When the joint was smoked down to the end, Jack tossed it into the sea. He thought he heard it sizzle as it hit the water, but he couldn’t be sure.
He stood up. His mouth was dry, and he swallowed in an attempt to produce saliva. The rippling water far out to sea was almost hypnotic. Jack stood transfixed for a while, listening to the gentle susurrations of the waves as they slapped against the harbour wall. Time became irrelevant.
The door to the Sheet and Anchor opened and a rush of chatter bubbled out. Jack snapped out of his daze, ducked down and peered over the wall to watch a man stagger from the bar. He giggled at the sight. The bar door swung slowly shut, and silence descended.
At a higher elevation beyond the bar, he thought he could see Jen’s house. A bedroom window was alight. He wondered whether it was Jen’s bedroom. The thought accelerated his already fast beating heart. What was she doing with that twat, Rocky? Jesus, he would love to get it on with her – at least then living here would be bearable.
Spurred by the thought, he lit a cigarette and started to walk towards her house. The buildings along the side street muffled any sound from the sea; it felt almost surreal, as though everything was holding its breath.
Shadows bathed the streets. The hairs on the nape of his neck prickled as though someone were watching him. Jack spun around, but as far as he could see, there was no one there. He proceeded with caution. It would be just like Rocky to be lying in wait somewhere. Wet clothes he could endure, but a broken skull wasn’t so easy.
A rapid staccato clicking sound filled the silence. Jack flinched and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine. He stared around, wide-eyed to trace the source of the noise, but he couldn’t see anything.
Not wanting to hang around in the dark to see what it was, he stubbed the cigarette out and ran up the slight incline to where brightly lit windows and a couple of streetlights cast a welcoming net of light. The brief exertion left Jack breathing hard. He stood and stared back down towards the harbour. For a moment, he thought he saw something large scurry across the path he had just taken, but he couldn’t be sure. Somewhere in the dark, a cat hissed and then screeched. Unable to see anything else, Jack turned and hurried on.
When he reached the house, he stood outside, unsure what to do next. He rocked from side to side and wrung his hands together. She had a boyfriend, so what did he expect to achieve? As he was about to turn and walk back home, a shadow crossed his path. The movement startled him and he looked up, only to see Jen in the bedroom window. Jack could see she was dressed for bed in a blue nightgown. She combed her hair, staring absently at the window as she did so. It was such a simple, everyday act, but Jack stood entranced. She was gorgeous.
“Jen,” he said as loud as he dared.
When she didn’t respond, he shouted a little louder and waved his arms. She probably wouldn’t be able to see him, as he knew at night windows in brightly lit rooms acted more like dark mirrors, but he was eager to attract her attention. He looked around the ground, spotted a patch of gravel at the side of the path that led to the front door, and scooped a few stones up. He threw them towards the window, and the gravel skittered off the wall and into the flowerbed. Dismayed at his aim, he grabbed a few more of the small stones and threw them again. This time his aim was better and the stones tinkled against the glass.
Startled, Jen approached the window and cupped her hands over her eyes to peer out. Jack waved up and Jen frowned. After a moment, she opened the window and leaned out, smiling.
”Hey,” she said.
Jack nodded. “Just thought I’d see what you were up to.”
“Well, let me see.” She tapped a finger against her lips. “I’m not wearing any makeup, and it’s late, oh and look, I’m dressed for bed.”
“Very funny. I meant, you know…?”
“Actually, no, I don’t know. But I’m glad you called by. Gran’s locked herself away and Mum and Dad were moaning about some stupid program on the telly. Anyone would think they thought it was real life. You know, I sometimes wonder who the kid is in this family.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. So you’re not a fan of TV then?”
“Nah, not really. I prefer listening to music.”
“Me too. So what do you like listening to?”
“Oh you know, Blink 182, Rasmus, a bit of Korn, System of a Down, that kind of stuff.”
“Oh, I had you down for Will Young and The Backstreet Boys.”
Jen laughed. “Do I look that analy retarded?”
“Well now that you mention it…”
“Hey, anymore of that and I’ll come down and give you a slap.”
“Promises, promises,” Jack said beneath his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, just thinkin’ out loud.”
“Now there’s a surprise. You can think. Einstein must be turning in his grave.”
“I don’t have to stand here and take this abuse, you know.”
“Really, you mean there’s somewhere else you can go and get it from instead?” She chuckled.
“Very funny. And here I was being neighbourly.”
“Sorry. So what are you doing out?”
“I was bored. You know how it is.”
“So you thought you’d pay little old me a visit. That’s sweet.”
Not as sweet as you. “Yeah, somethin’ like that.”
“Well, much as I’d love to stand here with the window open in the cold and talk, I had better go and get my beauty sleep.”
“Nah, you don’t need it,” Jack said, blushing. Had he really said that? Jesus, she must think he was a dork, but he wanted to keep her talking. She was the best thing about being here.
Jen smiled. “Thanks, but I really do need some sleep. Mum’s got me helping her with the shopping tomorrow.”
Jack racked his brain for something to say. “Did you know Zander sells drugs?”
Jen leaned further out the window. “What sort of drugs?”
“Cannabis. I found some on his boat, and I saw him selling a packet to some bloke.”
“Cannabis. Really?”
Jack was glad she didn’t ask what he was doing on Zander’s boat, because then he would have to explain about being pushed in the sea. Granted he could tell her Rocky had pushed him, but he had no proof, and besides which, he thought it would make him look like a bozo. “Yeah. Seems he’s got a nice little operation going on.” Of course he didn’t know much about it at all, but if it kept Jen talking, he could make Zander into the biggest drug baron in the world for all he cared.
“That toe rag.”
“What, you don’t like drugs, is that it?”
“I’ve never tried any. Then I’ve never been offered any either.”
“I could, you know, let you try some of mine one day, you know, if you’d like.”
Jen smiled. “Most men woo a girl with chocolates and flowers.”
“I’m not, you know… not when you’ve got a boyfriend.”
Jen’s smile faded. “It’s okay. Anyway, I’ve really got to go. It’s been nice talking to you. See you later.”
Before Jack could say anything, Jen closed the window and drew the curtains across. He didn’t know what it was, but something in her voice and expression told him that all was not well with her and Rocky. In other words, they were on rocky ground. He giggled at his little joke, then turnedand started for home with a lot more spring in his step than before.
Rocky pressed himself into the shadows of the doorway as Jack walked by. He had stood listening to the bastard chatting up his girlfriend, and the blood in his veins was close to boiling point. He opened and closed the blade of the small penknife in his hand, liking the feel of the sharp steel as it brushed through his fingers.