Chapter 1 - Adult Colouring
In Trevor Royle's universe there are rules. These rules may not be written down anywhere, but they exist and he will live and die by them. Rule number one, never show weakness. Ever. Rule number two, never get caught and if you do get caught make sure you have a good lawyer. Rule number three, mere petty revenge is for lesser mortals, anyone that does Trevor wrong will be bringing down ten times the trouble back onto themselves.
Today had not been going well, his major rule had been smashed to pieces. Again. He had broken down in front of Sienna Blake. What was wrong with him? She showed him a bit of sympathy and suddenly he was rolling over like Brutus to have his belly tickled. He was actually sitting here and talking about his feelings, his worries. To Sienna. How was it so easy to talk to Sienna about his internal pain, and why was talking to Grace like pulling teeth?
Trevor Royle knew for sure that girls like Sienna Blake didn't look twice at oiks like him, unless they were in the market for a cheap thrill and a bit of rough. Sienna was too much. Too much of everything. Too posh, with her perfect enunciation and superior attitude. Too beautiful, she was an ice queen, pretty primness personified. Too crazy... The village pariah with her chequered history of wicked deeds like runway lights all leading to this moment. She walked around Hollyoaks village as if she owned the place, impervious to her critics and always immaculate. Well, he guessed craziness was a great leveller and probably the only thing they had in common right now. He'd sneered at Sienna's antics, in a disinterested way, whenever the village gossip had reached his ears. Of course, the headmaster's daughter could be as evil as she liked. She had her clipped vowels and an influential daddy to keep her out of jail. She'd even managed to connive her way out of the psychiatric unit. If he'd been caught doing the things she'd done they'd have thrown away the key. That neck tattoo and his whole demeanour weren't apt to strike sympathy with a jury or a judge.
How had it come to this? A few chats, significant looks, unguarded moments. Colouring books! Bloody colouring books of all things. She had managed to get him sitting like a prat with a colouring book and felt tips colouring pretty flowers in gaudy hues. Yes, it had made him forget his worries, for a short time at least. He had let Sienna into his world, under his skin. Little snatched conversations and text messages, more at stake with every moment spent creeping around hiding the so-called friendship from Grace. The time for pretending that he and Sienna were just friends had passed. He knew it was inevitable. Had known from the minute she sat down next to him in the booth at the Loft. Oh, he could pretend all he liked that it was a sympathetic ear and a cosy chat about therapy that he wanted but the tension in the air was tangible. As soon as his brown eyes met her hazel ones he knew it could only lead to a world of exquisite pain but he didn't want to stop. Simultaneously they had both leaned in for the kiss. Reading each other's minds, both wanting what they couldn't and shouldn't have.
A moment of initial awkwardness as their unfamiliar lips found each other for the first time. Her lips were soft, lacking the stickiness of heavy makeup he was so used to with Grace. She smelt clean and fresh, fabric conditioner and an indefinable soft floral smell. He was tentative as he explored her mouth with his. He felt Sienna was like a timid forest animal that would run from him at the snap of a twig or any false move on his part. The feeling of fragility was fleeting. Sienna was responding to him like a drowning man clinging to a rescuer. Her arms wrapped themselves around his body, pulling him in close to her. Trevor felt a shiver run through his body as Sienna's icy hands pulled his shirt up and explored his chest. His hands flailed clumsily under her blouse, trying to unfasten her bra. Sienna broke free from his embrace, her eyes wild with passion and her breath rasping in shallow rattling gasps that shook her frame. 'Is there anywhere more private we can go?'
'My car...' Trevor grabbed Sienna by the hand and lead her down the steps to his Range Rover parked outside the Loft. No turning back now. The familiar motions of starting the car and moving the stick to drive mode settled Trevor's mind sufficiently to realise the enormity of what was at stake. 'Are you sure?' Trevor turned to Sienna.
Sienna placed her hand over Trevor's as it rested on the gear stick. 'I'm sure. Just take me away from here.'