Little White Lies (12 page)

“I hate this game!” Vix tosses her Xbox controller onto Christian’s sofa in disgust as her character is blown to smithereens yet again. “It’s boring!”

“Only cos you’re losing!” I laugh.

“Can’t we do something else?” Vix asks. “
Anything
else!”

“Not yet—one more round. A decider,” Kenny says. “After I’ve been to the loo—
nothing’s
coming between me and victory this time, Shepherd!”

“In your dreams!” I scoff.

“I need a drink!” Vix frowns at her empty glass. “Do you have any more wine, Christian?” she yells.

“Yep, white’s in the fridge, red’s in my bag by the sofa!” he shouts from the kitchen. I spot it by my feet. “Can you help yourselves?” he calls. “Sorry, can’t leave the stove!”

“No worries! I can have bigger glassfuls that way!” Vix winks at me. “You want white wine?”

“Nope, I’m on red, thanks.” She bounces out of the room while I open Christian’s bag to retrieve the bottle and my fingers brush against his sketchbook.

I’d show you, but then, you know, I’d have to kill you....

I lean closer. What could be so secret...?

I glance at the doorway; then carefully I pull the sketchbook from his bag, open it up, flick through the pages... then I freeze.

Now I understand.

“Oh my God!” Vix cries, coming in behind me. “What’s
that
?”

“Shh!” I hiss. “It’s Christian’s sketchbook.”

“Lou!” She stares at me, her eyes wide. “This
proves
it!”

“What’s going on?” Kenny asks, returning.

Vix grins. “Christian’s in
lurve
!”

“What?” he frowns.

“Look!” She points at the sketchbook. “Why else would he draw Lou so beautifully?”

We all stare at the picture.

“It’s not a bad likeness either.” Vix takes it from me and holds it next to my face. “He’s got your eyes, definitely, and your nose—but the shape of your chin’s not quite right, and your hair’s all wrong—he obviously doesn’t see enough of you!”

Kenny looks at me, his face pale. Then the doorbell rings, making us all jump.

“Could someone get that, please?” Christian calls. “I’m kind of tied up.”

“Ooh,
kinky
!” Vix winks at me as she jumps up to answer the door. I close the sketchbook quickly and slide it back into Christian’s bag, my heart beating fast.

“Lou,” Kenny says quietly, his eyes serious. “The sketch—”

“Pizza!” Vix cries suddenly, cutting him off. We both look up to see a delivery guy at the front door, holding a stack of six boxes. “Guess we’re not having curry after all!” She laughs, showing him in. “Just pop them on the coffee table, hon. Now,
that’s
what you call a leaning tower of pizza, huh?” She grins. “You can stop hiding in the kitchen, Christian! Your secret’s out—the pizza guy’s here!”

“What?”
Christian hurries into the room.

“Guess you’re not much of a cook either, huh?” Vix jokes.

“Nice contingency plan, mate,” Kenny says. “Everyone loves pizza!”

“That’s fifty-nine pounds seventy, please,” the delivery guy says.

“No. There’s been a mistake,” Christian says agitatedly. “I didn’t order these!”

“This
is
Twelve Bromley Road?” The guy folds his arms.

“Yes, but I didn’t call you!” Christian protests.

“Well, someone did.”

“Not us,” Christian insists.

“Then we’ve got a problem.”

“No,
you’ve
got a problem,” Christian argues. “It’s not our problem. We didn’t order any pizza.”

Everyone looks at each other awkwardly as Christian and the delivery guy glare at each other.

“Listen, mate, all I know is I’ve got six pizzas getting cold here and
someone’s
got to pay for them,” the guy says gruffly.

“Well, that’s your mistake, not ours.
Mate,
” Christian says hotly, squaring up to him. “Maybe
you
should pay for them?”

I stare at him. I’ve never seen Christian so aggressive.

“Is that right?” The guy takes a step closer.

“Yeah,” Christian says, stepping closer still, his face flushed with anger. “It is.”

Every hair on my body stands on end. What’s he going to do? Hit the guy?

“All right, calm down, boys!” Vix says quickly, stepping between them and pulling out her purse.

“Vix, don’t,” Christian says. “It’s his mistake.”

“It’s fine!” she insists. “I love pizza, and I’ve got... well, I’ve got enough for a couple, anyway.” She pulls out two ten-pound notes and glances at me.

“I don’t,” I say. “Sorry, I used the last of my cash on the taxi.”

“I’ve only got twenty quid too,” Christian sighs, fumbling in his wallet.

“Kenny?” Vix says pointedly.

“Sorry.” He shrugs. “I don’t really carry cash.”

“What about the money you withdrew from the ATM when we went to buy ingredients for Lou’s cake?” she reminds him.

“Oh yeah.” He glances at me apologetically as he reluctantly pulls out his wallet. “I forgot about that.” Vix takes it from him and pulls out a twenty-pound note.

“Here.” She gives the cash to the delivery guy. “Keep the change.” He takes the money, glares at us all, then leaves, slamming the door behind him.

“I’m so sorry, guys,” Christian says miserably, sinking into a chair. “I don’t know what got into me. It just... it just seems to be one thing after another at the moment. First taxi calls all day and night, then I lose the pub keys and there’s a break-in and Mike
still
thinks I was involved—he’s been giving me dirty looks all week—then my bike gets scratched, and now a fricking stack of unwanted pizzas arrives at the door! I don’t know what’s going on!”

“Maybe you’ve pissed someone off,” Kenny says.

“Or maybe it’s just bad karma,” I suggest. “Maybe you did something terrible in a past life?”

I watch as a frown flickers across Christian’s face.

“By the way, did you sort out your taxi problem?” Vix asks. “The phone hasn’t rung since we got here.”

“I had to unplug it in the end,” Christian sighs. “I only use my mobile now.”

“Who needs a landline anyway?” Vix shrugs. “And as for pizzas? They’re
never
unwanted.”

“But what about my curry?” He frowns. “It’s all done, it just has to simmer for another forty minutes.”

“And it smells delicious.” Vix smiles at him. “So let’s all eat the curry tonight, then take the pizza home for breakfast—
problem solved!”

A smile tugs at his lips. “Breakfast?”

“Course!” She grins. “Cold pizza’s my favorite.”

“Seriously?” I cringe at the thought.

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, Shepherd. Besides, you’ve got some odd eating habits yourself, Miss Marmalade Sandwiches
—ugh!” She shudders.

“They’re delicious!” I protest.

“All the secrets are coming out now!” Kenny laughs. “Hey, why don’t we play Never Have I Ever? Then we’ll
really
get to know each other.”

“Ooh
yes
!” Vix squeals.

“No way!” I glare at him. The last thing I want is anyone discovering my secrets, and Kenny knows it. What is he playing at?

“What’s Never Have I Ever?” Christian asks.

“A drinking game.” Kenny grins. “Everyone has to say something they’ve never done, and if anyone else
has
done it, they have to drink. We’ll be nice,” Kenny promises me. “Nothing too rude or embarrassing.” He winks. “Trust me.”

“Okay...” I relent. I can always lie if someone asks something tricky, after all.

“Er... one problem,” Christian says. “I don’t drink.”

“Come on!” Vix protests. “Make an exception—it’s a party!”

“Um, it’s
my
party,” I remind her. “And it’s Christian’s house, so he doesn’t have to drink.”

Christian smiles at me.

“Killjoy!” Vix groans.

“We can still play,” Kenny insists. “Christian, you just have to down three fingers’ worth of juice for every finger of wine we drink—deal?”

“Why not?” Christian shrugs. “I think I’ll need a bit more juice, though.”

“I’ll get it,” Kenny offers, leaping to his feet. “Wine okay for everyone else?”

“Fine.” I nod.

“Vodka shots for me!” Vix cries, rushing after him.

“Thank you.” I smile at Christian once we’re alone. “You didn’t have to do this. The curry, the Xbox game.”

“It’s nothing.” He shrugs. “Anything to save you from the evil clutches of clubbing on your birthday!”

I laugh. “My hero.”

“Let’s get this party
started
!” Vix cries, rushing back into the room with bottles of wine and vodka as Kenny follows, carrying a
huge
pitcher of what looks like orange juice for Christian.

“Is
this
enough?” Kenny grins.

“I hope so—otherwise you’ll have uncovered
all
my secrets!” Christian laughs. “I didn’t know I
had
that much orange juice!”

“You don’t,” Kenny says. “Orange, apple, pineapple—it’s all in there. Might taste a bit odd, but we couldn’t make it
too
easy for you, mate!”

“Cheers!”

“Enough chitchat, let’s
start
!” Vix cries. “Me first.
Never
have I
ever
drunk alcohol!”

“You’re meant to
actually
never
have done it, Vix!” I laugh as we all chink glasses.

“But then I wouldn’t get to drink!” she protests. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“Never have I ever shaved my legs.” Kenny grins as Vix and I drink.

“Never have I ever shaved my
face,
” I retort.

“Never have I ever worn a dress,” Christian counters.

“Kenny!” Vix laughs as he drinks.

“Boarding-school prank,” he mutters. “Don’t ask.” Everyone laughs.

“Never have I ever ridden a motorbike,” Vix sighs, and Christian smiles at me as the rest of us drink.

“Never have I ever gone jogging!”

“Pulled a pint!”

“Watched
Doctor Who
!”

“Just as well this is only fruit juice!” Christian grins. “I seem to be drinking all the time!”

As the game continues I start to relax. The questions are surprisingly tame, everyone’s having a good time, and I feel the wine loosening me up.

“Never have I ever enjoyed clubbing.” Christian smiles at me when it’s his turn.

“Never have I ever known someone who died,” Vix says.

“Morbid, Vix!” I frown as I take a shot.

“I have my reasons.” She shrugs.

Christian hesitates, then takes a swig of his juice.

Vix turns to him. “You know someone?”

His eyes cloud as he nods. “A guy I knew died in front of me.”

My stomach tightens. “What happened?” I ask, watching him closely.

“A drunk guy stabbed him,” Christian says quietly. “That’s why I don’t drink.”

I frown.

“Shit!” Vix gasps. “Can I use him for my ghost story?”

“Tactful, Vix!” Kenny comments.

“What? A vengeful spirit out to punish those who killed him—it’s great!—just like
Hamlet
!” she protests. “Revenge always makes a good story.”

“But they’re usually tragedies too,” Christian comments. “Revenge just makes people bitter or miserable. It’s not worth it. By the end of
Hamlet
everyone’s dead.”

“So what are you saying?” I frown. “That criminals should just get away with it?”

“No, just... that there are already systems in place to govern justice.”

“But the justice system doesn’t always work,” I argue.

“I know,” Christian sighs. “Believe me, I know.”

“Did they catch the person who killed your friend?” Vix asks.

“Yes.” Christian nods. “He went to jail.”

“Good.” She smiles. “The story’s got a happy ending, then.”

If only it were that simple,
I think.

“Well, that killed the party!” Kenny says. “So to speak!”

“Sorry,” Vix laughs. “Okay. Never have I ever... shagged a policeman!”

“Been to Disneyland!”

“Been skinny-dipping!”

“Got a tattoo!”

“Smoked a cigarette!”

“Smoked weed!”

“Never have I ever used a fake ID!” Kenny says.

I look up sharply. What is he doing?