Dirty Seduction

I helped myself to a towel and took a shower before facing the music downstairs. I knew Scottie would be gone for work, but I’d have to see Mum as I got dressed for college, and I’d have to brave the deceit of playing down the truth. Scottie had more power over her than I did. He’d whisper in her ear and have her believe any lies he wanted to spin. I didn’t want to throw her into that drama. She dealt with enough already.

“Hi, Mum!” I called out as I stepped into our hallway.

I found her on the sofa with a coffee. She didn’t look at me, her fingers too busy tapping on her phone.

“You ok?” I asked, nerves spiking at the realisation she might ask me where the hell I’d been, but as it turned out, she didn’t. She was too caught up in her own news as she looked at me.

“Scottie’s got a job in Scotland. A new one. He got the offer this morning. On a load more money. He had to leave today, straight off.”

“Whoa.”

I sat down next to her, with a mash of different emotions. Relief for me, but hurt for her, because she’d no doubt hit the floor with him leaving. I couldn’t believe he was upping and leaving and dumping her already.

“Shit,” I said. “I’m really sorry.”

I expected sobs, but she smiled as another message came through.

“No, it’s ok. He’s not leaving me, he’s just leaving here. The job offer was just too good, and if he loves me, which he does, then it’ll be better for us. We’ll have a much better future when he’s settled up there. I might even go up there with him, when you’re finished at college. He says he wants that more than anything.”

Scottie was a liar. Wanting that more than anything meant nothing, and things felt off. Really off. I wanted to quiz her on what exactly he’d said, but I didn’t want to stab her with my words. She was happy for now. That’s all that mattered.

She put a hand on her heart like she was reading a marriage proposal when another message came through. I was blind as to what loved-up bullshit he was spinning her, but it was working. She seemed like she’d been pulled into an imaginary fairytale. I was just grateful that neither of us would have to see his nasty, weasel face in here for a while. Fate had been kind.

Mum didn’t notice that I’d already taken a shower when I disappeared into my room to get ready for college. She didn’t so much as ask where I’d been, just sat there in the same spot, still burning up as the messages kept buzzing. She barely noticed when I said goodbye and set off with my bag on my back.

I’d have happily called up Scottie’s new employer myself and given them a massive thank you, begging them to keep him up there for all time. Maybe miracles can happen. For the time being, a mini miracle was certainly a massive godsend.

College went by in a blur. I tried to focus, keeping my plain-faced mask up high while everyone chatted and gossiped around me. I did my lessons, doing my best to concentrate, but the swirl of events back home were prickling my senses. So much to take in… all of it good…

They say good luck comes in threes, and they weren’t lying.

One. Julian was gorgeous and I adored him. I adored us. I adored the man who was such a saint to me. Two. Scottie was gone, far away, and three, Mum wasn’t torn to pieces. At least not for now.

For once I felt like things were slotting into a world of good fortune. I was savouring every second as I set off on my way home. The dark clouds were giving me a break for once, so I let myself be happy. Life was kind.

I must have been smiling like crazy when Jayden appeared across the street, scoping out everyone walking away from college. I hoped he’d be as pleased as I was that his dad had been granted such an opportunity out of nowhere. But no. He wasn’t. He looked like he wanted me to burst into flames when he marched over, grabbing my elbow and tugging me aside.

“Hey! What the hell’s up?” I asked, but he kept his mouth shut until we were out of view, in the alleyway that led off to the sports field. It took him a few moments to collect himself.

“You already know what the fuck’s up!” he said.

I knew Scottie would be leaving Jayden alone for a bit, but a good opportunity was a good opportunity. There were phones and video calls, after all.

But wait…

There was more to it than that. There must have been. His eyes were raging.

But this was none of my business. Not really.

“Jayden, seriously. If this is about your dad moving to Scotland, it’s got nothing to do with me or my mum.”

He looked at me like I was insane.

“You know full well he hasn’t gone to fucking Scotland! Cut the bullshit!”

I didn’t understand. My saucer eyes must have said it all, because he stared at me, trying to dig in deep.

“You’re going to have to explain things,” I said. “Because I don’t have a clue what this is about.

As far as I know, your dad told Mum he’s been offered a new job in Scotland this morning, and he’s going right away. More money, great prospects. Tell him not to go, if you want, but that’s between you and him.”

Jayden sneered. “You are kidding, right? Don’t play fucking dumb!”

His rage triggered a flare in return. He was looking at me like I was garbage.

“I’m not playing fucking dumb about anything! What’s the problem here?”

My mind raced through things. Something wasn’t right behind the scenes, and if Scottie had an ulterior motive for fucking off somewhere… if he was being an asshole… if Jayden was blaming me or Mum for not keeping his dad around here…

“Is he fucking someone else?” I asked. “Is Scotland a cover for leaving Mum? Because if it is, he can at least be honest about it. Not leave her hanging on like he’s a true love from a distance. And that’s hardly my fault, is it?”

“HE’S NOT FUCKING SOMEONE ELSE, AND HE’S NOT IN

FUCKING SCOTLAND!” Jayden yelled, then cursed to himself and lowered his voice, “He grabbed his stuff this morning in a holdall and fucked off, because he HAD to.”

He looked suspicious again, like I really was playing dumb. But I wasn’t. I was still reeling, my brain trying to catch up with what was going on.

“Why would he have to?”

Jayden’s eyes were hot on mine.

“Because someone is out to kill him if he doesn’t.”

“What the”

The panic was intense, because if someone was out to kill Scottie, what the fuck would that mean for my mum? Was she involved? Was she in danger? Was I?

I couldn’t hold back my own voice, shouting as loudly as Jayden.

“WHAT THE FUCK HAS YOUR DAD BEEN GETTING INVOLVED WITH?!”

“YOU!” he yelled back. “My dad has been getting involved with YOU, Rosie! And that freak of a psycho fuck who lives upstairs!”

My senses reeled to another level. I spoke my thoughts out loud, hit hard.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“The psycho fuck who lives…” My voice trailed off as his words kicked in. “You mean Julian? Really? You mean Julian? From apartment six?”

“YES! The freak upstairs! He told my dad he’ll fucking kill him if he doesn’t get the fuck out of town. And it’s about YOU! What the fuck did you tell the creep?!”

I was still trying to fathom what he was talking about. I still didn’t know.

“WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?!” Jayden yelled again, with his hands in his hair. “Because you told him SOMETHING. And that SOMETHING was enough that he’ll kill Dad over it, and he must have meant it, because Dad’s on the fucking run!”

I felt shivers up my spine. I tried to frame the craziness.

“You’re saying that Julian threatened your dad?”

“Yeah, that fucking creep! He held a knife to Dad this morning as he was off to work. I’m not fucking joking. A fucking KNIFE! Right in his ribcage!”

I would have laughed out loud at how ridiculous that sounded if my senses hadn’t tingled. Call it instinct… intuition… I don’t know, but I knew he was telling the truth.

“He was full on fucking serious!” Jayden carried on. “Dad wouldn’t have bailed if he wasn’t. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a total pussy.”