It Always Rains in November Read online

  “Where have you been, man? It’s fucking cold standing out here waiting for you. And why is your phone off?” Michael complained.

  “Yeah, sorry, mate. Couldn’t get a signal and the fucking bus took ages. You were inside though at least. Hi, Faye. Alright, Charlotte? Are we all going to the college?”

  “They kicked us out after 10 minutes coz we had no roubles. We’ve been stood out here since.”

  Nathan wasn’t too concerned about Michael moaning. He turned his back on him and put his arm round Faye. She smiled. Faye was alright with him. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans and a PVC jacket. Hooped earrings that might have fitted over her head, but she was class. Kelly was chav class, but Faye was proper chung.

  “Hi, babe. You took time. Those two were well pissed off.”

  “You know what I was doin’, Faye? Looking in a shop to buy you some perfume. Too much cash though. Otherwise, babes, could’ve made your day.”

  “You’re so sweet.” She squeezed his arm but then pulled up short. Reality check. She knew Nathan. “Wait a sec. You sure you weren’t in bed until about ten minutes ago?”

  Charlotte had lit up. She offered the other three a smoke. “What are you even doing here? You don’t go to school. What’s the point of you giving me pneumonia?”

  “Innit. She’s spot on, Nath.”

  “I’ve come for my girl. I’m gonna get her the best college course.”

  The other three laughed. “Blood, you’re such a knob.”

  * * *

  The two teenage couples arrived at Redhill college. The girls went to the toilet together, leaving Nathan with his first opportunity to discuss his victorious expedition.

  “Michael, I did it today, five times, with Kel! Doggy style and everythin.’ That’s why my phone was off all morning.”

  He expected Michael to be impressed, but was destined to be disappointed.

  “Fuckin’ hell, Nath, what about Faye?”

  “What about Faye? She won’t do it. I couldn’t wait any more.”

  “She’s your girlfriend, man. And Char’s best mate.”

  “This ain’t about you and Char.”

  Michael made no attempt to hide a look of pure contempt.

  “No, it’s you and you can’t help yourself can you Nath? Stupid thing is they all fall for it. Even my kid sister still fancies you.”

  Bolstered by success Michael’s comment only served to further inflate Nathan’s ego.

  “Give her a year or two and little sister slack might get lucky.”

  Michael was not amused.

  “No, mate, you go near her and I will fucking kill you. And I ain’t joking.”

  “You’re making out I’m a male nympho and I’m not. I...”

  “OK,” Michael reasoned. “Why don’t you lock it with Faye and go out with Kelly then?”

  “Kelly’s OK. She’s fit but she’s a bit, you know, a …”

  “You mean she’s a slapper. You need...”

  “No, she ain’t a slapper, bruv...”

  “What, five times on a first date? Ain’t exactly bashful either.”

  Nathan felt compelled to defend Kelly’s honour.

  “Wasn’t that easy, mate, I had to...”

  “Fuck off, Nath, you gashed and dashed. She’s too gobby, she’ll tell the school. And Char will tell Faye.”

  That shocked Nathan.

  “Char won’t tell Faye if you…”

  “Like you said, this ain’t about me and Char. If Char finds out from Kel, which you know she will coz those two are mates, she’ll be pissed with me for keeping it quiet.”

  “Mate, don’t…”

  Nathan stopped mid-sentence because the girls were on their way back from the toilet. Faye took Nathan’s arm in hers, “looked like you two were having a serious one on one. Anything I should know about?”

  Nathan recovered his composure.

  “No, course not. I was arguing with Slack about who’ll be better off when I get a job and he’s at college.”

  “And you decided?”

  “Me, of course. I’m going to be getting £4.78 an hour. I’ll be able to spend money on you while he’s still skint.”

  Faye gripped Nathan’s arm tighter.

  “You’d spend your earnings on me? That’s so sweet.”

  “Yeah, well, condoms are expensive, y’know.”

  “How would you know?”

  “I’ve been checking them out…” then seeing her face change “…for when you are ready, of course.”

  Faye smiled. They pecked each other on the lips. Nathan knew that Faye did not want to be pushed for sex and, as long as he had Kel available he would tolerate the difficult situation. He had the best of both girls. Whilst they walked arm in arm around the college, Nathan began thinking about his dad. All the cheating, lying and womanising that his mum accused his dad of. Was he the same? Shit, he was just having fun, being a boy. If he was married, he wouldn’t be like this. Nah, he wasn’t like his dad. If he had kids, he’d be different. Never leave a kid.

  * * *

  College open days attract many local year 11s. For Nathan, going out with two year eleven girls, who shared some of the same friends, this was a risk. Nathan knew Kelly was not going out that evening and although a girl can change her mind after being treated like a whore, she did not see her future in academia. However, Kelly’s friends, Kim and Becky, were both checking out the college.

  In a crowded classroom it is very easy not to be noticed, but Nathan was being the attentive boyfriend. He failed to see Kim and Becky turn around when they recognised the voice asking questions on Faye’s behalf.

  * * *

  Later, Nathan walked Faye home. She lived in a semi posh house and had never invited him in. After three months together, Nathan still had not met her parents. A relief. The pair spent five minutes lipsin outside her house and said ‘laters’ and ‘love you’ to each other. He made a visit to her top floor – no biggie for him, even though he guesstimated 36C was a good handful – but as usual she wouldn’t let him use her downstairs bog. If it weren’t for Kelly, his Mach 3 sub machine laser would have exploded.

  He liked Faye. She was sweet and laughed at his jokes, but she was smart too. She would get at least 3 GCSEs, more than him and all his mates put together. Probably go to Uni. But she needed to realise that it’s the noughties, not the eighties. She’s fifteen, should be putting out by now. Nathan finished lipsin – needed to breathe anyway.

  “Babe, I’ll see you tomorrow. Our three month anniversary,” he murmured.

  She began to walk up the front path. He watched her arse go. A mix of lust and annoyance that she was keeping that tightly packed treasure under lock and key. Then, the swerved ball he had thrown her began to take effect. A Ronaldo free kick, bending her mind, focusing on three sexless months, and she ran back to him. His focus switched to her tits. But it was her mind he was interested in, specifically the changing of it. She grabbed his right arm.

  “Nathan, babe. You’ve been so sweet today. I know I’ve kept you...”

  “You want me to buy those condoms?”

  Faye squirmed. “Well, I wouldn’t have put...”

  Nathan kept calm. Two fit girls, now both putting out. Don’t blow it now. “Faye, I don’t want to rush you into any...”

  “No, it’s cool. It’s good. Me and you. I’ve got to go. See you tomorrow.” With her smart words and even smarter body parts, she began running back to her semi posh family.

  “Should I...?” He wanted to be certain, so he shouted after her.

  “Yes. Go for it.”

  He hadn’t won the game, but he’d scored a brilliant goal. One night being bored at college, definitely a price worth paying. A Ronaldo celebration was needed. Nathan clenched both fists and looked to the sky. But he was controlled. No shouting so near her house. He ran down the road, and once out of hearing, whooped and hollered like a good old manipulator.
>
  As he stood waiting for the bus, he received a text.

  “Soz 4 b4. Lv U. C U tmz. Kel xxxx”

  Kelly had forgiven him for running out on her. That was good, but he had to make a decision. Was he going to risk losing Faye, who he liked better, for Kelly, who he liked but not as much, but could have loads of sex with? And now the Kelly bonus was being reduced, as Faye was up for sex. Faye would lock it if she knew he was cheating on her. And Kelly had a shit life. She didn’t need someone else treating her like sheep crap. On the other hand, two girls, double bubble. Maybe three in a bed sex. No, Faye wouldn’t go for it. OK, decision time. He wasn’t going to dump Faye so Kelly was number two. But she was a good number two. Sex had been great. What if Faye was frigid? No – she couldn’t be – not with that figure. Still, locking it with Kel, a big risk. And why piss her off? She might be more likely to dob him in if he locked it with her.

  Nathan stood waiting for the night bus and re-reading Kelly’s message several times before he replied.

  “No probs. CU tmz. Same time n place. Lv U. Nath xxxx”

  Decision made.

  Chapter 18

  Monday November 8th – Carly’s evening

  After school finished, Carly escaped with Jacquie and Bethany. Although it was cold and none of the girls had coats on, they created warmth by running out of the school. Kicking the fallen leaves at each other as they ran, Carly was reminded of the fun she’d had at the zoo a few days before. Jacquie and Beth were her BFFs but they weren’t her real best friends. Her Mum and Gemma would never have told Shane that she fancied him.

  Smoking and restricting physical exercise to lifting their make-up bags, meant that they stopped running as soon as the school walls were behind them. Once they were static, Carly was keen to relate the story of her post fight meeting with Mr Philips and Miss Payne.

  “I was like, if you want to suspend me, then do it, but that Anna is a bitch and she had it coming.”

  Jacquie raised her eyes and her voice in mild but genuine awe.

  “You said that to Payne-in-the-arse, bet she went mad.”

  “She would have done but Mr Philips was there. He was, like, ‘Carly I understand, things might not be easy for you. With your mum and dad split up’ You know what he’s like. Always Mr Cool Dude. ”

  “What did you say to that?” It was Bethany this time.

  “I was like, ‘Yes sir. It is hard, that’s why I get angry sometimes. But I will try not to in future.’ And he let me off. I’m suspended for three days from Wednesday to the end of this week and that’s it. Oh yeah, I have to say sorry to bitch Anna’s parents. I’ll be like, ‘Sorry that your daughter is such an ugly stupid bitch’.”

  Jacquie and Bethany both laughed. Then Bethany saw the BMW parked 80 yards up the road, and the woman standing beside it, gesticulating in the direction of the girls.

  “Thome woman’s calling us. Over there. Drethed like a businethwoman.”

  Jacquie peered in the direction indicated.

  “Isn’t that your mum’s flash car? That is her isn’t it?”

  Carly spun round, surprised to see her mum, who had never been to her senior school.

  “I’ll see you both later.”

  Carly sprinted over to Maria’s car, they had parted on bad terms last night but Carly was glad of the opportunity to resurrect a more positive mother daughter relationship.

  “I finished work early and I wanted to see you,” Maria said with a smile. “Grandma collected Gemma from school, so I thought me and you could go for a coffee.”

  “Sounds good, Mum.”

  Carly settled on the plush dead animal seat. As her mum drove, Carly told her about the fight with Anna. A fight that she now regretted…no big deal…everybody disliked Anna…had it coming to her…teachers were not that annoyed…but procedure needs to be followed. When she finished her story, Carly was disappointed that her Mum did not respond beyond a “Mm” and “I see.” Marie continued focusing on the road ahead. Carly wanted some focus. She explained that Mr Philips would be phoning soon.

  “He wants you and dad to come up to school and discuss my behaviour.”

  “OK.”

  “That’s it? OK? Nothing else to say?”

  “What? Oh, sorry love. Look we’re here. This place is OK. It’s a bit crass but makes good coffee.”

  Marie parked her baby and both unbuckled.

  “I don’t like coffee, Mum. Why are we here?”

  “I...OK, where do you want to go?”

  Carly pondered for a moment.

  “I want to see your new home.”

  “It’s not home. It’s a Travelodge.”

  “You asked me where I wanted to go. I’ve told you. I don’t want coffee here.”

  Marie strapped herself in and restarted the engine.

  “I’m going to have to drive to the Travelodge, then drive you home, then back to Grandma’s for Gemma and then back to the Travelodge.”

  Carly raised her eyes.

  “You asked. I’ve answered.”

  The rest of the drive was without conversation. Marie put the radio on and, instead of Kiss FM, Carly had to suffer Absolute Radio. Marie was shaking her head as she drove. Carly knew she was thinking what a selfish daughter she’d spawned. Bet she didn’t realise how close to the egg she was. Never listening, or showing any interest. Obsessed with her career, her BMW, her clothes. Carly was pleased her Mum was having to do all that driving. About time she put herself out.

  * * *

  “This is it, we’re here. Happy, now?”

  Carly didn’t answer. They were at the Travelodge car park. The only space available meant a walk in the pouring rain. They got out the car and Carly followed her mother. This was going to be another shit row. Carly was contemplating knocking the afternoon on its back and asking Marie to take her home in the poshmobile. Her Mum must have been thinking the same because she paused and turned around.

  “Carly, why are we always like this? I’m sorry, love. I didn’t meet you so as we’d argue, I...”

  “Mum, it...”

  “I know I keep screwing up, but...”

  “Mum...”

  “I just want to do the right...”

  “MUM! Shut up a minute. I want to see your place.”

  They walked through the reception area and up the stairs to Marie and Gemma’s room. Carly couldn’t believe where her mum was living. At Gary’s, Marie had two wardrobes, 30 pairs of shoes and there were photos of her and Gemma, and two toilets. The house was busy and buzzing and even Gary made the place home. Now she was in a blank room with a brown bed. That was all. Her Mum was living in a nothing place.

  “Where’s your clothes? And shoes? And all Gemma’s toys?”

  Maria shrugged.

  “What did you expect? It’s a Travelodge.”

  Carly looked round, wrinkling her nose.

  “I thought it’d be like on TV. When, like, they have hotels. Hotel Babylon, Mary Kate & Ashley.”

  Marie could see the funny side of her temporary fall from opulence.

  “At least it isn’t Fawlty Towers.”

  “Faulty what?”

  “Before your time,” Marie sighed. “Never mind. It’s a bed for me and Gemma until we sort ourselves out.”

  “I’ll bet she hates it.”

  “It’s an adventure for her.”

  “I’d hate it. No TV, no internet, no space. You have to share.”

  “It’s a few days, that’s all.”

  “The bed’s comfy at least. I...”

  “We can stay here or eat over there.”

  “The Little Chef? Sounds good.”

  They were soon sat in the restaurant, enjoying all day breakfasts. The sole waitress was about twenty and had her lip pierced. Carly thought she looked cool, and made a mental note to ask for a piercing for her fourteenth birthday. The waitress wasn’t the most enthusiastic worker. Three other tables hadn’
t been cleared and the carpet under a nearby high chair was decorated with rejected food. After serving up their breakfasts, Lip Ring was on her mobile most of the time.

  There were no other customers, and sat at a table for two at the far end of the restaurant, mum and daughter were able to talk freely. They started innocently enough.

  “Your birthday is on Friday, Carly. What do you want?”

  “A laptop would be sweet. I wouldn’t have to keep borrowing Dad’s or working on the old PC that you...”

  “Your dad’s never upgraded? Mean old bugger.”

  “He doesn’t earn as much as you do, Mum, but he lets me use his laptop.”

  “OK, I’ll get you a new laptop – I’ll come round after work on Friday and bring it then. Are you doing anything special for the big day?”

  Carly shovelled a forkful of sausage into her mouth.

  “No, Mum, I’ll probably have a sleepover with Jacq and Beth and on Saturday we might be goin’ Guildford for swim...”

  Marie didn’t respond. She could be such an ignorant cow sometimes. Being ignored pissed Carly off, but she was determined to keep the atmosphere smooth.

  “Mum,” she probed, “what are you thinking about, another birthday present for me?”

  Marie took a sharp intake of breath before replying.

  “Look, Carly, I need to tell... It’s about...”

  “If you’re stuck for ideas, I’ll have a widescreen...”

  “You were right yesterday, about me and Gary and Gemma. I got it all wrong. Trying to take revenge on him and all that spite is stupid, when Gemma is going to be caught in the middle. I’ve cancelled the PI and I’ve spoken to Gary. I’ve told him that things aren’t working out and that we need to talk.”

  Carly looked at her mum, catching bugs. Marie had listened to her and decided she was right. How good was that?

  “How did he take it?”

  Marie’s lips formed into a rueful smile.

  “Told me I’d lose my deposit.”

  “Gary said that? What did he mean?”

  “Not Gary. The PI. Gary wasn’t too bothered. Why would he be? Just been too cock shit to make the first move himself. He’s a wan...It’s best we split up now.”