The Last Charm. Ella Allbright

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       Jake

       November 2007

       The Car Charm & The Sea Charm

      ‘Holy Fuck, what the hell?’ Jake stomps his trainer on the brake pedal, the BMW juddering to a stop.

      Whipping his head round, he glares between the head rests, a green car filling his rear-view window. He yanks the handbrake on and leaps out of the door. Racing to the rear end of what he sees now is an old VW Beetle, he slaps an open palm against the back window. ‘Stop. Stop moving, for God’s sake.’

      The car halts and the driver’s window is rolled down, a blonde head emerging. The hair is so pale it’s almost silver. ‘Huh?’ Turning her head, she flinches, ‘Oh, Jake. It’s you.’

      Jake’s heart jolts in his chest. Leila. He figured she’d have gone to college in town to study art by now. The last time they’d seen each other was eighteen months before, when she’d dragged him from the sea. After he’d made an idiot of himself laying into her friend, and she’d accused him of being like his dad. Not his finest hour, but he’d been embarrassed and, to his shame, his pride had got in the way of manners.

      The shock of seeing her now unexpectedly, unprepared for the emotions it causes, adds to his anger. ‘Yep, it’s me.’ His voice rises, a slight northern lilt coating it. ‘And don’t play the innocent. You backed into my car and were trying to drive off. We need to exchange insurance details. Also, it looks like the bumpers are caught on each other, so you’re only doing more damage trying to pull them apart.’

      ‘Okay, calm down.’ Her head disappears, and she rolls the window up. She clambers from the car as he comes around the front bonnet of the VW to meet her. ‘Actually, you backed into me. The spaces are opposite each other and there’s no right of way, but I started reversing first—’

      ‘I don’t think so, Jones,’ he drawls.

      Her eyes narrow. ‘Don’t patronise me, Jake, and don’t be an arse.’ Her tone is mild, but the comment stings. ‘Oh no, I’d better be careful in case you think I’m being a feminist again.’ She raises both eyebrows, more confident than before. ‘And how was I supposed to know the bumpers were caught on each other? I don’t have Supergirl’s x-ray vision.’

      ‘That’s a shame, because if you did, it might improve your driving skills. I clearly had the right of way because contrary to what you think, I was reversing first. I checked my mirror twice.’ But even as he says it, he knows he was distracted by the visit to his friend Owen, by all the things that’ve changed but not changed while he’s been away.

      Inhaling deeply through her nose, which is sporting a tiny diamond stud these days, she draws herself up to her full height – which is still a good few inches below his chin – before steadily releasing the air from her mouth. If he had to guess, he’d say she was praying for patience. ‘Well, the insurance companies can argue it out.’ She nods. ‘The main thing is no one got hurt.’

      ‘Until I get home,’ Jake mutters.

      ‘Huh?’

      ‘Nothing. Don’t worry about it.’ It’s not her fault his dad’s how he is. Still, at least now he’s the same size as his father.

      He studies Leila. She’s short and slender, although the grey fake fur jacket with black jeans and ankle boots bulks her out. There are three earrings in her left lobe. A star, a moon, and a garnet. ‘Nice outfit,’ he says.

      ‘Right.’ She blinks. ‘Are you trying to be funny?’

      ‘Excuse me?’

      ‘About my outfit,’ she replies coolly. ‘Last summer you were pretty clear that my body should be covered up.’

      He barks out a laugh. ‘You misunderstood me. I thought the wet T-shirt suited you.’ She’d been gorgeous that night, all big dark eyes and pale, moonlit skin.

      ‘Oh.’ She steps back, a frown pulling her eyebrows together. ‘Oh,’ she says in an odd tone, blushing.

      Now her pale hair rests on her shoulders, the tips dyed lilac. It’s just like her to do something different, something outside the mainstream, but with her blonde eyebrows, light complexion, and petal-patterned grey irises, the overall effect is curiously bland. She needs a brighter colour. He always thinks of her as so vivid. Plus, he can’t believe she cut her hair. It was so amazing.

      ‘Jake?’ She’s watching him, cheeks reddening further as he stares at her. When she brushes her hair back from her face with a small graceful hand, tucking it behind one ear, the scent of strawberries fills the air. He also notices charcoal smudges on her index finger and thumb, and is glad she still draws.

      Feeling self-conscious, he rubs a finger over his scar and forces a twisted smile. ‘Sorry. I was just thinking. You’ve cut all your hair off.’

      ‘Not all of it. But yeah, I needed a change.’ She gazes at his face, ‘Your scar’s a bit more pronounced than it used to be, because you’re so tanned.’

      ‘And?’ he queries, self-conscious and wishing she hadn’t brought attention to it.

      She frowns. ‘Nothing. It’s very Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s quirky, and you know I don’t have a problem with quirky.’ Holding her arms out to point at her outfit.

      In the distance, a high-pitched bell lets out three sharp shrills. ‘Oh, shit. I need to get to class.’ She throws a panicky look at the redbrick buildings behind them. ‘We should sort the cars out. Do you want me to try and drive forward again or—?’

      ‘No. Let’s take a proper look first.’ Striding to the back of her car, he leans over to inspect where it’s attached to the rear end of his.

      As Jake is running his hands along the hooked bumpers, a member of school staff appears, shooing away all the gossiping students scattered across the car park. ‘Haven’t you all got lessons to get to? Come on, clear off, the bell’s gone,’ he barks. ‘Are you both all right?’ he asks, marching over to them. ‘Do I need to call an ambulance or inform the police?’

      Jake shakes his head. ‘It’s under control. Give me five minutes and it’ll be sorted.’ Glancing up, he straightens to full height. ‘Bloody hell. Mr Strickland.’ He pauses, then adds, ‘I thought you’d be retired by now.’

      Leila snorts, before turning it into a cough.

      ‘How do you—’ The teacher’s eyes squint as he concentrates. ‘Jake Harding. I remember you.’

      ‘Yes, СКАЧАТЬ