Vintage (24 page)

“Were you okay last night?”

He smiled and stood too close to her. She noticed her hands were clenched.

“Yes, I…yes, we were fine. Thanks. For helping.”

“It was nothing.”

“He could've killed one of us. Me, or Kyle.”

“Who's Kyle?”

“My friend – the one he was kicking.”

“The one you were all over?”

“My
friend
, right?”

A bus was climbing the hill towards them.

Saleem was still looking at her.

“Hey, do you want to come out sometime? A movie?”

Marilyn couldn't believe what she was hearing. Saleem, asking her out. But it would be Holly who went out with Saleem.

The bus wasn't stopping, or even slowing down. Saleem stuck his hand out for her.

“What do you say?”

The bus stopped. Nobody got off. She didn't move.

“I don't know. Not my call. Why don't you ask tomorrow?”

Saleem looked confused.

He was the most attractive boy she'd ever met. She liked him.

The driver opened the door. “Come on then, haven't got all day.”

“And Saleem…”

He was standing there, watching her.

“Thanks, okay?”

With a sinking heart, Marilyn climbed on. There was nothing else she could do. She had to get away. But she was going in the wrong direction.

Away from 1962.

She fumbled for some money in her pocket, paid for a ticket and slid into a seat. There weren't many people on the bus, and she looked round to see if Saleem had gone. She saw him watching the bus leave, then cross back over the road. The bus crawled off, dragging through the traffic and the rain that had started to come down. It was two stops till she thought the coast was clear enough for her to get off. By then she was down by the park, and the clock on the Co-op said 4.28.

She ran most of the way back. Past the park. Past the Co-op. Past the Coffee Shop. She was thinking about Sheila. Then about Saleem. She wanted to see him again.

By now Holly would have gone, wouldn't she? Marilyn was soaking wet. Her hair – Holly's hair – fell round her shoulders, dripping as she ran. Her breath was coming in gasps and she slowed to a walk up the hill.

Maybe it was too late.

Maybe she would never get home.

I'm standing in the rain feeling like a complete idiot.

It's nearly quarter to five.

Maybe she's changed her mind.

Maybe she's been run over by a bus.

Maybe I'm meant to be here, this is some new kind of backwards reincarnation.

I'm pacing up and down. Another bus goes by. The conductress shakes her head at me, her ticket machine slung low over her hip.

Then I hear the gate. Marilyn's little brother runs towards me, a coat slung over his head. The sleeves are flapping like he's some crazy bird.

“Mum says you've got to come in. She says all the neighbours will be watching.”

I can't give up now.

“Tell her I'll be in soon. Tell her – not to worry.”

“What you doing out here anyway?”

“What do you think? Waiting.”

He skids to a halt in front of me.

“Are you really an alien?”

“Yes, I think I am.”

He grabs the coat sleeves, spreads his arms out. He runs round imitating an aeroplane, or maybe a 1962 version of a spaceship. Then lands in front of me.

“Which planet are you from then?”

I consider the question.

“Planet Zog.”

He flies off for a minute. Lands in front of me again. This is getting irritating. Where's Marilyn? I've got to get rid of him in case she gets here.

“Can I come? Where you're going? It's so boring here. Please.”

He looks so sad. I don't think I've noticed him while I've been here. He's cute. He's got freckles all over his nose. He's got gingery hair and great big eyes.

He's staring up at me.

I reach out and hug him tight.

“You'll have loads of exciting times, I promise. Life will get better. Watch out for this group – The Beatles. You'll like them. Promise.”

“Stupid name, who'd call themselves that? Like stupid bugs.”

He wriggles free, flies off. Back through the gate. It slams closed behind him. He runs towards the back door.

“Mum! Mum! Marilyn says she's an alien! From Planet Zog! Are you going to tell her off?”

He's gone. I stand, letting my breath settle. I focus my mind on one thing. On contacting Marilyn.

“Where are you? I can't do this on my own.”

Back at the bus stop. Marilyn heard the voice, in the back of her head, like the night before. It was thin and far away, and at first she couldn't make out the words. But then they came clear.

“I can't do this.”

“We'll have to do it together,” she flashed back, not knowing what she meant.

“You're here. You're really here.” The voice was coming through louder, stronger.

“I'm here. How do we get through?”

“I don't know.”

“I don't know either.”

Marilyn shivered. She felt empty, hopeless.

“What have you done – in my life?”

“I've been to the club – with Kyle and the others. But you know what happened.”

“Yes, is he okay?”

“He's bruised, but he's fine. What have you been doing? It must have been boring for you in my life.”

“I met a cool guy called Dave.”

“Not Dave Richards! He's dangerous, my mam says. You've not been messing round with him?”

“Just enough.”

There's a silence.

“Did he kiss you? I mean, me?”

“Yeah – think you'll like him when you get to know him. And Marilyn…”

“What?”

“Make sure you get a life, won't you? You've got guts. You showed that last night.”

“But that was you – you in my head.”

“It's you now. You did what you did. You saved Kyle. So get a life. Promise me.”

“Yeah, I will. I know I will. Saleem – he asked me out. I mean you.”

“Who's Saleem?”

“The one across the road.”

“Wow. Hey, thanks.”

Marilyn thought about Sheila, and the photos and the newspaper cutting. She knew she would have a life back at home. She'd seen a bit of it already. And she wanted to get on with living it.

She would find out what Holly had done in her life — Dave Richards kissing her? She was shocked. And pleased. Very pleased. She wondered what it had been like.

Once they got back, would that be the end of it? Would she ever know what happened to Holly? They were like best friends would be, closer – only they'd never met.

Then she saw a puppy, sitting by the kerbside near the stop, all on its own. The traffic was coming through as it always did in this world, no gaps between cars.

The dog arrives out of nowhere.

Stands at the kerb, ready to cross.

It's a little puppy. A perfect baby golden labrador. Just the same as the other day, in front of Kyle's brother's car.

There's not much traffic. But the puppy heads out into the road.

Right in front of a car.

As if it wants to be run over.

The driver doesn't see it.

I'm out there in the road before I even think.

There's a squeal of brakes.

I hang on to the puppy, close my eyes.

Scream.

Marilyn didn't know she was going to rescue the dog. But it trotted out into the road as if there was no danger, and she heard the voice in her head, Holly's voice, screaming. Without thinking she ran after the dog. There was a huge lorry at the top of the hill. Marilyn leapt into the road in front of it.

She grabbed the dog and shut her eyes, waiting for the crash.