Case settled down, resting at my feet as I drank my way through the vodka. I’d almost finished by the time the housing shut up for the day, staying out of sight as they spilled out the place, suited up so fucking smart. Sophie was amongst them, laughing and smiling as she went. A group of them stopped at the pub down the road, Bay Leaf Inn. I watched her through the window; watched her talk, watched her smile.
She looked happy. Pretty. Just a normal woman on a Friday night, oblivious to the freak outside waiting for her. I picked about in the ashtrays, smoking a load of scabby leftovers. My tobacco was down to the crumbs, papers almost out too. I stuffed a couple of skanky fag ends in my pocket for later and left before she did, heading back across the street to watch her leave. It was dark by the time she came out, tottering on down to the tube station. I kept my distance, shushing Casey to stop fucking whining, while I followed her all the way. She got off at Canary Wharf. I’d heard about this place. The buildings were fucking crazy, tall glass space towers of fucking money. So, she was from here. Richer than I’d fucking thought, made of fucking money. The thought made me bitter and I closed the gap in a rage. She heard Casey before she heard me, spinning at the sound of her whining, only to find herself up against me as I grappled for her arms. She recoiled, shocked, squeaking as I yanked her down the side of the nearest building, dog jumping all around us as I smashed her into the wall.
She looked angry, angry and scared.
“What the hell are you doing here?!”
“Followed you,” I grunted.
“Followed me? Why?”
I shrugged. “Dunno.”
“Could have just answered your phone, or, I dunno, stopped fucking avoiding me.” Her mouth was so pretty when she was angry.
I gripped her cheeks in my fingers, squeezing her beautiful lips into a pout. “You should be careful, out on your own.”
“I don’t usually get followed. This isn’t East Veil, Callum.”
“This where you come from, rich girl?”
“I rent my apartment from my parents. Only lived here a couple of years.”
“Nice rich mammy and daddy looking out for their princess.”
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s not like that.”
“What’s a little rich girl like you doing round East Veil? Like a bit of rough, do ya? Need dirty rough cock in ya to feel good?”
She tried to shove me away but I didn’t budge. “You’re drunk.”
“So?”
“So, don’t be such an arsehole. I’m from money, big fucking deal. I have a nice apartment, whoopy fucking do, Callum.”
“Liked paying me for it?” I sneered. “Hope my cock was worth the money.”
She shoved me again, harder this time. “Is that what it was to you? A fucking job?”
“That’s what it was to you,” I snarled.
“Of course it fucking wasn’t. I was paying you for the shit with Roger, for your time.”
“Didn’t want it!” I thundered.
She stared at me in shock. “Why take it, then?” she snapped. “I was trying to be nice. If you were so fucking offended, why not say so?”
“Needed it,” I spat. “Needed your filthy money! Fuck you, rich girl!”
I walked away, scrabbling for one of those scabby fag ends and ignoring her attempts to call after me. I hadn’t gone far before I realised Case weren’t coming along. She was still with Sophie, getting her ears scratched. I stomped back to grab her, but Sophie wouldn’t send her away.
“You’re being a prick,” she said. “I’m not going to cower away from you, handling you with kid gloves. If something’s up then fucking say it, don’t just sulk off like a big fucking jerk.”
“Don’t like being bought.”
“I don’t like being ignored.”
“Both fucked then, ain’t we?”
She sighed. “Fucking looks that way.” She rolled her eyes. “I live over there. Why don’t we go inside, talk it out properly.”
“Talk?”
“Talk, fuck, whatever. Don’t worry, I won’t even offer you a coffee this time.”
I pressed up against her. “This ain’t no place for me, I don’t belong here.”
“Neither do I,” she said.
“Where do you belong, then?”
“Do you actually want to know? Seriously?”
I nodded. “Not taking no money again, though. Don’t want it.”
“This place doesn’t mean shit to me, it’s just a nice apartment, handy for work.” She reached for my hoodie, cold hands burying inside. “Meet me tomorrow, if you’re serious. No money this time, just because you want to.”