All Tomorrow's Parties (6 page)

“Adam it’s fine, I don’t mind really – it’s fun, it’s kind of like acting.” Laine was being honest. Tony had asked her a few times before to act as his “plus one” and she hadn’t minded. In fact she rather enjoyed it: she got to see what it may be like if she really went out with Tony Black.

She had been honest too with Danny and he had found it amusing. “I’ve never known a man like him”, he’d said. “It’s like women are mesmerised by him. Just as long as you don’t get enchanted by his spell, Boots!” he joked.

“As if”, she had retorted sharply, a little too sharply she reflected, but Danny had not picked up on it.

“Danny doesn’t mind, Adam, so why should you?” said Laine rather strongly

“Well I’m still gonna let him know he’s crossing the line”, grumbled Adam, and with that he handed Laine some contact sheets of a recent photo shoot done in Iceland with Bandit.

Laine sat in silence. Adam is my boss but he doesn’t have the right to live my life, she thought through pursed lips. She had known since primary school that she needed to become more assertive. On her final day at Elfrida Junior, her wonderful teacher Mr Sessions had written in her autograph book: Laine don’t be backwards in coming forwards. Let your light shine for all to see.

Mr Sessions was the first in her autograph book and now his autograph sat alongside the likes of The Jam, Japan, Simple Minds and Toyah. She wondered what on earth an elderly primary school teacher would make of it all. He had been accurate though with his comments. She knew that one day she needed to gain the confidence to stand up for herself and not just let things ride. She needed not to shrink back but actively push herself to the fore, something that didn’t come easy.

For now Laine had ditched the autograph book for reasons of “coolness”. It would be harder to ditch the sitting back for stepping forwards.

The Ship in Covent Garden was a regular music industry hangout - a traditional spit and sawdust kind of pub. With Record Mirror and Sounds based in Long Acre and Melody Maker, NME and Trash based in High Holborn, the Ship was the local watering hole of all good music hacks. As with most journalists, plentiful alcohol was compulsory and all present took to this statutory obligation with gusto.

Laine and Adam arrived at 6.20pm. Tony was already there with what looked like a long haired whippet on his arm. Oh my giddy aunt, thought Laine, I can be so cruel. She made a mental note not to compare others to animals. Her mind wandered back to her thoughts of being a unicorn.

Adam had driven top speed to Selfridges as requested by Laine. The result - a light pink rara skirt and a ripped top.  A cross between Bananarama and Dexys Midnight Runners. Laine had changed into her new outfit in the loos of Selfridges. She couldn’t help noticing the way Adam had looked at her - she had blushed on his behalf. An impish smile widened across her face -that’ll do nicely, she thought.

Now in the Ship her entrance seemed to have the same effect on most of the men in the pub. Despite the dim lighting Laine managed to alert all of the alpha males to her presence. Maybe it’s the white stilettos…maybe a tad too much, she thought.

As they approached Tony’s table the look of relief on his face was evident. He beamed a winning smile, stood up, hugged both of them. “Ah Adam, Laine, good to see you, sit down, sit down, this is Karenna”. Laine noticed his jaw appeared clenched.

“Hi”, they both said. What a funny looking creature thought Laine, who was usually anything but judgemental. Karenna gazed upwards as though she was expecting to see some sort of overlord cracking the whip, and gave a hesitant smile. She too was wearing a rara skirt but that is where the similarity ended. Whilst Laine was slim and curvy, Karenna was stick-like, with no real definition; she was wearing espadrilles which had obviously seen better days.

Tony took hold of Laine’s arm. “Come on young lady, you can help me with the drinks, what would everyone like?” Karenna wanted a rum and coke, Adam a pint of best, Laine a glass of house white and Tony a bottle of Pils. As they headed for the bar Tony slipped his arm around Laine’s waist.

“Easy Tiger, its only make believe, remember?” joked Laine, a charge of electricity coursing through her veins at the slightest touch from this man.

Tony looked her squarely in the eyes. “Laine, as always you look beautiful. Sometimes I really do wish our “pretend” relationship was real. Danny is very lucky to have you”. He held up her hand and delicately kissed it. Not for the first time today, Laine blushed.

“I am so sorry to have dragged you into this mess”, he said, returning his arm loosely around her waist. “I’ve already mentioned your name a gazillion times in the hope that the penny will drop with Karenna, but all that seems to happen is she moves closer and tells me how she has been hoping for a date with me for ages. I’m at a loss as to what to do next”. Tony’s expression said it all - usually happy go lucky, but now the depth of his desperation obvious. Frown-lines formed across his forehead - they did not look quite as attractive as the first time she had seen them in the park. Funny how the boot was now firmly on the other foot, thought Laine: maybe Tony will realise that this is how he sometimes comes across.

“We’ll sort it, trust me”, said Laine with a sly grin. As they stood at the bar Laine relayed her plan to offload Karenna.

As they returned to the table Adam was discussing his recent trip to Scotland. Vestal’s latest signing Mahler had initiated a bidding war between the labels. Vestal had not offered the most money, but they were currently riding the credibility wave – something money couldn’t buy for the corporates. Adam and NME photographer Anders Langdorf had just returned from a Scottish photo shoot with the band.

“And then we took the guys to Loch Ness, as the atmosphere around the Loch is amazing.” Karenna looked genuinely interested. OK, thought Laine, better try for the Oscar now.

“What are you two looking excited about?” asked Adam; he had turned to see Tony and Laine heading back to them looking like a couple of lovesick teenagers.

“Do you want to tell him or should I?” giggled Laine.

“I’ve just asked Laine to spend a week with me in the States! I have to go for business but am gonna tag a few days onto the end; we’re going to meet up in New York”, said Tony, who was obviously playing his part with true enjoyment, secretly hoping that if he spoke it out loud it would come true!

“This will be our first real holiday together. I’ve never been to New York, have you Karenna?” said Laine throwing herself into the role.

Karenna looked as if she had just learned that Christmas had been cancelled forever. “No no I haven’t been”, she stuttered, her eyes focused on the rim of her glass.

A long silence seemed to follow but in reality it was only a few seconds. Tony spoke first. “Laine I’ve still got your suitcase at mine from our weekend in Bath. Something tells me it may not be big enough for New York”, he joked.

God, Tony, you’re gonna over-egg it if you keep on, thought Laine.

“Yep, I may even need two”, Laine smirked, and with that excused herself, making her way to the ladies.

She was feeling pleased with herself. It appeared the plan was working. Thankfully nobody had asked Adam to confirm anything. He had made his opinion known earlier that day and would be a rubbish liar. The door to the ladies flung open and Karenna appeared.

“Hey Karenna, how are you, looking forward to the screening?’” said Laine in her best “let’s be friends” voice.

“I was until you came along and spoiled it.” The venom in Karenna’s voice was unmistakeable.

“Does your boyfriend know you’re screwing your way around the music industry?” she continued. “I feel sorry for him. Everyone warned me that you were the biggest bitch going and that I should keep away but Tony and I are meant to be together, and you…” she said through gritted teeth, “…well you’re just a distraction, a fly that needs to be stamped on”.

Laine was speechless; she was looking face on to Karenna’s reflection in the bathroom mirror. Karenna’s face had darkened and for a moment Laine thought she saw a hint of pure evil in her eyes. OK you cow you’ve asked for this, thought Laine.

“For your information, Miss High-And-Fucking-Mighty, I’m here as a favour to Tony. We are friends, good friends, although being you I doubt you know what the fuck that means. Tony was trying in the nicest possible way to tell you to fuck off so he recruited me as his fake girlfriend for the evening. He had hoped that somewhere in your dim head you might actually realise he couldn’t give a flying fig about you. You actually repulse him, to the point that he wished you’d get up and go for good. Apparently though you are so thick that you don’t or can’t see the sign tattooed above his head that says he doesn’t want you. The truth is he
is
into me and has been for a long time. I may even make his year and go out and fuck him, something that is long, long overdue, believe me. Whether I do or not is none of your damn business, so little Miss No-Butt I suggest you take your scrawny arse and fuck right off.”

With that Laine turned on her high white heels and headed back to the table.

She had not known where the words had come from or why she had felt the need to defend her position. She knew however that she had felt more alive than she had for quite some time.

Her face was flushed and her pulse was racing, there was even the hint of a tremor in her hand as she walked back through the pub. The adrenaline was still pumping as she approached the table where Tony and Adam sat.

Without a second thought Laine, with the precision of an expert Harley Davidson rider, straddled Tony face-on and planted a long, passionate kiss firmly on his lips. Tony, although surprised by the kiss, did not draw away. Instead his hand found the small of her back and pulled her closer. Adam sat open-mouthed and wide-eyed. Damn, he thought, Laine was a very, very sexy woman, and a part of him felt uncomfortable witnessing this degree of passion from someone of whom he felt so protective.

Laine knew the moment her leg had swung west that she had crossed the line. This was only the second time they had kissed. Whether tonight or some other time she knew she would be sleeping with Tony and she knew that would spell trouble.

“I think I like you being my fake girlfriend”, Tony laughed.

The moment had come and gone so quickly. She was suddenly self-aware. God, have I lost all sense of control? she thought.

Karenna had pushed her over the edge and she now felt as if she were flying across a vast canyon unable to control the thermals below. As she uncoupled herself from Tony she saw Karenna heading towards them, her face red and swollen. In a split second she had thrown what appeared to be a pint of beer over them both, told them they were all fucking wasters, and disappeared out of the door.

The whole pub had erupted in laughter. The scene was like something out of a bad B-movie. Most of the drinkers in the Ship were hacks in one guise or another and nothing got them more excited than a bit of insider gossip, especially when it involved Tony Black. The gossip section of Melody Maker would be full of innuendos and references for weeks to come.

“I think the screening may have to take a back seat Adam. Looks like I’ll have to go home and change”, laughed Tony.

“Me too”, chipped in Laine, whose ripped t-shirt now looked slightly pornographic.

“Blow me”, said Adam, who was still trying to get to grips with the scene that had played out before him.

“I think you had a lucky escape Tony, she’s a real life crazy”. Adam did not know whether to laugh or be serious.

“Wow Laine - what on earth did you say to her?” asked Tony.

“I told her the truth, and as they say, the truth hurts. As our American friends say, I kicked her to the kerb.” Laine knew she had been more honest than she had needed to be with Karenna, and didn’t feel particularly great about it.

For the first time since the Holland Park incident she had taken a risk with Tony. Kissing him was stupid, she told herself, especially in such a public way. That was not her style at all, but it was something she had needed to do. She had felt threatened by this crazy girl and had in some really primal way needed to show the world how she felt. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The kiss left her in no doubt.

“I really need a change of clothes, sticky beer is not my style this early on in the evening”, said Laine, trying to use the bar towels the bar man had kindly brought over.

“Thank goodness you didn’t sleep with her”, said Adam, eagerly trying to catch Tony’s eye. A pause. “Tony, please tell me you didn’t sleep with her did you!?” Adam’s voice was now a few octaves higher.

After a pause, as if trying to double-check his memory bank, Tony answered, “No, thankfully not.” He was finding it increasingly hard not to stare at Laine. He wanted to will her into an explanation.

Her kiss had exploded inside of him and he needed to analyse and discuss it with her. He prayed she had kissed him for the right reasons and not because she was still playing the part he had set for her. He didn’t want to make any wrong moves or mistakes; she was way too precious to him for that.

“Looks like you’re on your own Adam, sorry old mate. I don’t think Mr Bowie would appreciate two industry types turning up smelling like a brewery to his London premiere”, said Tony as he wiped.

“Fair enough, wouldn’t be the first time though I’d guess”, shrugged Adam.