CHERUB: Brigands M.C. - Robert Muchamore Page 0,62

James hadn’t paid any attention to the younger kids sitting out by the fast-food kiosks, but Nigel zoomed in on a snogging couple, one of whom was Dante.

‘Look at these lovebirds,’ Nigel teased. ‘Don’t forget your nine o’clock curfew, little Anna.’

Anna broke away from Dante and told Nigel to go screw himself.

James stood behind Nigel and laughed. ‘Is that your little sister snogging my little brother? How cute!’

‘Leave ’em alone,’ Ashley grinned, as she dragged James away. ‘You can tell he’s your brother, he’s got the same jaw line.’

‘I like oranges,’ James said cryptically as they backed away. Dante tried not to laugh as he closed in to resume his snogfest with Anna.

‘You girls fancy a ride back to my place?’ Nigel asked. ‘My mum’s serving at some dinner party. I can build a monster spliff and we can get totally monged out of our skulls.’

James baulked at the suggestion of smoking marijuana. CHERUB agents are banned from using illegal drugs.

Fortunately Ashley solved his dilemma. ‘I’m not getting stoned tonight,’ she said. ‘I’ve got my stats mock tomorrow. I got a C at the end of last term and that won’t be getting me into a decent uni.’

James grinned. ‘And I’ve got my first proper day at college tomorrow.’

But Caitlyn was giving Nigel a big smile. ‘I’m up for a smoke.’

Nigel seemed happy with that result: him and Caitlyn alone and stoned. James didn’t know Caitlyn all that well and wondered whether they’d end up shagging.

James looked back as he followed Ashley and Nigel down metal steps to the car park. Dante had started snogging again and he spotted Lauren sitting on a railing with girls and boys on all sides. She looked happy and Joe was part of the group. It seemed that everyone was hanging with the right people and the mission couldn’t have started any better.

James looked at Ashley as they moved off to the steps into an empty disabled parking bay. ‘I’m good at stats,’ he smiled. ‘I could help you study. Your place, my place, whatever.’

‘Are you really good, or are you just saying that to get into my house?’ Ashley asked teasingly.

‘I’m good,’ James said, as he moved in for a kiss. But Nigel yelled before they made contact.

‘James, you’d better look at this.’

He jogged across the car park and saw pink stuff streaked all over his bike. When he got close he saw that a chocolate and strawberry ice cream had been mashed everywhere. A crushed cornet lay in a pool of melted ice cream on the seat and more dribbled down the side on to the engine.

‘Julian,’ James cursed. ‘I’ll break his bastard spine when I get hold of him. Where’s his car? I’m gonna kick out every piece of glass.’

‘It’s gone,’ Caitlyn noted.

Nigel nodded. ‘Julian lives over in Marina View. He probably went back to his apartment and grabbed his spare keys. They’ve got secure parking underground.’

‘I’ll run up to the donut stand and grab some napkins,’ Ashley said.

Nigel crouched down and inspected James’ Honda. ‘I’d get her home and sponge all that off. If you leave it it’s gonna set hard. It could even mess up your electrics.’

‘Shit,’ James said.

Nigel stood back up and Caitlyn put her arm around his back. ‘Not much I can do to help,’ Nigel said. ‘You mind if we split?’

The couple rode off as Ashley clanked down the steps with a five-centimetre wodge of napkins in her hand. They worked together to clear off the worst, though the ice cream was sticky and the tissue broke up into tufts that ended up stuck all over the seat.

‘God, Julian’s a jealous arsehole,’ Ashley said. ‘I’m really sorry about this.’

‘I’ll have to drive this home and give it a proper clean. I’d offer you a ride, but it’s gonna ruin your nice dress.’

‘No worries,’ Ashley said. ‘I can get a cab, or it’s only fifteen minutes’ walk to my house.’

‘Sorry,’ James said again, as he dropped a soggy ball of tissue into the gutter.

Ashley took a phone out of her canvas bag. ‘There’ll be other nights,’ she smiled. ‘What’s your number? I hardly know you. I’ll call you, we can do something tomorrow.’

22. FRIDAY

Friday morning

The weather had changed for the worse and drizzle pelted the glass as James laid out on his bed dressed in the socks and briefs he’d slept in. He held his mobile up to his face with Ashley on the other end.

‘So what are you wearing?’ James asked. A big grin erupted on