But still, he was there. He gave me clean clothes when blood or worse covered mine, gave us the bed while he crashed on the sofa. He would leave food out for Squeeks with her name written on a Post-it, like it was a lunchbox note from some alternate life we’d never had.
But looking in the bathroom mirror at Chesters was getting harder to stand. Not because of the bruises from Danny, but because of the person staring back. My hair is a flame ofdeep red, which never had possessed subtlety. Its uncontrollable appearance now protested against my pale skin, and even that was looking more translucent lately, like I hadn’t seen the sun since I was a baby. The freckles on my cheeks had also started to fade; they weren’t as bold as they once were.
My eyes will forever be the talking point of any first encounter. Two shallow pools of icy blue that people couldn’t seem to ignore. God knows where in the gene pool they came from, as Squeeks had a warm hazel just like our mum. I figured they came from my dad, or the milkman, but I digress. I was just faded.
Three loud bangs snapped my attention from my reflection towards the bathroom door, as Chester's muffled voice sounded.
“Shift it ass wipe, this is not the time for a wank.” My eyes rolled as I swung open the door, pulling my jacket from the armchair. Chesters' bored stance remained by the front door, his keys idly spinning around his finger.
“Why do I have to come anyway? This is your flat, not mine.” My arms slipped into the sleeves as I approached him.
“Because one, you guys are eating me out of house and home. And two, you’re right, this is my flat, and if you wish to keep dossing here, I suggest you start helping out.” His hand clapped onto my shoulder as he pushed me out the door. He turned, calling back to Squeeks as her eyes remained glued to the colourful cartoons that danced across the screen.
“Back soon nugget, don't burn the house down.”
I stood waiting at the bottom of the steps, my arms wrapped around my chest, as the brisk wind made my skin prickle. Chesters' smile grew as he appeared at my side, slipping a cigarette between his lips,
“Got one of those for me?” I asked, eyebrow raised.
“Not a chance, keep moving.” His hands forcefully turned me around, heading down the street as I gave an exhausted groan.
“Why not?”
“Because you're 16, that’s why. I can see what mood you’ve woken up in today.”
I found myself scanning each corner as we made our way towards the shop. As much as I felt safer with Chester, I just knew the backlash I would get from Danny the second I got home.
“What's up with you?” Chesters' eyes drifted over my sullen expression.
“Nothing, just didn’t sleep great.”
He gave a dry laugh, “You slept fucking fine from where I was standing. Snoring like a pig when I got in from work.”
My mouth restrained a smile as I tucked my shoulders inwards, trying desperately to keep myself warm. “It was mostly Squeeks; she kept fucking kicking me. I swear if she kicks me one more time, I'm swapping and sleeping on the sofa, and you can fucking deal with the Kung fu kid.”
His laugh echoed off the brick walls as I smiled, joining in the humour. “Be a bit weird if I shared a bed with your sister, mate. So that’s a hard pass.” Jolting me with his hand as we rounded the corner of the shop. Our joined laughter continued as I took advantage of a revenge shot, which shoved him harder, his arm catching on the wall. I bolted for the door of the shop as he tried to keep up.
“What's up old man? Not as sprightly as you used to be.” A devilish smile spread across my face.
“Shut ya face and get in the fucking shop.” Chester entered first, his smile still playing on his lips as I followed behind.
“Oh, sorry!” Chesters' steps halted in the doorway as a ghostly framed girl bumped into him at full force, her body sprawling backwards across the floor of the shop. My brows furrowed as I took in the scene. Chester lowered his hand to help her to her feet, but she flinched from his offer. She looked battered, hairmessily framing her cautiously tired eyes. Her clothes were torn in places as the food she clung to was now scattered around her.
I recognised that look all too well. I guess I wasn’t the only one who used this place as an all-you-can-eat grab-and-go. She rushed to her feet, grabbing what she could as the shopkeeper started yelling, barging past me as she set out into a sprint. I couldn’t help the way my eyes followed her till she rounded the corner. Vanishing behind a row of houses.
“That little cow!” the shopkeeper spat as he walked past us.
Chester huffed a laugh, “Guess you need to be quicker next time.” The shopkeeper mumbled to himself as he returned behind the counter, eyes instantly locked back to his tiny screen.
Who was that girl? I hadn’t seen her around here before. And it would be hard not to notice, since everyone knows everyone in this area.
Chapter 7
It was simple. Drop-off. Get paid. No drama.
That’s what Danny said when he pulled up in the rusted-out Peugeot, bass thudding from his jacked-up speakers. He tossed me the burner phone and a folded-up note with the instructions inside.
“Get it done, Screech. I’m trusting you with this.” I huffed a laugh.
