Keep Me (Beggar's Choice #3) (7 page)

“I’ll get you a drink. Usual?” I nod gratefully and then
turn to see a very beautiful dark haired woman looking at me who is dressed as
an old school Hollywood actress in gold lame.

I smile a
hello
as Seth drags his large hand down her
bare shoulder and I see her shiver slightly like a tree in a breeze but she
wipes her face clean when he smiles at her. “This is Viv, Alys. She’s a friend
of mine.”

I smile at her and sink into the place next to her feeling a
little awkward but it’s instantly dispelled when she turns to me. “How’s it
going living with the biggest man whore in the UK?”

“The UK?” I query and she gives out a loud cackle throwing
her head back in abandon and making Seth grin.

“Okay you’ve got me. In the world.”

“It’s fine,” I smile. “It’s certainly entertaining.”

“In what way?” Seth asks, squeezing Viv into me as he sits
next to her.

“Well he can’t cook at all, he’s incredibly messy and he’s
the absolutely most impractical person that I’ve ever met.”

Viv laughs. “What’s he done now?”

“He was trying to get a double bed into one of the spare
rooms the other day.”

“Why was
he
doing that?” Seth asks in consternation.

“Because he’d got a girl in his bedroom when the men turned
up so he told them to leave it and he’d sort it out. Anyway when she left.” Viv
raises her eyebrow and I laugh. “Okay when he kindly chucked her out, he was
left with this massive bed and it wouldn’t go through the door. He wouldn’t let
me help and I went out. When I got back he’d got it into the bedroom on his
own.”

“How?” Seth asks, leaning forward and already starting to
laugh.

I can’t help laughing and it’s hard to get the words out but
eventually I manage. “He’d sawn the base in half.” Seth and Viv burst out
laughing and I gasp out the rest. “It looks okay but if you stay there get into
bed carefully, because if you don’t the base separates and you’ll find
yourselves on opposite ends of the room.”

Seth gives out a huge burst of laughter just as Bram comes
up and hands me my drink. “What are you laughing at?” he asks, sitting on the
arm of the settee next to me. Seth tries to talk and then settles for just
pointing at me and then bursting into more guffaws.

“What the …?” Bram begins but then looks at me accusingly.
“You said that was our little
secret
Alys,” he begins indignantly but
gives up as Seth keeps laughing. “Fuck off it worked,” he finally says over the
noise. “I mean there’s a bed in there.” Seth breaks into more laughter and Bram
gives up, smiling good naturedly.

As Seth and Viv sit with their heads close together he leans
into me making me gasp slightly at the feel of his warm body. “You okay
a
mhuirnin
?”

I smile at the old Irish endearment. “Jesus Bram, my mum
used to say that.”

He smiles. “Mine too. You doing okay? Has everyone been
nice?”

I open my mouth to reply but the words dry up in my mouth as
his whole body goes stiff and he scowls. Turning my head to see who he’s
looking at I see a very beautiful girl with long brown hair and a body that
fashion magazines would think lovely but I actually think looks skeletal. I stare
at her wondering why Bram’s glaring at her, but then she moves forward as the
man behind her holding her hand stumbles and jostles her and I see the
unmistakable form of Sid Hudson, the guitarist for the band and Charlie’s
brother. However, he looks vastly different from the photographs that I’ve seen
of him before. His hair is limp and greasy and he looks way too thin.

The two of them walk towards us and in my peripheral vision
I see Charlie come up and Seth rise to his feet, but my attention is on Bram
whose body is trembling slightly. I cast a startled look at him but he’s
scowling at the pair which amazes me because I’ve read somewhere that he and
Sid are best friends. I’ve never seen Bram display this much hostility.

“Hello everyone,” the girl says ignoring the palpable wave
of hostility with a sangfroid that I almost envy.

“Leah,” Charlie finally says, his fists clenched at his
side.

She smiles almost tauntingly. “What, no hug? Charlie I’m
amazed. After all I’m practically your sister in law.”

He leans towards her almost threateningly. “You’re no sister
of mine Leah. You’re
nothing
to me.”

She laughs but his attention has been caught by his brother
who stands swaying next to her, his attention fixed on something out of the
window. “You alright mate,” Charlie asks cautiously but he gets no reply and
Bram stands abruptly, something missing from the usual lithe grace of his body.
He grabs Sid’s elbow exchanging a haunted glance with Charlie.

“Sid,” he says, shaking his arm until he shifts his
attention to Bram.

“Bram,” he exclaims falling slightly into him and hugging
him sloppily, going to ruffle his hair and missing his head. “How you doing
mate? Fuck I haven’t seen you in ages. How’s it going?”

A spasm of pain crosses Bram’s face. “I saw you yesterday,”
he finally settles for saying and Sid laughs carelessly.

“Fuck, it seems like a long time ago, you know what I mean?”
The frenetic, light bulb gaze dims slightly and he suddenly looks confused.
“Doesn’t it?”

I see Bram sigh and then that easy going smile passes his
face and he hugs Sid’s thin shoulders. “Yeah mate. Guess it does.”

Sid’s agitation instantly passes and he hugs Bram. “I knew
you’d understand Bram.”

Bram smiles but that thought occurs to me again about how
much of that easy going smile and manner is actually just camouflage, used to
put people at their ease. I stare at him with this thought at the forefront for
a second, until sensing my regard he suddenly looks up sharply. Catching my eye
he stares at me for a second and I suddenly feel desperately sorry for him.
This is his best friend and he’s patently off his face at the moment, and
judging from his body it’s not the first time. He’s got the look of an addict
about him.

Something of what I’m feeling must transmit itself to Bram
because he stares back for a long second, and then he breaks Sid’s hold and
lopes over to me, settling onto the arm of the chair again and nestling close
almost as if for comfort. I stroke his arm tentatively and am surprised when
instead of moving away which I’ve seen him do before when someone gets too
close, he actually moves into my caress like a big dog wanting a stroke.
Looking up I catch Seth staring at us in something like amazement. Catching my
eye he smiles at me almost too brightly and then turns to Charlie who is
running his hands over his hair in agitation.

“I swear to God Leah,” he fumes. “What the fuck are you
doing? I thought you were both coming off this shit and instead you bring him
here like
this
.” He gestures at Sid. “What have you fucking taken now?”

Seth runs his hand comfortingly down Charlie’s back but
Charlie’s attention is suddenly drawn to the arrival of a red headed women
dressed as a young Elizabeth I by the look of her costume. For a second his
expression displays such yearning that I almost turn away, but then a man comes
up to the side of the woman and slings his arm around her nuzzling into her
neck and instantly Charlie’s expression changes and becomes distant.

The redhead takes one swift look at the situation and after
a pained look at Sid she moves quickly to Charlie’s side and takes his hand
with the air of someone who has the right to do it. He instantly draws her
close and gives her one anguished look. Murmuring to him soothingly she pulls
him away from the crowd and they disappear. The man she was with gives us all a
comprehensive glare and then moves towards the bar.

Silence falls for a second which is broken abruptly when Sid
staggers over to the settee and drops into it making a woman squawk and move
out of the way quickly. He pulls Leah down to him and then proceeds to kiss her
lengthily, ignoring the rest of us. Bram stares industriously down at his
fingernails before sneaking a quick peek at Sid as if he can’t help himself.
Sid catches it and breaks the kiss, leaning forward and smiling brightly. “You
alright mate? I feel like I haven’t seen you for ages.”

Bram sighs heavily and then half-heartedly smiles. “I’m okay
Sid, how are you?”

“I’m good. I’m good. Leah and I have just been at home you
know.” He drifts off for a second, his knee jiggling quickly as he taps out a
rapid beat on his leg. Suddenly becoming aware of me he lurches slightly. “And
who are you love?”

Bram stirs as if he wants to drag Sid’s attention away from
me. “This is Alys, Sid. You know, the girl that’s staying with me?”

Sid stares into space for a second and then clicks his
fingers suddenly. “I remember. You moaned like fucking hell about it Bram,
about having someone dumped on you. How come you changed your mind?”

I gasp feeling slightly winded. I knew it hadn’t been Bram’s
idea for me to stay but I’d given him an out at the start and he hadn’t taken
it. I’d presumed, idiot that I am, that he actually enjoyed having me there.
I’m embarrassed and I don’t know where to look.

Bram jerks next to me. “I
never
said it like that
Sid,” he snaps and the harshness of his voice momentarily snags Sid’s attention
and he bends towards Bram.

“I’m sorry Bram,” he says earnestly. “You know me and my
memory at the moment?” He turns to me. “I’m sorry Alys, that’s down to me.
Bram’s happy you’re staying with him I’m sure.” He looks briefly repentant and
for a second it’s like another person peeps out, the person perhaps that Bram’s
been friends with for so long and I see Bram sag slightly.

“It’s okay,” I interject quickly but that brief glance at
the real him has gone now and he sits looking agitated, his leg bouncing faster
and faster until Leah leans forward and whispers something in his ear and he
smiles at her his face totally transformed. He nods and the two of them get up
and drift off without even a second glance back at the men that he’s been
friends with for years.

I look at Bram and he looks desolate for a second staring
after someone that the papers have always said is like a brother to him. I
catch his hand and he jerks looking as if he’d forgotten I was there, which is
a surprisingly bitter feeling. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He bends close and speaks very deliberately and I get the
impression that he doesn’t want me to misunderstand him. “No,
I’m
sorry.
I didn’t complain about you being at the flat ever. I’m
happy
that
you’re there.”

I shake my head. “It’s okay babe, I know I was foisted on
you. I wouldn’t blame you for moaning about it.”

He shakes his head crossly. “I love you being there. That
flat’s always just been somewhere that I lay my head and other things. It’s
only started feeling like home since you arrived. I actually like coming home
now because I know that you’ll be there and I can talk to you.” He stops
abruptly looking almost surprised and then finishes lamely. “That’s what
friends are for right?”

My smile has a melancholy twist. “Yes Bram. Good friends.”

Alys

The mood is subdued for a bit after that but then Mick
appears dressed as a pirate princess with his belly hanging over his skirt and
everyone perks up a bit.

Charlie reappears with the redheaded girl and comes straight
up to us. “Alys, this is my best friend Mabe,” he announces.

The girl turns to me and smiles. She has a gap in her front
teeth and it makes her smile slightly wicked. “I’m so pleased to meet you. I’ve
heard so much about you.”

I can’t help but wince and when Charlie looks at Bram he
shrugs. “Fucking Sid’s out of it. He told Alys that I’d been bitching about
having her stay with me.”

Mabe looks horrified. “Oh no nothing like that,” she
reassures me. “Bram and Matty are always on about you. You sounded lovely and
Viv and I wanted to meet you but Bram said no and that we had to give you
chance to settle in or we’d chase you off and he’d be left all on his own
again.”

Bram stirs. “Fucking hell Mabe you make me sound like Miss
Havisham. I’m not desperate for company you know.”

I laugh and Mabe grins. “You sort of are if we’re talking
decent
company. If we’re talking skanks, then no you’re
fine
for those.” We
both snort at Bram’s expression and then she turns back to me. “You should come
out for a drink with me and Viv some time. We’d love to get to know you Alys.”

“I will.” I smile staring at her curiously. She’s extremely
beautiful but I’m not sure that she even knows it. However, judging by the look
on Charlie’s face I think that he does.

She turns back to him. “Charlie are you going to have that
Bonfire Night party you were on about?”

He smiles indulgently at her. “If you want Mabe.”

“Oh I do,” she says excitedly. “Let’s make it a really good
one.”

He laughs but it falls from his face when the man that Mabe
arrived with appears. “Mabe,” he hisses, grabbing her hand. “You just fucking
abandoned me. Where have you been?”

She looks abashed but Charlie looks threateningly at his
hand on Mabe’s arm until he drops it. Mabe smiles at the man appeasingly. “I’m
sorry babe I was just with Charlie.”

“When aren’t you just with fucking Charlie?” he snarls and
she holds up her hand.

“
Stop
. I’m here now. You know everyone else but let
me introduce you to Alys. She’s staying with Bram at the moment.”

He turns to me and I’m stunned when his scowl drops to be
replaced with a particularly oily smile and a sidelong glance at Mabe to see if
she’s noticed. “Hello Alys you’re extremely beautiful. Far too beautiful to be
staying with this one.”

“Erm thank you,” I manage. He’s a very pretty man with jet
black hair and a lean muscled build, but I really don’t like the way that he’s
staring down my top.

Bram stirs next to me and shoots a look at Mabe who’s
completely oblivious. “Rob you’d better get your eyes off Alys’ tits or I’ll
close them for you.”

“Jesus calm down Bram,” he says dismissively. “Nothing wrong
with a bit of looking.”

“There is if it’s Alys’ tits you’re having a bit of a look
at,” Bram snarls.

I put my hand on his arm to calm him down although what is
the matter with him I don’t know, but at that point Mabe turns around from the
low voiced conversation that she’d just been having with Viv. Her smile falters
when she sees Bram’s face. “Everything okay?”

“It’s fine babe.” I dig my nails into Bram’s arm until he
stops scowling.

“Okay then come and have a dance Rob,” she coaxes and with
one last oily smile at me he goes with her.

“What is the
matter
with you?” I hiss at Bram.

“He was staring at your tits.” His voice goes higher in
indignation at the end of the sentence attracting Matt’s attention.

“So, he’s not the first one,” I say impatiently. “He wasn’t
interested anyway, he was just trying to make Mabe jealous.”

Matt huffs. “I’m not sure about that babe. He’s got a bad
reputation, that one. I don’t know what Mabe sees in him, but then again he’s
her choice. We’re all adults. We’ll just have to get on with him and make nice
like grown-ups.”

Charlie walks up and leans over our little huddle. “That
man’s a fucking wanker and if he puts his hand on Mabe once more I’m going to
break it.”

Matt raises his eyes to the heavens. “Okay, good chat.”

I laugh and he holds his hand out to me. “Come and dance
with me sexy lady.”

I stand up and Bram looks slightly panicked. “Will you be
okay?”

Charlie and Matt look at him. “She’s going on the dance
floor, not paying a visit to Afghanistan you prat,” Charlie says.

He blushes. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that
she’s partly deaf and she said that she doesn’t cope well with crowds because
she doesn’t know who’s coming up behind her.”

I smile at him. “I’ll be fine Bram. Matt’s with me.”

He looks doubtful but his attention shifts when Sid wanders
back. Gone is the agitated man and now he’s full of beans. Leah is in the same
condition.

Charlie’s head looks like it’s about to blow up. “What the
fuck have you taken now you fucking twat?” he snarls.

Sid smirks and throws his arm around Charlie’s shoulders.
“Calm down for God’s sake. You look like
you
need something Charlie.
Leah’s got something if you need it.”

Charlie knocks his arm away and instantly Bram and Seth are
on their feet, Seth pulling Charlie away, and Bram with his charming smile
front and centre, smiling at the bystanders and diverting attention. Matt pulls
on my arm. “Come on babe let’s go and dance. We can’t help.” I steal one last
look at Bram and then follow him.

The dance floor is crowded but I motion to Matt and he pushes
his way through to the front where the speakers are on the floor sending out a
heavy beat and we slide into a space and start dancing. Matt’s a very
coordinated, easy person so it’s not surprising to find that he dances well and
his broad shouldered figure keeps attention away, and for the next hour we
dance our hearts out, pausing occasionally to down one of the bottles of water
that waiting staff dressed as zombies are handing out.

I don’t know how long it is before I realise that someone is
looking at me but glancing up I catch the eye of Amber the girl from my course
who is dancing nearby with a very tall, good looking blonde man. I’ve met her
several times now and she’s never unbent but I nethertheless send her a warm
smile and give her a wave. I think at first that she’s just going to offer me a
version of her superior half smile but at the moment it changes to open mouthed
astonishment, and when I feel a warm hard body against me and smell grapefruit
and sandalwood I know why she’s so stunned.

“Couldn’t fucking find you anywhere,” Bram shouts, making
sure that he’s facing me.

“Here we are,” I shout back. Usually I’m concerned when I
shout that I’ve gone too loud but I don’t think it matters here. He sidles up
against me his long, limber body moving sinuously to the beat. His hair has
fallen out of its ponytail so he’s very recognisable judging by the looks that
we’re getting. He’s patently not bothered by this and I realise why when he
gets close - he’s very drunk. His breath could power a distillery and he laughs
as someone bangs into him and he knocks into me.

Matt catches his arm. “Whoa mate how much have you had?”

Bram wriggles free like an eel and throws himself back into
dancing making the universal sign of ‘I can’t understand you’. I smile at him
but I start as someone throws themselves at me from behind and hugs me. Out of
the corner of my eye I see Bram straighten but then I turn and see Amber who is
grinning at me like suddenly I’m her best friend. I can’t make out what she
says at first as she’s turned her good side to Bram, but then she turns to me
fully.

“Can’t believe it’s you babe,” she shouts in my face. “It’s
so good to see you again.”
Again
as
in
yesterday
I
think cynically
when you called me Anna and blanked me after that
. I
don’t get the chance to say anything as she turns into our little group and
smiles invitingly at Bram who looks her up and down slowly. My heart sinks,
not
her
please.

She says something to him and he smiles before listing
slightly to the side where Matt props him up. He gestures to me, obviously
asking does she know me, and she smiles warmly grabbing my hand as if to show
him that we’re best friends. I’m so stunned I can’t speak. It’s like an
accident happening in slow motion.

Matt catches my eye and grabs Bram’s arm which is flailing
as he talks to Amber. He motions up to the booth and Bram grins and nods good
naturedly before gesturing to me to come with them. At first I think everything
is okay and that we’re going to leave Amber behind, but then he gestures lazily
at her smiling with his eyes at half-mast, and she whoops and follows us
chattering away to me in a way that if Bram was sober he’d know she wasn’t a
friend, as she hasn’t caught onto the fact that I can’t hear her.

Somehow she manages to manoeuvre me out of the way and I
watch with a heavy heart as they move onwards leaving me behind without even
noticing that I’m not there. A warm hand grabs me and I look up to Matt’s
sympathetic smile. He leans close to me. “He’s absolutely pissed Alys. I don’t
think that he’s even looked at her properly.”

I flush. “Does that make it better Matt? I think that makes
it worse for him really.”

He frowns. “No it doesn’t, you’re quite right, but he’s
hurting and when he’s hurting he reaches for a drink and a woman. It’s the way
he’s always been.”

“I don’t think she’s a very good person Matt. She’s acting
like she’s a friend of mine but she’s ignored me all term.”

“Ah, but you’ve got something shiny that she wants Alys.
That’s how it works.”

“I
don’t have anything Matt.”

“Don’t you?” He smiles at me enigmatically and then pulls me
into a loose hug. “How about we have a few drinks and then you can come back to
mine and we’ll get a takeout.”

“Really?” I ask. “That sounds lovely Matt. I really don’t
want to go back and see …”

“I know, so that’s our plan then?” I nod enthusiastically
and he pulls me through the door of the booth. It’s much more crowded in here
now and the sound of people talking and shouting is louder, making it difficult
for me to distinguish individual voices. Matt pulls me to the bar and while
he’s turned away I scan the area for Bram and my heart sinks when I find him.
He’s slouched in a leather armchair next to the others with Amber astride him
grinding away while they kiss. As I watch he plunges his hand into her mess of
blonde hair and I see his tongue slide into her mouth.

Feeling a little sick I instantly look away and catch Seth’s
gaze. The big man had been glaring at Bram and saying something to Viv who
shrugged and mouthed the word
skank
at him, but now he catches my gaze
and shakes his head kindly as if telling me not to be angry. I shrug
helplessly, disliking the feeling of being pitied. I’ve never liked that and
I’m damn sure that Bram won’t make me an object of sympathy, and with that
thought in mind I square my shoulders and take my drink from Matt and smile
determinedly.

“What’s this?” I shout and he clinks his glass to mine
leaning close.

“Cherry vodka shots, now shoot,” and as one we down it and
then do the universal facial squirm.

“Fucking hell that’s like rocket fuel,” I squeal and he
laughs.

“I know let’s do another one.”

Several shots later and I’m feeling no pain as we make our
way over to the others. It’s a little quieter here as there’s nobody nearby but
the atmosphere seems strained. Bram and Amber are still exchanging tongues but
have moved onto almost obscene groping. There’s no sign of Sid. Seth and Viv
are sitting closely together and talking as if they don’t see anyone else,
while Charlie is downing drink after drink judging by the empties in front of
him and staring at Mabe who is sitting fiddling with Rob’s phone. Rob passes us
as we near with a scowl on his face.

We settle into two seats near Mick who greets us as if we’re
the second coming. “Alys, Matty thank fuck for that.”

I laugh. “Is it that bad?”

He grimaces, making his pirate crown list drunkenly on his
forehead. He pushes it back with a very tattooed hand. “Have you seen this
group? I’ve seen more fucking life in a morgue. I mean look at them. Bram’s up
in some tart’s vagina.” He pauses. “Sorry Alys, apparently she’s a friend of
yours.”

I shrug. “She’s not a friend of mine babe.”

He sighs relieved. “Oh, okay then I’ll persist with the tart
analogy. Sid’s fucked off his face. Seth and Viv are engaged in what can only
be termed verbal foreplay, and Charlie is looking to rip someone’s head off.”

“Would that person be Rob,” I whisper and he nods.

“Fuck yes. He’s been looking for an excuse for weeks. I
don’t think he’ll have to look too hard tonight.”

“He really doesn’t like him?”

Matt shakes his head.” He could be Prince fucking Charming
and Charlie wouldn’t like him.”

Mick nods enthusiastically. “You get the drift Alys,” he
says jostling my shoulder in a friendly way which only succeeds in knocking me
into Bram and Amber.

Bram breaks away from her with a start of surprise and looks
at me blearily until recognition dawns. “Alys,” he exclaims delightedly.
“Where’ve you been? I missed you.” I look at his lipstick smeared mouth and
feel slightly sick as Amber gives an indignant huff.

Matt pushes his arm. “Go back to what you were doing mate.
You’re fucking drunk.”

“I am not,” he slurs and then tries again. “Fuck I am. I’m
fucking wasted.” He looks at me morosely. “Where’ve you been Alys? Get off with
any men down there?”