Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1) (31 page)

“Shush child. It’s not like you haven’t got Malik upstairs,’’ she says having a point.

“Yes, but we’re kids. You’re adults. You shouldn’t be fondling on the sofa at your age,’’ I scold. “Say goodnight then go to sleep.’’

Walking up the stairs I can’t help but grimace when I hear Gram’s asking when they can fondle again.

Jesus, pass me a bucket.....

Finally after two weeks of exams, I’ve finally finished my last one. I’ve been so stressed out with all the revision I’ve had to catch up on that I’ve hardly gotten any sleep for the past two weeks.

I couldn’t even use Malik to relieve some stress because Aunt Flow came to visit at the beginning of the week.

My period had finally stopped this morning, but Malik has his final race tonight, so we won’t have any alone time until later on tonight, or tomorrow, depending on how much celebrating he wants to do tonight after the race.

He’s more determined to win this race more than ever after Davis tried to get him disqualified for the fight that happened between them last week. Malik explained what happened to the bosses and that he had a few witnesses to what went down.

With no proof the organisers couldn’t do anything to Malik or Davis. They just said they’d be keeping an eye on them both in the future. In one way that’s a good thing. I’ve been so worried that Davis is going to try something tonight at the race all week. Everyone agrees with me too.

Since Monday Davis has done nothing but go out of his way to try and piss Malik and I off. First it started with him taunting me, saying crude things, but then gradually he took it to a whole other level. He began touching me knowing it will set Malik off. We’d been lucky someone was always around to pull Malik away from him before the first punch could be thrown. I think this had something to do with Max because it seemed there was always one of his football team around us to intervene.

I’m just glad that in another three weeks I’ll be out of this school for good and hopefully never have to see Davis’s face again. How I’ve managed to stick around this long without running away or worse, is shocking. I’ve never known anyone to go out of their way like Davis has to make another person’s life miserable. It’s like he gets off on it.

It’s been that long since I first laid eyes on him that I’ve forgotten why he has the problem to begin with. I’m almost certain if I asked him he wouldn’t know now either. He can obviously hold a grudge.

“Thank God that’s over,’’ Denny moans as we make our way out the school.

“I know. How did you do?’’

“I’m not sure. I’m hoping all my hard work with all the revision I’ve been doing will pay off. I can’t afford to re-sit these exams again,’’ she says with desperation in her voice.

“What do you mean?’’ I wonder.

“Oh... I... it’s nothing. I guess I’m just worried about having to revise again for them. It wasn’t fun the first time,’’ she answers allude.

“O-okay. I can see why you’d be worried about that,’’ I tell her, looking at her pale face. She’s been ill again for the past week, but her mother sent her to school anyway. On Monday she came in with a sickness bug and spent most of the afternoon in the girl’s toilets.

“What time are you coming to mine to get ready?’’ I ask as we near the bus stop. Denny’s mom has refused to pick her up after school this week for some reason, so she’s been stuck with catching the bus home.

“Oh... I... Can I meet you at the race again? My mom needs me to do some chores tonight, so it’s probably best if I meet you there.’’

“Okay. I thought you could help me chose an outfit bein’s it’s the big finale,’’ I giggle.

“Wear that cute summer dress you bought when we went shopping. You know the one with no back?’’

“You mean the flowery white one with a triangle shape missing at the back?’’  

“Yes that one. The field should be dry enough for you to where dolly shoes, but you can get away with wearing those brown ankle boots you’ve got hidden away in the cupboard.’’

I roll my eyes playfully, knowing what pair she’s going on about, “I’ll most likely wear the flats.’’

“Here’s my bus. I’ll text you when I’m on my way,’’ she tells me before getting on the bus.

I wait, waving her off before starting my own way home where I’m meeting Gram’s so we can go out for dinner. She wants to talk about my birthday that’s coming up next week. I turn eighteen and I’ve told her to keep that information to herself. I don’t want people making a huge fuss over it. It doesn’t feel right when my mom and dad aren’t here to celebrate it with me. They’re the ones who raised me, who gave birth to me and who should be the ones to celebrate it with me.

Shaking thoughts of my parents away, I think about what I’ll wear tonight. I guess the flowery sun dress will be suitable for dinner with Gram’s, the race and the after party. I’m actually excited about what Gram’s surprise is. It’s why she picked a restaurant to go to dinner instead of staying in and cooking for me.

I asked her why we couldn’t just stay in with a homemade dinner, but she told me she didn’t want me running out on her and I would if we were at home. I’d escape to my room like I always do when things get tough. Whereas being at a restaurant I don’t have anywhere to run to. I didn’t mention the ladies room. I don’t want her ringing them up in advance and asking them to put an ‘out of order’ sign on the door. It’s something she’d do.

Finishing our delicious meals, Gram’s and I order another drink before settling back down into a comfortable silence.

The restaurant is set out so one half is a pub and the other side is a restaurant, both given privacy from the bar placed in the middle. Gram’s and I even have a good view of the chefs working the grills, flipping steaks and what have you. The place has a warm vibe feeling with its blood red walls, candle lighting, and old fashioned coal fireplace.

“So, eighteen next week, are you sure you don’t want a party or something? It’s a big birthday to miss sweetie and your parent’s would want you to celebrate it.’’

Gram’s gives me whiplash I swear. She’s so old and wise, yet has this immature, down to earth personality. I never know which I’m going to get until she talks. Looks like I got old and wise tonight.

I sigh, “To me, birthdays are for celebrating being brought into this world. It should be shared with those who made you. Mom and Dad didn’t just produce me, give birth to me, but they raised me. Every birthday wouldn’t be just about me, it would be about what we have, what we were blessed with and that was each other. Now they’re gone,’’ I shrug, feeling my eyes water.

“Oh baby girl, they’re never too far away from your heart. I like to think they’ll be watching over you still celebrating what they made and feeling proud of the strong, beautiful, independent woman you’ve become. Losing them would have sent most kids your age down a dark path of destruction, but you sweetie handled it to the best of your ability, you know deep down in your heart they are still nearby. They just aren’t here,
here.
’’

“I get what you’re saying Gram’s. It’s just hard. We already had plans made before they died, so I don’t want to do anything. It doesn’t feel right and I don’t want a fuss. I hope you understand,’’ I tell her wiping the tears that have fallen.

“I do girl. I just don’t want you to regret it.’’

“I won’t Grandma. I need to do this. Mom spent hours giving birth to me, she went through so much to raise me that I just want to deal with my first birthday without them in my own way.’’

“Okay. I hope you don’t mind, but I got you something. Well, I made it. I knew you didn’t want a fuss for your birthday so I thought giving it to you now would be more like a gift than a birthday present.’’

“What is it?’’ I ask when she brings a box from under the table and places it in front of me.

“Open it,’’ she cackles, rolling her eyes.

I smile ripping off the tissue paper and gasp at the photo in front of me. It’s one of me and my parents at the beach a few years ago. I look at Gram’s shocked, surprised and really confused on how she got this picture. I left it boxed up at home. I still need to get everything I packed to keep sent over. I just haven’t wanted to yet.

“I asked Jessica to send me some photos over. She didn’t mind. She also cleared the attic up when she noticed you hadn’t been up there.’’

“The attic?’’ I ask confused. We never had an attic, not that I knew about anyway.

“She said the hatch was in your mothers walk in closet. There were boxes of their stuff from when they were kids so she managed to look through them and has kept the things she thinks will be of value to you,’’ Gram’s smiled gently at me.

With shaky hands I turn the first page, tears pouring from my eyes when I see the picture of my mom and dad when they were younger. I’d seen a similar one like this growing up. They look so happy together standing next to a statue in the town square.

I don’t stop crying whilst flicking through the pages on pages of photos of my parents growing up, then my mom pregnant with me, and then us as a family. Every picture makes me miss them that much more, wishing they were here with me.

“Thank you so much Gram’s, it’s beautiful,’’ I whisper, my voice choked up with emotion. My chin wobbles as I close the book, a sob threatening to escape as I look up at Gram’s. She’s wiping tears from her own eyes before she reaches out and clasps my hand with hers.

“You’re most welcome, sweetie. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see any of this, but please know that I missed your mother and you so very much. Every day I regret the way I reacted when she told me about being pregnant and about your father. I had been so wrong about him and for that I’ll always be sorry. I never got the chance to get to know the man who stole my daughter’s heart.’’

“I know, Gram’s,’’ I smile weakly patting her hand. We both stare at the front of the beautiful handcrafted photo album, both of us stuck in the past. I know Gram’s has a hard time getting over what happened between them, but we can’t go back and change that now.

“It’s half seven, doesn’t Malik’s race start soon?’’ she asks snapping me back to the present. I had been so lost in looking through the album again that I didn’t realise the time.

“Oh crap,’’ I say when I get my phone out to find seven missed calls, nine messages all from Malik and another two messages from Denny asking me to meet her by the front gates. 

“Go on, I’ll pay the bill. Mark should be here by now to take me home. Here is the money for the taxi,’’ she says passing me a twenty pound note.

“I have money,’’ I wave her off.

“Well now you’ve got more,’’ she presses, handing the money back before grabbing her coat off the back of her chair. I do the same, grabbing my brown white cardigan and putting it on.

“I’ll see you later and thank you Gram’s for the meal, for the present and for the money. Thank you for everything you do for me,’’ I smile, feeling my eyes water once again. I reluctantly hand over the album, wishing I could keep it with me. I’ve not showed Malik or Denny anything from my past, but seeing all this tonight has me wanting to show it off.

“Go on before I ruin my mascara again,’’ she chuckles, dabbing the napkin under her eye.

I give her a hug before leaving to call a taxi. I send Malik a text message apologising for not replying back and for being late. He replies with kisses telling me to get my sexy ass there. Grinning, I do as he says; glad when the taxi pulls up outside the restaurant.

The field is more packed than usual when I arrive and I start to panic that I won’t find Denny or any of the boys in this crowd.

I’m walking to our usual meeting spot not seeing anyone, until I turn back towards the exit and notice Denny standing up on one of the banks above the pits sitting down alone on the grass.

“Hey, what are you doing up here alone?’’ I ask when I reach her, taking a seat down next to her.

“Malik said the place is too crowded tonight and said something doesn’t feel right. He wants us to watch the race from up here out of the way. Max and Myles have just gone to get us a drink. Hope you don’t mind that I ordered you lemonade,’’ she says looking out onto the tracks.

“How come there’s so many people here tonight?’’ knowing it was never this busy before.

“I have no idea. I nearly got trampled on twice until Malik saw me waiting for you and sent me up here. He’s going to be back soon, he just needed to go do his usual stuff then he’ll be back over.’’

“Everything okay?’’ I ask noticing how distant she sounds.

“Yeah. Just tired I guess. I had to walk from the bus stop to here, so my feet are killing,’’ she laughs, her face lighting up.

“Why didn’t you say, I would have gotten you to get the bus into town to come meet me so we could get a taxi together.’’

“I’m surprised you got one. I ordered one and it said it would be a twenty minute wait. More like they couldn’t be assed to pick up some kid wanting to come here,’’ she says heatedly.

I’m still surprised she walked the thirty minute walk here by herself. The road here doesn’t have any bus lanes, so none drive down here. It’s a shame because they’d probably make more money if they did. The road doesn’t even have street lamps either, so I’d shit myself walking down there alone.

“How’s my two favourite girls?’’ Max shouts running up the hill towards us.

“Please pretend to be my date,’’ he begs Denny sitting next to her and placing his arm around her shoulder.

“What the...’’

“Oh, so you do have a girlfriend,’’ an annoyingly sweet voice snaps that has us all turning our heads towards her.