Nicole sat up and held her ribs, Justin had fallen against her and she was sure he'd broken one. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at the pub, in the halo of light coming from the flames she could see Justin hurtling towards the door. She shook her head, trying to shake the ringing sound from her ears, she felt disorientated and sick. She rolled over onto her hands and knees and retched, Sam had done that, had set this whole thing going, she knew it, how could he, she glanced back at the burning building and sobbed, there was no going back from this, ever. She curled into a ball foetal style...
Steph dragged herself out from under a melee of tables and chairs, the heat was intense and smoke billowed around her, "Joe! " she croaked "Joe!" she yelled her desperation increasing. All that came back was the crackle of flames and a faint groaning from afar. She stood up and staggered in the direction of the door, a vast ball of flames licking their way in told her Sam had made sure the inferno was complete. She retreated to the bar and tripped over, feeling a body under her she felt her way to the face, or what was left of it. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound emitted, whoever it was had taken the brunt of the explosion stripping flesh from bones, the face a grotesque mask of melted flesh; in the semi darkness she couldn't identify if it was male or female, she suddenly became aware of the intensity of the heat increasing and backed away moving to the stairs and safety. Jake was up there, she remembered, Jack had left him in overall charge leaving the pub to go out with Frankie for a belated anniversary meal. Typical Jack though, unwilling to relinquish a lucrative Saturday night, he'd chosen to take her to late lunch in the city. She groped her way up the stairs the noise and the heat abating, she burst through the living room door coughing and shouting "Jake! Jake! Where are you?" She flung open every door bit there was no sign of him, she was trapped up here and no-one would know till it was too late, she fell back on to the sofa exhausted and afraid.
Jake whistled as he sauntered out of the Loft and over to Drive n Buy, he'd just have time to pick up the late edition and get back to the pub before Mum and Jack returned and realised he'd absented himself for a few over the road. The Dog was always dead Saturday afternoons and he'd be damned if he was going to nursemaid Trina behind the bar and suffer Steph's sarky comments over how much he'd had to drink. No, it was far more entertaining in the Loft, better music, better service and an eyeful of talent to admire. As if to burst his bubble of good humour Becca appeared in the shop doorway as he approached too late for him to take avoiding action, She spoke first "Jake? How are you?" "How do you think, bitch" were the words that formed in his mind; in spite of her bump or maybe because of it she looked more desirable than ever, her beauty fragile, her bump solid. "I'm...er...er fine" he managed to stutter out "and you? and the bump?" She glanced down and smiled, her hand resting on it unconsciously. "We're fine" she beamed back at him "I had a scan a couple of days ago, everything's fine" "Any names yet?" "No, we can't agree, as usual" she laughed. Her words stung, he'd just about got used to the idea of Burton living there but he'd never quite got his head around them as a couple talking, making plans, naming the child, it was all too surreal, only a few months back that had been his role and now it was being played by a schoolboy. He stifled the familiar bout of rage that bubbled up and forced a smile "Well places to be, things to do!" Her smile faded and she stepped aside to let him past. He noticed the pile of shopping bags at her feet, a moment of strain on her face and he relented "Or of course I could give you a hand up with these?" She smiled with relief and touched his arm "You don't have to Jake, I can manage" "No! It's no trouble really, got nothing else better to do" he lied. "Right! Lead the way and I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee he said hopefully. She smiled and moved off, he picked up her shopping and followed.
6