Page 66 of A Long Way Back
Wouldn’t that be the ultimate betrayal?
If I speak out now, will Tay ever look at me in the same way again?
It was hard to not let anxiety ruin everything.
They didn’t hop on and off the bus. They stayed in their seats, transported past Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, past the Shard, over Tower Bridge, around Hyde Park, though not in that order. Everywhere Ink had already seen, but never from this height. He was amazed how much of the city they managed to cover.
The guy giving the commentary was funny. Ink quietly told Tay some facts of his own, including how a guy called Michael Fagan had broken into Buckingham Palace early one morning and eaten the royal corgis’ dog food before ending up in the Queen’s bedroom. She’d talked to Fagan for thirty minutes before the police arrived and Ink wondered what they’d found to talk about. The state of the economy? The taste of dog food? Tay laughed.
He loved making Tay laugh. It was going on his list of favourite things. A list he cherished because it was so fragile. When he and Tay were miles apart, Ink would remember this special day.
IT WAS ALMOST SIX BY the time they were back at the flat in a cab. Ink would have been happy pushing the chair—it was less than three miles—though he knew he was only trying to delay the inevitable. Pretty soon Tay was going to be angry with him. He’d fidgeted and chewed his fingernails over the last thirty minutes and Ink suspected he needed more codeine. The fun was over. Maybe everything would soon be over.
Ink fed Dog, then let him out the back.
Dog had just come back inside when Tay yelled. “Ink!”
Ink sucked in a breath.
“Ink! Get in here.”
He made his way to Tay’s room to find him sitting on the bed, the bag of orangey-red powder clutched in his hand, fury written all over his face. Dog ran to Tay’s feet.
“What the fuck have you done?” Tay snapped.
“I know you’re angry. But it’s for your own good.”
Tay gaped at him. “What right do you have to decide what’s for my own good?”
“I promised your parents I’d look after you. That’s what I’m doing. You shouldn’t be taking non-prescription medication.”
“Pack your stuff and get out. And take your dog.”
Dog stayed at Tay’s feet.Good boy.“No. You’re stuck with me. You can’t tell your parents the truth and if you lie in order to try and make me leave,I’lltell them the truth. I guess you could call the police, but you wouldn’t want them to know the truth either. So how are you going to persuade me to go?”
“I know a guy,” Tay snarled.
Ink couldn’t stop the laugh bursting from his throat. “What have you been watching on TV? What guy?”
“His name’s Lennie. He’ll make you leave.”
“I won’t let him in. I can stop you letting him in. You going to ask him to bust down the door?”
He watched Tay thinking.
“How about if I called that talent scout?” Tay said. “I didn’t make a note of the number, but I remember the name. Alex Nelson.The Sound of the Street.Shouldn’t be hard to find.”
Ink’s heart jumped, but he made sure he kept his face expressionless. “Call him. I’m not interested, so he’ll just be pissed he’s made the journey here for nothing.”
“You fucking bastard,” Tay muttered under his breath.
“Not usually. I’m a nice guy. I’m trying to help you. In less than seven days, you won’t be addicted anymore.”
“Who says I’m fucking addicted now?” Tay yelled.
Ink shrugged. “If you’re not, you won’t miss the pills, will you?”
“I need them. I’ve been sick. I’m in pain.”
