Chapter Thirty-One

Lincoln grasped Abbie's hand as they walked back from school.  She had been mortified about Sam catching them in a compromising position but was becoming able to laugh about it.  Abbie had chuckled when Lincoln told her how he had had to endure a sex talk.  He hadn't mentioned the end of that conversation though.  Lincoln hadn't spoken to Sam about what had happened between them on Saturday nor about his flyaway comment.  He hoped it could just be left.

They walked in the direction of the shop as they did every day, with Abbie dropping Lincoln off at work and then hanging round.  As they walked into town, a voice spoke loudly from behind.

"Look at the arse on that."

Lincoln spun around ready to punch whoever had talked about his girlfriend so rudely.

A boy in baggy jeans and a smirk stood in front of them.

Lincoln ran at him and threw his arms around him in a hug.

The boy pushed him back. 

"Is this country life making you soft now?"

He grinned and grabbed Lincoln by the hand and pulled him in to bump shoulders.

"Jason!" exclaimed Lincoln, "What are you doing here man?

"Checking up on you fool" He slapped Lincoln on the back.

"It is great to see you" said Lincoln.

"This your girl?" Jason nodded to Abbie.

He'd forgotten about her for the minute.

"Shit, sorry.  Abbie, this is Jason, a friend from back home."

"Hey" she said, shyly.

"Hey" said Jason.

"So how come you are out of London?  You always said you hated clean air" quipped Lincoln.

"Got your letter bro" 

Lincoln remembered how he had sent it after he had gotten beaten up.  Lincoln nodded.

"Shit man, I almost forgot.  Got you a present."

Jason dug into his pocket and held out a bag of weed.

Lincoln laughed.

"Most people bring chocolates."

"Well, I didn't know what your supply was like up here man.  Let's go spark it."

 "I've got to work Jay."

"Aah what?!" 

"Sorry, if you had rang..."

Jason waved him away.  "I lost my phone again..."

"Uncle George might let you off, seeing as you have a visitor" piped up Abbie.

"Do you think?" said Lincoln, "Well, I will go and ask him."

"Wicked," said Jason.

They walked over to the shop.

"Great I am starving" said Jason, as they walked in.

Mr Cassidy smiled at them.

"Hey Mr C, could I ask you a favour?"

Lincoln motioned behind him.  "My mate has turned up from London unexpectedly.  Any chance I could have today off?"

Mr Cassidy looked worriedly at Jason, who was piling up some food in his arms.

"I could take Lincoln's shift" suggested Abbie.

He smiled at them.  "No that is ok Abbie.  I will manage on my own for tonight I am sure."

They both beamed back at him.

"Thanks Mr C, I really appreciate it" said Lincoln.

Jason came towards them, loaded with food.

"Jay, we are on mate"

"Wicked"

Jason put his pile on the table and Mr Cassidy began to put it through the register. 

"You two want anything?" asked Jason, chucking some gum onto his pile.

They shook their heads.

"Can I get a twenty Marlboro, a pack of green rizlas, oh, and a pack of the liquorice ones as well."  He winked at Lincoln.  Lincoln smiled back; they were his favourite.

Mr Cassidy hesitated.  "I will need to see some ID."

Jason gave Lincoln a funny look.  Lincoln half smiled and nodded.

"Good job I just had my birthday.  Got my provisional license" He pulled out the ID that satisfied Mr Cassidy.

Lincoln watched as Jason produced a wad of notes from his pocket and pulled one off to pay Mr Cassidy.

"Cheers" he said, taking his plastic bag. 

"See you Mr C" called Lincoln as Abbie kissed her Uncle goodbye.

Jason had already finished half a bag of crisps when she came back out.

"So where can we go and hang out?"

"Let's go down to the woodland.  It is just down there."

They walked the short distance and headed into the clearing.

Lincoln stopped at the bench and sat down, pulling Abbie on to his lap.

"Maybe I should leave you two to catch up?" she asked.

Jason answered.  "Don't you want a smoke first?"  He got out the weed, cigarettes and rizlas.

"Nah, she doesn't smoke" replied Lincoln for her.

"Who says?" said Abbie, defiantly.  "I have never tried it."

Jason pulled a small spliff out of his pocket.

"Here is one I started earlier."

"Well, if you want to..." said Lincoln.

"I do" said Abbie firmly.  "Spark it up."

Lincoln hid a smile at her use of Jason's words but pulled out his lighter.

He took the spliff off Jason and lit the end, taking a few pulls.  A thought occurred to him.

"Hey, this isn't dusted is it?"

"Nah man, just pure skunk" said Jason without looking up from his work.

Lincoln took a pull and handed it to Abbie.

"If it is your first time, go easy.  It is quite strong."

She took it off him and took a little drag.

She coughed a little and then took another puff, and coughed again.

Lincoln tried not to laugh and looked at Jason who was doing the same.

He finished rolling up another spliff.

"This is what I called a Lincoln special.  The only one who likes the liquorice."

"Cheers mate" said Lincoln, taking it off him and lighting it.

"Pass it here" said Jason and Abbie handed him the joint.

Lincoln pulled on the spliff, the liquorice flavour of the rizla making him feel like he was back at home.

"You want to try this one?" asked Lincoln, looking at Abbie.

He noticed that she looked a little pale.

"You feeling ok?" he asked softly.

"I feel a little sick" she admitted, embarrassed.

"Ha, don't worry about it.  The first time we got stoned, Lincoln spewed everywhere" laughed Jason.

"Hey!" said Lincoln, "So did you!"

Abbie smiled.  "Tell me what Lincoln was like when he was younger."

"A brat like he is now" said Jason.

Lincoln punched him on the leg.

Jason batted him away.  "See?!" he said to Abbie. 

"He would follow me around all the time.  I felt sorry for him so I let him hang out with me" teased Jason.

"More like the other way around" said Lincoln.

"Don't listen to him Abbie, he was always round my house bothering me."

Lincoln smiled thinking of all the sleep-over's they had had.  Jason's mum was on and off drugs and in a world of her own so didn't care and Lincoln's mum was glad to have him out of Ray's way.

"Oh God" said Abbie, and ran into the bushes.  They heard retching sounds. 

"These virgins, man.  How can they get to our age and not have smoked?" said Jason, shaking his head.

"That is probably normal" said Lincoln.

"True dat" said Jason, rubbing his short hair.

They smoked in silence for a moment before Abbie came back.  She wiped her mouth. 

"Sorry" she said, embarrassed.

"Don't apologise.  It probably won't make you sick after the first time" said Lincoln, hugging her.

Jason passed her some gum and she took it thankfully.

Lincoln took another drag of his spliff and stubbed it out on the bench. 

"Right, I had better get you home if you aren't well."

"Hold up, I got a car up in the town.  I'll get it and I can drive us."

"Is it nicked?  I don't want Abbie to get in any trouble."

"Nah man it is legit"

Lincoln raised an eyebrow at him.  Jason pulled a set of keys out of his pocket.

"I borrowed it."

"Ok, cool" said Lincoln, still suspicious.

Jason ran off to get it while Lincoln gathered up the weed and paraphernalia.  He shoved it into the plastic bag and put Abbie under his arm.  She still looked pale.

By the time they had walked out, Jason had pulled up.

"Wow" said Abbie.

A black BMW with this year's plates purred in front of them.  They got in.

"Nice car.  You must have rich friends" said Abbie, buckling in.

"Ha, yeah I do" said Jason, revving the engine.

Chapter Thirty-Two

They dropped Abbie off and headed back to Oakley Crescent.

"So this is my new house" said Lincoln, opening the door.

"Shit man, this is well nice" said Jason, taking in the interior.

They came through to the living room.  Sam was sat at the computer in the corner, surrounded by papers.  He looked up.

"Hey Sam, this is my friend Jason from London.  He came to visit." 

Sam stood up.  He extended his hand to Jason who shook it amusedly.

"You look so alike it is a joke, man" commented Jason.

Sam smiled.  "We do."

Lincoln rolled his eyes. 

"Is it alright if Jase stays for dinner?"

"Certainly.  If that is okay with your parents?" said Sam.

"Yeah, my mum knows where I am" said Jason smiling.

Lincoln smiled too.  Jason's mum never knew what day it was, let alone where her son was.

"Great.  Any friend of Lincoln's is a friend of mine" said Sam.

"Yeah, right we'll be upstairs when food is ready."

They ran upstairs and Lincoln plonked down on his bed.  The weed had mellowed him and he was enjoying the feeling.

Jason looked through Connor's CDs.

"That's your Dad then?" said Jason.

"Yeah"

"What's he been like?" asked Jason casually.  He knew about his history and Lincoln knew there was more than one question being asked.

"He is alright I suppose.  God squad and a bit stuffy, but OK."

"Any friend of Lincoln's is a friend of mine" mimicked Jason.

They both started laughing.

The door opened and Connor came in.  He was wearing a muddy football kit, and most of his bare skin was covered in specks.

Lincoln regained his breath from laughing.

"Connor, this is my friend from home, Jason."

"Hey" said Connor.

Jason's smile was gone.

"So this is the so-called brother, hey?"  He glared at Connor and squared his body.

Lincoln remembered that he had told Jason the whole story.

"It is sorted now" said Lincoln but Jason didn't move.  Connor looked uncomfortable and slightly scared.

"Jase!"

Jason backed away and sat down on the bed, a look of disgust still on his face.

"Did you win?" asked Lincoln, referring to Connor's football game.

"Um, yeah, 3-0.  I scored one" said Connor, still looking uncomfortable.

"Good one" said Lincoln.

"I'd better shower" said Connor, grabbing some fresh clothes and leaving.

Jason kissed his teeth. 

"Why you being so nice to him?  He deserves a smack" said Jason in disgust.

Lincoln shrugged. 

"Can't stay angry at him forever; especially when we share a room.  He is sorry."

"Yeah, real brothers, like me and you, we wouldn't do that to each other."

"Me and you, brothers?"

"For life" said Jason, punching his leg.

There was silence for a moment.

"Man that weed must be strong; it is like a Jeremy Kyle moment" said Jase.