In a little while Leticia comes to join them. She is wearing a plain grey T-shirt, ripped jeans and a surly expression. Her hair is gelled to spikes around her head.
She is a big, butch girl.
‘How’s it going, Let,’ Lana greets.
Leticia grunts moodily.
Suddenly, an image of Leticia tied spread eagle on her bed with a chocolate bar stuck between her legs pops into Lana’s head. Lana presses her lips together to hide her amusement.
Leticia turns towards Billie. ‘You told her, didn’t you?’
she accuses.
Unfazed, Billie takes another small section of Lana’s hair and carefully coils it around the curling iron. ‘Be thankful I didn’t tell her what I did to you last night,’ she says, and crusty, cross Leticia squirms.
When they are ready, the girls walk over to Tom’s place.
It is such a warm evening they don’t even need coats.
The music is loud and there are many people there, but Billie is always the centre of any party and gets pulled to the middle of the dance floor. When Lana’s mobile rings she almost does not hear it. She looks at the screen. It is only ten o’clock and it is Blake.
‘Hey,’ she says, but it is very loud and almost impossible to hear him. ‘Wait one moment,’ she tells him and fights her way out of the crowd. ‘Hi, what’s up?’
‘Nothing. My party was rather flat, so I left. Can I come join you, after all?’
‘Of course.’ Suddenly her heart feels light and happy.
He wants her company.
She is sitting on the stairs waiting for him when he arrives.
‘Where’s Peter?’
‘Sent him home.’
He locks his car and walks up to her. ‘What are you doing sitting here?’
‘Waiting for you.’
He turns to look at a group of youths. They are swearing loudly and holding beer cans. ‘It looks dangerous.’
She laughs. ‘I grew up here. I know those guys.
They’re Tom’s mates. If you want to score some coke, they’re the ones to go to.’
‘You don’t take drugs, do you?’
She laughs again. ‘No,’ she says, and he thinks how very fetching she looks.
He sits beside her, and takes a curly lock of hair in his hand. ‘What’s this?’
‘Billie did it. It’s not permanent.’
His hands move to the white shorts. ‘And this?’
‘I can hardly wear the fancy dresses you bought me here. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.’ She looks at him.
He looks good enough to eat. A soft breeze teases his hair.
She has a desire to flirt with him. ‘Don’t you like it, then?’
He looks at her expressionlessly. A master of disguise.
‘What do you think?’
‘I think yes.’
‘Go to the top of the class, Miss Bloom.’
She laughs.
He watches her. ‘I don’t think I have ever seen you laugh.’
‘And?’
‘I like it.’
She laughs. ‘Good. Let’s go find you a drink.’
‘Is my car safe there?’
‘It’s not Detroit, you know.’
He jerks his head at the group of youths with the beer cans. ‘Are you sure?’
She looks around and further away notices Kensington standing with a group of boys watching them. She points her thumb over her shoulder. ‘See that boy in the green baseball cap? If you give him a ride he’ll watch your car for you.’
Blake looks over at the boy.
‘That black boy?’
‘Be careful, you might reveal your hand as not being an equal opportunities employer.’
Blake crooks a finger at the boy. Kensington doesn’t need any further encouragement. He jumps on his bike and tucking his head into his shoulders races towards Blake. He screeches to a stop dangerously close to Blake’s feet.‘Oi! Watch it,’ Lana warns.
‘What’s your name?’#p#分页标题#e#
‘Kensington Parish.’
‘Want to watch my car for me, Kensington?’
‘Yeah,’ Kensington agrees enthusiastically. He looks at the car admiringly. ‘This car was made by God, man.’
‘Here’s fifty.’
Kensington’s eyes sparkle. ‘Fifty quid?’
His thin hand reaches out for it, but Blake pulls his hand back slightly. ‘If I come back and find the car exactly as I left it then there’s another fifty for you.’
Kensington’s face splits into a huge grin. ‘Thanks, Mister,’ he says and snatches the note. Unceremoniously, he drops his bicycle on the ground and hops lightly onto the bonnet of the car.
‘You’re generous,’ Lana says.
‘Not at all. A single scratch can cost thousands to repair.’