3

Kaleen had gone to meet Sandman she walked out of the house with a hurl of abuse from Adriana about she’d got Mark and what was wrong with him, why she felt she needed to go out with some else, and for that alone she was a slapper.

Kaleen ignored her disgusting gestures it wasn’t if she was doing anything wrong she loved Mark, but she liked Sandman too there wasn’t no harm in that was there?

Kaleen walked across the playing fields as she felt someone push her against the railings. ‘Oh it’s you! What do you want Carver?’

‘Go out with him and I swear I’ll tell the whole world.’

‘Who?’ Kaleen said confused. Her lip quivering.

‘Sandman that’s who. Stay away from him or else!’

‘Or what!’

‘Or you’ll regret it.’

Sandman was in the distance walking towards The Dock to witness Carver having a dig at Kaleen staring at them as he walked passed.

‘Ohh I’m shacking in my boots!’ Kaleen said sarcastically, even though inside she felt her body shacking.

‘You’ve been warned!’ Carver said, walking away.

Kaleen pulled herself together, wondering why Carver would say something like ‘you’ll regret it!’Would she tell Mark about her and Sandman seeing each other when she was supposed to be with her friends.

Kaleen walked out of the playing fields towards town. Sandman was waiting for her outside The Dock.

‘Sorry I’m late ran into someone.’

‘That’s okay let’s go in and have a drink.’

‘Okay.’

They walked into the pub grabbing a couple of drinks, then sitting down.

‘So tell me about yourself.’

‘There aint much to tell. You already know where I work and that I go to college what else is there?!’

‘Tell me about your family.’

‘Well my dad works away. I don’t really see him that much, then there’s Candice she’s my step sister but most people would think we were twins we’re that close she’s really nice we go to the same college. Then there’s the bitch.’

‘Who’s the bitch?’ He asked curiously.

‘Adriana my step mom she’s a right cow she always has a go at me always making me feel like the black sheep of the family, she treats Candice like a child always putting her down I don’t know how she puts up with it.’ Kaleen explained. ‘Sorry I’m babbling on a bit aren’t?’

He smiled. ‘Not really.’

‘So enough about me what about you.’

‘There’s not much to tell I work at the weekends but I booked tonight off to spend with you.’

‘That’s cute’. Kaleen thought ‘booking the night off just so that he can spend it with me’

‘What about your family?’

Sandman fell silent staring into his pint.

‘Was there something I said wrong?’ Kaleen wondered. ‘He’s gone really quiet’.

‘I have no family they’re all dead apart from me.’ He replied, showing no remorse.

Still staring into his pint.

Kaleen now regretted asking him opening her big mouth as usual. She placed her hand on his felling an urge to comfort him. ‘What happened?’

‘They was caught in a house fire they were burnt alive.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Don’t be, you didn’t know them, you think your step mom’s bad try having my family, try meeting my parents.’

Kaleen looked shocked at his last remark, he gripped tightly onto her hand ‘Let’s not talk about it aye, let’s just concentrate on us tonight aye.’ He said smiling.

She looked into his bright blue eyes smiled. ‘Okay.’ She said pulling her from hand from under his. ‘What was with this guy? I mean even if Adriana was killed in something as horrific as a house fire I’d be glad of sympathy even if I do hate her. What a great way it would be to go through Adriana screaming for help with flames burning higher and higher around her burning her to death.’

‘Kay, Kay.’ A voice echoed. Making Kaleen jump snapping her out of her dream.Shaking her head out of her thoughts.Looking over to see Karen and Heather.

‘Surprise! We just come in for a quick drink before heading to the party. We saw you and thought we’d come over and see who you were with.’

‘Karen, Heather this is Sandman he works at the Rock Café. Sandman these are my friends Heather and Karen.’

‘Nice to meet you.’ He said.

‘You too.’ Karen said.

‘Strange name.’ Heather added.

‘I’m a strange person. ‘He replied. Laughing.

‘You never guess what!’ Karen said almost bursting.

‘What?!’

‘Shall we tell her?’ Karen said, looking at Heather.

‘Come on guys tell me don’t make me wet myself!’

Sandman smiled trying not to laugh.

‘Well we were on our way here and saw a couple of copper cars were surrounding the Playing fields, they’ve found a body in the lake.’ Karen explained.

‘I’m going to get some drinks would you like a drink?’

‘Yeah. Two buds please.’ Karen replied.00

Sandman pulled himself up. ‘I’ll be back in a bit.’

‘Sure.’ Kaleen replied.

Sandman quickly walked over to the bar.

‘What’s up with him?’ Heather asked.

‘Duknow.’ Kaleen said. ‘Sit down.’

Karen and Heather sat down opposite Kaleen. ‘So tell me who was it?’

‘Don’t know they’d found it and was pulling it up out of the water, it was face down. We didn’t stop to find out who it was.’ Karen explained.

‘Shame.’ Kaleen said underneath her breath.

‘So what about Mark what’s he goanna say if he knows that you’ve gone out with someone else?’ Heather added changing the subject.

Sandman watched the three of them from the bar wondering what they were talking about, and if they knew who the person the police had found was.

‘Don’t suppose he really cares too busy getting pissed with his mates.’

‘Oh yeah, the party.’

‘Are you two going?’

‘Yeah, after we’ve had a few in here.’

‘Don’t tell him that you’ve seen me okay especially not with another bloke.’

‘No probs. We’ll make summert up.’

‘Cheers.’

Sand man walked back over from the bar with the drinks placed them on the table.

‘Cheers.’ They all chimed.

Sandman sat down placing his arm across the back of the seat and round Kaleen.

They all talked and joked until it was getting time for Heather and Karen to head off to the party.

‘Well we better be off.’

‘Enjoy yourselves.’

‘We will.’ Karen said. ‘You too.’

‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t!’ Heather said sarcastically.

They laughed.

‘See ya.’

Karen and Heather walked out of the pub.

‘So where they going?’

‘A party, a college thing.’

‘So why didn’t you go?’

‘You asked first, and I never found out till the next day.’ Kaleen explained. ‘What a lie I knew about it the same night only a few hours after you asked infarct. But I wanted to see you.’

‘Oh right. Well we better be off. I need my beauty sleep I’ve got work tomorrow night.’ He said swigging off his pint. ‘Come on.’

‘Hang on we all don’t drink like fish you know.’

‘So what was all that about last Saturday. In the club.’

‘Oh that it was my birthday and we were coming to the end of college.’

‘How old are you?’

‘Old enough to drink!’ she replied sarcastically.

He looked at her giving her an unwelcoming glare one eyebrow raised slightly as if to say ‘Funny! Don’t give me that crap, just tell me how old you are!’

‘I’m only kidding chill. I’m nineteen.’

‘Well many happy returns. Well for last Saturday anyway.’ He said leaning over kissing her on the check. As she felt them get hotter as they went bright red. ‘See told you were an English rose.’

‘Why.’

‘You’ve gone as red as one! If I knew I was going to have this affect I would have done it in front of your friends’ he said smiling, her face getting more flushed. ‘Now you just look like a tomato!’ He said laughing, giving her a playful shove.

‘Stop it.’ she replied shoving him back.

He grabbed her placing his lips on hers. They felt so tender, she felt as if she could melt in them.

He pulled away. ‘Come on lets go.’ He said pulling the both of them up.

They left the pub and headed home, passing the Playing fields as the forensics were taking the body away.

‘Come on lets go.’ He said sounding a little jumpy, dragging Kaleen round the next corner.

‘What was that for?’

‘Sorry just don’t like the cops that’s all.’

‘Why, are you in trouble?’

He laughed. ‘Don’t be silly, come on let’s get you home.’

They continued down the street, in silence.

‘Why was he so edgy? I know it’s unusual for something; like this to happen round here, but he seemed a little jumpy maybe it was that he just didn’t like the police. That’s it he don’t like them at all.’ Kaleen decided as they stood outside the house.

He leaned forward placed his lips on hers kissing her softly, he was so gentle like he really meant it. Unlike Mark who was always rough although she liked it rough she liked it soft too.

He pulled away. ‘Well I’ll see you soon.’

‘Yeah.’

He walked away as Kaleen closed the door behind her wondering if she would ever see him again.

‘Hi Kay.’ A voice said.

Kaleen turned. ‘Hi Downy.’

‘Sorry to hear you couldn’t make it to the party bummer aye!!’

‘Yeah real bummer. Adriana was having a real freak out at me and Candice when we got back banned me from coming, and I really wanted to come.’ She lied.

‘What a bitch.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘It was a good piss up too, you’ll have to come to the next one. Christmas eve it will top this one ten times over.’

‘Love too.’

‘Well I’ll have to love ya and leave ya.’

‘See ya.’

Downy walked away, Kaleen got to the stairs and took a few steps up as he her eyes became clouded in darkness.

‘Guess who?’

‘The boogie man!’

That’s not funny!’

‘I thought it was.’

‘Serious guess who?’

‘Mark.’

‘Got it in two.’ He said removing his hands of her eyes.

Kaleen’s eyes adjusted back to the bright lights on the college staircase. She turned raped her arms around him kissing him on his lips. He placed his arm round her waist returning her kiss passionately

He pulled away.

‘Sorry about Friday.’

‘That’s okay your friends said they saw you and Candice in the mall said that you had a drink with them and went back in the shops when they came to the party, said you might drop by, but when you didn’t I thought sommert might have happened to you.’

‘How sweet he thought about me even though I wasn’t there and he was with his friends. I feel guilty for going on that date with Sandman when I should’ve been with Mark.’Kaleen thought as she replied. ‘Yeah Adriana had a right spack on her when we got back in said I couldn’t go. Bitch.’ ‘Boy what a good excuse.’

‘Never mind there’s always the Christmas party.’

‘Yeah.’

Mark leaned over placing his lips on hers kissing her, he pulled away dropping his arms from round her. ‘I’ll call round yours in the week and we’ll go out.’

‘Okay.’ Kaleen replied taking her arms from around him. They pecked each other on the lips and headed off in separate directions.

Sandman hadn’t been around for the last few days Kaleen had looked out for him whilst she worked but nothing, it was like he’d just disappeared of the face of the earth. It was Wednesday and things were pretty quiet in the pizza palace.

‘Hi Kay.’ Candice said.

‘Hi Candice what brings you here?’

‘I just thought I’d pop in and say hi, surprised?’

‘Surprised no, shocked yes.’ Kaleen replied. Adding. ‘So the bitch let you off your leash then?!’

Candice laughed. No matter how much the bitch put her down she always smiled, and laughed a stuff that wasn’t funny. ‘Yeah, tell you the truth I sneaked out I was bored shitless, shh don’t tell her.’

‘I won’t. Between us.’

They shook on it their special sister shake ending with their little fingers crossing. A thing that they’d been doing since they were twelve there pact never to be broken.

‘Do you want anything to eat? My breaks in ten and I’ll come and sit with you.’

‘I’ll have a pepperoni pizza and a strawberry milkshake.’

‘I’ll bring it over when it’s done.’ Kaleen said scribbling the order down, passing it to Marvin.

Candice sat in the corner with her back turned to the oncoming customers in case Adriana had noticed her gone.

Kaleen was rushed of her feet for the next ten minutes taking orders. She took Candice’s order over to her, placing on the table, looking round to see if Mack was watching, but lucky for her him and Marvin were arguing as usual. She couldn’t understand how they could work together Mack was such a shoveniest pig he was a perfectionist everything had to be perfect and perfectly done. Kaleen sat down suddenly so he didn’t notice her doing it.

‘I thought you were on a break?’ Candice said picking up a slice of pizza, stuffing it into her mouth.

‘I am, but he doesn’t like me talking to the customers.’ Kaleen replied. ‘So what you done this time?’

‘Her usual excuses ‘tidy your room, do your course work. Weekends are for going out’ even then she doesn’t let me.’ Candice replied stuffing another slice of pizza down her neck.

It always surprised Kaleen how Candice ate it was like she hadn’t eaten for a week mind you Adriana’s portions were something you got a posh restaurant a mouth full not even touching the rim. ‘Not eaten?’

Candice nodded as she polished off the pepperoni pizza. She swallowed then answered. ‘I had four sandwiches, two packets of crisps and a chocolate bar.’

‘Where do you put it all?’

Candice shrugged her shoulders sucking on the straw slurping up the strawberry milkshake.

‘Look at you you’re so slim, and look at me.’

Candice stop slurping her milkshake, looked at Kaleen. ‘You’re not fat your cuddly.’

‘Thanks I guess. That makes me feel a lot better.’

‘More to grab onto.’

They laughed.

‘Customers!’ A voice echoed.

‘Shit, I’ve got to go, I’ll see you at home.’ Kaleen said pulling herself up.

‘Yeah sure.’ Candice replied continuing to slurp up the remainder of her milkshake.

Kaleen walked towards Mack who pointed at the opposite corner of the pizza palace, she strode over sleepily. ‘How may I help you?’

‘I’d like to order please.’ The deep voice replied.

‘Yeah sure, what would you like?’

‘Bacon, ham, pineapple, tomato, and cheese pizza and a diet coke.’

Yeah sure.’ Kaleen said scribbling the order down on the pad. ‘Wait a minute a diet coke.’ She thought. She looked up. Sandman.’

He smiled politely, his bright blue eyes lit up under the florescent lights.

‘Haven’t seen you for a while.’

‘Busy, busy.’ He replied shaking his head.

‘See you Kay.’ Candice said waving.

‘See ya.’ Kaleen replied returning a wave.

‘Aint that your sister?’

‘Yeah, she’s got to get back before the bitch finds out she’s gone out or she’ll kill her.’

‘How old is she?’

‘Eighteen, but she gets treated like a three year old.’

‘I thought my parents were bad.’

‘She’s a bitch.’

‘Oi! Get on with your work!’

‘Yeah, Yeah.’ Kaleen replied. ‘Look I’ve got to go I’ll bring your order over. Then we’ll talk.’

He smiled at Kaleen as she walked away, rushing to get all of her orders in and done so that she could talk to Sandman. She placed his order on the table seeing the disappointed look upon his face when she couldn’t stop to chat. She really wanted to talk to him, but was unable to she finally finished the orders and finally had the chance to speak to him, but was to late he’d already gone leaving the money for his order, a grain of sand and a note.

She picked up the note, opened it to a smiley and a message. ‘I’ll pick you up tomorrow outside yours.’

She smiled putting the note into her pocket then carried on cleaning the tables.

Kaleen had left work it was getting on for ten thirty and was dark she walked out of the mall as the mall lights shut off, she hated when this happened it always sent a shiver down her spine. She always walked faster to get out of there quicker and to get home out of the freaky atmosphere of the mall late at night.

A honk of a horn, Kaleen rushed out of the house her heart pounding as she approached the bike, a person sat on the leather seat, and they pulled off their helmet and smiled.

‘Sandman.’

‘Hop on.’

‘You can come in there’s no one home.’

‘Sure.’ He said. He swung himself off the bike. ‘Not long mind we’ve got a movie to catch.’

‘Sure come in.’

He followed her into the house closed the door behind him into the living area. ‘So where’s everyone?’

‘The bitch is at work, Candice is at her friends studying.’

‘So she let her out?’

‘Only because its study, I bet they’re talking about men that’s all they do, study’s just an excuse so that she can see her friends.’

‘She’s really that bad?’

‘You better believe it. Anyway do you want a drink?’

‘Coffee no sugar.Sweet enough without it!’

Kaleen smiled. ‘I’ll be back in a bit, sit down, and makeyourself at home.’

‘Thanks.’

Kaleen walked out of the room leaving Sandman alone. He slumped down on the sofa. He looked round surprised to see how tidy the room was, nothing out of place. ‘Nice gap.’

‘Thanks.’

Sandman’s eyes veered away from the rest of the room to a book that lay open on the coffee table. ‘It’s kept so tidy.’

‘Yeah she’s a cleaning freak. She cleans it from top to bottom every day.’

Sandman flicked the pages of the book tearing the important stuff out, stuffing them in his pocket he flicked the pages back to where they lay before he’d corrupted them. He heard footsteps approaching from the kitchen he slumped back on the sofa. Kaleen strode carefully into the living room.

‘Here you go.’ She said passing him the cup of coffee.

‘Cheers.’ He said taking the mug off her. ‘Sit here.’ He said, tapping the empty space next to him.

Kaleen sat beside him.

‘So how long have you lived here?’

‘Since I was thirteen. We moved down here from the city when Dad changed his job. You?’

‘Not long, a few months. Don’t stay in one place long, but now I have a reason to stay a little longer.’

‘What reason’s that then?’

‘You silly.’ He replied sipping his coffee.

‘Argh that’s sweet sopping round this dump for me’.

‘Shit it’s hot!’ he said waving his hand frantically in front of his mouth.

He placed the cup on the coffee table, he then took Kaleen’s of her too placing it besides his. He leaned over placing his lips on hers kissing her, she returned his kiss. They slowly lay back on the sofa, Sandman on top of her.

‘Mgghmggh.’ Candice coughed.

Sandman jumped off Kaleen suddenly.

‘Candice.’ She said struggling to pull herself up.

‘Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.’

‘You didn’t. Candice this is Sandman, Sandman this is Candice my sister.’

‘Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.’

‘You too. Sorry I scared you.’

‘That’s cool.’

‘Is that your bike outside?’

‘Sure is.’

‘No way, that’s the coolest bike I’ve ever seen.’

‘I’ll take you out for a spin on it one of the days if you like.’

‘Isn’t that sweet he’s even hit it off with Candice.’

He turned to Kaleen. ‘We better go or we’ll miss the flick.’

‘Okay.’ She replied pulling herself up of the sofa.

‘Nice meeting you.’

‘You too.’ Candice replied. ‘What shall I tell mom?’ She asked looking straight at Kaleen.

‘Tell her I’ve been run over by a bus that will please her!’ Kaleen said sarcastically.

They laughed.

‘Enjoy yourselves.’

‘We will. Kaleen answered shutting the door behind her.

It’s Thursday, Kaleen was still in a daze after her afternoon with Sandman, and his bike was so ace. She’d never been on one before the wind whooshed round them, her hair blew behind her it felt great the fell the wind on her face it was just like being on the beech when the breeze came from the sea.

They went for a pizza after, she could still remember every word they spoke.

‘So your sister likes bikes hugh?’

‘Yeah she’s mad on them she nearly peed herself when you said you’d take her for a ride.’

‘No probs she’s cool, anyone that likes bikes is cool.’

‘Don’t tell the bitch that she’d have a heart attack.’ Kaleen said smiling. ‘She hates bikes the noise that they make. She thinks that they’re too dangerous.’

‘They’re no more dangerous than a car.’

‘I know.’

The flick was so gory Kaleen jumped out of her skin on more than one occasion gripping tightly onto Sandman all the way through he enjoyed it more than he let on, he smiled every now and again knowing what her weakness was and how exactly to push her to the edge of them.

He rode her home. She got off the bike, he took his helmet off pulled her close pressed his lips against hers kissing her.

He pulled away. ‘I’ll see you at half ten Saturday morning.’

‘You’ll be awake then!’ She said sarcastically.

He looked at her with one of his protruding stares with one eyebrow raised the other intact above his other eye. ‘Better make it eleven. I’ll pick you up here okay.’

‘Okay.’

He put his helmet back on and rode off.

‘Earth to Kaleen.’ A voice echoed waving their hand in front of her face.

She stared at them, snapping out of her thoughts of Sandman and there date. ‘Karen.’

‘So how are you? I haven’t seen you for a while.’

‘Fine.’

‘So, have you seen much of your friend lately?’

‘Sandman.’

Karen nodded.

‘Yeah. I’m seeing him Saturday.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Duknow. He’s picking me up outside the house.’

‘Are you sure that’s wise?’

‘Yeah.’

‘What about the bitch?’

‘I’m hoping to get out of there before she sees us.’

‘Good luck, you’ll need it.’

‘Don’t I know it!’

College had finished for the day, Kaleen bumped into Mark on the way out. ‘Hi.’

‘I-I-I was wondering what you were doing Saturday?’ he asked holding the back of his neck looking shyly like a puppy.

‘It’s so sweet.’ Kaleen thought. Then replied. ‘I’m going out with Candice Saturday it’s the only day our sister day we have one every month. We shop till we drop, the one day of the month we get to share together without her down her necks.’ Kaleen explained gritting her teeth together thinking ‘He aint goanna buy this shit!’

‘Yeah okay. Sure.’ He said trying to think what to say next. ‘I’ll see you Monday then.’ He said giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

‘Yeah sure.’ She answered knowing that he was disappointed, she felt bad but she’d already told Sandman she’d go out with him. She seemed to feel a lot closer to him than Mark. Mark never listened to what she had to say where as he did it was like he knew exactly what she was going through. She loved Mark, but she liked Sandman too.