Chapter 5 5

Saturday

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 someone 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.

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.