Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Collection: The Schemer, The Trap, Payback. Kimberley Chambers

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      CHAPTER FIFTEEN

      Christmas came and went in its usual dreary Crouch fashion. Steph found being stuck indoors with nothing to do other than eat incredibly boring, and even though her mum had let her and Angela have a small glass of Liebfraumilch with their Christmas dinner this year, the only real highlight for Steph had been watching the hour-long edition of Top of the Pops. Her festive spirit had also been dampened more than usual because she was still at loggerheads with Barry. They’d had another massive argument on the phone on Christmas morning which had ended with Barry cutting her off in temper.

      Angela had now recovered from the trauma of having an abortion. She had been very weak for the first few days afterwards, but Stephanie had helped her pull the wool over their mother’s eyes and Angela now had a spring in her step once again.

      ‘I’m so excited. I’ve never been to a New Year’s Eve party before,’ Angela said, while carefully applying her mascara.

      ‘Will Jason’s parents be there?’ Steph asked, aware that it was Jason’s aunt’s party that her sister was attending.

      ‘Yeah. I ain’t met ’em yet, but Jason has told me to pretend I’m a Catholic if they ask. He said they might not like me otherwise. Jase reckons the party might be shit and he says if it is, me and him can sneak off somewhere else. Where you going tonight? You seeing Tam?’

      ‘Yeah, dunno what we’re doing yet though. We’ll probably just get some drink and sit over the park,’ Stephanie lied. She was actually going to a disco in the Church Elm pub and was really excited about it. She didn’t want to tell Angela, though, because Jacko was going with them and Steph knew that if she told her sister, it would only cause problems. They’d been getting along quite well lately and Stephanie didn’t want to do or say anything that might rock the boat.

      Angela stood up. ‘I’m gonna shoot now. Happy New Year for later, sis.’

      Stephanie grinned. ‘Yep. You too.’

      Wayne Jackman felt a million dollars as he stood outside the Church Elm pub with a cigarette in his hand. His nan and grandad had given him a hundred and fifty pounds for Christmas and he’d blown virtually the whole lot on clothes. Being a casual meant keeping up appearances and Wayne always took pride in himself.

      ‘Wow, you look well cool,’ Stephanie said, as she and Tammy approached Wayne arm in arm.

      ‘Don’t tell me, let me guess. Your trousers are Farahs, the jacket’s Lyle and Scott and that’s a Burberry scarf. Am I right?’ Tammy asked, trying to remember what motif was what.

      Wayne laughed. ‘Nearly. The scarf is Aquascutum, but you’re getting there. So, we ready to party or what? Me mate’s coming as well, but he can’t get here till half eight.’

      ‘What mate? You ain’t invited Potter or Cooksie, have ya?’ Stephanie asked, abruptly.

      ‘No! I hardly see them mugs any more. Danno’s coming. You know, Danny MacKenzie.’

      ‘Ain’t he the one whose party you was at when you found out my sister’s real age?’ Steph asked.

      ‘Yeah, but that don’t matter, does it? Danno’s cousin, Tanya, is the same year as your sister.’

      ‘Yeah, I know. My sister can’t fucking stand her, Jacko.’

      Wayne giggled and put an arm around Stephanie’s tense shoulders. ‘Calm down, girl.’

      By the time Danny MacKenzie arrived, Stephanie and Tammy were both well on their way to being sozzled. Danny was of medium height, had very broad shoulders, dark auburn hair, a few freckles on his nose and an extremely cheeky grin.

      ‘What can I get you to drink, ladies?’ he asked, fixing his gaze on Tammy.

      ‘They’ll have two ciders, but get ’em pints, ’cause it’s rammed up that bar and you can’t get served. Actually, let’s get two rounds in. I’ll come up there with you,’ Wayne replied.

      Stephanie waited until the lads were out of earshot, then turned to Tammy. ‘He fancies you, that Danno.’

      ‘No he don’t! He doesn’t even know me.’

      ‘Well, he wants to know you. I could tell by the way he was staring at you,’ Steph replied, giggling.

      Tammy punched her friend playfully on the arm. ‘You’re a fine one to talk, you are. Jacko well fancies you.’

      ‘Don’t be so bloody stupid. He’s Barry’s best mate. He’s just looking after me while Bal’s away, that’s all.’

      Tammy shook her head. ‘No, he ain’t mate. He’s well loved-up with you, and if you can’t see that you gotta be blind.’

      Two hours laters, Stephanie had to admit that her friend’s prediction might be right. Wayne hadn’t taken his eyes off her for the past half-hour and had just asked her to dance as the DJ slowed down the tempo.

      ‘Come on, have a dance with me. I bet Bazza’s out partying with that Sally and I put money on it he’d dance with her if she asked him,’ Wayne said, knowing that Sally was a sore subject. His feelings for Stephanie were far too strong to worry about betraying his childhood pal. He even kept reminding himself that he’d once saved Barry’s life to ease the odd twinge of guilt he occasionally felt.

      Stephanie glanced at Tammy and Danno. They seemed to be getting along famously and Steph was pleased for her friend as she rarely had any luck with boys. She turned back to Wayne. ‘Look at me, I look a right state in these jeans. I didn’t realize everyone would be done up to the nines. I can’t get up and dance like this.’

      Wayne stared intently into Steph’s eyes. ‘Yes, you can. You look beautiful, and jeans or no jeans, you still knock spots off any girl in here.’

      Stephanie averted her eyes from Wayne’s. She felt lightheaded and extremely confused. Even though she had been arguing with Barry lately, she was sure she still loved him, but she also knew she had started to develop feelings for Wayne. When the DJ played Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, Steph allowed Wayne to lead her onto the makeshift dance floor. When he wrapped his hands around her waist and then lowered them to her buttocks, Steph didn’t push him away. Instead she responded by nestling her head into his sweet-smelling neck, which reeked of aftershave. In a strange way, being this close to Wayne kind of reminded her of what she’d had with Barry.

      ‘When the slow dances stop, shall we go outside for a bit?’ Wayne whispered in Stephanie’s ear.

      Whether it was the amount of alcohol she had consumed or just lust taking over, Stephanie didn’t know, but she found herself agreeing. As their lips met for the very first time, Stephanie had no idea that she was being watched by an extremely interested spectator.

      Barry’s sister Chantelle had never been in the Church Elm pub before and she was absolutely livid at the scene that had just unfolded in front of her. ‘Fucking slag, I’m gonna glass her and that cunting Jacko,’ Chantelle screamed, as she slurped the rest of her Bacardi and lemonade and made to dart towards the door with the empty glass held above her head.

      Ajay, СКАЧАТЬ