As soon as Theo and friends heard her key in the lock, they broke into a squawking rendition of Happy Birthday. For people supposed to be promoting music, they were hopelessly tone deaf.
‘Here she is: the newest adult in the British population!’ Theo popped a champagne cork and poured them all a drink.
‘Thanks, guys. This is Kel Douglas, a friend from school.’ Meri pulled Kel into the kitchen with her.
‘Into the lion’s den,’ he murmured.
‘Kel, lovely to meet you! Make yourself at home,’ Theo thrust a champagne flute into Meri’s hand.
Valerie stood up and grabbed Kel to her generous bosom, kissing him on the cheeks. ‘Aren’t you just the most gorgeous thing ever!’ She hugged Meri next, jolting champagne onto the floor. ‘Well done catching this one, girl.’
Saddiq was not to be outdone in the ‘how to make Meri squirm’ competition. He also hugged Kel. ‘A friend of Meri’s is a friend of mine. But if you make her cry, I’m gonna kick your fine ass.’
‘Geez, guys, what happened to tact?’ moaned Meri.
‘What’s that?’ asked Saddiq innocently.
‘Makes me look good by contrast, doesn’t it?’ Theo shook Kel’s hand and then passed him a flute of champagne. ‘Theo Woolf.’
‘Nice to meet you, Mr Woolf,’ said Kel.
Valerie went off into a peal of laughter.
Theo mock-shivered. ‘Mr Woolf sounds just wrong, like you expect me to eat you. Call me Theo.’
Kel smiled. ‘OK, Theo.’
‘Let’s get the food on the table before we have to go out. Valerie’s baked your favourite, Meri,’ said Theo, bending over to check the oven.
‘Cherry pie,’ said Valerie happily. ‘Made from the ones I froze from my allotment.’
‘Oh wow: thanks!’
‘And Saddiq brought in some fillet steaks so we’re ready to have dinner now if you are?’
‘Steaks? Amazing! I haven't had real meat since—’
‘Lunchtime,’ finished Kel.
‘Pressed bits of what might once have been pig mixed with soya protein does not count, Kel. I’m talking proper red meat from a cow that mooed. How did you get hold of it, Saddiq?’
Saddiq smiled mysteriously. ‘I have my sources.’
‘Maybe I don’t want to know, but thank you: this is epic. I’ll just show Kel where he can put his jacket.’ Escaping from the kitchen, Meri led him to her bedroom. ‘Sorry about the hugging thing.’
‘No worries. They’re…colourful.’
‘Yes, you can say that again. They mean well. I have a colourful adopted family.’
‘And they love you.’
Meri wrapped her arms around her waist. ‘I guess they do.’
‘They absolutely do. And speaking of hugging…. I think we missed out that part at the museum. May I? A friendly one?’ Hesitating a second, Kel closed the distance between them, dropping his leather jacket on the bed. He put his arms around her and drew her to his chest. ‘There: that’s better.’
With a sigh, she let her arms fall to her sides and leaned against him. Friendly had never felt so good. He rubbed his palm up and down the middle of her back, allowing her time to relax. It really was the best birthday present she had received.
‘I didn’t peg you as an enthusiastic meat-eater,’ said Kel.
‘Oh yes, when I get the chance. It blows the carbon budget to eat too much of the stuff doesn’t it? Theo says it’s the American in me—steers and cowboys and “How the West was won”.’
‘Yee-ha. You’re American?’ She felt the slight tension run through him before he returned to rubbing her back.
‘Once, long ago. Been with Theo too long to remember much about my roots.’ She didn’t want to break the moment but they had an audience just beyond the door counting the seconds she spent in here with him. ‘Saddiq’s probably spent his entire carbon ration for the week on those steaks; I better get out there to check Theo doesn’t burn them.’
Supper was as good as she anticipated, conversation raucous which was the only kind when Valerie and Saddiq were in the room. Theo was quieter than usual, words more guarded. As Meri feared, he was giving Kel a not very subtle interrogation, but then again, Kel seemed happy to answer and asked as many questions in return. Listening in, she learned a little more about him. Ade ruled the roost in their shared house because it belonged to his family. He got to choose his room mates.
‘So your friend is from money?’ Theo asked.
‘Yes, once upon a time it was oil but that’s all gone now obviously. I think they must’ve invested it wisely. Gone into solar and other renewables.’
‘And you? Your parents come from wealth?’
Meri blushed. Next Theo would be asking if Kel could keep her in the style to which she had become accustomed. ‘Ease up a bit. It’s just a first date,’ she whispered to Theo.
‘It’s OK, Meri, Kel knows I’m just getting to know him. I’m interested in people.’
‘You’re nosy.’
‘That too.’ Theo grinned at his friends.
Kel did seem to be taking it all in his stride. ‘No, my family’s not got anything like that behind them. We all have to work for a living—that’s why we’re spread out around the world, going where employment takes us.’
‘But not you surely? You’re at school still,’ Valerie pointed out.
‘Yeah, sure. But I’ll soon be looking for a job too.’ He mopped up the last of the meat juices with a fragment of French bread.
Valerie patted Meri’s wrist. ‘You can’t have everything, dear.’
Her words confused Meri. ‘What?’
‘He’s got looks, intelligence, an artistic soul, but no money. He was almost the perfect man.’
‘Could you be anymore embarrassing if you tried?’ muttered Meri, feeling as if she was the one coming down with the fever now.
Valerie paused in thought. ‘I probably could, sugar, but it’s your birthday so I’ll hold off.’ She elbowed Kel who was sitting beside her. ‘Anyway, this one doesn’t mind me. He knows it’s all teasing in good fun.’
‘He does?’ Meri met his eyes.
Kel smiled easily. ‘I do. Just give me a few free passes, OK, when you meet the guys I live with? They’ll probably give you a hard time too.’
After a rocky start at the museum, Meri had to admit that she was having possibly her best birthday ever. They had prime seats at the concert, front row of the circle—not that they stayed sitting long because Tee Park was in good form, belting out his songs with the backing of a full band, singers and dancers. He looked great: an explosion of dreadlocks, warpaint and a graffiti patterned suit. The music went right through her, making her bones vibrate with the bass and drums. Despite knowing they’d all be deaf for a few days, her party were all on their feet dancing and clapping along with the crowd.
Meri thought she caught a glimpse of someone familiar down in the scrum in front of the stage. She tugged on Kel’s sleeve then pulled him so her mouth was at the level of his ear.
‘Is that Ade I can see down there?’
Kel turned his head to steal a quick kiss. ‘Yeah—and you saved me from that. Lee had to go with him. For Ade being in the middle of that pack equals a good night out.’
Meri spotted Lee next, looking far from happy as he repelled the most enthusiastic bundlers from his friend with some neat moves that looked like they were taken from a martial art. ‘Lee looks miserable. You both should leave Ade to it. He’s a big guy; I’d put money on the fact that he’ll emerge alive.’
Kel shook his head. ‘Oh, we wouldn’t do that to him.’
‘Sweet of you.’
Kel just smiled. ‘Enjoying yourself?’
Feeling bold, she went up on tiptoes and brushed her lips over his. ‘Best night ever.’
He put his arms around her so they could dance together even though the number playing was as far from a slow romantic dance as you could get. He didn’t mind being out of step with the rest of
the world, Meri realized, which counted as an attractive side to his character in her books. This close though, she could feel he was a little too hot.
‘Why don’t you take off your shirt?’ she suggested. ‘Dance in your T-Shirt?’ He’d kept his checked shirt buttoned all night.
‘I’m OK.’ He brushed off her fingers that had gone to the fastenings.
She let the issue drop as something down in the mosh pit caught her eye. ‘Uh-oh: looks like things are getting nasty.’ The dancing had turned into something more closely resembling a riot as Tee Park sang a song about this generation getting shafted by the old, thanks to their fossil fuel greed. Anger at this was never far from the surface and right now had boiled over into a fist fight between the guys in the mosh pit and the bouncers trying to keep them in their pen. As she watched, Ade took a punch to the face and went down.
‘Gotta go—sorry!’ Leaving her abruptly, Kel vaulted over the rows of seats between them and circle balcony. Leaping onto it, he ran along the narrow ledge, grabbed a lighting tower and shinned down to the lower level. Meri kept her hands pressed to her mouth to stop her yelp of alarm. She would never have anticipated him doing something so action hero.
Theo came to her side. ‘What’s James Bond up to now?’
‘His friend’s in trouble down there.’ Meri pointed to the swirling mass of bodies. Bouncers were hauling people up and shoving them out of the exit while Tee Park carried on singing. From the glances the star was sending to the commotion at the front, he was close to abandoning his set. The rest of the audience started booing the scufflers.
‘Take it outside, you fecking idiots!’ yelled Valerie. ‘Some of us just want to dance!’
Meri followed Kel’s bright mop of hair to the edge of the pit. He leapt this too, despite the attempts of an usher to stop him. Diving in, he hauled Ade up by the back of his shirt. It came off in his hands as his friend staggered to his feet.
Oh God, Ade was blazing! Blazing with an almost neon light. His upper body was a mesh of irregular hexagons. Was she really seeing this? Heart racing, she glanced at Theo.
‘Can you see Kel’s friend, Ade?’
‘The guy who’s lost his shirt? Yeah, he looks OK.’
Was she the only one who could see the markings?
Flight and fight instincts kicking in, Meri wanted to scream at Kel to get away from Ade. Those markings meant danger, she knew that in her gut even if she hadn’t seen them, or something like them, before when she was four. She ran to the balcony rail to signal to Kel, to beg him to come back to her where it was safe. The fight in the pit was subsiding as the bouncers removed the lead troublemakers. They tried to pull Kel out but he just shrugged them off, pointing to his mate, obviously explaining why he had dropped out of nowhere to help. They let him be. Kel slipped off his shirt and put it around Ade’s shoulders. He then looked up and saw her standing above him. He waved and gestured to Ade with a rueful smile. Lee appeared beside him, nose running with blood.
He’s bailing on me, realized Meri. He’s staying with his friend.
Kel got out his phone and sent her a text. Sorry. Got to take these two fools to first aid. See you Monday?
Looking at the message, Meri wanted to demand he return to her side but that would be weird in the circumstances. If he couldn’t see the markings then he was probably safe tonight. With his shirt off, she could see that Kel didn’t have any of his own, so he wasn’t one of them. She had to pretend she couldn’t see his friend’s patterns either but still think of a way of warning him away from Ade. She wasn’t sure exactly what Ade was, but it spelt nothing good for either of them.
OK. I hope they’re fine. Her hands were shaking as she typed. From this distance it wasn’t clear but she thought she could also glimpse the edge of a similar kind of pattern peeking out the neck of Lee’s ripped shirt.
Kel read the text and tapped his forehead in acknowledgement.
The noise and the shapes of people dancing blurred in front of her eyes. She had to get out of here. Had to go somewhere to think. There was too much noise, too many people. She stumbled up the steps to her seat. Kel had left his jacket lying on the floor under his. That gave her an idea.
‘Theo, I’m leaving. I’m taking Kel his jacket. See you at home, OK?’
Theo put his arm around her shoulders. ‘You OK?’
Her smile was a little shaky but passable. ‘Yeah, this has been great. I’m just going to check my friends are OK. I’m sure Kel will walk me home.’
At that hint of seeking some alone time with the new boyfriend, Theo grinned. ‘Fine. I won’t wait up.’
Ducking out of more goodbyes with Saddiq and Valerie, Meri grabbed her handbag and Kel’s jacket and headed for the exit.
5
Meri kept her eyes down as she got off the Tube at Wimbledon station, ignoring the people heading out for the clubs and bars. Halfway back she had realized she didn’t know exactly where Kel lived but, fortunately, she’d found a letter in Kel’s jacket addressed to him in a curling female hand. She hadn’t peeked inside even though she’d been tempted, but at least it gave her his location. She was undecided as to whether she should go there at all. He seemed fine with his friends and wasn’t expecting to see her until Monday. Maybe the danger was all in her mind?
The flash of glowing skin in summer sunshine. Hot hay prickling her skin. Hours and hours hiding, not knowing if anyone would come for her.
Meri shuddered. Her instincts were telling her it wasn’t imagination; she had lived through these things.
She really needed that second letter from her parents, the one that promised to tell her about her enemies. Only then would she know for sure.
‘OK, Meri,’ she whispered as she stood outside the little row of closed shops, ‘are you going to be that mouse you’ve been for the last few years, or Kel’s friend? You can at least check that he’s OK. He spent most of the day running a fever, remember?’
A cowardly part of her wanted to claim she was happy remaining a mouse but she chased that thought away and followed the directions on her phone towards Kel’s address near Wimbledon Common. Kel didn’t live that far from her, which she supposed she should have guessed from the fact the three boys got on at the next bus stop after hers. His house, however, was worlds apart from the little maisonette in which she lived. It was a big, double-fronted mansion set in its own gardens. You couldn’t just walk up to the front door but had to buzz on the black double gates. Standing at the end of the drive looking in, she could see people moving in front of the lit windows and hear the thud of a music centre pumping out Tee Park’s latest tracks.
She patted down the jacket again, tempted to hold on to it until Monday. It smelt so nice and had a soft buttery feel to the material. If it was fake leather, it was a really good simulation, but she suspected it might be real. Fingers meeting the bulge of a wallet in the righthand pocket, she reminded herself she had the perfect excuse for her impromptu house call. She pressed the buzzer. No response. She pressed again.
‘Yo, can’t hear you,’ bellowed the guy on the other end. ‘If it’s the neighbours, sorry, we’ll turn it down. If you’re the police, then same goes I suppose.’ The light flicked off and the music dropped so she could no longer hear it from the street.
She pressed the buzzer, holding on this time.
‘What?’ snapped the voice. The camera over the gate swivelled to take a look at her.
‘I’m not the police or the neighbours. I’ve got Kel’s jacket—he left it at the concert.’
‘Oh right. OK.’ There was a pause and the gate buzzed. Meri pushed it open, walked in and let it slam shut. Security was pretty tight; she could see more cameras on the outside of the house monitoring the path and the grounds.
As she approached the steps, the front door opened and a man stepped out, brown hair cut short like an army recruit. Dressed in white shirt and black trousers, he blocked her entry. Meri couldn’t help but notice that the surround around the door was ma
de from exquisite stained glass, light spilling on the marble steps in ripples. Disconcertingly, peril featured heavily in the colour-scheme, swimming before her eyes.
‘Hey, thanks for bringing it back.’ The man held out his hand to take the jacket.
She hugged it to her chest, fighting back her fear. He had a wrist band of leaf patterned markings showing, not bright like Ade’s but definitely visible to her eyes. Her gut was screaming at her to run but she held her ground with difficulty. ‘Is…Is Kel here?’
The man dropped his arm. ‘Are you Meredith?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m Swanny, short for Avon Swanson. Did Kel mention me?’
‘No.’
He folded his arms, no give in his stance. ‘I work for Ade and keep the show on the road in this house. So you can give me the jacket. I’ll look after it for Kel.’
Meri bit the inside of her cheek. You must not panic. Was this guy like a butler or something? ‘I’d really prefer to give it to Kel directly—check he’s OK. He wasn’t well earlier.’
Reflexively, Swanny looked back over his shoulder. ‘I can’t let you in without Ade’s permission, but I’ll see if he’s free, OK?’
‘Um, OK.’
Meri waited miserably in the step while Swanny dipped back into the house. This didn’t make sense: going to see a friend shouldn’t require clearance from the householder—that was way too controlling. Maybe Kel really was in danger; maybe he was being held against his will? A ridiculous image of him being chained up in a dungeon popped into her mind.
Swanny came back a minute later and opened the door wide. ‘You can come in. Ade would come down and say hello but he’s lying down with an icepack on his head. Idiot.’
Her eyes swept over the spacious foyer. It was like something from an old movie: polished marble tiles, a curling abstract sculpture on a side table, a chandelier dangling like an ice-dagger aimed at the floor. She guessed the house dated from the 1930s, the lines clean and making full use of curves and swirls like an ocean liner saloon of that era. Not a smelly sock slum after all. ‘Um, nice place.’