The thing about Kit, the thing that really makes her special to Dennis is her laugh. It's the way she throws her head back and lets out this cackle and sometimes she'll give a little snort. And Gog will always roll his eyes and tell her to act more like a girl and less like a beast and she'll just raise her eyebrows at him and brush it off. If you ask Dennis, which you probably didn't, she's wasting her time with Gog. What she deserves is someone who adores her laugh and who'll tell her a shit joke just so he can hear it.
It's hot on this particular day, and they're all lounging around at the local park. Gog's Staffy is running around, and Dennis is keeping a weary eye on it. He doesn't like dogs at the best of times, and especially not that one. He doesn't trust her. Deep down, he knows that she could turn and go for him at any time.
Not that Kit or Gog give a damn. They're too busy mucking around on the swings, practically eating each other's faces.
It makes him feel sick really, the way Gog's hands are roaming all over her, grabbing and groping like she's a fucking piece of meat and not a human being. Part of him hopes they fall off the swing just so that they'll stop.
Their public display of affection is interrupted by the sound of Kit's phone ringing. She climbs off Gog's lap to answer it, but he snatches it from her hands, scowling as he looks at the screen. "Who's Alex?" he asks.
"A mate. Give it back," she says, reaching for it. He holds it out and away from her. "Gog, I'm serious. Alex is a friend, give me back my phone."
"You shagging him?" he demands. He stands up, towering over her slightly. Dennis is on his feet now, ready to interrupt if he needs to.
Kit shoves Gog, her face screwing up in anger. "Alex is a girl, you idiot. Short for Alexis. Give me back the fucking phone," she snarls. She expects him to be surprised, to just let his guard down so he can grab it back, but all he does is scoff.
"You expect me to believe you? You think I don't know when you're lying to me? I can see it in your eyes."
"No, what you can see in my eyes is my growing annoyance. I'm reaching the end of my tether, now give me the phone!" she orders.
His eyes twinkle for a moment and Dennis watches as his fingers loosen and the phone drops to the tarmac. The ringing stops. Kit shoves Gog aside and grabs the phone, taking in the smashed screen. She rounds on him, her voice getting louder. "Did you think that was funny, eh? Did you think it was impressive? What, you want to see cool in front of your mate? You're pathetic! You're a stupid, jealous child! You don't like to share your toys, so you throw a tantrum!" she bellows.
Her face is growing red, her chest heaving. "Well, George, if you can't learn to play nicely, you don't get to play at all," she says coldly. "You're on a permanent time out." She turns on her heel and begins to storm away.
As she reaches the park gate, Gog calls to her, "What d'you mean by that?"
She looks over her shoulder. "I mean, we're over. Don't even bother trying to call me again, I've had enough of trying to appease you. Find someone else."
Right then, Dennis knows it's the beginning of the end of them. Gog spends the next couple of weeks trying to call her, to get her attention. When that doesn't work, he escalates. Spends ages banging on her front door until her mum finally calls the police.
When he gets out of the police station that night, he's fuming. Calling her all the names under the sun, her and her mother. Says he's going to get them back, but he needs Den's help. And of course Dennis follows him. A faithful foot soldier. He just doesn't know that getting them back means breaking into their flat and setting the fire which kills Kit's baby sister and sets him on his path to meeting Kev Allison.