CHERUB: Brigands M.C. - Robert Muchamore Page 0,53
in a boxing ring.’
Lauren and James both nodded.
While Chloe headed across to the tapas bar to try and get a table, the three teenagers studied the rest of the development. To their left was a six-storey luxury apartment block called Marina View. Its air-conditioned and balconied apartments were some of the most desirable residences in one of the country’s most expensive seaside towns.
‘You can see why the Führer wanted to build this,’ James said. ‘They must have made millions.’
Dante found James’ comment slightly tactless, but couldn’t help thinking the same thing himself. Maybe if his dad hadn’t opposed the development, he’d still live here. His parents and siblings would all be alive and they’d probably be rich to boot.
The three teens eventually reached the back of the courtyard, which had less appealing views over the car park and the rubbish bins behind the shops and restaurants. Beyond the cars was a bland two-storey brick box with a huge neon Brigands M.C. logo on it. Above the main entrance a plastic sign read: Whatever happens in this clubhouse, stays in this clubhouse.
‘Forty minutes for a table,’ Chloe said, as she found the kids again. ‘Do you want to wait? Or you can go down to the diner, or get donuts or something if you ate enough at lunchtime.’
‘There’s a whole bunch of kids down that end,’ Lauren noted, as her eyes fixed on a group of people her own age. Most of them wore beach shorts, either with surf shoes or barefoot and one of them had even lugged a surf board uphill from the beach.
James saw a slightly older girl leaning on a railing; he couldn’t see her face but the wind was blowing against her long skirt and she had a nice figure. ‘It might be best,’ James said. ‘Show our faces. See who’s who.’
‘OK,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ll hang around, have a look in the shops for an hour or something. I might try the Italian place. It didn’t look as busy as the tapas bar.’
Chloe started to walk, but James and Lauren followed her, coughing noisily. She turned around and saw all three kids holding out their palms.
‘You’re forgetting your motherly duty,’ James grinned.
Chloe laughed as she gave each of them a twenty-pound note from her purse and told them to make it last. Lauren and Dante followed the surfer kids, who’d all headed into the diner, while James made a beeline for the girl with the long skirt and long hair.
‘Hey beautiful,’ he said. ‘Where have you been all my life?’
The girl turned around and cracked a smile. Fortunately her face lived up to the rear view. ‘Nice pickup line,’ she said. ‘I’ve never heard that one before.’
‘Sorry,’ James said, smiling and shrugging. ‘It’s kind of awkward. My name’s James. I just moved here from London, so I don’t know anyone and you looked kind of lonely.’
‘Ashley,’ the girl said, as she held out a slender hand for James to shake. ‘I like your accent. You’re a proper cockney boy.’
‘Yeah,’ James nodded. ‘Salt of the earth, London geezer, my old man’s a dustman, gawd blimey guvnor and all that. So how come a pretty girl like you’s standing here all alone staring out to sea?’
Ashley laughed. ‘I’m waiting for my boyfriend to park his car.’
‘Oh,’ James said awkwardly. ‘We could elope together before he gets here.’
Ashley laughed again.
‘Sorry, I’m being dumb,’ James said. ‘Are you in the sixth form?’
Ashley nodded.
‘Do you know Crossroads Sixth Form college? That’s where I’ve got to go and register for my courses tomorrow.’
Ashley nodded again. ‘That’s where I go. It’s pretty much the only sixth form around here to be honest, apart from a couple of posh private schools.’
‘I thought everyone around here was posh.’
‘Not really,’ Ashley said. ‘Most of the houses on the harbour front and in the centre of town are second homes. But those people live in London, or wherever. We’ve got some rich people like anywhere else. Julian’s parents are pretty loaded. His dad is a judge, and he lives up there in Marina View.’
‘That’s your boyfriend?’
Ashley nodded. ‘They’re coming up the stairs now.’
James looked over the railing and was pleased to see that he wouldn’t be breaking up a couple: Julian was part of a group made up of five girls and three boys.
‘We’re gonna hang around in the diner,’ Ashley explained, as the friends gathered around her. ‘It’s pretty boring and the food isn’t great, but you can come with if you want.’