8

Kaleen got her keys out about to open the door, the handle went down, and opened a girl with bushed out bright red hair stood there. ‘Candice where have you been? You look like you’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards.’

‘I’ve been for a ride.’ She answered pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

‘No one you know has a bike.’

‘Your friend does.’

‘Which friend?’

‘That gorgeous guy that works in the club.’

‘Sandman?’

‘Yeah, he’s in there waiting for you.’ Candice replied. ‘Anyway got to go meeting Bret.’ She said walking out of the house.

‘Bye.’ Kaleen said dropping her coat on the banister. Shutting the door behind her.

‘Candice looks so much better these days, full of spirit now Adriana wasn’t around to bag her, and bring her down, she’d even got a boyfriend, and had started going out a lot more she looked a lot happier in herself.’

Kaleen looked at the lounge door, swallowed knowing that Sandman was behind the door, she pushed the door open walking in, Sandman standing by the fire. ‘You took my sister out on that thing!’

He turned smiled. ‘It was her idea.’

‘I bet it was.’ She said under her breath.

‘Come here and give me a kiss!’ He said, still smiling.

‘NO!’

His smile faded. ‘Come on you know you want too.’ He said walking towards her forcing her towards the lounge door. Her back banged against it, shutting it. He placed his hands either side of her face. He leaned forward placing his lips on hers.

She pushed him away. ‘Leave me alone.’

‘Ten grand and I will.’

‘I gave you five grand.’

‘I need more.’

‘You can’t be serious!’

The frown reappeared on his face one eyebrow raised. ‘Does this face not look serious?!’

She looked at him ‘no remorse, no remorse.’ She told herself. ‘His eyes so cold his heart must be too to do this to me.’

She sighed. Felling beaten. ‘Okay I’ll give it to you.’

‘Cash no cheques they can bounce.’

‘Alright, alright I’ll get it for you tomorrow.’

‘Promise.’

‘Only if you go and promise never to come back.’

‘Promise.’

He leaned forward placing his lips on hers kissing her. ‘Go with the flow let him think you want it too, reassure him.’ She thought as she returned his kiss feeling sick inside. She slipped her hand under his jacket trying once again to get the sheet of paper off him. ‘If I could just get it off him then he’s got nothing on me.’

He grabbed her hand inter twining his fingers with hers bending them back, she screamed.

‘Stop it Sandman you’re hurting me!’

‘Try that again and I’ll personally break them right!’ He snapped.

She’d never saw him like it before, it made her want to crawl inside herself and never come back out until he’d gone away. ‘Okay.’

‘Promise.’

‘Promise.’

‘Good. Glad we understand each other.’ He said loosening her hand pecking her on the lips. ‘See you tomorrow, same time, same place.’ He said slamming the door behind him.

She sat down sinking her head on her lap in her arms crying.

Kaleen had gone to the bank, trying not to look nervous even though she felt it all she could think about was getting rid of Sandman he’d caused too much trouble not only for her, but for Candice too hopefully this time he’d be gone forever, that’s if he stuck to what he’d said. Getting rid of him brought a smile upon her face until confronted with the stroppy personal banker, looking at her under his nose standing two feet taller than her looking at the cheque making sure it wasn’t fake. She’d been so nervous her hand shook whilst she wrote it.

‘Ten thousand pounds is a lot of money.’

‘It’s for a new car.’ She explained. ‘Making up stories again tut-tut-tut.’ She thought as she couldn’t really tell them it was form her boyfriend to flee the country after killing his parents, then her step mom.

‘Okay, take it over there to the cash point.’ He said stamping it.

He handed it to her she took it off him and went over to the cash counter at least there was a friendly face the young man who’d served her the last time was on again at east she could fool him. He smiled at her; she returned the smile passing him the cheque.

‘Got the TV you were after?’ he asked still smiling.

‘Yeah thanks.’

He looked at the cheque. ‘What you splashing your money out on this time?’

‘A new car.’ She lied wanting it not to look as if she was full of shit she decided to add a little more. ‘Well it’s only a little lie.’ She thought. ‘I’m getting a Peugeot 206, metallic black, blacked out windows everything.’

‘Cool.’ He replied. ‘So how you want it in twenties, or smaller?’

‘Twenties will do, and bang in a few tens and fives.’

‘Sure.’ He replied smiling.

‘He must really like his job he’s always smiling.’She thought as he continued to count the money, putting it in to an envelope.

He handed her the envelop.

‘Thanks.’ She said taking it off him, putting it on her inside jacket pocket.

‘Happy car hunting!’

‘Thanks.’ She replied walking out of the bank.

Kaleen walked into the park and sat down on the bench looking at her watch. 9:30

‘Where was he? He’s never late’

‘Kaleen you got it?’

She turned, Sandman sat next to her predominately. He wore his biker jacket, a scull bandana tied neatly round his head. His sandy hair peeped out. his baggy tee-shirt that he’d finally changed he never seemed to be out of that Metallica one it had saw it’s day he’d changed it to a grotesque tee-shirt with a printed picture of skull and cross bones on it imprinted with ‘SUCK SHIT!’ on it. She’d often wondered if he’d actually got any other clothes she thought maybe he brought his clothes in bulk or never washed them! He’d got his leather jeans on, and biker boots.‘Yeah.’

‘Sorry I’m late had to get some petrol.’

‘What a lousy excuse.’ She thought. ‘He just wanted to make me sweet!’

‘So where is it?’ He asked. Impatiently.

She pulled it out of her inside pocket. He quickly took it of her shoving it in to his pocket. ‘You know we don’t have to part on bad terms.’

‘That’s an understatement bad terms! Hugh! I hate you.’

‘You know that you could always come with me, and then we could spend it together.’

‘No thanks just go.’ She replied. Bluntly.

‘Well guess this is goodbye forever.’

‘You said that last time.’

‘This time I mean it. You made it clear that my offer doesn’t interest you so I’ll catch ya, in another life time maybe!’ He said, bitterly.

‘Suits me just fine!’ she replied. Sarcastically. Glad to finally get rid of him.

‘See ya.’ He said, getting up and storming off.

Kaleen arrived back home, she plodded up the stairs into her room to get changed. She walked back out into the hall only then did she notice the door to the attic was open and a light on wondering why when no-one had been up there for years.

‘Hi sis didn’t hear you come in.’ Candice said

‘Why’s the light on in the attic no-one’s been in there like forever?’

‘Oh your friend said he’d got nowhere to stay, he said he’d been kicked out of his flat, so I let him stay, he offered to pay but I wouldn’t hear of it.’

‘What friend?’

‘Hi Kay, surprised?!’ A voice echoed down the stairs of the attic.

Kaleen sprung round looked up at the man on the stairs. ‘Sandman what are you doing here?’ she said glaring at him in shame and hatred.

‘Your sis said I could stay for a while aint that great? We’ll get to spend more time together.’

‘Yeah great.’ She replied sarcastically. UN impressed. ‘He lied to me, again! He took my money, promised he’d go and never come back, now he’s here he’s content on making my life hell torturing me!’

‘I’ll be down in a bit smells great.’

‘Roast beef, hope you like it.’

‘Love it.’ He replied smiling.

A cold shiver shot through Kaleen’s body as he walked back into the room.

Kaleen watched as he shut the door. ‘Why the hell did you invite him here for? Get rid of him now!’

‘What’s up Sis? I saw the way you looked at him. It’s the same way you looked at him when Mom died what’s going on?’

Kaleen lowered her voice so he wouldn’t hear her. ‘I’ll tell you when he isn’t around okay.’

‘Okay.’

They both went down stairs into the lounge.

Sandman joined them for supper, hardly a word passed across the table that night he’d stop look up from time to time and smile at Kaleen she’s quickly smile back so he didn’t think that there was anything wrong.

‘Complements to the chef.’

‘Thanks.’ Candice replied, blushing.

‘He’s even got to my sister the creep! The lowlife creep!’

Not a single word passed all night they sat and watched TV in silence none of them budged neither of the girls trusting him.Thinking whether or not they’d be next on his death agenda.

He of course didn’t trust Kaleen. He wore his jacket all night only when he went to bed he took it off, he did this so Kaleen couldn’t get to what was keeping them together.

It was the early hours of the morning. It was pitch black in

Kaleen’s room she woke suddenly, a dark figure sat on the end of her bed, hair sparkled in the dark, eyes too, she could only see white teeth smiling back at her she shot up, still in a daze eyes partially open she switched on her lamp. Her eyes squinted adjusting to the light. ‘Sandman what are you doing in here you can’t have any more money I’ve got none left I gave it all to you.’

‘No I don’t!’ he snapped.

‘Why are you doing this to me for?’

‘Cause I can!’ He answered with an evil glare in his eyes.

‘Why are you determined to make my life hell?’ She said trying to keep herself together.

‘Because I am your personal hell!’ He replied, moving towards her.

Her lip started trembling, he continued to move closer. ‘Why are you doing this to me, do you really hate me that much?’

‘No.’ He replied. ‘I love you I wanted you to come with me, but you wouldn’t now you’re stuck with me forever!’

He forced his lips on hers kissing her. She tried to persist but no matter how hard she tried he’d win, she thought she’d give it one last try to get the sheet of paper out of her diary back she’d been defeated not realising he’d took his jacket off and changed she placed her hand on his clean shirt felling for a pocket that wasn’t there. ‘Shit!’

He was sitting staring at her. ‘You won’t find it, it’s somewhere you’ll never find it.’

She swallowed.

He leaned forward. ‘Now where were we? Argh yes about here I think.’ He pressed his lips onto hers forcing her on to the pillow gripping both hands tightly so there was no escape. He pulled away. ‘What’s up babe? I won’t bite!’

‘Won’t bite! Is that supposed to be a joke?’

‘Take a chill pill, just relax I won’t hurt you.’ He said leaning back over her.

He placed his lips on hers she knew she had to give in even if she didn’t want to, if she did maybe he’d go away and leave her alone. She returned his kiss reluctantly he slipped his tongue down her throat, she felt as if she was going to hurl.

He moved away. ‘See that wasn’t so bad was it?’

He loosed her hands and pulled away lying beside her, she turned her back facing him. Thinking ‘I’m goanna puke any minute now I’m goanna chuck!’

He draped his arm over her, falling asleep.

Kaleen had hardly slept since Sandman had invited himself into her room her eyes dosed but quickly sprung back open trying to keep one eye on Sandman and the other on the time hoping he’d wake and go back up to the attic. He didn’t she felt physically sick wondering what he could do to her. Day had broken, Candice walked into Kaleen’s bedroom. Shocked. ‘What’s he doing in here?’

‘He snuck in when you’d gone to bed.’

‘You look bushed.’

‘I’m knackered. I hardly slept.’

‘Hardly surprising with him in here.’ Candice said. ‘Are you getting up?’

‘Yeah I’ve got to be at work in half an hour.’

‘Are you sure you’re up to it?’

‘Yeah, I’ll be fine.’ Kaleen answered lifting Sandman’s arm off her, pulling herself up. Placing it gently down on the bed.

‘What about him?’

‘Let him sleep the less I see him the better.’

They snuck out of the room, tip toed down stairs.

Kaleen set out to work after getting changed. She arrived at work sleepy, she found herself dozing off now and again.

‘KALEEN!’ Mac shouted.

Her eyes shot open. ‘Wha!Wha!’

‘Customers.’ He snapped.

She quickly rushed round getting orders until the rush was over then she could finally put her head down for a few minutes. She sat down, spread her alms across one of the tables lay her head on them and closed her eyes.

It wasn’t long before she’d feel asleep and it was quicker for her to be woken by a screeching voice shouting down her ear. ‘KALEEN!’

Kaleen opened her eyes gradually. She rubbed them. ‘Mac!’ she said dazed.

That’s it Kaleen, I’ve had enough you’re always late, now you’re sleeping on the job.’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t get much sleep.’

‘I’m tired of your excuses.’

‘What you trying to say?’

‘YOU’RE FIRED!’

‘You can’t fire me for going to sleep.’

‘I can and I am.’ He snapped. ‘Your wages will be in the bank good bye.’

Kaleen pulled her apron off and slung it on the counter, saying nothing she turned and stormed out of the pizza palace.