Crossing The Line Chapter 4 by Angharad Copyright© 2022 Angharad

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(title picture Andrea Piacquadio)

“Yes, we’ll come over, although Maddy isn’t too well, so she may not come,” Drew said to Harry.

“Oh great! I’m looking forward to meeting your mum again, and your sister sounds really nice.” Harry sounded so excited, Drew felt tempted to puncture his balloon with some derogatory remark about Jules, but then thought better of it. She was, after all, there to support him following his recent traumatic experience. Besides, he might need her help to talk Maddy round.

He was in a real quandary. Maddy had set him up with Harry. It had first embarrassed him, then later, when he’d relaxed, he quite enjoyed being the object of attention of a lovesick boy. It was something a couple of weeks ago which would have distressed him immensely, now he was enjoying the power it gave him. While he wouldn’t admit it, it also presented possibilities when he got home, where one or two boys were known to fancy Gaby. But closer to home, he had to deal with Maddy.

Was she simply sulking, was she really having a bad period? He didn’t know, and that worried him. They were close, usually very close, but at this moment he wasn’t sure about much at all.

If it was her period, then his lack of experience of such matters was a handicap. It was female territory, and while he was happy to play Gaby for the moment, it was a superficial thing. Equating what he felt as a girl to that of abdominal pain, various swellings or bloatedness, tender breasts and mood swings, not to mention the messier elements and the need to keep some older knickers, was beyond him.

He had experienced some abdominal discomfort loads of times, usually after eating too much. It usually went after a period of hours, although peppermint didn’t help nor did antacid tablets. It sometimes happened several days running. Once it was bad enough to have his mother take him to the doctor. They found nothing wrong with him, then it happened about a month later ... oh shi….!

“Well what are we going to wear then?” asked Jules.

Drew was still immersed in his reverie. “ Wha...?”

“Earth to Gaby ... come in number two.”

“Like what, are you on about?”

“I need to borrow something for this evening.”

“Yeah sure, like what for?”

“Gabs, you can’t think I’m gonna stand in your shadow this evening. I mean, I am your big sister.”

“But you’ve got loads of clothes.”

“At home, yes. In Dorset, no.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Let me do the thinking Sis, you do what I tell you.”

“Now you sound like Maddy,” complained our hero, pouting.

“Try listening to yourself, girly girl.”

“That’s not fair,” whined Drew.

“Jeez, Gabs, you sound more like a little sister by the minute. A six year old little sister. Now what have you got I can borrow?” Jules set off up the stairs with her brother whining behind.

As they got to the stairs, Carol emerged from Maddy’s room. “How is Maddy?” asked Drew.

“She feels a bit better.”

“Is she coming out with us?” asked Jules feeling a mixture of emotions about the answer she would receive. If it was, ‘yes’, then she would know another face at this party, if it was ‘no’, then any spare boys could mean an opportunity to flirt a little, show Gaby how it’s done. After all, being a full time girl, she could show her part time sister, a trick or two.

“I think she’d like to,” mused Carol, while Drew and Jules waited for a ‘but ...’ which didn’t come.

“Come on, Gabs, show us what yer got,” muttered Jules as she pushed her ‘sister’ into the bedroom. After the door was closed, she said to Drew, “Is Maddy coming or what?”

“How do I know, I’m not a mind reader,” pouted back Drew, feeling rather overwhelmed by Jules.

“Oh, this is nice,” quipped Jules, holding up the outfit Drew had worn to the disco
“Haven’t got anything in black, like this, have you?”

“No I bloody well haven’t!” snapped Drew, stamping his foot.

“Temper, temper,” cautioned Jules, “I was only asking.”

Drew left the room, letting the door slam behind him. He walked across to Maddy’s room, knocked on the door and without waiting for a response walked in.

“Oh it’s you,” said Maddy diffidently.

“Who were you expecting, George Clooney?”

“Yes please,” purred Maddy.

At this Drew felt mystified, “Bit old for you isn’t he, and besides he can’t make it, so I’m here instead.”

“Oh!” said Maddy, “They sent a girl to do a man’s job, did they?”

“That’s not fair, and you know it,” pouted Drew. He had hoped to give her one of the stares he’d been practising, but now he wasn’t so sure it would be appropriate or effective.

“Well, listen to you, you sound just like a girl.”

“That is like, so unfair,” sniped back Drew, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. “It’s only ‘cos you’re jealous.”

“Jealous of what?” said Maddy imperiously.

“Jealous of me,” said Drew, a tear now running down his cheek.

“Of you? In your dreams girly,” Maddy said patronisingly, hoping her arrogance would see off the threat to her very fragile ego.

“Why were you so nasty when Steve texted me?”

“I wasn’t.”

“Oh yes you were, pretending you were on and having period pains.”

“I am on.”

“Oh yeah, prove it,” the moment the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.

“Right, I bloody well will.” Maddy voiced her reply with determination, she reached out a plastic bag from a drawer, fished out the soiled knickers and flung them at Drew. “Now who’s jealous?”

Drew wasn’t quite sure of the meaning of what she had just said. Had she told him he was jealous of her because she was a real girl and he wasn’t? Was she implying, that all the fuss she had created was genuine and she was on her period and feeling unwell? Or was there something else he’d missed. He hated squabbling with girls, they always got the better of him, like he always did with boys when he was in girl mode. There was that power thing, again.

Why were they fighting? He loved Maddy, or thought he did, now he wasn’t so sure. Usually, they hardly ever had a cross word, why was this happening? Usually, he didn’t spend more than a few hours in skirts, now it was nearly three weeks. Was that the reason?

“Why are we fighting, Mad? Normally, we’re good friends?”

“I didn’t start it,” huffed his cousin.

“Does it matter who started it?”

“Of course it does.”

“Why?”

“ ‘Cos it’s up to them to apologise, that’s why.”

Although heavily outgunned, he could see the implications of what she was saying to him. He recalled a time when he was out with his father, doing the garden. Dave had just had an up and downer with Jenny, and lost. He was still spitting feathers when they were out in the garden. “And… and she expected me to apologise for being right! For being right, mark you! What sort of logic is that, I ask you? Bloody women!”

Drew had never quite seen the context of this little vignette before. Now, the scales were falling from his eyes. Should he surrender now or bluff it out, trying to give his alter ego some authority and authenticity from his three weeks of being a girl? It was a tough call. He was just about to open his mouth, hoping some part of his brain knew what was going to be transmitted, he’d have to listen to what came out, as he had no idea beforehand.

However, fate intervened in the person of Carol. “Hello Gaby, aren’t you changing? Well Maddy, what are you going to wear?”

“Gosh, is that the time?” quipped Drew looking at his watch, then disappeared out the door. He rushed into his own room, just in time to see Jules putting on the pink top and skirt, that he’d thought to wear. “Maddy is coming.” His voice fell as he saw what his sister was wearing.

“Oh good. This look okay?” asked Jules, examining herself in the mirror. Drew knew he could have said no, it made her bum look big, or some other such cliché. But then he wouldn’t be able to wear it either, so why bother?

“Yeah, it looks fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I just said so, didn’t I? What do you want, a signed affidavit?” he gushed angrily.

“A what?” gasped Jules, not being sure she’d heard him correctly or what an affi.. wotsit was.”

“You heard,” he began to strip off and pull on a broderie anglaise top and a blue skirt.

“Do you want me to do your make up?” offered Jules in as conciliatory a manner as she could.

“No thanks, I can do my own,” he threw back casually, as if all thirteen year old boys were competent in the black arts of women. Jules was tempted to say something sarcastic, but didn’t, she was going to watch and if necessary, criticise, for his own good of course!

However, as things panned out, she was left speechless by his recently acquired skills with eyeliner and mascara, blusher and lip gloss. Not only was he competent, he looked pretty good. No wonder he, or should she say, ‘she’ had a boyfriend with others buzzing round the honeypot, Gaby was quite a looker. How come she hadn’t really spotted it before? It wasn’t only her mother who’d have to look to her laurels! She decided a pre-emptive strike was in order.

“Bit heavy with the mascara, weren’t we?” she said ‘innocently’ to Gaby.

Inside Drew was just a bit fed up with being told what to do by ‘other girls’, no matter their superior claim to knowledge, he glanced into the mirror, decided he looked alright, and replied, “Tough.” Then picking up his navy bag he dropped in his lip gloss, mobile phone and purse, slipped on his shoes and strolled out of the room, leaving his gobsmacked sister, in his wake.

By the time Drew and Jules descended the stairs, Maddy had made a miraculous recovery and followed them down a few minutes later. Jenny wore a skirt and top, and Dave had some chinos and a short sleeve shirt, complete with open toed sandals. Drew looked at his father’s half naked feet and must have made a face of disapproval as Dave exclaimed, “Gee bloody whiz, now what have I done wrong?”

“Nothing as far as I know,” replied Jenny.

“Please tell that to our younger daughter, she is making faces at me.”

“Gaby, leave your father alone, he’s feeling isolated enough as it is, being the only man in this sea of women.” This was said half jest, whole earnest by Jenny. Drew nearly replied that Dave was not alone, but thought better of it. It played on his mind however, as they walked through the village.

The three teens led the way, with the three adults a few paces behind them. Carol and Dave were chatting, while Jenny half listened and half watched the three in front. Jules and Maddy were chattering but Gaby was rather quiet. Jenny speeded up her pace and linked arms with Gaby. Over the next few paces, they allowed a small gap to open between them and the others in front and behind.

“You’re awful quiet, you okay?” said Jenny in little more than a whisper.

“And...?”

“I thought he should have worn shoes with those trousers, rather than sandals.”

Hearing this, Jenny smiled to herself. It was something she or Juliette, might have said, but not Drew. He barely noticed what he was wearing let alone anyone else. She wondered if this insight in appearance was something which only appeared when Drew was in Gaby mode, or if it would be more general and long lasting. If it was, and Drew developed a tidier sense of dress, then it might not be a bad thing. However, she was also minded that such things tend to be more associated with gay men. Not that that worried her directly, just that it would be yet another complication in Drew’s already complicated life.

“As you’re wearing sandals,” observed Jenny of Gaby, noticing the painted toenails, “isn’t it a bit hypocritical?”

“No, I’m wearing a summer skirt, they go together. Dad isn’t, I don’t think they go with those pants.”

“I like your toenails, did Maddy do them?” said Jenny squeezing Gaby’s arm very gently.

“No, I did myself. Why does everyone, like, think I can’t do anything myself? Like, Jules, like asked me if she should do my makeup. Like, I can’t do it myself, like.” This was said with quiet indignation.

“She was probably being protective of you Gaby. She doesn’t know how much you’ve progressed in these last couple of weeks. Even I hadn’t fully appreciated it, hence my faux pas about your toenails. I do like that colour, though.” Saying this she put her arm around Gaby and they walked in step, Drew confused but pleased for any contact with his mum.

Jenny felt concerned more than confused. She wondered about her own feelings towards her younger child. Having this conversation with Gaby was something she enjoyed, it had an intimacy of the mother daughter sort which mother son, although close, was less intimate. She enjoyed it with Jules, and while she loved her interaction with Drew, it was very different from the one she was having at this moment. Her disquiet lay in the fact that part of her was enjoying it and wanted it to continue, and part of her was horrified at herself. It was a guilt which Dave had homed in on some while earlier, and about which she had no answer.

“I’ll have to watch myself tonight,” quipped Carol to Dave, “the other night when we went to William’s parents barbecue, I underestimated the strength of the homemade wine.”

Dave sniggered, “Rocket fuel, eh?” Carol nodded her agreement, blushing just enough to feel a surge of warmth in her cheeks.

“Maddy and Gaby had to push me up the stairs,” she chuckled as she recalled a good night. “Remember that night you and Jenny were at our place, after Maddy’s christening?”

Now it was Dave’s turn to blush. The problem was he couldn’t remember much more than John and he went out to ‘wet the baby’s head’. How he got home, minus his shoes, he still didn’t know. He also didn’t remember being sick in the taxi, but apparently he was. Jenny wiped the floor with him the next day, and John was similarly dealt with by Carol, and he’d only lost the tie she’d given him for his birthday.

The problem was, Dave wasn’t much of a drinker, not since college days when it was obligatory. Nowadays, he’d grown beyond the juvenile element of spreading his wings at uni, and what with mortgages and car loans and all the other encumbrances of house ownership and children, he couldn’t afford it if he wanted to. He had slipped out and grabbed a bottle of plonk from the local shop just before they left. Couldn’t arrive empty handed, could they?

Harry spotted the party walking down the road and rushed out to greet them. “Hi Maddy, this must be Juliette.”

“Yeah, Gabs is coming as you can see and her mum and dad are with my mum.”

“No Drew, then. I was hoping he might come,” said Harry, at which, Jules had to bite her tongue. This having a brother and a sister was so confusing at times.

“No, he’s training up in Cheshire, staying with his gran,” offered Maddy, “I thought it was Gaby you fancied not her brother?”

Harry blushed bright red, “Yes, it is; course it is, I just wanted to meet him as you’ve both spoken about him.”

“Tough luck, you’ll have to make do with the ugly one then, won’t you,” quipped Maddy.

Drew and Jenny walked up, and Harry immediately shook Jenny’s hand, and gave Gaby a quick hug, so quick it prevented any resistance. “Hi Mrs Bond, nice to see you again. Mum’s looking forward to meeting you.”

“Hello Harry, this is my husband Dave, Carol you already know.”

“Hi Mr Bond, Mrs Peters, we’ve got a barbecue on the go in the back garden, the Buglers are already here. Come on, I’ll show you the way.” With that, he grabbed Drew’s hand and began to pull his girlfriend around to the rear of the house.

Where the badminton court had been, was now a gazebo, one of those temporary tent like things without sides. Inside it, Mrs Palmer was making drinks from a long trestle table laden with food and drink. Mr Palmer, was dealing with the cremation of small meaty objects, assisted by Mr Bugler.

“Mum, the Bonds are here with Maddy and her mum,” announced Harry excitedly to his mother, but in a voice loud enough to inform the neighbours.

“Oh lovely, dear,” his mother retorted giving Joyce Bugler a refill of white wine, then she turned around and smiled at the arriving party. “How lovely to meet you at last, Gaby talks about you all the time. Oh, I’m Margaret, by the way. Simon,” she nodded at the smell of burning meat, “is in charge of the ritual sacrifice. Drinks anyone?”

“Nice to meet you Margaret, this is my husband Dave, Carol you know, oh and this is Juliette, my elder daughter.” They all shook hands, except Carol and Margaret who embraced and air kissed.

“Don’t you have a boy as well?” asked Margaret, at this Dave who had just taken a swig of lager from a can, choked and began to cough. There was much laughter at this from the Bond clan.

“Yes, Andrew, he’s staying with his nan at the moment, doesn’t want to break his training schedule.”

“Goodness!” was all Margaret said, before handing Carol a large glass of wine, and then asking Jenny what she’d like. She opted for white wine too. The children organised with soft drinks, well, beer shandies, and introductions made to the Buglers, Margaret led them to meet Simon and Geoff.

Geoff was in his usual outspoken style. “A privilege to meet one who is so famous and so beautiful at the same time,” he said to Jenny, while William, who was stood behind him mimed being sick at his father’s oleaginous style. This brought guffaws from the teens and a mild rebuff from his mother.

Simon Palmer’s greeting was more mundane, “Hi folks, grab a roll and help yourself to a burger or sausage,” he said as he flipped bits of meat products on the barbecue grill.

The boys immediately accepted his exhortation, offering rolls to their girlfriends and Juliette, then to Jenny and Carol, and finally to Dave before taking one themselves. The new arrivals, with the exception of Maddy, had already eaten so weren’t over anxious to eat more. Drew, of course, felt obliged to look enthusiastic and tucked in with gusto.

“Where does she put it all?” Simon asked Dave of Gaby.

“I know, eats like a horse,” smiled Dave back. “All that cycling, she does miles most days.”

“Do you ride?” asked Simon.

“Me? Don’t have much time. I usually end up doing repairs to the bikes the more talented members of the family break for a pastime. I also get left behind when they start to push the pace.”

“So do I,” said Jules, standing by her dad, “We’re not all cycling champions.” Dave put his arm around her and squeezed her gently.

“Harry, is John here yet?” called father to son.

“Haven’t seen him, why?”

“Nothing, I was hoping our neighbour’s boy was come round. Nice lad, too.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for him,” purred Jules, pleased that she might have someone with whom to flirt, soon.

“Do you want another burger, or drink?” asked Harry of his true love.

“Uh-uh,” meaning no, was the response from the wunderkind, whose mouth was full of bread and burger.

“Can I get you anything else?” persisted Harry. Drew shook his head, “Lost,” came to his mind, but he held his tongue. They were sat on a row of garden chairs by the gazebo, watching the women chatting and drinking. Carol was on her second glass, Joyce on her third, while Jenny held on to her first. The other women were polite to her, asking her about cycling and Germany, but it was obvious that they weren’t really interested, and were soon back to criticising their husbands or children. Jenny sat and listened, bored out of her brain.

“Did I tell you Dad’s gonna get me a new bike?” announced Harry.

“No. Like what?” said a suddenly enthused Drew.

“Not sure yet, he’s gonna see Matt.”

“Oh good, we might make a rider of you yet,” quipped Drew.

“It’s gonna be a racer, that I do know.”

“Good.”

“And I’m thinking of joining my local club.”

“Good.”

“Dad, here’s John,” called Harry, as he spotted a new comer to the party.

“Hi John, come and get a burger, oh this is Juliette,” said Simon to the young man.

Jules disentangled herself from her father, looking the attractive youngster up and down, gave him a beaming smile, before silently mouthing, ‘Hello’.

“Who’s he?” asked Drew.

“Next door neighbour, called John. He’s okay, swims for the county.”

“Oh,” said Drew, noticing the broad shoulders on the young man.

For the next hour, the group ate and drank, then Geoff and Simon, laid a mat down in the gazebo and music was played from a ghetto blaster.

“C’mon,” said Harry grabbing Gaby, as he followed William and Maddy onto the dance area. Jules and John, arrived moments later. Drew looked at his older sister, from the expression on her face she was enjoying herself very much. He then looked at Maddy, who was bopping it up with William, so he gave in and began to shake it all about with Harry, who looked like the cat who’d got the cream.

During a slow dance, Drew decided to hide deep inside Gaby, who leaning her head on Harry’s shoulder closed her eyes as they slowly stepped around the mat. Maybe it was just as well, because Dave’s eyes were out on stalks as he and Jenny danced alongside them. “Never mind them, it’s me you’re dancing with,” she gently chided him.

Carol and Joyce, helped dispose of the surplus wine. They did dance once or twice together, but nearly fell over, so they went for another drink to settle their nerves. By the end of the proceedings, they were as tight as two ticks. The walk back was going to be interesting, thought Dave. It was but not for the reasons he held.

The party broke up, and after much shaking of hands and air kissing, the Bonds and Peters began the walk home. Harry wanted to accompany his sweetheart, but he was pressed into the clearing up operation. William was likewise volunteered by his father, who sat and supervised.

John who had taken a distinct liking to Jules, offered to walk her back to the cottage. So the trek began, Jenny and Dave propping up Carol, who was finding a little difficulty in controlling both feet at once, while Maddy and Drew, walked on behind their struggling parents.

As they came to cross the main road through the village, Jenny and Dave helped Carol to cross. Carol dropped her bag. “I’ll get it,” called Drew and walked to the middle of the road and bent to recover the purse which had fallen from the bag. Just then, a motor roared into life and a large car showing no lights drove straight at him.

John, who was walking arm in arm with Jules a little behind the main party saw the danger, and slipping from Jules, he leapt into the road and grabbed Gaby by the upper arm swinging her away from the car, thowing himself after her. The car, tyres squealing, flew down the road, missing them by inches. Jules and Maddy screamed, Jenny froze in horror, dropping Carol onto Dave, both of whom fell into the hedge.

Shaking but otherwise unhurt, Gaby stood up on wobbly legs, helped by Maddy, while Jules helped her new friend up to his feet. He’d grazed his hand and his finger was bleeding, which he sucked. Jenny came rushing across the road and hugged Drew nearly to death. He burst into tears in her arms. Dave managed to get from under Carol and extricate them both from the hedgerow, he rose and walked briskly across the road brushing himself down as walked.

“Thanks lad,” he said to John, patting his shoulder. He then walked to Jenny and Drew. “You okay kiddo?” he patted Drew on the shoulder as well.

“You were wonderful,” Jules voice was heard saying to John.

“Give me a hand with your mother, Mad,” said Dave, and they both crossed the road and picked up the now snoring body of Carol. They both looked at each other and began to laugh at the absurdity and as a release of the shock they had all just had.

They arrived back at the cottage five minutes later. The police were there fifteen minutes after that.