CHERUB: The Sleepwalker - Robert Muchamore Page 0,66

a move?’

Dana’s blond hair was straggly from dancing in the heat downstairs and she’d teased James by letting some random guy write his mobile number on her neck. ‘It’s gonna take an hour to sort out a cab and get back to campus,’ she said, before smiling. ‘And I have a maths lesson in six and a half hours’ time.’

‘You’re screwed,’ James grinned. ‘We don’t have to be at Deluxe Chicken till half-ten, but I’m not even gonna bust a gut to get there that early. It’s not like they’re paying us.’

Kerry giggled. ‘We’re gonna feel like absolute shit.’

‘Language, Kerry,’ Dana smiled.

Kerry slammed her hands on the table top. ‘You all make out like I’m such a princess,’ she slurred. ‘But I’m totally not.’

James found this hilarious. ‘When Gabriel touched your butt it’s like he opened a door into this whole new Kerry.’

‘Blah, blah, blah,’ Kerry mocked, swaying as she got out of her seat. ‘My name is James Adams and I talk utter crap twenty-four-seven. Arsenal, birds and motorbikes, blah, blah, boring, boring.’

‘You’re so wasted,’ James laughed. ‘I need a slash before we leave and we’d better say thanks to Gemma if we can find her.’

‘I’m a ditzy blond boy and I love myself ever so much,’ Kerry continued, as James got a little irritated. ‘But my penis is very, very tiny.’

Dana stifled her laughter because she had her mobile out and was trying to speak to a cab company.

‘Dispatcher said they’ll have a car out front for us in five to ten minutes,’ she said finally.

‘I’ll go to the gents and meet you both by that pink sculpture thingy,’ James said.

The spiral staircase that led up to the roof terrace was trendy, but less than ideal when you’re drunk and you have to negotiate people sitting on the carpeted steps. When James got to the bottom a tiny Goth stepped up to him and put her hand on his chest.

‘Lookin’ nice,’ she grinned.

She looked totally up for it, but with Dana and Kerry present he didn’t have a hope. ‘Sorry, I’m taken,’ he said.

‘Young but cute,’ the girl snorted, as she turned back towards friends who accused her of cradle snatching.

Having a random girl throw herself at you is always good for the ego, but James’ mood wilted as he headed into the toilets. They were quite swanky, but a centimetre deep in water from a flooded urinal. This didn’t seem to have discouraged a couple shagging in a cubicle and James couldn’t concentrate on peeing because the girl kept saying, ‘Ahhh big boy,’ with an accent that reminded him of Schwarzenegger.

It was as much as he could do not to burst out laughing and he finally cracked up as he emerged into the corridor. One direction led back to the club, but he noticed Gemma and Danny at the opposite end by a set of fire doors. He headed towards them and realised too late that they were having a row.

‘It’s not your money,’ Danny snarled, as he shook Gemma by her shoulders.

‘I lent you all my savings,’ Gemma shouted. ‘You never would have got this night started without me. I want my share.’

James wanted to turn and leave them to it, but Danny had spotted him.

‘Good night?’ he asked, acting like nothing was out of the ordinary.

James nodded awkwardly. ‘Really good, but we’ve got shit to do in the morning so Dana booked us a cab.’

‘Life goes on, I guess,’ Danny said. ‘We had our best crowd yet. It’s building all the time and that DJ is the dog’s! Be sure to tell your mates about us, yeah?’

‘Sure,’ James said. ‘And thanks for inviting us and letting us into the VIP and stuff. I’d never been to a proper club before.’

Gemma looked less tense and managed a smile. ‘Better than a youth club disco then?’

James grinned. ‘There’s more sex and drugs at a youth club, but this was classier.’

Gemma and Danny both laughed. ‘Have a safe trip home,’ Danny said, as James started walking away.

He made six steps before Gemma yelled, ‘Get your hands off me.’

James turned back and saw that Danny had grabbed Gemma’s wrist and shoved her against the wall. He thought about ignoring it, but Gemma was struggling and he didn’t feel he could leave her.

‘Come on, Danny,’ James said as he walked back. ‘Calm down, eh?’

Danny narrowed his eyes. ‘None of your business, kid.’

James shook his head. ‘You’re twice her size,’ he said indignantly. ‘Whatever you’re fighting about might not be my