Chim- Can she fix it? YES SHE CAN

Chapter 30

Kimberley strolls across the room, carefully moving round the outside of the designated dancefloor area which‘s now packed with revellers.  Seeing the Bradfordian’s approach the lady in red motions with her head for Kimberley to follow her out of the increasingly noisy party space.

“Hello?” Kimberley questions cautiously as they come to a stop in the hallway, “is there something I can help you with?”

Nodding the woman takes her hand, leading her through to the kitchen before turning and removing her mask.

“Oh!” Kimberley exclaims, “it’s you…”

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“Kimberley told me that you own a building firm and all that lot.  How long ago did you leave Newcastle then?”

Justin takes another few gulps of his specially produced ‘juice’ before offering it to Cheryl who’s just finished her first glass of champers.

“No ta” the Geordie replies, “I want to be at me best tonight, for Kimberley like”

“Ok” Justin nods, having another swig, “so?”

“Erm…yeah it was about six years ago now, I miss me family but the work’s more frequent and better paid down here.  Me mam and me younger brother Gary are here tonight though.  Oh and Nicola, she’s me workmate and best friend, we grew up together too, long story”

Justin shrugs,

“The night’s still young, speaking of which, do you mind if I smoke?”

“No, I used to, gave up about a year ago, still crave it though…” Cheryl trails off upon noticing what her braided counterpart has produced from a small engraved tin.

“Oh no” the Geordie shakes her head, standing up, “you’re kidding.  You’re not actually going to smoke a fcukin’ joint on Kimberley’s property when the press are sniffing around?!”

Justin laughs,

“Ah they only see what they want to see, besides there’s no-one out here but you and me and you’re not going to go telling tales are you?”

Placing the fat roll-up between his lips he sparks the lighter til it catches.  Inhaling deeply he offers the joint in Cheryl’s direction.

“Oh come on, don’t be boring! Your perfect Kimberley certainly wasn’t, she used to love a bit of puff back in the day.  That was when she wasn’t fcuking her little escort pals!”

He laughs again and, irritated, Cheryl clenches her fists, one hand tightening round the slim stem of the glass until it snaps under pressure, a jagged edge ripping into the sensitive skin of her palm.

“Ah fcuk!” the Geordie automatically drops the glass and it shatters on the granite slabs followed by a few drops of her blood.

“Listen Justin” she growls, “it may surprise you but I already know all Kimberley’s secrets so you can sit out here and get muntered all you want but you’re not going to ruin tonight for her or, so help me God, I will hang you from the ceiling by your nutsack - understand!?”

“Whoa…whoa!”

Stubbing out the joint Justin rests it on the arm of the bench, waving his arms in an attempt to calm an irate Cheryl.

“The last thing I want is to ruin Kimberley’s night but these events can be fcuking boring!  Sorry, I was an knob, come on let me take a look at your hand”

Cheryl reluctantly offers her hand to him and he studies it.

“Hmm…it doesn’t look too deep, should be alright with a bandage on it.  Kimberley used to keep all the medical stuff in a box in her kitchen, she was always the one patching me up after I’d made some kind of fcuk up.  I was a liability for her but you, you’re way different, I’ll bet she never needs protecting from your messes”