lust for life • james cook - skins

16 - cook

"Right, question twenty three," Uncle Keith starts, slapping the large plate of raw steak fillets on the table beside him.

I got the gang together to come to his pub quiz. Thought it'd be a good distraction for Freddie, also I know there's a fat chance I'll let Karen win that stupid show she's on.

She took our shed, so why should she get the honour of winning that competition?

So I got everyone on board with coming to this quiz. I know it'll be tight with the votes on the show, so if there's roughly 15 people there, who are unable to vote, that'll help me get revenge on his bitch of a sister.

Good shag, but a bitch.

I unscrew the cap of my whiskey bottle and pour myself another glass as Uncle Keith continues with his question.

"A swan is the only bird with a penis," he pauses. I laugh to myself at the sentence. He's some man for one man.

"But how long can a cockroach live after you've pulled it's head off?"

"Easy," JJ snickers to himself beside me, writing down the answer.

I smile at him and Freddie, setting my bottle back on the table. "Ah, this is the life, eh? Three musketeers out on the lash, let's have a cheers."

I hold out my glass in anticipation for the lads to clink their glasses against mine. No response. Freddie is sitting there, dolefully.

"Come on, cheers," I press, and Freddie and JJ finally respond, clinking their glasses with mine.

"Cheers," Freddie mumbles.

"Cheers," JJ smiles cheerfully.

At least someone's having a good time.

Uncle Keith asks another interesting question, I wasn't listening though because I was busy trying to lift Freddie's spirits.

He's such a dry arse all the time now, doesn't want to go anywhere, do anything. He just mopes about. No life in him anymore. All he cares about is Effy.

And every time I try and cheer him up, I only seem to piss him off more. He has it out for me.

"Keith," Naomi interrupts. "What's up with these questions?"

Uncle Keith stares at her. "Do you wanna be disqualified?"

Naomi simply looks down in response, not saying anything back.

"What were the dates?" Keith continues.

"Yep," JJ murmurs to himself, writing the answer down. Dunno how he knows all this shit, kid's a genius.

He frowns to himself as he writes. "Do you know what Naomi is spelled backwards?"

I stare at him as I wait for the answer to his question, a smile forming on my face.

"I moan," he finishes.

I burst out with laughter, ducking my head.

"Fucking JJ," I chuckle. "Aw, brilliant man."

I take another sip of my whiskey when my laughter ceases, as I hear the pub door open. Everyone turns to see who just came in.

It's Effy with some random bloke. Had to be in his twenties.

"Hi Eff, what's up?" Emily greets her.

"You alright," she mutters, her face blank, the lad following close behind her.

"Who's this?" Emily asks her, staring at him.

Effy pauses for a moment to think. "What is it?" She asks him, turning to glance at him for a moment.