along. Kyle was meeting Tom, and Ryan wanted to bring my mum up to see everyone. I figured anythingt better than sitting around the cottage on my own watching bloody EastEnders.?
Eo, tight wad,?Sophie said, looking across at Viv. Are you gonna get the drinks in or what??
Ekint,?Viv said.
My arse,?Sophie grinned. Tour bloody dad owns half of Lincolnshire.?
Teah, but I ain't got none of that yet. Not unless I drive up there and shoot the old git.?
As Viv said this, he went into his wallet, peeled out a twenty-pound note and waved it under Sophiet nose.
Mh, I'll getting them am I??
Tou're nearest,?Viv smirked.
Kyle and Tom had started their own conversation and both burst out laughing at something James hadn't heard.
Thatt your poison, Kyle??Sophie asked.
Bint of Fosters,?Kyle said.
Sophie looked at James. Eame as,?he said.
Sophie gave him a you must be joking look. Coke or orange juice??she asked pointedly.
He felt his face boil up with embarrassment. Coke, I guess.?
James tried not to be too blatant as he watched Sophiet stunning figure slink off to the bar.
Kyle looked over at Viv. Eo whatt going on with you and the committee??
Epineless tits,?Viv sneered. They're gonna kick me out, but I'll not losing any sleep. The only reason I'll going to the meeting is so I can personally tell them where they can shove their pathetic bloody alliance.?
Eo what will you do??Kyle asked. Aive up campaigning for animal rights??
Viv smirked. So way, man. My dad owns half a million pigs and Ire seen the way they're treated. I went veggie when I was thirteen.?
James was shocked. Tour dadt a farmer??
Ne doesn't get up at 4 a.m. and muck them out personally, but his estate is one of the biggest pork producers in the country. Dadt seventy now though, so itt run by our half-brother, Clyde.?
Tom made a dickhead gesture with his hand.
Brecisely,?Viv nodded. Twenty-eight years old and he struts around in a Range Rover, wearing green wellies, cloth cap and a walking stick like het lord of the manor.?
Doesn't speak to us since Viv nutted him two Christmases ago.?
James burst out laughing.
Ttt true,?Tom giggled. Bermanently flattened the bridge of his nose. I saw him a couple of months back when I was visiting our mum and he looked like a retired boxer.?
Viv slammed his massive fist into his palm. Then I hit someone, they stay hit.?
James suddenly stopped laughing. Viv was easy to get along with, but you couldn't allow yourself to forget that he was a nutter.
Eo, what will you do??Kyle repeated.
Viv shrugged. Theret other groups out there that are doing rather than talking.?
Eome of them kick arse,?Tom added. The Zebra Alliance isn't worth shit. All they're interested in is getting their faces in the paper. They're scared of doing anything radical in case the moderates cancel their direct debit payments.?
Viv nodded. They're hardly a liberationist group at all any more.?
Kyle decided that the social situation made it safe to probe a little deeper. Eo, is there a particular group youre got your eye on??
Mne or two,?Viv shrugged.
Kyle phrased his next question as a joke, but he wanted to see how Tom and Viv would react. Maybe we should go all out and join the AFM. You know any of that lot??
Might do,?Viv laughed. Then he raised his voice so that the whole bar could overhear. The AFM are better than these do-nothing Zebra Alliance pussies.?
Viv got the attention he sought, as occupants of the surrounding tables turned to scowl at him.
Meantime, Sophie was back with a tray of drinks. She sat in her chair, before plonking a pint of Fosters in front of James.
T thought the little cop killer deserved his beer,?she grinned. But drink it here; don't go wandering around where everyone can see you with it.?
James couldn't help smiling as he brought the pint up to his lips and drank five mouthfuls, but put down the glass abruptly as Zara, Ryan and George came up to the table.
George wore an ill-fitting brown suit that made him look particularly geeky. T'll taking Ryan and Zara across to the committee meeting,?he said, pompous as ever, as he looked at Viv. Tould you like to come, or shall I just tell them youre tendered your resignation??
Tou kidding me??Viv asked. Then have I ever turned down a chance to run off with my big mouth? Nice suit by the way, Georgie boy. How many toasters did you sell today??
Eome of us have to work for a living,?George said. Te can't all live off money inherited from