High Heels & Pink Glitter (the heavily edited version)

The long-term plan

Ryan had followed his father off the train, keeping his distance. He and the blonde woman got off at Hyndland station, taking the exit on the left and walking through the leafy streets with their red sandstone townhouses and cars parked closely together along each side of the road.

They came to a halt outside what appeared to be the communal entrance to flats—nice flats, mind, with enormous bay windows at the front and black wrought iron railings. The woman took a key out, giggling as Mark pushed himself behind her and felt her boob. The door opened, and they disappeared inside.

Heart still pitter-pattering, Ryan leapt up the short set of steps in front of the door and inspected the name badges next to each buzzer. He didn't know what number flat they'd let themselves into, but the fact that she'd opened the door with a key suggested that the flat belonged to her rather than his father. None of the name badges said 'Murray' either, which confirmed his suspicions.

What now? Did he wait for Mark to reappear outside, or did he try every buzzer until someone let him in, and then knock on every door until the woman answered, when he would barge past her and into the flat, demanding answers?

Reluctantly concluding that neither option was any good, he jogged back down the steps, glancing upwards to see if he could see anyone in the bay windows, but all he caught sight of was a multi-levelled cat tree, where a black and white cat rested in the top basket, lazily surveying the view.

It had also begun to rain, with great drops of water splattering the pavements and turning them a slick grey-black. He had no jacket or umbrella, and the water dripped down the back of his neck and soaked his trainers. He took a photo of the front door, anyway, figuring he might return there from time to time to see if Mark dropped by regularly.

There was no point in taking a train back from Hyndland to Partick, especially since he'd only purchased a ticket from Central to the station closest to his uncle's place, so he walked back, musing on the events of the afternoon.

Should he send a message to Erin? Something along the lines of, 'Hey, had a great afternoon! See you soon.' Then, if she didn't reply, he wouldn't have made a twat of himself. But what if she hadn't enjoyed the afternoon. A wee walk and dinner at Maccie D's weren't anything to write home about. The other kids at her posh school probably did all kinds of amazing things in their spare time. Things that cost lots of money, such as going to the cinema or Laser Tag at Braehead, or eating in fancy restaurants like Pizza Express and TGI Fridays, ordering multiple dishes and cappuccinos for afterwards

Erin had claimed to like Maccie D's, but she was only being polite.

He shoved his phone back into his pocket. No, safer to say nothing.

Tadgh was back in the flat by the time he let himself in, Cocoa wagging her tail in delight at the extra attention two humans could provide. His uncle had cracked open a beer but didn't offer Ryan one. He stretched out on his sofa, sipping it and regarding Ryan through one half-closed, beady eye. The usual friendly greeting was missing too.

Shit, had Tadgh noticed the missing twenty-pound note...? Ryan hadn't meant to steal it, only to borrow and replace when the opportunity arrived, which wouldn't be for a while yet.

"So, Ryan," Tadgh began, and Ryan settled his features into what he hoped looked like innocence.

"What's the deal-io wi' you and stayin' here? Because it's beginnin' to look like that's your long-term plan."

Phew. Not the twenty-pound note, which he had every intention of replacing, but Ryan's future. When he received notification of the sandwich van job interview, which was scheduled for next week, he'd said nothing to Tadgh other than he was going for an interview. But he hadn't given the practicalities any thought.