Nick's Blues by John Harvey Page A

on…”
    â€œNot in here.”
    â€œSuppose I roll a joint?”
    â€œThat’s different.”
    â€œGreat thinking,” Christopher said, “protect your lungs and scramble your brain.”
    â€œâ€™S’not exactly LSD,” Scott said. “Besides, you gonna say no to a drag?”
    â€œNo way.”
    Scott laughed, reaching for his papers.
    â€Anyway,” Christopher continued, “it’s medicinal, right? Good for the pain in Nick’s ribs, got to be.”
    While Scott was skinning up, the door bell rang.
    â€œNot your mum, is it?” Christopher asked. “Forgot her keys.”
    â€œShouldn’t think so.”
    The bell rang again.
    â€œMaybe it’s Ellen,” Scott said.
    It was Melanie. Distressed, lumpen, her eyes red from crying.
    Oh, Christ, Nick thought. He didn’t say anything.
    â€œI just…” Melanie began. “I… I don’t know, I shouldn’t’ve come, I just… just wanted someone to talk to, I…”
    Her words faltered to a halt.
    Look at her, Nick thought, she’s in a real state. What harm can it do? Ask her in. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s not a good time. I’ve got mates round. I…”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Melanie said. “Mates. I understand.”
    Releasing him, she looked away.
    Nick hesitated, no more than a moment, and closed the door.
    â€œYou’re gonna have to cut that out,” Scott said, “Having her sneak down like that.”
    â€œMelanie doesn’t sneak anywhere,” Christopher said.
    â€œI’m serious,” Scott said. “She’s almost screwed it up for you and Ellen once already. And that’s before you’ve even got started.” Fishing around in one of the kitchen drawers, he found a box of matches.
    â€œUnless you really do fancy her, of course.”
    â€œYou looking to get thumped again?” Nick said.
    â€œI saw this programme,” Christopher said, “the other night. About blokes who fancy really fat women.”
    â€œThanks, Christopher,” Nick said.
    â€œI’m talking seriously fat, yeah? Twenty, thirty stone.”
    â€œGross me out,” Scott said, pointing two fingers down his throat.
    â€œAnd there’s these blokes, right, called feeders. Once they’ve got into a relationship with one of these women, they keep making them eat more and more, fattening them up.”
    â€œWhat the hell for?”
    â€œI dunno. I fell asleep.”
    â€œLeast we know what Melanie was after,” Scott said. “Nick was late with her after-dinner snack. Fries, burgers and a tub of ice cream.”
    â€œElephant flavour,” Christopher suggested.
    â€œChocolate sauce,” Nick said.
    â€œHundreds and thousands.”
    â€œKetchup.”
    â€œTomato sauce.”
    Nick reached for the joint. “You think it could be true?” he said. “Melanie being pregnant?”
    â€œWho knows?” Christopher said.
    â€œWho cares?” said Scott.
    Nick took another hit. When he closed his eyes he could still see Melanie’s face as she turned away, swollen and sore.
    ***
    â€œYou sure about this, Steve?”
    â€œJust keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.”
    â€œDoin’ it ourselves, I mean.”
    â€œWhat you scared of?”
    â€œI’m not scared.“
    â€œThen shut up.”
    â€œI just thought we should tell, Ross, that’s all.”
    â€œWhat’cha wanna tell Ross for?”
    â€œYou know.”
    â€œNo, I don’t know. Now shut it.”
    They were shadowed by the overhang of the railway arch, Steve Rawlings and the three that hung with him most: Josh, Casper and Harry. Cans of cheap lager and the glow of cigarettes in the dark. Rawlings feeling sharp in his new D & G Basics top, the one with the blue and green stripes around the neck, the green stripe on the sleeve.
    Not so many