Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
All events and characters are fictitious.
Rubies are Red. Part 38.
Jenny.
Mandy hates me.
She'd thank me for it one day. I wouldn't be much of a big sister if I left her to spend the rest of the day and night with Steve. It was too late to prevent him having her. He'd already done that. But if they were shagging all day and night then accidents could happen and no man could be trusted to pull out at the right moment every time. What would my mother say if I left her behind and she became pregnant? It was better this way.
I finished packing my bag.
"Why can't I stay with Steve?" She asked again from her position perched on the edge of the bed.
"I didn't think you could see anything in him." I replied.
"That was before I knew him."
Or he you.
"What would Mum say?"
"You don't have to tell her. Tell her I ran away again."
"I've already told her I'm bringing you home with me."
"Let Steve take me then."
"Again?"
"You know what I mean."
"I know exactly what you mean."
Her bottom lip stuck out in a sulk.
"You are coming with me. Now help me strip the bed." She stood up as I pulled back the bed-covers. I looked down at the bottom sheet. The stain from when Ron had had me was still visible. I looked at Mandy. She was looking at the stain, then at me.
I pulled the sheet from the bed and screwed it up into a ball. The pillowcases and top sheet followed. All the while I was conscious of Mandy's eyes watching me. I carried the bed linen downstairs to the kitchen and placed it inside the washing machine. Mandy brought down our bags behind me.
"I want Steve to take me home." She suddenly demanded.
What could I say? I knew that if I argued further then the stain on the sheet would come up in conversation. But what if she told Steve? And then he told Len? Then Len told Steph?
But if I made her come home with me and then she told all my sisters. She might even tell my mother.
"Alright." I gave in. "You ring Mum and tell her. When will you be going back?"
"Tomorrow."
"Where will you stay tonight?"
"That's up to Steve. He has a flat."
Mostly bed and very little sit that I remembered from the one time I went there with Paul to pick him up when we were going out for an evening together. Paul seemed envious of him for some reason. I thought it was cramped and untidy.
"Alright. Make your phone calls. Tell Mum you are staying in the Pub with Stephanie. She liked Steph when she met her at the wedding. Say that there is a party going on and you have been invited. I won't tell her any different."
"Alright. Thanks."
I cleaned up in the kitchen and poured the remains of the milk bottle into the sink. I could hear her talking on the phone. Should I make her promise not to say anything herself? But to do that I would have to admit to having an affair. She might think I'd had. The only evidence she had to go on would be a stain on a sheet.
She was still talking. But not on the phone this time. Had Steve come back?
The kitchen door opened and Ron walked in. He closed the door behind him and walked towards me.
"I'm sorry." He said stopping a yard in front of me. "For this morning. I shouldn't have acted like that. Did I hurt you?"
"A little." I confirmed. "It doesn't matter." "Of course it matters. I shouldn't have used you like that."
He reached out a hand and touched my shoulder.
"Are we still friends?" He continued.
"Friends, yes. Nothing more. Not any more."
He was moving closer. Both hands were on my shoulders. I was moving to meet him.