Born Evil (31 page)

‘I never wanted to leave you, son, but they ran me out of town. I nearly died that day. The injuries took months to heal.’

Charlie couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. He’d always hated Steve and Mickey and now he hated them even more. How dare they try and kill his dad and leave him for dead?

‘You shouldnae really blame Steve,’ Billy said, determined to put his son straight. ‘It was your Uncle Mickey’s idea. He was the one who beat me to a pulp and wanted to leave me tied up to the tree, to die slowly. It was Steve who stopped him from leaving me there.’

‘I hate Uncle Mickey! I wish we could get our own back on him, Dad. He threatened me when I was a kid … he’s always hated me, you know.’

Cracking open two more cans of cider, Billy handed one to Charlie. ‘It’s probably not personal. He just hates you ’cause you’re my boy. That’s why I told you I didnae want no one to know you were seeing me. Mickey said if I ever came back to the area, he’d kill me. I only came back because of you, Charlie. I’ll hang about now till you’re sixteen, and old enough to leave home and live with me.’

‘I wish we could move to Scotland, Dad. I hate it at home and I hate school. That boy I told you about, the one who’s going out with Mickey’s daughter, is making my life a misery.’

Billy slammed his can down on the table between them. ‘What’s this kid been saying then? What’s he been doing to yer?’ he asked in a raised voice.

‘Just taking the piss out of me all the time. He’s told the whole school I’m into incest. That bitch Lois must have told him I asked her out and obviously all the lads at school believe she’s my real cousin. They don’t know we’re not even fucking related.’

‘Why didnae yer give him a good hiding, son? Show him who’s boss.’

Charlie smiled. ‘I would, normally. If it was anyone else I’d have thumped ‘em by now, but this Dean’s a shit hot fighter. He’s been boxing since he was ten and he’s never lost a fight.’

Billy sat silently for a few minutes, deep in thought. ‘Look, son, you’re sixteen next year. Why don’t me and you fuck off up to Scotland then? It’ll be a new start for the both of us. In the meantime, just put on a brave face at home and at school. And if you want me to come down and have a word with this Dean, I will. He willnae fuck with me.’

‘Nah, it’s not worth it, Dad. It’ll make me look like I can’t stick up for meself. Are you really serious about us moving to Scotland?’

‘Of course I am,’ Billy said, smiling broadly. ‘But first we’ve got to think of a plan to get your Uncle Mickey back. What do you say?’

Charlie grinned at his dad. ‘Definitely. I’m up for it. What we gonna do?’

Laughing at his son’s eagerness, Billy handed him the last of the sandwiches. ‘You leave it with me. I’ll think of something that your Uncle Mickey won’t fucking forget till the day he bastard well dies. We’ll have the last laugh, Charlie boy, you’ll see. No one fucks with Billy McDaid and gets away with it. No one.’

Happy birthday to you
,

Happy birthday to you
,

Happy birthday, dear Charlie

Happy birthday to you
.

CHARLIE SAT AT
the dining table, feeling embarrassed. He hated birthdays, especially his own. As his mother presented him with a cake, he obeyed her orders and made a wish as he blew out the candles. Shutting his eyes, he wished for Dean Summers to get knocked out in his next bout and never regain consciousness.

‘Time for your presents now, love. You give him ours, Steve,’ Debbie said.

‘Happy birthday, Charlie,’ Steve muttered through gritted teeth.

‘Thanks,’ Charlie said, as he snatched the gift bags off of the stepfather he hated.

After politely thanking his mum and Steve for the iPod, new mobile phone and J.D. Sports vouchers, he took the bag that Gracie had been forced to hand to him.

‘Thanks, girls,’ he said falsely, smiling at her and Rosie as he pocketed the HMV voucher.

‘Can I go out now, Mum?’ he asked, following her into the kitchen. He was desperate to get drunk, stoned or both.

He was fifteen today and too old for all this birthday bollocks his mum was forcing upon him. It wouldn’t surprise him if she handed him a bowl of jelly and fucking ice cream or demanded he participate in a game of Pass the Parcel.

Debbie was disappointed that he was going out so early but forced a smile. ‘’Course you can, love. Oh, and while I remember, we’re going away next weekend with Mickey and Karen. Nanny and Peter are coming as well. I thought it might be nice if you came with us.’

Charlie looked at his mum in horror. He couldn’t think of anything worse. ‘I’m a bit old for going away with me family now, Mum. Can’t I stay here?’

‘Well, I suppose so. Will you be all right here on your own?’

‘No, Mum, someone might break into the house and murder me,’ he replied sarcastically.

‘I’m sorry, Charlie. I know you’re a big boy now. I’ll have a word with Steve, see what he says. I am your mum, I can’t help worrying about you, love.’

‘Well, don’t,’ Charlie insisted. Stupid cow, he thought, as he slammed the front door and marched down the road. He was meant to have met his dad at seven and now he was going to be late.

‘Happy birthday, son,’ Billy said as Charlie finally made it to the pub. Handing him a carrier bag, he smiled at his boy’s delight as he pulled out a Glasgow Rangers shirt.

‘Thanks, Dad. I love it. I can’t take it home, though. Mum will be well suspicious where I got it from.’

‘I’d already thought of that. Just wear it when you’re with me and you can leave it at Andy’s. Right, come on, birthday boy, let’s get langered!’

Charlie enjoyed that birthday more than any he had had before. He’d told his mum that he was staying round at his imaginary girlfriend’s house. Being able to spend the whole night with his dad made it extra-special to him.

At school the following day, Charlie got an even bigger treat when he heard Dean Summers telling a couple of the lads that Lois had dumped him.

‘She scrolled through my phone and found them texts and pictures that Gemma bird sent me.’

Summers stopped talking as soon as he noticed Charlie standing nearby. ‘Fuck off, Nonce Case,’ he shouted.

Charlie smiled to himself as he slouched away. Lois had always been too good for an arsehole like Dean Summers. Briefly, Charlie wondered if she had fucked Dean. He hoped not. If she had, then she was nothing but a fucking slag.

The rest of the week dragged by for Charlie. He’d never been left in an empty house before and by the time Friday morning arrived, he was doing buttons to have the place to himself.

When he’d waved his mum, the brats and Fat Bollocks off, Charlie slipped out of his school uniform and changed into a pair of Nike shorts and a T-shirt. He’d pleaded with his mum to let him have the Friday off school but she’d refused, so he was going to forge a letter himself, saying he had a hospital appointment. There was no way he was sitting in a boring classroom when he had this gaff to himself.

He fished under his bed and pulled out the crates of lager he’d hidden. Armed with his most obscene porno, skunk and Rizlas, he wandered downstairs to watch one of his special films on the large plasma screen.

Six lagers, five joints and three pornos later, Charlie was bored shitless. His cock was sore from wanking and he’d also come all over his mum’s Persian rug and stained the bastard thing. Fed up, he decided to go for a beer with his dad. He scrolled through his phone and rang Billy.

‘I’m sorry, son,’ he said sheepishly. ‘I’ve gotta date tonight. I’m taking that little barmaid out … you know, the one who works behind the ramp in the Spotted Dog.’

Charlie was fuming as he ended the call. He always spent Friday nights with his old man and now he was being blown out, because of some silly tart. Rolling another joint, he lay back on his luxurious sofa, wondering what to do with himself.

Lois Dawson sat at a secluded table in a corner of Nando’s and pushed her plate of food towards her friend Marie.

‘Come on, Lois. You’ve got to eat something. You’ve barely touched your chicken and no boy is worth wasting a Nando’s for.’

Lois forced a faint smile. ‘I don’t feel hungry, Marie. I feel like shit and I just want to go home. I really loved Dean, you know. I’m so upset. How could he cheat on me? How could he do that?’

Leaning across the table, Marie squeezed her best friend’s hand. ‘Look, Lois, it could be worse. Thank God you never slept with him. Imagine if you’d lost your virginity to him, you’d have felt far worse than you do now.’

Lois fiercely wiped the tears away from her eyes. ‘I know you’re right, but part of me wishes I
had
slept with him. I think that’s the reason he wandered, because I wouldn’t give him what he wanted.’

Marie shook her head. ‘Don’t blame yourself. You’re looking at him through rose-tinted glasses. He’s a boy, at the end of the day, and they all think through their willies.’

Unable to take any more of the truth, Lois put her jacket on. ‘Marie, do you mind if you don’t come round mine tonight? Don’t take it personally, I love you to death, but I just want to be on my own.’

‘Are you sure you’re gonna be all right?’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Lois replied. ‘I’ll ring you tomorrow.’

After leaving the restaurant, she headed towards the nearest cab firm. All her mates had hated Dean, said he was a flash bastard. Well, it was her choice and she was determined to sort things out with him, maybe even give him another chance. Deciding to ring him as soon as she got home, she broke into a run.

As he watched the next porno flicker into life, Charlie switched it off. He was bored with pussy now, especially with watching it. What he needed was a bit of the real thing. Ringing his dad again, he was disappointed when the call went on to answer phone. He’d wanted his old man to change his mind, blow out the bird and take him clubbing.

He debated whether to ring Kevin, but decided against it. Since he’d been reunited with his father, Kevin had begun to bore the arse off him, and although he was an ally at school, Charlie felt as though he didn’t really need him in his life any more. Picking up his phone once again, he scrolled through the dozen or so numbers he had, and stopped at Lois’s. Now, should he text her or should he not? He knew she was home alone because he had overheard his mum talking to Karen on the phone. Now she’d split up with Dean, maybe she could do with a bit of company. With the skunk and lager clouding his judgement, Charlie planned his text with precision.

‘Thank you, driver,’ Lois said, as she paid the nice Asian man his fare.

Scurrying up the driveway, she let herself indoors and headed to her mum and dad’s drinks cabinet. Lois was a good girl and rarely touched alcohol, but the thought of contacting Dean filled her with dread and she needed a bit of Dutch courage. What if he was no longer interested in her or had another proper girlfriend? She poured herself a vodka and she held her nose as she swallowed it.

Charlie opened another can of lager and rolled yet another joint. He was out of his nut now, but felt lively and boisterous with it. In fact, he felt on top of the world. Three times he’d printed a text, but three times he’d erased it. Now he had come up with one he was ready to send. Putting his lager down, his big stubby fingers went like the clappers as he tapped it out.

The vodka made Lois feel calm, but also woozy. Hoping she was doing the right thing, she checked her text.

Dean, I hav a 3 house n realy need 2 c u. I’m sori 4 us splitin up, plz txt bk x

Feeling brave, she pressed Send.

Dean Summers was at a pal’s boxing presentation. He was two sheets to the wind, happy as Larry and, unfortunately for Lois, had left his phone at home.

Her heart jumped when she heard her phone bleep.

I realy wana fuk u. We both on r own, so how bout I come round?

Dean’s name never came up. How strange, Lois thought, as she typed in her answer.

Hury up, I’m w8in 4 u. p.s. Bring sum johnnies
.

Heading back to her mother’s drinks cabinet, Lois poured herself another vodka. She was as nervous as hell, but even though he’d been a sod to her, she knew Dean Summers was the one she wanted to do it with.

All her friends who had already done it told her that you knew when the time was right, and Lois knew that her time had come. She was also desperate not to lose Dean and that was a major part in her decision. Her mum and dad would go apeshit if they knew, but this was her choice and hers alone. She quickly ran upstairs to get changed. She was unsure what to wear, but finally chose a denim mini-skirt and pink basque. Tonight was special and she was desperate to look sexy for Dean.

Charlie saw the text come through and couldn’t believe his luck. Bring some johnnies? What a result! Searching through his mum’s address book, he scanned the pages for Mickey and Karen’s address. He knew they lived in Parkstone Avenue, but wasn’t sure of the number.

Spraying some Lynx under his arms, he rushed to the bathroom to wash his sweaty cock. Not one for cleanliness, he rubbed a bit of Dove soap around it, dried it with a towel and raced down the stairs to ring a cab.

The cab seemed to take forever to arrive and the journey even longer. ‘Can you stop in a garage for me on the way?’ he asked the driver.

When they pulled up at an Esso garage, Charlie leapt out and stood in the queue.

‘Condoms, please, mate,’ he whispered.

‘Vot? I cannot hear you,’ said the Indian assistant.

‘You know … johnnies,’ Charlie said quietly, embarrassed and all too aware of the posh-looking woman who happened to be standing behind him.

Ranjit smiled. Finally he understood. ‘Johnny no vork here,’ he said, smiling.

Charlie couldn’t get out of the garage quick enough. Fuck the condoms, his dad had always told him it felt far better bareback anyway.

Lois put on her Busted CD and lit one of her mother’s scented candles. Nervously, she poured another drink.

* * *

‘Pull over here, mate,’ Charlie said, recognising the enormous black wrought-iron gates. Chucking the driver a score, he leaped from the car and rang the buzzer. Lois released the intercom and checked herself in the mirror one last time, adding a bit more lip gloss. Then she unlocked the front door, left it ajar and made her way into the lounge. Flustered, she picked up her glass and lay down on the sofa. She was desperate to come across as cool as possible even though her heart was telling her different.