Twenty
Summer 1996
Callum and Nicole ran towards the park, a fizz of excitement building in Nicole’s chest that wasn’t anything to do with the few sips of Fanta she’d just had. They’d get that Derek Mullins, and he’d be sorry he’d messed with her brother.
‘Down here,’ she cried.
Callum followed her into the narrow alleyway that led to the playing field.
‘You wait here,’ she said.
‘Can’t I wait in the park?’
‘I told you to wait here, didn’t I.’ Nicole stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him. ‘God’s sake.’
Callum thrust out his bottom lip but did as he was told.
Nicole walked along the rest of the alleyway on her own, glancing back to check her brother had stayed put. Then, she jogged across the playing field towards the swing park. Pretty soon, she had to slow to a walk, her lungs burning with the exertion, her face hot. Through the railings, she saw the swing park was busy. Full of school kids of all ages, some from her year. Then, she spied some of the lads from Cal’s year group. They were spinning each other on the wooden roundabout, so fast it made her dizzy to watch. She stopped for a moment to get her breath back, suddenly a little nervous about approaching them. Nicole was older, but Derek was with about five others – all boys. Then, she remembered why she was here and so she stuck out her chin and pushed her way through the metal gate.
‘Oi, Derek!’ she called, shoving her hands in her pockets.
A couple of his mates looked over. They nudged Derek who was gleefully pushing the roundabout, delighting in the cries of the other boys yelling at him tostopandslow down. He stopped spinning his friends, straightened up and looked over in her direction, frowning.
His mates started elbowing him, teasing him; no doubt saying stupid stuff like she was his girlfriend. Nicole swaggered over, trying to appear friendly.
‘I need to talk to you,’ she said to Derek.
His pathetic friends all laughed.
‘Why?’ Derek replied, scratching his mousey-brown hair and folding his arms across his skinny chest.
‘Come here and you’ll find out.’
‘Wooooooh!’ the other boys jeered, making out she fancied him or something.
As if.
His cheeks reddened. They pushed him in her direction and she gave him an encouraging smile.
‘You ever had a smoke?’ she asked when he was close enough to reach out and touch.
‘Yeah,’ he replied.
Nicole bet he was lying. ‘You want one now?’
‘You got cigarettes?’
‘Yeah. Wanna come and have a smoke with me?’ Nicole could see him weighing it up in his mind. ‘Come and have a smoke, then I’ll give you some ciggies to share with your mates.’
‘Really?’
She nodded. Nicole knew that would get him. The thought of showing off.
‘They in your bag?’ He tipped his head towards the schoolbag slung across her body.
‘Yeah.’
‘Let’s see.’
