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There’s a long, painful silence on the other end of the line. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but you were set-up tonight.”
“What do you meanset-up?”
“Georgina and her crew came into the diner this evening and I overheard them talking about it. She said she got Jack to pretend to like you so he could stand you up at the cinema. How fucking sick is that?”
I rub my temples, feeing the onset of the mother of all headaches. “Oh my God…”
“I know. That Georgina is such a fucking bitch. And Jack is a complete melt. I mean, does he own a pair of balls or what? How can he just do everything his girlfriend tells him to? You see? I told you he was a tosser. But Jess, it gets worse.”
“Jesus, can it get any worse?”
“I’m sorry, but it does. Apparently, Georgina and her mates were parked around the corner from the Odeon watching you stand outside. They were there the whole time, and they took pictures of you on a Polaroid. Can you fucking believe it? That bitch took pictures to prove you were there, and she had all the shots laid out on the table in the diner. It’s like she’s obsessed with you. They were all laughing about it, taking the utter piss. I’m telling you, if I ever get that girl alone, she’s going to get the thrashing of her life. Seriously, I wanted to smash her teeth in, but Brian was there, and, you know, I didn’t want to make a scene. But trust me, that bitch is just angling for a fight. Someone needs to rearrange her face so it might as well be me.” She hesitates. “Jess? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here,” I croak. My throat is in agony. “Sorry, Amina, I-I’ve got to go. This is a lot for me to take in, and I need some time to process everything.”
“Jess! Please don’t go. Speak to me. Are you okay?”
“No…no, I’m not. How can I be? I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.”
“Please, Jess, don’t let those bastards get to you. You were always too good for Jack Parker and you know it.”
“I’ll speak to you soon. Take care.”
As soon as I hang up, my legs buckle from under me, and I crumple to the floor, sobbing hysterically. Pulling myself into a ball, I rock back and forth, crying so hard I get hiccups. The pain of Jack’s betrayal is so immense it feels as if someone punched me in the stomach and gave me internal bleeding.Stupid little fool! Did you seriously think he would go for someone like you? How could you have been so stupid?
And it’s not only what happened tonight. It’s everything. The constant years of bullying. The stress of Mum’s illness. Fears for mine and Freddie’s future. Everything looks so dark and bleak, I can’t see any way out, and it feels like I’m wallowing in quicksand. Like there’s a whole heap of shit raining down on me, coming together to create the perfect storm.
I can’t take this anymore. I just…can’t…take it. I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. I hate everything and everyone in it.
The next day, I awake fired up and ready to face the world again. Yes, last night was one of the worst in recent memory, but as I distance myself from what took place, I refuse to let it get me down for long. A good cry has got it out of my system, and I decide it’s time to pull myself together and stop feeling sorry for myself. I can’t spend the rest of my life wallowing in misery, not when my mum and Freddie need me. I need to have a clear head to face whatever’s coming our way and I need to be strong. Nothing is ever hopeless, there is always a solution to everything, you’ve just got to believe it will happen.
Last night, after I put down the phone to Amina, my mother saw how upset I was and kept pestering me to find out what was wrong. After a painful heart-to-heart, I told her Jack had stood me up, simple as that, but didn’t give her the bigger picture about Georgina Wickham and her cronies. I didn’t tell her it had all been a set-up and was just the latest in a vicious hate campaign Georgina had waged on me since our school days. Cynthia called Jack a prat and that was kind of the end of it, which suits me fine as I just want to put the whole sorry affair behind me.
After washing myself at the bathroom sink (the bloody shower is brokenagain) I get dressed and tell my reflection it’s time to toughen up, be brave and address each of my problems head-on. First and foremost is the issue of getting hold of another £25,000 to pay Mum’s medical bills. All night I tossed and turned, trying to think of a solution until finally, I came up with an idea so nuts, even I can’t believe I’m actually planning to go through with it. I keep telling myself I must be out of my mind, but desperation can make a girl do crazy things.
I’m planning to contact Jane Waters today to see if she can get a message to Alex Kingswood. I want to see him again and when I do, I’m going to ask him to loan me the remaining twenty-five grand. I plan to appeal to his better nature, come clean about everything and fully explain to him exactly why I need the rest of that money. If Alex agrees to the loan, then I intend to pay him back every single penny legitimately. Even if it takes years, even if I have to work four cleaning jobs and wash cars all summer, so be it. I’ll do whatever it takes to pay him back just as long as it doesn’t involve anything sexual. This time around, my audience with Alex Kingswood is to be purely platonic.
It’s a shot in the dark, but he’s the only person I know who’s in a position to help me. I don’t exactly have a lot of wealthy friends, plus I have bad credit and was already turned down twice in the past for a bank loan.
Yes, I barely know him, and the likelihood is he’ll probably say no. And yes, the thought of going back tothathouse and seeing him again scares the living crap out of me, but what choice do I have? The way I see it, I’ve wasted far too much time already. The clock is ticking, and my mother doesn’t have forever to wait for this treatment. It’s now or never so I just need to suck it up and do what needs to be done.
Swallowing down a quick breakfast of black coffee and scrambled eggs, I grab my bag and keys and head out the door for work. The day is cold and bright but, in the distance, I see dark storm clouds, suggesting there will be rain yet again.
The morning shift at Sloppy Joe’s seems to drag but on the plus side, I’m glad to have something to keep me busy as it means I don’t have to think too much. I’m also relived Amina’s not working the same shift as me as I couldn’t bear to revisit the events of last night again. What Jack did to me is still far too raw and I’m in no fit state to talk about it.
During my tea break, I go to the local phone box and dial Jane Waters’ number. Waiting for the call to connect, my hands begin to tremble as I prepare to get my story straight.This has got to sound convincing; I can’t afford to screw this up.
“Hello, Premiere Ladies Escort Agency,” answers a familiarly plummy voice.
“Jane, it’s me.”
“Who’s me?”
“Jessica Gardner.”
There’s a short, frosty silence. “Yes, what do you want?”
“Jane, Miss Waters, I have a favour to ask.” I close my eyes, trying to find the right words. “Please could you pass a message to Mrs Kingswood? Please could you tell her that if the offer is still open, I would be more than happy to accept the original terms of our agreement.”
