And I'm back! With a tan and too many oversized Toblerone bars from duty free for one human to ever consume :)
So this chapter is set right back when P/A first got together and it explains what happened to Natalie...I hope its not too crap, bearing in mind I wrote this over 24 hours with one hell of a case of jet lag. The caribbean is A LOT further away that I thought :D
This is dedicated especially to Bethan who is possibly the cutest niece anyone could ask for even if she is only 2 days old, to all my reviewers who make writing this worth while and a special thank you to Pishta Hamster for not only feeding my ideas for free but for putting up with my excessive PM habit :) Enjoy.
2002
"Stop it."
Pete looked up from his book and frowned as Benjamin stared warily at him, his light blue eyes narrowed accusingly from where he was leaning against the door to Pete's classroom.
"Stop what?" he asked.
"Grinning," Benjamin nodded, walking farther into the room, giving the oversized novelty globe an obligatory spin on his way past. "I've known you for over a year, Dunham and you never grin." He jumped up onto one of the desks and cocked his head. "You smirk, you grimace, occasionally you smile prettily but you never fucking grin,"
"I'm in a good mood," Pete smirked, chucking his book down.
"Nah, it's something else, let's see…there's been no footie on as far as I know so that only leaves…" the Scotsman shook his head, his eyes widening with a silent realisation. "Aye, aye, you got laid, didn't you?"
"Fuck off," Pete laughed.
"You got something though," Benjamin winked. "And I'd bet my left ball its got something to do with that lass you had in here the other night,"
"Lass?" Pete raised an eyebrow. "And you 'ave a go at me for bein' too cockney? The day I go around using words like lass, you've got full permission to shoot me in the 'ead,"
"I'll remember that," Benjamin nodded seriously. "No, come on, you cheeky bugger. That bird was fit as fuck, what happened?" he glanced around the classroom and grinned. "You didn't get a bit of after hours action once the parents had all pissed off, did you?"
"It was just a kiss," Pete shrugged although just thinking about it made his chest tighten and his stomach drop. The taste and feel of her had been in his head ever since and he knew that there was no way what had happened between him and Allie fell into the category of being 'just a kiss'.
"Tongue?" Benjamin raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Pete smirked.
"Cheeky arse grab?"
"No,"
"On purpose-accidental boob graze?"
Pete stared at his friend with a grin on his face, unable to help the almost melodic laughter which escaped his throat.
"Mate, you've got problems," he shook his head. "I told you, it was a kiss,"
"And yet you told me she was just a mate," Benjamin grinned smugly down at him. "I knew it, you lying bastard. No bloke is ever going to be 'just mates' with a bird who looks like that," he regarded him seriously for a moment. "Cassie's going to be devastated,"
"Well, you're still fair game, aren't you sweetheart?" Pete winked at him, crumpling a piece of paper up in his hand and chucking it into the bin.
"I don't know about that," Benjamin shook his head. "I'm starting to get a bit porky these days." He patted his flat stomach jokingly, knowing that after years of playing football and rugby he was in as good a shape as Pete. "I think my years of drinking Fosters by the barrel and washing it down with a nice chicken madras are finally catching up with me," he shook his head.
"Aw, d'you want me to tell you you're pretty?" Pete asked him sarcastically.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt if you said it once in a while, no," the dark haired man laughed. "And would it kill you to show me some affection in the bedroom?" he reached for Pete's face. "Remember when we really used to connect?"
"You're fucking sick," Pete laughed, dodging his hands and picking up an inflatable ball from the Planets display the boys had made, throwing it at Benjamin's head.
They were still chucking random objects around the classroom at each other a few seconds later, both of them too determined to win the war to hear the door creak open.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Pete stopped suddenly and looked up at Allie, his heart pounding steadily as he saw her standing in the doorway, the gray sweater she was wearing over her jeans hugging her body nicely as she smiled at him.
"Hey," he tried not to grin too much, more than a little disgusted with himself that he was so excited just at the fact she was here. "What are you-…"
He was cut off when something sharp hit the back of his head and he turned to see Benjamin with his arms thrown victoriously in the air, a huge grin on his face.
"Ouch, you twat!" Pete hissed, bending over and picking up the fallen object, waving it in front of his face. "I said no staplers,"
Turning back to the still smiling blonde in front of him, Pete tossed the stapler onto a nearby desk and smiled back at her, jerking his head in Benjamin's direction and rolling his eyes.
"Sorry about that," he gestured to the blue eyed Scotsman. "To be fair the school only took him on so we could look a little more PC but having a retard on staff,"
Benjamin walked up behind his friend, taking a second to slap him on the back of the head with the board eraser before eyeing up the blonde appreciatively.
Fuck, the view he'd had of the back of her head at parents evening seriously hadn't done her any justice. Casting a glance at Pete who was rubbing the back of his head and glaring at him, he shook his head in disgust.
Lucky bastard, he thought.
"Petey here is just jealous that I came along and stole his pretty boy crown," he winked at Allie, holding out his hand. "You must be Allie, right?"
"Yeah," she smiled warmly, shaking his hand. "Allie Harding, I think we kinda met the other night but…"
"Parents evening," the Scotsman shuddered, leaning closer to her, his light blue eyes standing out on his handsome face as he smiled charmingly at her. "We teachers have a tendency to block out all memory of the event once it's happened. For all I know, I could have shagged Jessica Alba that night," he sighed sadly. "I'm Benjamin by the way," he told her. "Pleasure to actually meet you this time,"
"You too," Allie laughed, looking back at Pete. "Sorry about just showing up…I'm not stalking you or anything," she joked. "But I left my scarf here the other night,"
"Oh," Pete smirked, walking around to his desk and holding up the long white scarf which he'd found on the bench outside after she'd left. "I thought it was Ben's,"
"No, no," Benjamin shook his head. "Mine's the pink one with the sparkly snow flakes on it, remember?"
Allie laughed and took the scarf from Pete, trying not to let show how her breath hitched when her fingers brushed against his. As though picking up on the sexual tension in the room, Benjamin grinned to himself before clearing his throat.
"Right well I've got paper work coming out of my handsomely toned arse," he winked at Allie who laughed back. "So I'll leave you two crazy kids to it," he slyly clapped Pete on the shoulder and winked at him. "Make me proud," he whispered. "Aye, if you're still around later, d'you fancy a few cheeky beers?" he asked Allie.
"Try and stop me," she smiled as he patted her head. It was strange how in a matter of seconds she already knew that she was going to love the guy; there was a sense of fun and humour about him that reminded her of Harry.
"That's what we like to hear," he nudged her and jerked his head towards Pete. "If he doesn't look after you properly, you come and find me, alright?" he leant down and whispered in her ear. "I know where the head teacher keeps the good sweets and I'm talking Marks and Spencer 'pick and mix' here, none of that flying saucer bollocks."
"And to think Cosmo told me that men like you didn't exist," Allie shook her head, looking up at him with a playful twinkle in her eye.
"Aye sweetheart, rare as we are, men like me do actually roam the earth," he subtly flipped Pete the finger behind her head. "Keep that in mind when you get bored of G.I jackass, here,"
He left her laughing as he skipped out of the classroom, blowing Pete a kiss as he went and making the younger man shake his head, snorting in disgust.
"I'm proud of you," he told her with a smirk. "Not many people meet Benjamin and live to tell the tale,"
"Ah well," she smiled. "After meeting Swill and Dave I consider myself to be more than prepared for whoever comes my way."
Pete laughed and glanced down to where she was running her scarf through her slender looking fingers, his throat tightening when his typical male mind started thinking about how those fingers would feel on his skin.
"I didn't know whether to call you or not," she told him, blushing as she looked at the floor. "I mean after the other night,"
She looked out of the window, her eyes landing on the bench where they had kissed and her heart started to pound at the memory.
"I didn't know whether it was just a…thing or…" she laughed at the expression on his face. "I told you I read too much Cosmo,"
Pete stared at her for a moment before taking a step towards her, their bodies almost touching as he looked down at her and met her deep green eyes.
"Trust me," he told her with a smirk. "It wasn't just a 'thing',"
He was rewarded with a huge smile, her eyes twinkling, letting him know that she was more than happy with that answer.
Before she could say anything else, he took her scarf out of her hand and dropped it onto the table, linking his fingers through hers and tugging her towards the door.
"How d'you fancy a tour?" he asked her. "I saw the look in your eyes when Scotty offered you that pick 'n mix," he laughed. "I've gotta keep you busy if I don't wanna lose you to 'im,"
"I was pretty tempted by the promise of Marks and Spencer chocolate," she told him, feigning seriousness and gripping his hand tighter as she followed him out into the hallway. "So you better impress me, Dunham,"
He grinned at her as they walked slowly down the hall, Pete pointing out things on the wall that his boys were responsible for, making her giggle with stories of how he and Benjamin had almost come to be fired numerous times by playing sports in the corridor after hours and breaking windows.
Pete frowned when she stopped suddenly, her hand still wrapped in his as she gazed at him with a slight smirk.
"I thought you were trying to win me over," she told him, jerking her head towards a closed door on their right. "You've missed one,"
"Oh, that," Pete grinned at her. "That's the art supply closet, nothing much in there," he glanced at the door handle and then back at her. "Unless you really want to go in, I mean, it would be a shame to not have the complete tour, wouldn't it?"
Allie grinned back at him and watched, her heart pounding as he opened the door revealing the small space inside, lined with shelves of paints and sponges, the floor splattered with a multitude of colours.
Walking inside, she went in as far as she could, realising just how little space there was when Pete followed her in and closed the door behind them, his breath quickening as Allie was pushed back against one of the shelves, their bodies pressing against each other in the small space, their breath mingling as they stared at each other nervously, both wanting to make the first move but neither daring to for fear of rejection.
"Hi," Allie giggled quietly when Pete brought his arms up either side of her head, pressing his palms against the cool metal shelves behind her.
"Alright?" he smirked down at her, his body tensing when she licked her lips.
"So am I winning?" he asked her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What?" she shook her head.
"I know I don't have chocolate but I'm giving it my best shot here," he grinned boyishly at her. "Don't suppose you fancy giving me a hint as to how I'm doing?"
With confidence she didn't know she had in her, Allie stood up on her tip toes and without giving herself a second to think, brushed her lips quickly and lightly over his, her heart soaring when she felt him respond.
Rocking back down onto her feet, she stared up at him and bit her bottom lip, trying to prevent herself from laughing nervously.
"I'd say you're doing pretty well," she told him with a smile which he returned.
Pete lowered his head so that his nose bumped against hers, their eyes meeting one last time before he took the final step and kissed her properly, softly at first, taking his time and gauging her reaction.
It was when her arms came up around his neck that he knew he was safe and let himself go slightly, kissing her more feverishly, his hands moving down to rest on her hips, pushing her back further against the shelves as she kissed him back just as hard. A groan escaped his lips when she opened her mouth and allowed him to taste her, his tongue playfully battling hers as their bodies pushed closer still.
Pete kissed down her cheek to her jaw and then pushing her soft hair to one side, made for her neck, his chest swelling with male pride when she moaned and kissed his ear, whispering his name into it.
She tasted like nothing he could ever remember, the sweetness of her skin was driving him crazy and his hands became more daring, one of them moving up over her stomach to brush against her left breast. She hissed at the contact and Pete slowed his movements, worried he might be going too fast but then she sighed happily and arched into his touch, her hands sweeping up and down his back as she urged him to touch her.
Pete kissed her lips again, his hand leaving her breast and wrapping around her back, pulling her tighter to him as they kissed, the sound of her giggle vibrating through his throat as her feet left the floor making him smile against her mouth.
The room filled with soft moans and panting, the sound of their lips parting and joining over and over making him want more than he knew she was ready to give, more that he was ready to take if he was honest.
He felt things about the girl in his arms that no other woman had ever brought out in him before and he wasn't about to risk losing this feeling all because she somehow had the ability to get him worked up with just a few kisses.
Suddenly a sound that he knew came from neither of them broke through their lust filled world and he pulled back from her in a daze, yanking his phone out of his pocket and staring down at it as though he had no idea what it was.
The all too familiar name flashed across the small screen and he fought the urge to roll his eyes wondering what had happened tonight.
"Hey," Allie brought his attention back to her, her hands resting softly on his chest as she stared up at him with concern. "Is everything ok? You can answer it, y'know,"
Pete smiled back at her, his brain doing battle with his heart and other parts of his anatomy as his eyes swept back and forth between her and the phone. Eventually the latter won out and he switched it off, throwing it onto one of the shelves and cupping her face in his hands, leaning down to kiss her deeply.
"Fuck it, it's not important," he told her, feeling her nod as she wrapped her arms around him again.
And it wasn't.
Pete knew what Nat was like, he knew how she worked and as much as he loved his cousin, she had a certain taste for the over dramatics. Whatever it was could wait for another hour at least, she would be fine. She always was.
The night came around quicker than she wanted it to, just as it always did; the faint rays of sickly amber light from the streetlamps leaking in through half broken blinds and illuminating the evidence of what had been a horrific night, even by her terms.
Staring down at the phone in her hands, she listened to the dial tone as it echoed through the room, taunting her with the knowledge that even Pete had given up on her for the time being at least.
Blood stained the once plush carpet floor and her bright blue quilt knitted for her by her late grandmother lay crumpled by the door, the innocence it had represented banished with spots of blood and shards of alcohol scented glass.
Ignoring the mysterious man who lay next to her in bed naked from the waist up, Natalie Dunham uncapped the syringe she held tightly in her sweaty fist and without so much as a second thought plunged the sharp needle deep into her arm, letting out a sound which mediated somewhere between a hiss of pain and a whimper of pleasure.
Letting it fall to the floor next to her, she slumped back against the battered chest of drawers and laughed to herself.
Whoever it was that had said that drugs didn't solve all your problems obviously hadn't had a very good dealer.
Pete dragged his feet along the pavement, yawning as the rays of mid morning sunshine warmed his face.
He'd intended on going to see Natalie last night after seeing Allie but by the time they had dragged themselves out of the art cupboard and then been coaxed into heading down the pub with Benjamin, it had been too late to do anything except fall into bed.
Not that he had slept all that well anyway, the memories of his time in the art cupboard with Allie had kept coming back to him until he had had no choice but to force himself up out of bed for a 3am freezing cold shower.
Coming to a stop at the red painted door on St. Helen's street, Pete bent down and fished the spare key his Auntie Kate always left from under the plant pot and let himself in, wincing as the stale air of the house hit his nostrils.
All of the blinds were still closed and he squinted through into the kitchen, seeing the grocery bags still sat on the counter and realised that his Auntie hadn't come back from her holiday yet.
Being all of 18, Natalie had deemed herself too old to go down to Cornwall to visit their grandmother and had volunteered to stay in the house on her own. But given the nosedive her behaviour had taken in the last few months, Pete had promise both her mum and his own that he would keep a close eye on her.
It had started off as just her and her college mates dabbling in a spot of weed but Pete was almost certain she had moved onto harder things.
Though the last time he had tried to bridge the subject with her, she'd proved once and for all that she was indeed a Dunham through and through by clocking him one right on the chin and storming out of his flat not before taking his case of beer with her.
"Nat?" he shouted, standing at the end of the stairs. "You up there?"
Silence served as his answer and with a resigned sigh, he started up the carpeted stairs, using the banister to yank himself upwards.
"What the hell are you doing?"
The familiar voice stopped him and he turned to see the tall brunette standing below him, her hands resting on adolescent hips as she narrowed her light green eyes at him.
"Jesus, when did you turn into fuckin' Harry Houdini?" he laughed. "I thought no one was home,"
"I had my headphones in," Natalie told him, holding up her CD player as proof. Pete nodded and came to stand in front of her, a bitter taste filling his mouth when he noted the dark rings under her eyes, the redness around her pupils and the paranoid manner in which she repeatedly yanked down the sleeves of her orange sweater.
"What 'appened?" Pete asked her directly.
"When?" she shrugged.
"Last night, you tried to call me," he reminded her, crossing his arms in that big brother-esque way of his which drove her crazy. "What was the matter?"
"Why didn't you pick up?" Natalie shot back at him. "I called Bovver and you weren't with the boys,"
"Christ almighty," Pete snorted. "One mum is enough, thanks. Now are you gonna tell me what 'appened or am I gonna 'ave to start guessing?"
"Piss off, Pete," she rolled her eyes, stepping around him and moving to walk up the stairs.
"No, 'old on a fuckin' minute," Pete snapped, grabbing her arm and then pulling back as though he had been scalded when she cried out in pain.
"Shit, Nat, I'm sorry," he told her, his blue eyes wide. "Are you alright?"
"Its fine," she shook her head. "Nothing,"
"Let me see," Pete demanded.
"No," she snapped. "I said its nothing, just leave it, will you?"
"Come 'ere," he told her gruffly, yanking her towards him and forcing the sleeve of her sweater up, stopping when a large bruise came into view. "What the fuck is this?" he cried.
"I got into a fight, ok?" she shoved him back, pulled the sleeve back down and staring at him. "Some bloke tried it on last night and I told him no and he got pissed and grabbed me. End of."
"A bloke did this?" Pete hissed angrily. "Why the fuck didn't…" he trailed off.
"What?" Natalie asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why didn't I call you? Oh wait a minute, that's right…I did call you, you just chose to be a dick and not bother answering,"
"I'm sorry," Pete told her, the honestly in his eyes making her relent somewhat. "Nat, I just…I 'ad some stuff to take care of,"
"Whatever," she shrugged.
"Look," he pursed his lips and smirked at her. "How about I take you out for lunch, my treat, yeah? Anything you want, look at you, you're fuckin' wasting away as it is."
Natalie cast a glance down at her once curvy body and silently agreed with him; she had lost over two stone in the last six months but had convinced everyone it was down to playing sports. Much like Pete, Natalie had always been the sporty one of the family; as a kid her mum and dad had been convinced she'd be the first Dunham to bring home an Olympic medal but even then she had known in her heart that it was bullshit.
Steve and Pete had somehow escaped the Dunham curse of ending up in dead end jobs but Natalie knew her fate; that was why she had fallen into this mess in the first place. Drugs weren't about self-punishment as many people thought they were…it was more about self-indulgence.
Natalie didn't know enough about science and history to be a teacher like Pete, she knew fuck all about the stock market to get a job like Steve's…but she knew about drugs. She knew how to mix and match substances that gave you a ten hour high, she knew how to disguise almost every after affect known to man and she knew how to get something worth £50 for a much more friendly £20.
Unfortunately for her, there was no job in that field though.
"Oi, Heidi," Pete smirked, tugging on one of her plaits. "Are we going out or what?"
Natalie shook herself out of her thoughts and pasted a smile onto her face. She liked hanging out with Pete in the sense that he actually could make her forget everything; he didn't treat her like a kid or some kind of moron just because she was only 18. He talked to her about stuff that actually mattered, he let her come down the Abbey for drinks with the boys and he made her laugh.
Glancing down at her covered arm, Natalie pretended she could see through the orange wool to the needle punctured skin which lay below it, bruised and sore from over using the same needle.
She doubted Pete would ever look at her in his big brother type way again if he knew what she was really like.
"Yeah," she smiled, grabbing her jacket and tugging it on. "I fancy a burger, so I'm happy with the Abbey if you are,"
"You're mum would 'ave my balls for breakfast if she knew I was taking you down the pub every night," Pete laughed, ruffling her hair. "So if anyone asks, I took you to McDonald's, you 'ad an 'appy meal and then we went bowling,"
"Ok, you know I'm 18 and not 8, right?" she raised an eyebrow as he followed her down towards the front door.
"Welcome to the world of being the youngest, mate," Pete snorted. "I'm fuckin' 22 years old and my mum still calls me 'er baby," he shuddered. "It's a shit job but someone's gotta do it,"
"So what was her name then?" Natalie asked as they walked side by side down towards the tube station, the early afternoon sun warming up her body, the heat seeping through her sweater and making the wounds in her arm sting.
"What?" Pete frowned.
"The reason you couldn't pick up the phone last night?" she laughed when he smirked and shook his head. "I knew it, you slut!"
"It's not like that," Pete told her seriously. "I like her…y'know, like, I like her,"
"Bov said you're pussy whipped," she taunted him, laughing when his face darkened.
"Yeah, well Bov needs a slap," Pete told her. "And she's called Allie."
"Allie?" Natalie wrinkled her nose. "It's a bit poncy, innit?"
"Yeah, well her full name's Alyssa Scarlet Harding," Pete chuckled. "It don't get much poncier than that."
"Alyssa Scarlet Harding?" Natalie repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Sounds like a right cunt,"
"Oi, she's totally sound," he nudged her with his shoulder. "You'd like her,"
"I'm sure," Natalie rolled her eyes. "I hear she's from fuckin' Chelsea of all places. You do realise that people from our part of London can't even afford to park our cars there?"
"You wouldn't know it talking to her," Pete shook his head. "Like I said, she's sound and she ain't into all that money bollocks,"
"Christ you really are in trouble, aren't you?" Natalie laughed. "If I 'ave to listen to you drabble on like some love sick school boy then you can fuckin' well buy me pudding as well,"
"Why does everyone keep saying I'm a fuckin' goner?" Pete cried. "How'd you know it ain't 'er whose under the thumb…it might be me calling all the shots, y'know,"
Natalie stopped and looked at him for a moment, biting her lip before she burst out laughing.
"Oh you poor bastard," she snorted. "You're deluded now on top of everything,"
"Fuck off," he muttered.
"Come on, you big tart," Natalie grinned, linking her arm through his. "You can tell me everything over a burger and some beer. Only don't go too over board with the lovey-dovey shit…I ain't gonna fork out £10 on lunch just to throw it up again."
"Cross it…cross it you tart!"
Pete jabbed the buttons on his playstation pad as hard as he could, forcing the miniature animated version of Lee Bowyer to run faster towards the goal.
"Pete, I'm open, pass it you prick!" Dave shouted.
"Nah, I got it," the blonde man stuck his tongue out in concentration, shouting wordlessly when Didier Drogba slid across and brought him down.
Turning to face the smirking blonde next to him, he shook his head.
"That was pure filth and you know it," he laughed.
"What?" Allie looked at him innocently. "I don't know how to play; I just press the buttons and see what happens,"
"Bollocks," Pete snorted. "You took me down on purpose, Harding,"
"See now that's just an unfair accusation," she shook her head. "And one that I don't take too kindly to so if you don't mind, I have a game to get back to,"
Turning away from him, she giggled seeing the shock on his face out of the corner of her eye and yelped when he lunged forward and tackled her playfully, pinning her down and almost rolling them off of the sofa altogether.
"Oi!" Natalie shouted, elbowing them away when they almost fell onto her. "Are we fuckin' playing this game or what?"
Pete and Allie pulled apart, sitting back up and getting back into the game, all but Natalie forgetting about the little incident.
It wasn't that Nat didn't like Allie…no, not at all.
Natalie didn't like watermelon, she didn't like the fact that last week Swill had spilt snakebite on her favourite trainers. There were a fair few things that Natalie Dunham didn't like.
But she flat out despised Allie Harding.
It had been Pete's idea for all of them to spend a night together, they'd bought some beer and ordered in enough Chinese food to feed an army but Natalie couldn't relax like she usually did, not with Barbie sat behind her giggling like some kind of retarded toddler every few minutes.
"Right, I'm out," Natalie conceded, throwing her pad at Ned who caught in just before it smacked him in the face.
"What?" Dave frowned. "You're my star player; sit the fuck back down and help me beat these tossers,"
"I need a cigarette," Natalie shook her head, ignoring Bovver's protest as she leant over and snagged a his Marlborough Lights, picking one out and twirling it in her fingers.
"Oi," Pete frowned at her. "I told you I don't like you smoking,"
"And I believe I told you to piss off," she told him sweetly. "I'm a big girl, Pete and quite frankly this," she held up a bottle of Fosters. "Is more likely to kill me that this will," she held up the cigarette, checking her pockets for a lighter before heading over to the stairs which led to the rooftop.
"D'you want some company?" Allie asked her, looking away from the screen for a moment but using her peripheral vision to see Pete's hand creeping over and trying to press something on her pad. She slapped it away, giggling when he swore.
"You don't smoke," Natalie told her pointedly.
"I know," the blonde shrugged. "I just thought you might want some company up there,"
"Wow," Natalie laughed. "Are you gonna make me some warm milk and give me a bath, too?"
Allie blushed and looked away, trying to appear as though the comment hadn't affected her.
Over her shoulder Pete shot Natalie a dark look, letting her know that she had somewhat overstepped a line. Rolling her eyes, she lowered the cigarette from her mouth and sighed.
"But company never hurts, does it?" she jerked her head towards the door. "Just know that I ain't a big shoe person, so if you wanna start yammering on about heels and flats, you've come to the wrong place,"
Allie smiled at her, handing Pete her game pad and stepping over Swill who took the opportunity to tickle her foot as she passed him. Not bothering with shoes, she followed the brunette up the stairs and shivered slightly as the cold hit her, the faint light coming from the lanterns hanging on the wall casting both women in an eerie glow.
"He doesn't mean to fuss, y'know," Allie cleared her throat as Natalie lit her cigarette and took a deep pull of it.
"What?" she frowned.
"Pete…having a go at you about smoking," she smiled. "He's just protective of you; you know I actually though you were his little sister at first the way he talked about you,"
"As good as, really," Natalie shrugged. "Him and Steve are the only proper family I've got aside from mum…my dad fucked off when I was 12 so…"
"That's rough," Allie smiled sympathetically at her. "I can't imagine how that must have been for you,"
"Oh sure you can," Natalie laughed, hopping onto the wall and crossing her legs. "You're a pretty little rich girl with a trust fund and a car for every day of the week, if you don't know how hard the world is then seriously…who does?"
Allie was slightly taken aback by her outburst but didn't say anything, instead choosing to hop onto the wall opposite and mirror her body language.
"So what exactly is it that you see in Pete?"
The question was bizarre and unexpected to say the least but Allie refused to let her gaze waver that of the younger girls.
"I'm sorry?"
"Pete's my cousin, I love him y'know, partly because I have to," Natalie smiled. "But for the life of me I can't work out what someone like you sees in him,"
"Define 'someone like me'," Allie challenged her.
"Oh Allie," Natalie shook her head. "Now how could I go and define you of all people? I mean, blonde hair, pretty features, posh house, nice car, Abercrombie t-shirt…you're too original for words."
"Ok, so you don't like me," Allie laughed, throwing her head back.
"Wow, not just a pretty hat rack, are you Barbie?" Natalie told her sarcastically. "In fact that was damn near insightful of you,"
"Ok, y'know what?" Allie held up her hands. "I've tried to be nice to you all evening and I'm not wasting my breath anymore. You want to hate me? Go ahead, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, but if you think I'm going to sit her and listen to you tear me to shreds, then you're even dumber than you look."
Natalie laughed and shook her head, taking an extra long drag on the cigarette as she watched Allie hop off of the wall and march over to the door before launching herself after her and slamming the door closed just as the blonde pulled it open.
"I don't remember saying I was done," she told her.
"I don't remember asking your permission to leave," Allie shot back.
"Oh always the fucking damsel in distress, aren't we diddums?" Natalie cooed. "It might wash with those morons but don't think for even a second that I'm buying into it. See I know what girls like you are like…you'll twist everything and step over everyone until you get your way,"
"You don't know me," Allie spat at her.
"I don't have to," Natalie snapped. "I see what you're doing…the GSE, Pete, all of it is taking a hit just to please you. See you might think you're in with all the boys but let me tell you something sweetie, they're not doing it for you, they're doing it for Pete."
"Oh my God," Allie laughed. "That's it, isn't it? You're jealous,"
"Fuck off," Natalie spat at her.
"No, it makes sense," the blonde shook her head. "I mean why else would you hate me coming in here that much? They like me, Pete likes me and you can't handle it," she shook her head. "Who's acting like the spoilt little bitch now?"
"You're pathetic," Natalie scoffed. "You do realise that if I made Pete chose, you'd be out on your arse in a second?"
"Then why haven't you?" Allie raised an eyebrow. "If you're so certain that he's pick you over me then why haven't you asked him to?"
Natalie fell silent but continued to hold the girls gaze, staring her down and watching her wilt before her eyes, hating herself when she felt the sting of tears.
"You don't even know him," Natalie told her. "And like you said, he's my big brother,"
"I know," Allie nodded. "That's why I've been trying so hard to get along with you, but now I see that I've been wasting my time,"
"Yeah, you know what? You really have," Natalie yanked the door open for her and looked at her in disgust. "Go on, go back down and tell the boys what a good girl you were,"
"What did I do?" Allie asked her, one foot on the top of the stairs. "I mean, we met all of what, three maybe four hours ago? What did I do in that time to make you hate me this much?"
"Nothing I can think of," Natalie shrugged. "It must just be a natural born talent you have,"
Shaking her head, Allie gave her one last look before she began her descent of the stairwell, not in the least surprised when a second later, the door slammed hard enough to make the railing shake leaving her to make the rest of the journey in complete and utter darkness.
Allie woke up and blinked at the faint darkness of the room, trying to get her bearings as she wiggled her toes against the leather arm of the sofa.
Turning her head to the side, she smiled into Pete's bare chest and lightly brushed her lips over the West Ham crest on his skin.
She hadn't intended on sleeping here but after the boys and Natalie had left and one thing had led to another, the movie they had planned on watching had lain dormant in its box as they fell onto the sofa, mouths slanted over each other, hands pushing at the barriers of clothing. They'd stopped before it could go too far but Allie had frightened herself with the realisation that if he hadn't been able to stop, she wouldn't have cared. If he'd have told her he needed to have her right then and there, she would have let him.
Glancing down at where her jeans were still unbuttoned, she blushed into the darkness and shifted slightly, sliding out from under Pete to button them up before padding into the kitchen to get a drink.
Reaching for the bottle of lemonade on the side, Allie froze with her hand in midair as a noise came from the front door, a loud clattering which made her frown.
"What the hell?" she whispered to herself.
Glancing over at Pete who was still asleep, she put her glass down and walked over to the door silently, pushing it open and gasping at the sight before her.
Natalie lay slumped against the stair railing, her mobile phone lying next to her, covered in her own blood. Her left arm was bruised and sore looking and it only took one glance for Allie to know that the blood pouring out of it had been caused by a bad needle, her eyes widened farther when she took in the deep gashes in the girls wrists.
"Why the fuck are you here?" she hissed, her voice hoarse and dangerous. "Where's Pete?"
Natalie stared up at the blonde as she gulped, obviously unaware of what to do.
"Oh my God," she whispered, dropping to her knees. "Are you ok?"
"I don't know you," Natalie grumbled, yanking her hand away as the blonde reached for it. "Get the fuck off me!"
"I don't care," Natalie snapped. "Where's Pete?"
She groaned as another wave of pain shot through her and glanced down at her arm from where blood was now flowing freely.
"Oh shit," Allie whispered. "Look, we need to get you to a hospital,"
"No," the brunette shook her head. "Just get Pete…I don't want you here, I don't want your help you fucking bitch!"
Pete had been supposed to meet her tonight, to take her out and cheer her up before her A level exams next week but he's pulled out at the last second. Apparently he had something else to do. Glancing up at blonde and catching the faint pink mark on her neck, Natalie had no doubt what that thing had been.
"I said fuck off!" she screamed reaching out and shoving Allie weakly but spraying blood all over her.
Allie blinked in shock and then stood up quickly, stumbling backwards slightly as she ran back into the flat, over to the sofa where she shook Pete hard.
"Pete!" she cried.
"What?" he jolted awake, seeing the panic on her face and grabbing her hand. "Baby, what's going on? Are you alright?"
"Natalie's out in the hallway," she breathed in a rush. "She keeps asking for you but there's something wrong with her, Pete I think she's on drugs or something,"
At those words, Pete's heart dropped and he leapt up from the sofa, jogging out into the hall, surprised to see Dave stood over Natalie, his shirt covered in her blood.
"What the fuck happened?" he demanded, running over to them.
"I dunno, mate," Dave shook his head. "She called me about ten minutes ago, I couldn't make out a single word she was saying so I came to see you and just found 'er here,"
Pete felt sick as he looked down at her torn wrists; what the hell had she done?
"Nat?" he crouched down in front of her and held her face in his hands. "Nat, what the fuck have you taken?"
She didn't answer him, instead uncurled her left fist and dropped a bloodied needle onto the floor.
"I just want it to go away," she told him, her voice barely a whisper. "Make it go away,"
With that, her eyes shut and she slumped forward against him heavily.
"Nat?" he shouted, shaking her. "Nat, wake up…come on, sweetheart, wake up,"
In the background, he was vaguely aware of Allie on the phone to the ambulance service, her soft voice taking on an urgent edge as she gave them the address.
The young girl in his arms was bleeding heavily now, her body getting colder to touch as she lay against him.
"Come on," he whispered to her, his voice breaking with emotion. "Just open your eyes, Nat. Just open your eyes,"
Present day
"Just open your eyes, Nat,"
The sound of Pete's voice echoed through her brain as she woke up, sweat trickling down her back as she panted.
It had just been a dream; a memory of something that had happened a long time ago now.
Glancing down at the scars on her wrists, Natalie's eyes darkened as she heard Allie's laughter float down the hall to her bedroom, followed by the deepness of Pete's voice.
Reaching out a shaking hand, she picked up her phone and dialled the number that she knew would never leave her brain, the number some girl at a party had scrawled on her arm over seven years ago now along with a name that she had thought nothing of.
"Ello?"
Her breath caught at the sound of his voice, her stomach churning with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"Ello?"
He asked again, the first signs of impatience creeping into his firm, masculine voice.
"Its me," she heard his breath hitch and knew that he was as shocked to hear from her as she was that she had actually been dumb enough to call.
"No," he told her straight away. "We're not getting into this again,"
"I just need one fix and that's it," she begged. "Come on, Jake, I need this,"
He knew as well as she did that there was no such thing as one last time, not when it came to heroine.
But it was a chance she was willing to take and to hell with the consequences.
You know the drill by now...its been over a week so be nice and make me smile! :) xx