Page 52 of The Best Friend
‘I know.’ She smiled.
Derek was shaking his head, trying to wriggle out of his bonds, but he was tied too securely. ‘Help!’ he yelled.
‘You shout out one more time and I’ll get Callum to piss in your mouth.’
Derek clamped his mouth shut and squeezed his eyes closed, his whole body tensed, waiting.
Nicole shoved her brother and nodded towards his trouser area, her eyes wide and expectant. Cal knew better than to disobey her. He’d be in for it if he said no. Nicole’s smile widened as Callum positioned himself over Derek’s body and peed for all he was worth. A yellow arc spattered Derek’s school uniform. Callum got creative, gyrating and making swirling patterns.
‘Get his head, too,’ Nicole said, giggling.
Callum moved around and let the last few drips soak into Derek’s mousy hair. The boy was crying now. Served him right. He wouldn’t mess with her brother again, that was for sure.
‘Now kick him,’ Nicole said.
‘What?’ Cal said.
‘Go on. He kicked you. So you can kick him back. It’s fair.’
Callum gave Derek a gentle kick on his thigh.
‘Not like that, like this.’ Nicole aimed a vicious kick on Derek’s side, making him howl in pain.
Callum stared up at her and shook his head. ‘I don’t wanna, Nic.’
‘Do it,’ she hissed.
Callum kicked Derek in exactly the same spot. Derek sobbed.
‘Again,’ Nicole said.
Callum kicked him again.
‘No one messes with me or my brother,’ Nicole hissed. ‘No one.’
And she meant it.
Twenty-One
2019
The sky is a sheet of grey hanging thick and heavy with unshed raindrops. It meets the darker sea in a blurred line out on the horizon. Seagulls drop and rise, buffeted and thrown about by the gusting wind. My hair whips around my face and I tug my woollen hat down more firmly, protecting my ears from the piercing cold as I walk along the empty beach.
Now that I’ve aired my fears with Jared, I don’t feel quite so alone. And, while I still think he’s sceptical, at least now he understands why I’ve been so upset these past few days. At least he won’t be going out running with her any more. That’s something.
I love being on the beach out of season. Having it all to myself as the waves break over soft sand and broken shells. Like I’m the last person on earth. It’s not very often I get to have this feeling of space. Yet the sense of freedom is fleeting. I check my watch. It will soon be time to pick up Joe from school. My stomach clenches as I realise Darcy will be there.
‘Louisa!’
It sounds like someone’s calling my name. It’s hard to tell over the crash of the waves and the roar of the wind. I turn to see a dark figure waving in the distance. Squinting, I make out a man heading my way. Fear grips me for a moment as I flash back to memories of my stalker. But I see now that it’s a more familiar figure. He breaks into a jog and I walk to meet him.
‘Louisa, I thought it was you.’
‘Hi, Mike.’ He looks awful, his face gaunt, stubble grazing his chin and upper lip. I’m not sure what to say to him.
‘How are you?’ he asks.
‘Fine. Just blowing the cobwebs away before I go and pick Joe up from school.’
