'I Wanna Make You My Business'- Van Mccann

7

I just got into my pj's and tucked into bed and started to settle down for the night. I was replaying all of the days events over in my head. It was great. I sat smiling at the ceiling when I heard a bang on the window. Startled, I went over and pulled open the curtain. Van was hanging off the window ledge mouthing 'Let me in' through the glass. I opened the window and Van climbed through.

"Erm Van, it's just gone midnight, what are you doing here?"

"Me Mam washed your top so I thought I'd bring it round"

"And why through the window?"

"Didn't want to cause any issues with Liz y'know. Suppose I better be off then." He headed back over to the window.

"Van, you can stay the night if you want" I said hesitantly, unsure of what would happen if Liz found him.

"Na, it's alreet. Ma Mam will be wondering where I am if I don't get back. See ya tomorrow Kate." He said as he jumped back down into the front garden.

-

I woke up with a text from Van:

*Morning, sorry for coming round so late last night X*

I immediately replied back saying it was no problem and it was a nice surprise. I got ready for college like normal and went downstairs to grab some breakfast quickly before leaving.

"Where the fuck have you been the last few days? First you didn't come home the other night and yesterday I got a call from college saying you weren't there? You have some explaining to do" Liz said cornering me in the kitchen so I couldn't just leave. "Well go on then, explain..."

"You told me not to come back the other night so I didn't and I wasn't feeling good yesterday so I didn't go in," I explained.

"That's total bullshit Kate." I pushed her shoulder out the way and headed to leave for the door. Liz came running after me. "You're not going anywhere till you tell me the fucking truth."

"What truth, that was the truth!" I shouted.

"Get the fuck upstairs now. You're not going in today. Get in your room now" Liz screamed pushing me up the stairs. "You're not leaving your room till I say so" She said as she locked the room from the outside. She installed a lock a few years ago so that I wouldn't leave, and she still uses it to this day.

"And if you think you're seeing that boy again, you can think again. I will not allow you to see him. That punk rocker can fuck off. He's a terrible influence on you Kate" Liz shouted from downstairs.

I sat against the locked door, crying my eyes out. A wave of anger hit me and I started banging on the door. "Let me out you bitch! You can't keep me locked up! You crazy alcoholic psyco!!" No matter how much I shouted she didn't react.  Looks like I was going to be stuck up here for a few days...

-

3 hours had passed and I was still locked up in my room. Van text asking me where I was and he said he missed me. I sat listening to Oasis for the rest of the afternoon. My phone lit up again.

*1 new message from Van: 'hey, were all going round to Benji's tonight if you can get out. College was shit without you x' *

I sat reading the message over and over, thinking of a way to leave the house. Then I thought of the window. Even though I was petrified of heights, I pulled it open and climbed out, and jumped down to the floor. I fell down onto my hands and knees and cut my hand on the gravel on the floor. Just to double check, I looked through the front window and Liz was sat with cans of larger all around her. There is no way she would realise I was gone.

I stood in the cold at the bus stop, looking at the now stinging cut on my hand. I just shook it off and got on the bus to Benji's house.

When I arrived, the garage seemed quiet. I walked through the back door to see Benji sat on the sofa alone.

"Hey Benj," I said as I walked over and took a seat next to him, " I thought everyone was coming round tonight?"

"Oh yeah, they just went round to the shop to pick up some cans and fags. I heard about your mam, are you ok?"

I told him about everything that happened during the day. I could see the shocked expression on his face.

"Well, thats shit. At least you have got us, and Van to talk these things through with. He really likes you, y'know" Benji said.

"Oh, you really think so?" I asked. Benji moved closer to me and put his hand on my leg and whispered in my ear, "Of course he does." I started to blush.

Van's POV
"Grab the stuff then Bob, don't just leave it in the car" Larry shouted over me to Bob. I wonder if Kate made it over. Should I go round to hers and pick her up? I miss her. Larry pushed open the garage door and Bob and I walked in.

All I could see in front of me was Benji all over Kate. He had his hand on her leg and flirting with her and she was giggling and flirting back. I have told him how much I like her. I can't believe he has done this too me. And Kate, I thought she liked me. I thought wrong. Anger and rage bubbled up inside me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I stormed out of the garage and went and sat on the kerb in front of Benji's house.

"Van!" I heard Kate shout behind me as I left. I still sat outside the house, lighting a cigarette. Kate came running out after me. She sat beside me on the kerb.

"Hey, what was that all about?" She asked.

"You and Benj. I didn't think you liked him like that?" I said.

"Like what?"

"You fucking know Kate! I saw you guys flirting. He was all over you"

"Van are you being serious right now. He had his hand on my leg, that's it. Benji is my friend. Why does it matter to you if I liked him or not?"

"Y'know..." I said sheepishly.

"I know what Van..?" She said with a sharp tone in her voice. We had both stood up at this point.

"I fucking like you Kate. I thought you knew that!" I said, still very angrily.

Kate sat down and put her head in her hands. "You what..?" She said quietly. I sat down next to her and brushed her soft brown hair out of her face.

"Look at me Kate. I really do like you. I'm sorry for shouting and that but it just really pissed me off seeing you with Benj. I thought something was happening, between you. I just got a bit jealous and over reacted." I apologised and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

"I'm sorry Van, I really didn't know," she said as she put her head on my shoulder. We sat like that for a few minutes until I finished my cigarette, then we headed back inside for rehearsals.