about it.”

  “Oh. Right,” Sonja said in a distinctly huffy tone. “Well, that’s nice, isn’t it? There’s me, going out of my way to make her feel welcome round here, and she doesn’t have the decency to tell me she’s not going to be back in Winstead for ages. She could have at least told me. I thought we were friends.”

  Kerry was staggered by what she was hearing. The cheek of it, after all that Sonja had put her through recently! How shallow could she get? Kerry could feel the anger bubbling inside her. Very soon she was going to blow her top and tell Sonja exactly what she thought of her.

  Kerry began counting to ten… very slowly.

  As she got to six Sonja was still waffling on about how hurt she was by ‘Natasha’s’ (funny how she had suddenly become Natasha again) apparent oversight, especially when Sonja had planned so many things for them to do in the coming months. By the time she’d counted to nine, Kerry was livid.

  She stood up, heaved an exaggerated sigh and announced to anyone who wasn’t listening to Sonja prattle on, that she was leaving.

  This stopped the conversation dead in its tracks.

  “What?” Maya exclaimed. “But you haven’t finished your fries.”

  “I know.” Kerry spoke through gritted teeth. “But if I stay any longer I might say something I regret. I’ll see you around.”

  Kerry slid out of the banquette and headed for the door. Leaving a sea of baffled faces behind her, she stumbled out into the street and fled.

  “What’s up with her?” asked Sonja archly.

  “Come on, Sonja, wake up. What do you think that was about?” Ollie looked at her in sheer astonishment.

  “Huh? I dunno. You tell me.”

  “OK, I will. You’ve been an absolute cow to Kerry ever since Natasha came home. You’ve been acting like she didn’t exist.”

  “What? What are you talking about?” Sonja seemed genuinely surprised by Ollie’s outburst.

  Ollie shook his head in disbelief. She really didn’t have a clue.

  “You’ve spent practically every waking hour with Natasha and hardly said a word to Kez the whole time my bloody sister’s been around.”

  “I have not,” Sonja said, indignantly. “Kerry’s been out with us! We went to that dreadful club the other night.”

  “Yeah and that’s about the only place you have been with her,” snorted Ollie. “The rest of the time you’ve ignored her. At one point Kerry thought she must have done something to upset you. Like it was her fault.”

  “Well, if that’s all the thanks I get for looking after your sister, I won’t bother in future,” said Sonja snottily.

  “My sister is quite capable of looking after herself,” Ollie replied.

  “Ollie’s right. You have been ignoring Kerry recently,” Maya joined in. “I’ve noticed it myself.”

  “Oh, so you mean she’s been bitching about me behind my back rather than saying anything to my face. I see.” Sonja was even more indignant now.

  “No, that’s not it at all,” Maya carried on calmly. “Kerry hasn’t said a word to me - she didn’t need to - I worked it out for myself. Face facts. Son, you have been a little wrapped up in Natasha at the expense of your friendship with Kerry. Don’t you see it?”

  “Yeah, I’ve noticed it too,” Catrina added, although she hadn’t noticed it at all.

  “Oh, for God’s sake, don’t you start!” Sonja snapped, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m not staying here to be picked on by you lot. I’m going home.”

  Sonja shoved her way out of her seat and stomped out of the café.

  Smirking, Catrina lit a cigarette. “What a thrilling evening’s entertainment.” she said dryly.

  “I wonder who’s next for the dramatic exit?”

  CHAPTER 17

  OLLIE MAKES UP HIS MIND

  Kerry tapped gingerly on the back door of The Swan, not quite sure what she was doing there, but feeling as if she needed to see a friendly face. She was embarrassed by her outburst at the End and wanted to sound Ollie out to see what sort of reaction her rapid exit had caused.

  When Ollie’s mum answere
d the door, she told Kerry to go upstairs to the living room where, she said, he was on the phone.

  Kerry heard Ollie speaking as she approached the room from the long hallway.

  “…I know, but it just wouldn’t feel right,” he was saying gently. “I couldn’t go with you unless I was absolutely sure, and I’m not.”

  There was silence as the person he was speaking to took up the conversation.

  Then Kerry heard Ollie’s voice once again.

  “I’m really sorry, E. I just can’t do it. It is a brilliant opportunity, I realise that, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m so sorry.”

  Kerry was acutely embarrassed as she realised she was overhearing Ollie talking to Elaine, and it was quite apparent what they were talking about.

  “Yeah,” Ollie went on. “Do. Send me a postcard or two, won’t you? And I am envious of you; it’s just not the right time for me to go. Let’s meet up before you go to say goodbye…”

  Kerry thought about turning round and scarpering, but at that moment Ollie looked towards the door and saw her hovering in the corridor. He smiled and beckoned to her to come in. Moments later, he put the phone down.

  “I’m so sorry,” Kerry spluttered. “I didn’t realise you were on the phone - your mum sent me straight up. I, uh, overheard…”

  “That’s OK, Kez, I was going to call you as soon as I’d spoken to E anyway.”

  “So you’re not going then?”

  “No. It was tempting, but, well, I’ve got too much to lose around here, haven’t I?”

  “You have? Like what?” Kerry asked, frowning slightly.

  Ollie ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it back from his face and exposing his boyish features. “Well, uh, you know. Friends. You. I, uh, I’d miss the conversations we have, you know?”

  Kerry came over and gave Ollie a friendly hug. “I’m so pleased, Ol,” she said. “I was hoping you’d stay. I’d miss you, too.”

  “Geez, thanks,” Ollie replied, bashful for once in his life. He quickly changed the subject, filling Kerry in on events after she’d left the café, right down to Sonja’s quivering lip routine as she too flounced off.

  Kerry felt even worse.

  “So,” he continued, “has Sonja contacted you yet to say sorry?”

  Kerry shrugged her shoulders. “No, she hasn’t. I guess she doesn’t think she owes me an apology. I feel really silly about the way I stormed out. I can just imagine what the others were saying.”

  “Don’t,” Ollie scolded. “Don’t feel guilty. Just remember that Sonja’s made your life hell and she’s the one who owes you an apology. She’ll come round. Trust me.”

  Kerry nodded and smiled feebly.

  “I was gonna call on Joe again,” Ollie continued. “To remind him about the rehearsal. Why don’t you come too?”

  “Sure.” Kerry had intended seeing Joe to make amends for her gaffe in the street yesterday. Having Ollie there as back-up would make the task easier.

  They made their way outside and crossed the street to where Joe lived in a little terraced house with his mum. Ollie tapped on the door.

  No answer. He banged the door with his fist. Still no reply.

  “I’m getting used to this… I feel like I’m better friends with this door than I am with Joe these days,” said Ollie wryly.

  “What about his mum? Wasn’t she in at all?”

  “Only once. She said he’d told her he was going out with Matt that time, which I know wasn’t true.”

  “Did she seem worried about him?”

  “She did ask me a lot more questions than usual, like whether I’d seen much of Joe, whether I knew how things were at college, whether he seemed OK to me. I didn’t like to put the frighteners on her so I played dumb. Y’know. ‘Oh everything’s fine, Mrs Gladwin’.”

  “Hmmm, I guess that’s the best way or Joe’ll have her breathing down his neck,” nodded Kerry sympathetically. “I can’t imagine that would help much. Let’s just hope you see him tonight to get an idea of how he really is.”

  “Uh-huh. Are you coming?” Ollie asked. “We could do with an independent opinion.”

  “Sure, I’d love to.” Kerry smiled. “Beats sitting in front of the telly all night.”

  “Great. Well, I’d better head off for another hard shift at the office. I’ll see you later on.”

  “Yeah, and I really am pleased that you’re staying, Ollie. Winstead wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  Giving her his broadest grin and a cheery wave, Ollie turned and headed to the café. And Kerry set off back home a lot happier than when she’d left that morning. Maybe now that one part of her life was on the up, the rest would improve too.

  The sound of thrashing guitars and Ollie’s straining vocals coming from the room at the back of The Swan was pretty deafening, Kerry thought, as she walked up to the door and tugged it open.

  Inside on the low stage at the front of the room were three members of The Loud: Ollie (singer/songwriter/sax), Mick (guitar) and Rob (bass). There was no sign of Joe on drums, and even Kerry with her untrained ear could tell that the balance was all wrong.

  Sitting at a table at the far side of the stage was Cat and Mick’s new girlfriend/Barbie doll. Ally. Kerry didn’t feel the slightest tinge of envy seeing her there, which made her realise that she was completely over fancying Mick.

  Cat and Ally didn’t appear to be paying much attention to the band, as they chain-smoked cigarettes and shouted at each other in an attempt to be heard above the din.

  Kerry went over to join them, glancing at Ollie as she passed the stage. His face was scrunched up in a grimace as he sang and he looked really hacked off. This rehearsal obviously wasn’t going at all well.

  The song ended and Ollie jumped offstage and walked over to the girls.

  “I don’t suppose you play drums, do you, Kez?” he said grimly.

  “He’s not turned up yet then?” Kerry asked rather obviously.

  Ollie shook his head and took a gulp of orange juice from a pint glass. “We couldn’t wait any longer, but it sounds crap without drums.”

  “It doesn’t usually sound too good with them,” joked Catrina. Then, referring to the time she had wowed the crowd with an amazing Catwoman performance at a Loud gig, added, “Would you like me to come in and save the day for you again?”

  “Shut up, Cat,” Ollie said irritably.

  Just then the door crashed open and someone barged into the room.

  It was Joe.

  Ollie was delighted. “Great to see you, mate. We’re the pits without you!” he beamed.

  But his smile faded as he saw his friend storming towards him with a look of pure fury on his face.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Joe screamed, his hands clenched into tight, white-knuckled fists.

  “What?”

  “The least you could have done was tell me yourself,” Joe continued, his face inches from Ollie’s, his pupils so dilated it was impossible to see the natural colour of his eyes.

  At once Ollie worked out what Joe was on about.

  “Joe, I’m really sorry. I’ve been trying to catch you since…”

  “Cut the crap, Ollie,” Joe spat, cutting him off mid-sentence. “I trusted you. I thought we were friends…”

  “We are, Joe,” Ollie tried to reason. But Joe wasn’t listening.

  “Well, you know what you can do?” he continued, swaying slightly as he spoke. “You can stuff your friendship and stuff your stupid band. I can do without friends like you.”

  Joe turned around and headed for the door. Ollie made to go after him.

  “No, Ollie, let me go.” Catrina got up quickly from her chair.

  “You?” Kerry spluttered incredulously. “Why would he listen to you of all people?”

  “Trust me,” Catrina said briskly over her shoulder. “I know what I’m doing.”

  Ollie stood back and let her pass.

  “Ollie?” Kerry cried, looking at him as if he was barmy. �
�What’s happening?”

  “It’s OK, Kerry. Leave her.”

  Kerry watched open-mouthed as Catrina disappeared out of the door. What the hell was going on?

  CHAPTER 18

  CAT COMES CLEAN

  Catrina found Joe sitting on a wooden bench a little way down the road from the pub. She sat down at the other end of the seat. Joe didn’t move, didn’t turn to see who it was. He just stared into the last of the evening sunlight, wrapped up in his own thoughts.

  Catrina knew what she wanted to say - she had it all planned out. The question was, would Joe listen or would he tell her to get lost?

  There was only one way to find out. Cat took out her cigarettes, lit one up, then spoke.

  “I’m not going to sit here and lecture you, Joe, but I know what you’ve been up to and I guess I want to help…”

  “Oh, yeah? And why would you of all people want to do that?” Joe muttered angrily.

  “Well, because I’ve seen it all before. And I’ve seen what booze can do to someone. And believe me, it’s not nice to watch someone fall apart because of it.”

  “And what makes you think I’m falling apart?”

  “Come on, Joe, it’s obvious to anyone who knows you that you’ve been acting pretty strange recently. I- I needed to say something before it’s too late.”

  “Why? What do you care?” Joe’s voice was hard, and he didn’t let himself look at Catrina.

  “I don’t want to watch you go the same way as I’ve seen other drunks go, namely into the gutter…”

  “And since when have you been such an expert on the subject?” Joe sneered. “What do you know about it?”

  Catrina drew on her cigarette and thought for a moment, struggling to find a way to say what she knew Joe had to hear. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke.

  “I know plenty actually. I lost my dad to alcohol.”

  Joe turned to look at Catrina. He stared at her intently for what seemed like ages. His brain was trying to remember what he knew of Catrina’s family.

  As far as he could remember, her dad had run off a few years ago. That meant Cat was lying and not for the first time. Joe gave her a scornful look.

  “No you didn’t” he scoffed. “He left you. Dumped on you and your mum and scarpered.”