The Crescendo (14 page)

Jaz went and joined them on the couch and told them the plan. ‘And so I go back tomorrow to try and win Ted over.'

‘Gosh, Tilly doesn't waste time, does he?' said Anna, frowning.

‘I guess we can't afford to. There's no time like the present.' Jaz shrugged. ‘And I have to ask Mum; no, actually I'm going to tell her that I want to move in here.'

‘What? At Pax's?' Anna sounded shocked.

‘It's the perfect solution. I can come and go as I please and keep an eye on the gym. I'll tell Mum I want to run this place after school's finished so why not move in now. Do you think she'll go for it?'

‘Shit, I wish my mum would. She'd kill me for even asking. But maybe she'd let me stay here on occasion if you are here.' Anna's eyes lit up. Green swirling seas. ‘Oh, this could work.'

‘Do you want Pax's room?' asked Jaz.

No one had touched anything of his. Seeing as the place now belonged to them, no one had mentioned cleaning out the house. They hadn't even gone into Pax's room.

‘No. You take it. You'll be the one who'll get to stay here and run the gym. Maybe when I'm twenty-five my parents will let me make my own decisions,' Anna said with a roll of her eyes.

‘If you're sure?' Anna nodded. ‘Will both of you help me clean it out over the weekend? It's not something I want to do alone.'

‘Sure, of course. What are we going to do with all his clothes? We have to keep his favourite Hawaiian shirt,' said Anna.

‘How about we get one framed to hang in the gym next to Ali?' said Tay.

‘Oh Tay, that's brilliant.' Anna gave him a hug and he almost blushed.

He cleared his throat. ‘How about we watch the rest of this movie and then make a start on the room before we all go home?'

‘I like the sound of that,' said Jaz.

‘Me too.'

‘Oh, and Anna, I need a new driver's licence for a Jeni, for tomorrow, please?' Jaz said remembering.

‘Jeni? Yeah, I guess it will do,' said Anna studying her. ‘I'll whip one up while you guys start on the room.'

‘It's a plan. Thanks.'

They all squished together on the couch and Tay pressed play.

Jaz pulled out her phone and sent her mum a message saying she may be late.

Jaz didn't want to live her whole life at the gym. She had been thinking she would like her own nice house like Ryan, even better would be sharing his house. She sighed. That was a far out pipedream. How could that ever become a reality? Thoughts like this did nothing but make life harder. So with a forced effort she focused on the TV and watched as Mike stuffed his marble bag full of jewels from the pirate ship belonging to One-Eyed Willy.

Chapter 14

Jaz arrived at The Duke at fifteen minutes to six. She wore a plain black V-neck t-shirt that was a little snug and denim shorts with her black hi-top Converse shoes. Ted had been wearing black and she hoped it had been a uniform of sorts. She walked in and went straight to the bar. Ted was wiping down the bar top and almost groaned when he saw her.

‘Hi, Ted. I'm ready to start. What do you want me to do?' she asked brightly.

‘First let me check your ID so I don't get caught with an underage kid.'

Jaz whipped out her new driver's licence and waited for him to hand it back. ‘Righto, have you ever poured a beer before?'

‘Nope, but I'm ready to learn.'

Ted had her filling glasses with the perfect head on them in no time and then it was onto using the till, where to wash the glasses, and then he showed her the kitchen and said she could help them out in here when things were slow, doing dishes and clearing tables. Jaz took it all in her stride and stayed in the kitchen to finish some dishes before popping back out to the bar to see how Ted was getting on.

In her absence it had got busier and she quickly ducked around picking up empty glasses, getting them washed and even took a few orders while Ted was busy at the other end of the bar.

‘Craig, Bert, you boys made it back,' she said when she finally saw some faces she knew. ‘What'll you have?'

‘Hello, lass. We'll both have a middy, thanks.'

They sat at the two empty stools by the bar, their usual seats she was guessing, and placed a twenty-dollar note each on the bar.

Jaz shot them a smile as she poured both glasses. ‘
Voilà
, what do you think? Not bad, hey? Just the right amount of froth?' she said, as she took their twenties and dumped the correct change back on the bar in front of them.

‘Yeah, I'd say you done really good there,' said Bert, licking his lips.

‘You guys are my special lads tonight. Just give me the nod and I'll be over to fix you up.' Jaz gave them a wink. ‘Now if you'll excuse me, there is a lad over there who can't play pool properly.'

While everyone seemed happy with drinks, Jaz ducked over to the pool table where two guys in their late twenties, maybe early thirties, were playing a game. ‘No drinks on the table, fellas. Who's winning?' she asked as she took the beer off and held it waiting for the responsible owner to fetch it. She plastered on a big smile so they wouldn't get upset.

‘I am,' said the guy with longish blond hair. ‘Thanks. You any good at pool?' he asked.

‘Maybe.'

‘Take my next shot?'

‘Sure. If you keep your beers off the table, I'll give it a crack.' Jaz took the outstretched pool cue and indicated to the red ball. ‘You smalls?' He nodded and Jaz took the shot, only just sinking it. She was a bit rusty. It might be something to work on if she wanted to keep doing this. ‘There ya go. You ready for another drink?' she asked, indicating to their low glasses.

‘Why not. Can we get two of the same, thanks.' Blondy took out a fifty and handed it to her.

‘Be right back,' she said.

She got their beers and their change and was about to head back when Ted gave her an appreciative nod. Well, that was a start.

But getting Blondy to drink more ended up with causing trouble when Jaz deemed him too drunk and cut off his beer.

‘Ted? Do you think he's had enough?' she said, asking for clarification.

‘Yep. Sorry mate. Have a water on the house,' said Ted placing a bottle of water on the bar.

‘I don't want a fucken water, this is a pub, for fuck's sake,' said Blondy, getting agitated.

His friend backed him up with some supportive words, which didn't help the situation at all. They were starting to cause a scene. Jaz went to the friend and told him to head outside for some fresh air.

‘We will, but with a beer,' said Blondy, slapping his money down on the bar.

People turned to watch, waiting, the chatter died down in the otherwise noisy bar.

‘Come on, mate. Why don't I walk ya's out,' said Jaz softly. She was hoping her charm would cool the situation.

‘Piss orf,' came his reply.

‘Do you want to walk out here on your own steam or do you want me to drag your arse out and embarrass you in front of the whole pub? It's your call, mate,' she said harshly. She was using her serious voice. He was in trouble now.

‘Who the fuck do you think you are?' He laughed.

‘Ted, do you mind if I remove this man from your establishment?'

Ted's eyebrows were working overtime as he tried to figure out how the hell she intended doing that. She could tell he was worried, more for her safety than anything. ‘Um, I better do it.'

‘It's cool. I got it. Come on then, let's go.' She reached for his arm and he flicked her off.

‘I ain't moving till I get me beer,' he growled.

Jaz was sure he was about to add ‘bitch' on the end but stopped short. Maybe he was concerned with the look she was giving him. Actually, she was quite happy he needed to be escorted out. Ted couldn't say no to her if she could handle the drunks.

‘Fine.' She reached for his arm again but before he could flick her off again she whipped it around behind his back and reefed it up to his shoulderblades.

‘Hey, oouch.' Blondy tried to fight her but in his drunken state he was no match for Jaz's strength, and in the end she felt his defeat.

She guided him to the door, directing him with the tension on his arm. Ted followed and held out his money. ‘No hard feelings, mate, but rules are rules.'

Blondy shot Jaz a funny look when she let him go. ‘Who are you?' he mumbled before taking his money and walking away, with his mate following. He rolled his shoulder and stretched his arm as he went. A smile tugged on her lips. Getting physical was so much fun.

Jaz walked past Ted, back inside, dusting off her hands, and went back to collecting empty glasses.

Jaz didn't know how long Ted wanted her to work for so she just kept going until they closed up. It was nearly eleven-thirty and her feet were killing her, and she was wondering if she was half drunk on the smell of grog alone. After she saw Bert and Craig out the door, the last hangers-on, she plonked herself down in a chair by the bar and looked at Ted. ‘Are those two always the last to go?'

‘Na, I think they just stayed for you,' he said with a smile. ‘You did good, Jeni. You must be stuffed, you didn't stop.'

‘Told you I work hard,' she said, pushing her luck.

Ted just shook his head and poured them both a Coke. ‘You know how to handle the drunks too. Had practice?' he probed.

‘You could say that. My mate back home was a Mixed Martial Arts fighter and he taught me a few things. He loved all that stuff and it's rather cool once you get into it. Saved my arse a few times from creepy guys who couldn't handle “no”.'

‘Can't say I've had that problem,' said Ted with a chuckle. ‘Well, you're full of surprises, Jeni. You will be good for this place, I reckon. You seem to brighten up this bleak old room and the guys like it. A lot of them will be back because you made their night enjoyable, maybe not Blondy but that's no great loss.' He let out a big sigh. ‘I guess I better hire you.'

‘Really?'

Ted nodded. ‘Really. I'd be stupid not to.'

Jaz did little fist pumps. ‘Thank you, Ted, you won't regret it.'

‘So tell me a bit about yourself, Jeni?'

Jaz told him as much as she dared. She'd planned her story out during school today, three pages of notes. More than she did for her study!

She told Ted how she lived with a friend in a flat, hence she needed a job. Her parents were from a country town.

‘Ah, that explains the friendly nature,' he said. ‘You seem very trustworthy.'

She took that as a good sign. They chatted for another ten minutes and he got her phone number so he could text her next shifts through. ‘I'm after anything, Ted. Even if you need to be somewhere I can come fill in during the week. Just let me know.' Jaz wasn't sure when Jamison's boys came in, so if she could get work at all different times then she might be able to piece together their times. She had no clue if any of them were here tonight and it wasn't really her goal. Tonight had been all about impressing Ted so he wanted to hire her, and getting the hang of this job. Getting to know the regulars would come within the next few weeks and that's when she'd take note of Jamison's guys.

Tilly was also getting the intel for her to look at over the weekend so she could familiarise herself with Jamison's bodyguards. That way she would know them the moment they stepped into the bar.

‘Thanks for the Coke, Ted. I better be getting home.'

‘I'll get all the paperwork sorted for tomorrow night. You can come back tomorrow and do this all again?' Ted raised an eyebrow curiously. He could probably tell how beat she was, but he was testing her.

‘Sure can. I'll be here. Same time?'

‘Same bat channel,' he said with a smile and Jaz laughed. Pax had always said that too.

‘Night Ted.'

Jaz walked outside into the cool night air. Music was beating away in the distance, from a house party maybe. The streetlights lit the way as she walked towards her bus stop. This was now going to be her new routine. She would also have to bring a backpack to put her stuff in, a jumper and maybe a knife for safety in case she was jumped this late at night waiting for the bus. But hopefully not tonight. Tonight she was too dead on her feet for any fighting. If she was attacked she'd make sure to tell them that.

***

Saturday morning Jaz made her parents a coffee and some bacon and eggs. They gravitated towards the kitchen as the bacon started wafting.

‘What's going on here?' said Paul. ‘You hungry, Jaz?'

‘Yes, and I thought you might be too. Pull up a chair, I've made you both a cuppa. Eggs won't be a second.' Jaz indicated the cups sitting on the breakfast bar.

‘Oh, thank you,' said Paul, taking his and sitting at the table.

Tasha didn't move, she was in her weekend wear of Lorna Jane work-out suit, black tights and a matching jumper. ‘What's happened? Did you crash your car? Failed your exams?' Tash raised her eyebrows curiously.

Paul glanced up from the table, only now realising he'd been bribed.

‘Nothing like that,' said Jaz as she put the eggs onto the toast next to the bacon. ‘But I do want to talk to you both.' She handed Tasha her plate, then carried her own and Paul's to the table.

‘It must be serious for this?' said Paul. He was still wearing his blue fluffy robe.

‘Hey, where's mine?' said Simon as he walked into the room in his striped pyjamas.

‘It's still there, everything's hot,' said Jaz. Simon rolled his eyes but went into the kitchen to start on his breakfast.

Jaz and Paul started eating but Tasha didn't move a muscle.

‘What?' said Jaz with a mouthful of egg and toast.

‘Sorry, I just can't eat until I know what this is about. I'm really nervous now. Are you pregnant?'

‘Mum!'

‘Ew, gross,' said Simon from the kitchen.