Jersey Girl Read online

  Jersey Girl

  © Copyright 2018 J A Heron

  Cover & format by The Graphics Shed

  Edited by Karen Sanders

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the arduous work of this author.

  All rights reserved.

  The Scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorised electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, organisations, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locale is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  “If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.”

  – Coco Chanel

  For my husband, Ian…

  Love, your Jersey Girl.

  “Shh. They’ll hear you,” Lisa whispers.

  I can’t help the little giggle that escapes as I watch her slide down the drainpipe. Her skirt is bunched up around her waist, with her knickers on display as she slips down to the ground with a little more difficulty than she was expecting. A gasp escapes as she loses her grip, but she quickly regains her hold. This is the first time I’ve crept out of the house while our parents are fast asleep in the room next door.

  I bounce from foot to foot with excitement. “Hurry up!” I plead on a whisper. Lisa is a seasoned pro at making an escape to party the night away.

  We’d pretended to be asleep, but once the clock hit eleven p.m. and our parents – as regular as clockwork – hit the hay dead on an hour before midnight, just like they do every night, we threw our duvets off us and finished getting ready. The rush of adrenaline that sweeps through me at the thought of getting caught by our parents is exhilarating. We know we’re doing wrong, but there’s no way they would let us go to this party, no matter how much we begged. Lisa and I made the decision to pull the wool over our parents’ eyes and betray their trust, and if we’re caught, we’ll end up paying the price until we’re well into our thirties.

  We manage to escape, although we have a few scrapes and scratches caused by the rose bushes and house bricks.

  Just around the corner, we can hear the pumping baseline of the music playing inside the biggest house I’ve ever seen.

  “Who lives here again?” I ask, aghast at the sheer size of the imposing Victorian building before me.

  “Jensen, and his sister, Julia,” she reminds me, with an exasperated sigh. “Julia invited me.”

  “She invited you. So, I’m not actually invited?” I thrust a hand on my hip, annoyed that my invite came from my sister.

  “It won’t be a problem. Stop whining and get a move on. We’re wasting good drinking and flirting time.”

  “Who’ve you got your eye on this month?”

  “Don’t be cheeky, but F.Y.I….” She shapes the letters with her fingers. “…Jensen is so hot, and even though he didn’t actually invite me formally, I can tell he’s interested.”

  I don’t have the heart to tell her I think it’s all in her head.

  We enter the large house and we’re immediately hit with the sounds of dance music, the smell of weed, and the loud chatter of hundreds of teenagers, all behaving like animals. I hold onto the strap of Lisa’s bag as she makes a beeline for the kitchen. Feeling uneasy, I hold on tighter, not wanting to be separated from the only person I know here. My shoulders take a battering as I follow Lisa through the mass of people. My arms will be black and blue in the morning.

  Cans of beer line the work tops, along with vodka shots, and a bowl of punch. I decide on a glass of punch while Lisa grabs a can and flicks the top, taking a long swig like she’s been starved of water in an arid desert.

  I pick up the ladle, and that’s when I notice all the cigarette butts floating in the punch. “Gross!”

  “How about some lemonade for the little girl?” I hear a male voice behind me. I spin round and come face to face with the biggest fuck-wit on the entire planet – Jack Howard. He laughs in my face. “Hey, Johnny. Who invited the shrimp?” he shouts out over his shoulder. I know he’s referring to me, because this idiot has teased me about my height since we were eight years old. He keeps laughing, clearly thinking it’s highly hilarious to keep picking on me.

  I stand on my tiptoes. “Shut up,” I yell in his face, then turn to walk away. I stand next to Lisa, feeling comfortable and safe in her company. I knew I shouldn’t have come, but my overbearing sister insisted. I grab a beer and sip my drink, while Lisa is drinking everything in sight.

  “Let’s get this party started!” she shouts, then starts to dance.

  “Slow down,” I tell her, grabbing her arm to keep her from drinking so fast.

  “Okay, Mum,” she sneers, then swaps her beer to the other hand and gulps down the contents.

  I should’ve known she’d behave this way. She’s like an imprisoned animal liberated.

  She walks away from me with a full can in each hand, probably in search of Jenson, so she can flirt her arse off. Hopefully she’ll get the message that he’s not interested in her sooner rather than later, to save her from embarrassing herself.

  There’s a loud cheer as she enters the lounge area, and I just know she’s the life and soul of the party, no doubt dancing and chatting with her friends. It’s clear I’m a spare part as I stand in the corner, looking down at my phone, pretending I’ve found something curious to keep my interest. I don’t want to make eye contact with anyone, and I certainly don’t want to engage in any kind of conversation. I’d much rather keep to myself and hope this night will be over soon. I feel out of place, even though these kids are only a year older than me.

  “Hey.”

  I turn to see a boy, who I think is from one of my classes. “Hey.”

  He stands in front of me, smiling. I try to ignore him, continuing to pay attention to my phone and not the guy smiling at me like a loon, looking like a creep. It’s uncomfortable. I flit my eyes up and down. All the while, he continues to stare at me.

  Get lost, weirdo.

  “Is there something you need?”

  “You’re in my biology class, right?”

  “I think so.” My answer is cl
ipped.

  “Dan.” He reaches out his hand in greeting. I hesitate for a moment, looking up into his blue eyes. They’re kind, smiling, and he looks harmless enough.

  “Kat,” I greet him, shaking his hand out of politeness.

  “Cool. We both have three letter names.”

  “Mine is short for Katherine.”

  “Mine is short for Daniel.”

  I begin picking at my nails, a sure sign I’m out of my depth here.

  “Do you want another drink?” he asks after a beat. I think he’s feeling the unease too.

  “No, thanks. I’m fine with this one.” I’ve been holding onto my beer for so long it’s warm and flat. It tastes disgusting.

  “How about a smoke?” He pulls out a cigarette packet, pulls one half out of the pack, and offers it to me.

  “I don’t smoke, but thank you.”

  “So, what do you think to Mr Gregson?” He’s referring to our biology teacher. He lights a cigarette, takes a deep draw, then blows smoke over my head. My tummy flips; I try to hide my disgust.

  “He’s okay.”

  Dan here is obviously thick-skinned since he won’t leave me alone. “He’s more than okay. The man is a major influence. It’s because of him I want to pursue a career in medicine. I haven’t decided what field yet, but I’m keeping my options open. What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “What do you want to be when you grow up?” He laughs. He displays a boyish grin, and I start to warm to him. I look a little harder. He’s cute. Young-looking for his teenage years.

  I return his smile, and his eyes light up. “Marine biologist.”

  “That sounds cool. So, you have an interest in nature?” He drops his cigarette butt into the now empty can of beer he’s holding.

  “Yes. Sea life, plants, animals. That sort of thing.”

  Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a passion for aquatic life, and I love to spend my time down by the sea, snorkelling and scuba diving.

  “I think that’s great. We both have major ambitions, and I don’t know about you, but nothing will get in the way of my plans.” He speaks with determination, convinced he’ll be able to follow his dreams, and that’s why I’m slowly warming to him. We have things in common.

  I’m not keeping an eye on the time, and it seems to fly by in Dan’s company. He’s starting to slur his words, while I still hold onto the drink I’ve been clutching all night. There’s a loud crash from the other room, but I don’t take any notice as Dan and I chat like we’re old friends. The noise is getting louder. Irritation strikes when the noise around me drowns out Dan’s voice.

  Two older boys come into the kitchen to refill their drinks. “Dude, she’s wasted again.” They both laugh.

  “It’s the same at every party we have. That girl is messed up,” the other boy says.

  I don’t know who they’re talking about, but I think I can guess.

  “Oh, shit. Looks like I’ve got to babysit my sister again.” I place my cup of disgusting beer on the kitchen island and follow the sound of wolf whistles into the lounge.

  The sight before me halts my steps.

  Lisa is dancing, not so elegantly, and she’s made the decision to remove her clothes. She’s dancing like a stripper in just her bra and knickers.

  “Oh my God. Lisa.” I rush towards her, pull her down from the coffee table, scoop up her clothes, and rush to the cupboard under the stairs, pulling her arm while she stumbles along the way. The crowd cheering her on have started to boo. All the while, I can hear the laughter. They’re laughing at her, not with her, and that makes the whole situation awkward. I admit it; my sister embarrasses me.

  I just know someone has videoed her display, and it will be all over the college Monday morning. Heat rises up my neck towards my face, a mixture of furiousness and mortification. I could kill her right now.

  I knew it was a mistake to come. I should’ve put my foot down, threatened to tell Mum and Dad. Anything to make her change her mind.

  How did she get so drunk so fast?

  I check the time on my phone. It’s gone two in the morning. I must’ve been talking Dan’s ears off.

  I manage to get Lisa and her clothes reacquainted, and drag her back out of the cupboard.

  She’s walking, but her whole body is slumped, and she continues to stumble as I lead her towards the plush sofa in the middle of the vast lounge. A guy stands on the coffee table, mimicking what Lisa was doing only a few minutes ago. I realise it’s that douche, Jack. I scowl at him as I make sure Lisa is sitting down.

  “Jackass,” I murmur, knowing he can’t hear me over the deafening sounds.

  The party is still in full swing, even though a few people have left, and the music is still loud.

  I go back into the kitchen to find Dan still standing where I left him. “My sister, Lisa, has passed out. I need to get her home.”

  “Do you need a hand?”

  “I’ll manage, thanks.”

  “I’m going to head off now anyway. See you Monday in biology.” He places a friendly palm on my upper arm just before he turns away.

  I really like him, but now I must deal with the train wreck that is my sister.

  “Come on, sis. Time to get you home.”

  When I bend down to try and help her up off the sofa, she’s become comatose and I can’t lift her up. She’s unresponsive and I’m willing to bet no one around here will help me get her to her feet. I’ve changed my mind; I do need help removing Lisa from the sofa so I can get her home. I run back into the kitchen, look around the back garden, but Dan has already left. I don’t have his number.

  I go back into the lounge and more people have started to leave. Couples are walking up the stairs and I can use my imagination to know what they’ll be getting up to.

  “Can someone help me, please?” No one answers, and the few people hanging around turn their backs.

  I’m sweating profusely, and unable to catch my breath. Panic is setting in, and I don’t know what to do. I take a deep breath, needing to regain a little composure.

  “Lisa, come on. Wake up.” I start to slap her around her face. No response.

  I run back to the kitchen, fill a glass of water, run back in the lounge, and drop water on her face. Still no response.

  She’s out fucking cold, and I don’t know what else to do.

  There’s only one thing I can do, and I’m willing to bet my left tit Lisa won’t like it.

  I call Mum and Dad.

  As it turns out, it’s the worst decision of my life.

  “Hurry up, Kat. I need to pee!” Benny shouts through the locked bathroom door. I sigh deeply then continue to relax in my best friend’s bath. The sweet scent of her luxurious and very expensive bath foam rises from the warm water. The copious amount of bubbles this stuff produces is insane; this is my idea of heaven. I’m in no rush to leave my little slice of paradise. I refuse to finish up this self-indulgent time, at least not until the water is cold or my fingers look like they belong to a woman aged eighty-three, not twenty-three. I’d shift my wrinkly behind if Benny shouted to say she’d fixed me a rum and Coke, but she’s angry, so I’ll leave her to it and stay here a while longer. Especially when she calls me a ‘selfish bitch’ for the third time.

  I close my eyes and shut out the world and all the madness that goes with it. I start to recall the craziest time in my life, but quickly try to shut it out, closing the blinds to my past. I’m so thankful for how my life is now. Although things could be a lot better, I can’t complain considering all the things I went through just a few years ago. I shudder at the thought; a combination of the decreasing temperature of the water and the memories of a past I’d much rather forget.

  I lift my leg out of the water then run my hands down my smooth skin; a result of the beautifully softened water. I make a massive error when I slide my hand back up again, feeling the prickles of two-day old unshaven legs. I contemplate picking up my razor, but quickly ch
ange my mind, considering the time and effort it will take out of my lazing in the bath time. I’ll be changing into a pair of jeans later, so no one will know or care. Just out of curiosity, I check my armpits. That’s an even bigger mistake. They’re in an even sorrier state; they’re hairier than a gorilla’s backside. Oh, well. I’m too comfortable and relaxed to care. I sigh again.

  Thirty minutes later, it’s time to move my arse. The water is freezing, and Benny has shouted multiple obscenities from the other side of the door. She’s always on my ass for something. I do love that woman, though. She’s my best friend in the entire world, my saviour when no one else was around to lend a hand, and she’s the most amazing girl I’ve ever met.

  We’ve been living together for about four years now, and I’ve thought about finding my own place and living independently, but we’ve agreed that we’re better off together, both financially and emotionally. I’m in no position to fund my own place yet. We’ve laughed and joked so many times when discussing our living arrangements, but mainly we agree that we’d both be lonely and miserable without each other. Then we hug it out.

  On the very rare occasions when either of us has got lucky, we always try to respect each other’s space. Benny has had a couple of relationships. Admittedly, they didn’t last longer than a couple of months, which I put down to her being extremely high maintenance. But I respect her, and I’ve tried to support her on an emotional level. Her relationships with men just tend to fizzle out after she becomes demanding and the guy turns out to be a major douchebag. Twice, her hopes have been dashed by two inconsiderate pricks that were never worth her time. Douche number one met someone else and douche number two dumped her via text message.