The Game, page 25
Tina had never been into powders, but even she could see that there was something funny about this one. They all reckoned it was too clean to get hooked on, but they definitely were hooked. Why else would they spend so much time talking about it, doing it, trying to get money for more? But they wouldn’t admit that – not even to themselves, it seemed.
Mary had laughed in Tina’s face when she’d tried to warn her, telling her to chill out before she turned into Jane. And if that hadn’t been insulting enough, Jock had agreed, saying it was just a bit of fun – and why didn’t she want him to enjoy himself ?
That had stung because she’d gone quite soft on Jock.
Soft enough to carry on seeing him after she stopped hanging out with Mary, but not soft enough to be fooled by his assurances that he could stop the coke any time he liked.
She wanted to believe him, she really did, but she was sure he would prove himself wrong.
And that happened much sooner than Tina had anticipated.
Jock came round to visit – with Stan in tow, as usual. Letting himself in with the key that Tina had given him, he barrelled into the living room, bringing a blast of chill air with him.
‘Colder than a butcher’s bollock out there,’ he declared, leaning down to give her a kiss.
‘Sit by the fire,’ Tina told him, putting her crossword book down. ‘I’ll make a brew.’
Getting up, she waddled into the kitchen leaving them to take their coats off and make themselves comfortable. She tutted softly when she heard Stan switching the TV on. She’d been enjoying the quiet, but Stan couldn’t bear it. He’d watch The Teletubbies rather than sit in peaceful silence. Still, much as he irritated her at times, she’d rather have him here if it meant Jock spending less time at Mary’s.
After pouring the water into the teapot when the kettle had boiled, Tina opened the fridge and saw that she had no milk. Knowing it was pointless asking either of the men to go, she went into the hall and pulled her coat on, calling over her shoulder, ‘Won’t be long, I’m just nipping to the shop.’
The instant the door closed behind her, Jock leapt up from his seat and rushed to the window. Easing the curtain back, he smiled when he saw the woman from three doors down come out of her gate and walk down the road with Tina.
‘She’s yakking to that bint from number seventeen,’ he said. ‘She’ll be ages.’
Rubbing his hands together, Stan got up, took a small paper bag from his pocket and waved it at Jock. ‘Come on, then, fat man . . . Let’s go test the merchandise!’
Giggling, they ran upstairs like a couple of naughty schoolboys, not giving a shit about the noise they were making as their thunderous footsteps shook the small house to its foundations.
In the bathroom, Jock slid the bolt across and sat down on the floor. There was no blind at the window and the last thing they needed was for the nosy next-door neighbour to see them and report back to Tina. She’d forbidden them to do anything stronger than weed in her house and would have a complete shit-fit if she knew they were doing this.
It wasn’t that Jock was scared of her, or anything, he just didn’t want her to ban him from the bedroom. She was the first bird he’d ever met who didn’t mind him bouncing up and down on her. Not like thin birds, who made out like you were killing them if you took more than five seconds to come.
Sitting beside him, Stan opened the bag and took out the small glass pipe that they’d bought at one of the head shops in Affleck’s Palace that afternoon. Holding it up, he gazed at it as if it were the most wondrous sight he’d ever seen.
‘Oh, that is mint,’ he said, slotting his greasy fringe behind his ears and sucking on the mouthpiece. ‘Well smooth.’
‘Yeah, well, get something in it and quit dry-humping,’ Jock told him irritably. ‘We haven’t got all night.’
‘All right baldy, keep your hair on.’
‘Oh, har-de-fuckin’-har!’
Sniggering, Stan took from his pocket the rocks they’d scored from Dave on their way over and loaded one into the bowl of the pipe. Ordinarily, they’d have done it at Dave’s place, but he’d been in a bit of a rush to get them out tonight, for some unknown reason. Sparking the lighter, Stan held the flame up and grinned.
‘I hereby christen this pipe Rocket Man.’
‘Stop arsing about and get on with it,’ Jock complained.
‘Cool down,’ Stan drawled. ‘You know you should never rush a virgin.’ Taking his sweet time, he brought the pipe to his lips and lowered the flame into the bowl. ‘Oh, Keriist!’ he exclaimed, sucking up the smoke, his grin a mile wide now. ‘That is fuckin’ hot, man!’
‘Hand it over.’ Jock impatiently reached for the pipe. Sucking wetly on it, he didn’t hear the front door clicking shut down below.
Anna from number seventeen had only gone as far as the corner, so Tina had got the milk and come straight back. Hanging up her coat now, she popped her head around the living-room door en route to the kitchen. Frowning when she saw that the TV was playing to an empty room, she wandered all the way in and stood with her hands on her hips, cursing Jock and Stan for letting her go to all that trouble if they hadn’t intended to stay – the bastards!
Mid-curse, her eyes narrowed when she spotted their coats still slung over the back of the couch. Annoyance turning to suspicion, she put the milk down on the coffee table and crept silently back out into the hall and up the stairs.
Listening at the bathroom door, Tina’s suspicions were confirmed when she heard them talking in hushed tones inside.
‘Hurry up and give us another go, man,’ Stan was saying. ‘She’ll be back in a minute.’
‘She’ll still be yakking,’ Jock replied confidently. ‘Anyhow, we’ll hear the door. Pass us the lighter.’
Inflamed, Tina yanked the handle down and shoulder-barged the ineffectual bolt off.
Jock and Stan gaped up at her guiltily, the only light in the room coming from the moonlight bouncing off Jock’s head – and the flame of the lighter that he was holding to the bowl of the pipe.
Glaring at them, Tina didn’t know if she was more angry or upset. He’d promised never to do this in her house, but the minute her back was turned he was at it. And not just coke now, but crack.
‘Right, that’s it!’ she yelled, her whole body quivering with rage. ‘Get out of my fucking house and don’t ever come back!’
‘Aw, come on, babe,’ Jock drawled, giving her his best cuddly-caveman grin. ‘It’s only a bit of—’
‘Don’t you dare say fun!’ Rushing across the room, Tina snatched the pipe from his hand and hurled it at the wall. ‘Since when have you been doing fuckin’ rock, you dickhead?’
‘Christ, Tina!’ Stan protested, leaping to his feet. ‘Chill out, will you! That was half mine, that pipe. I fuckin’ paid for that!’
Balling her hands into fists, Tina spun around and threw a punch at him.
Ducking just in time, Stan scooted past her onto the landing, yelling, ‘You fuckin’ mad bitch! No wonder he needs to get off his head all the time. You’re enough to turn a man queer, you!’
‘Get OUUUT!’ she roared, thundering after him as he fled down the stairs. ‘I’ll fuckin’ kill you, you little puff!’
‘Tina, don’t!’ Running after her, Jock caught up with her at the door and put his arms around her, trying to calm her down. ‘Look, there’s no need for this, babe. If you hadn’t come back so fast you’d never have known, so where’s the harm?’
Using all of her strength to shove him out to join Stan in the garden, Tina said, ‘You’ve done this before, haven’t you? In my house! After everything I said . . . After promising you wouldn’t.’
‘Aw, come on,’ Jock wheedled, trying the special grin again. ‘We’ve only done it a couple of times. Anyway, you like it when I’ve had a bit of coke. You said it yourself – it keeps me up. What does it matter where I do it?’
‘Coke might keep you up,’ she countered angrily. ‘But crack just sends you fuckin’ loopy, and you know that as well as I do, so don’t even bother arguing. And don’t think I’ll forgive you for going behind my back, ’cos I won’t. You’ve blown it – good style!’
Slamming the door in his face, Tina leaned her back against it and covered her ears when Jock knocked and pleaded for a second chance. Painful as it was to end it like this, she couldn’t let him make a fool of her. And that’s what he was doing, she could see that now. All the time he’d been coming round here, agreeing with her that Kenny was a cunt, that Dave was a shit, that Mary was an idiot . . . All the time, he’d been laughing at her. Stupid Tina who objected to what he was doing but still let him get his end away. Well, no more! Enough was enough.
Exhaling wearily when Jock finally gave up and went, taking a grumbling Stan with him, she got their coats and tossed them onto the small patch of garden. Pulling her own coat back on then, she went out, double-locking the door behind her. She hadn’t given Jock the key for the mortise, and she would get the Yale changed tomorrow to stop him paying any unscheduled visits.
Right now, she needed a friend to moan to and, since Jane was out of the picture, that only left Mary. She hadn’t seen her in weeks, but she was sure Mary wouldn’t turn her away.
Tina got a shock when Mary answered the door. The difference in her appearance was startling. She’d lost a lot of weight, for one thing, but it was what she was wearing that was most shocking. Her skirt was so short that it barely covered her knickers, and her top was so low-cut that her nipples seemed to be the only things holding it up. And her make-up was far more obvious than usual – her eyes darkly outlined, her lips a deep, glossy red. She looked like a whore.
Frowning when she saw who it was, Mary said, ‘All right, Tee. What’s up?’
‘I need a moan,’ Tina said, frowning when she had to squeeze past her friend to get through the door. ‘What’s up with you? Aren’t I welcome any more, or something?’
‘Course,’ Mary lied, going through to the living room. ‘It’s just that I’m about to go out.’
‘Well, I’d put some proper clothes on if I was you, ’cos it’s bloody freezing out there,’ Tina warned, following her. ‘What are you all tarted up for, anyway?’
Before Mary had a chance to answer, Dave came through from the kitchen with Kenny in tow.
‘Mind your own business,’ he told Tina sharply. ‘What d’y’ want? We’re busy.’
‘I’ve come to see her, not you,’ Tina retorted huffily. Then, turning to Mary, she said, ‘What you letting him do your talking for? Since when have I had to go through him to talk to my best mate?’
Shrugging her jacket on, Mary frowned. ‘Look, you’ll have to leave this for another time, Tee. Like I said, we’re on our way out.’
Tina’s trouble antenna was beginning to twitch like a newly slaughtered lamb. Narrowing her eyes, she said, ‘Where?’
‘Didn’t I just tell you to keep your fucking fat nose out?’ Dave snapped, stepping between them and glaring at her.
‘All right, Dave,’ Mary cut in peevishly. ‘I have got a tongue of me own, you know.’
‘Oi!’ Kenny barked at her. ‘Less of the lip. Let’s get moving.’
Turning on him, Mary scowled. ‘What you sticking up for him for? I thought you were on my side.’
‘Get a grip,’ Dave snorted. ‘He don’t care what I do. Ain’t you figured that out yet?’
‘Oh, fuck off, you wanker!’
‘Wanna say that again, do you?’ Sneering contemptuously, Dave thrust his face into hers. ‘Come on, I dare you.’
‘Shut it, the pair of you!’ Kenny cast a warning glance in Tina’s direction.
Staring at the three of them with open suspicion, Tina said, ‘What the hell’s going on here? Why are you talking to her like that? You don’t own her.’
Whipping around, Dave brought both hands up and slammed them into her chest.
‘Fuck off, you fat cunt. And don’t come back.’
‘Keep your bleedin’ hands to yourself,’ Tina warned, stumbling as he propelled her backwards from the room. Catching Mary’s glance over his shoulder, she said, ‘You gonna let him treat me like this?’
Turning her head, Mary folded her arms.
Mouth gaping in disbelief, Tina brought her arms up and whacked Dave’s hands out of the way.
‘Right, what’s the game?’ she demanded, her tone as fierce as the look in her eyes. ‘And don’t tell me it’s nowt, ’cos I can see something funny’s going on.’
Smiling nastily, Dave reached behind her and pulled the front door open, saying in a low, mean voice, ‘She don’t want you here, that’s what. And I sure as hell don’t, so why don’t you just piss off back to your little shit-pit and leave us alone, eh?’
‘I’m going nowhere till you tell me what’s going on.’ Tina stood her ground. ‘If you’re hurting her, I’ll—’
‘He’s not.’ Coming up behind Dave, Mary jerked her chin up proudly. ‘I’ve moved on, Tee, that’s all. I’m fine, so why don’t you do yourself a favour and go, eh? You’re only winding yourself up for nothing.’
‘You don’t look fine,’ Tina contradicted her worriedly. ‘What they doing to you, Mare?’
Stepping around Mary and Dave, Kenny shoved Tina out onto the communal landing.
‘I think you’ve outstayed your welcome, don’t you?’ he snarled, towering over her menacingly. ‘Now, have a bit of respect and fuck off, ’cos they don’t want you here. Got it?’
‘Yeah, I’ve got it,’ Tina muttered, casting a betrayed glance at Mary who was too busy chewing her nails to notice.
‘Bye-bye, then.’ Smirking nastily, Kenny waved her towards the stairwell.
Giving him one last reproachful glare, Tina turned and made her way down the stairs.
Outside, she stepped into the shadows of the bin cupboard and lit a cigarette, surprised to see that her hands were shaking. It took a lot to rattle her but that had been weird, and she was more concerned for Mary than ever. Whatever was going on in that flat, Mary was in danger and Tina wouldn’t rest until she knew the score.
Hearing the main entrance door opening a couple of minutes later, she ground the cigarette butt out with her heel and pressed herself back against the wall. Listening as Mary and Kenny came out and began to walk away, she waited a few moments, then followed them at a distance.
Hiding behind a wall when Mary and Kenny stopped at the park gates on Alexandra Road, she watched as three girls ran across to join them. As if a light had been switched on in her mind, Tina suddenly knew exactly what was happening.
The stupid bitch was back on the game!
Disgusted, disappointed – saddened – she gave up her surveillance and walked home. There was no point confronting Mary about it. She had obviously chosen to do this, and nothing Tina or anyone else said would make the slightest bit of difference.
Pausing at her gate, Tina saw that Jock and Stan’s coats had gone. Wondering if they’d come back for them, or if they’d been nicked, she felt an extra layer of sadness settle upon her heart.
It was over . . . Her and Jock . . . Her and Mary. She was right back to where she’d started – nobody left to cling to but herself.
Sighing, she made her way inside the solitary little house, hung up her coat, sat down and picked up her crossword book.
PART FOUR
29
Dressing for the party, Jane looked herself over in the mirror and smiled. She’d never have dreamed of wearing a hippie dress in her previous life, but Mimi had persuaded her to buy this one – and she was glad now that she had. Long, black and slimming, it had a lovely embroidered bodice and floaty sleeves. It really suited her, and she felt good wearing it. In fact, she felt pretty good about herself altogether. Hanging about with genuinely nice people, who complimented her for her strengths but didn’t take the piss about her weaknesses, had boosted her self-esteem no end. She was almost back to her old self – and that was fantastic after the misery of the previous year.
Pulling her jacket on when she’d done her make-up and brushed her hair, she headed out and made her way around the landing with a light heart. Mike’s parties were great. Every offbeat, oddball weirdo in Hulme turned up, bringing booze, weed, and all manner of musical instruments for the night-long jam-and-hash session.
In some ways, it was just like any normal day at Mike’s place, but there was an added excitement when the word ‘party’ was attached, and the flat – which normally had six or seven people in it at any given time – would be chock-full of old friends, new friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends . . .
Jane felt privileged to be one of Mike’s everyday friends, along with Pete, Mimi, Jonas and Kim – and their glued-on mate, Genghis: a tiny, shrivelled-up, reformed alkie, who had a beaming toothless grin and the kindest eyes Jane had ever seen.
She loved them all as if they were family – even Donkey, the peculiar little dog that had attached itself to Mike at one of the peace camps he’d visited over the years. Convinced he was as human as the rest of them, Donkey smiled when he was happy and sulked when he was sad – and he even knocked on the door when he wanted to get back in after a toilet trip. He was a cool dog.
Trotting down the stairs to Mike’s floor a few minutes later, Jane’s smile dropped when she heard the distinctive swish and rumble of roller skates on concrete. Oh, great! Roy the skating speed-freak. Just what she needed – not!
Of everyone she’d met since falling out with Mary and getting to know Mike and the others, Roy was the only one that she truly disliked. He was mad as a hatter, and really creepy-looking with his jet-black hair and coal-black eyes. Forever prattling on about demons and aliens and assorted spiritual matters that – according to him – only he was privy to, he also had an annoying habit of bursting through the front door and roller skating around Mike’s uncarpeted front room for hours on end – which pissed everyone off, not least Mike.
