There was a succession of sharp knocks on the car window. Dave and Stevie, who were already on edge, jumped in their seats. There, in the dawn light, was Natalie, gesturing for them to open the door. Stevie let out a high-pitched whoop of relief.
‘Jesus,’ he said, ‘almost shat myself. Open the door. Stupid fucking cow.’
Dave opened the door and Natalie regarded them coolly.
‘Where have you been?’ said Dave. ‘It’s all been properly kicking off here. Properly kicking off.’
‘We’ve been in the thick of it,’ said Stevie.
Natalie did not speak.
‘I’m telling you,’ said Stevie. ‘There was a proper fight. A stabbing, it looked like. Look, the police are still there. And the ambulances. People were going down all over the place and shit. It was mental. Where were you?’
Still Natalie did not respond.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ said Stevie. ‘Get in the car.’
‘No,’ she said quietly.
‘What?’
‘I said no. I’m not getting in that car. Open the boot.’
‘What?’
‘Open the boot.’
‘What for?’
‘Just open the boot.’
Dave shrugged, reached down and heaved up the lever that released the boot. Natalie walked around the car and they could hear her scrabbling at the back. Then the boot slammed and she reappeared, her rucksack on her back.
‘What are you doing?’ said Stevie.
‘Going home,’ said Natalie.
‘Home? What? Who with?’
‘Never you mind.’
‘What about the traffic?’
‘When it moves. Whatever.’
‘She’s crazy,’ Stevie said. ‘She’s finally fucking gone crazy.’
‘No, I haven’t,’ said Natalie. Something in her voice made Dave and Stevie look up. ‘And I’m not . . . I’m not, like, a piece of meat.’
Stevie laughed nervously. Then he fell silent. Then he laughed again.
‘I’m not a piece of meat, and I’m not stupid,’ said Natalie.
‘I never said you were.’
‘You treat me like I am.’
‘Look, Natalie, take it easy.’
‘I’m not a piece of meat.’
‘We were only joking, OK? It was a joke.’
‘It wasn’t funny.’
‘I can’t help it if you’ve got a sense of humour failure.’
‘I’m not a piece of meat.’
‘OK, OK. I get it.’
‘It’s you. You’re, like, like, really mean.’
‘Mean?’ said Stevie, laughing again. ‘Who the hell says “mean”?’
‘You’ve been really mean to me all weekend. You know what I’m talking about.’
‘I haven’t got to listen to this,’ said Stevie. ‘If you want to fuck off with some freak you’ve met by the side of the road, be my fucking guest. In fact, you know what? I don’t want you back in this car. You can just fuck right off.’
‘It’s not your car,’ said Natalie. ‘It’s Dave’s.’
‘OK, whatever.’
‘No,’ said Natalie, looking surprised at her own words. ‘You can fuck right off.’
‘What did you just say?’ said Stevie.
‘I said you can fuck right off, Stevie. You told me to fuck right off. I’m saying no, it’s you that should fuck right off.’
‘What are you on about?’
‘You know what your problem is? You’ve never, like, had a girlfriend because you’re a scrawny fucking runt. I should’ve seen it coming. But that’s all over now. I can totally, like, see you for the mean little fucking creep you are.’
‘Someone’s put you up to say this. You couldn’t’ve thought of this yourself.’
‘I’m not stupid. I’m not a piece of meat.’
‘You’re a broken fucking record, that’s what you are.’
‘I’m not. And you, Dave, you’re . . . I don’t know, you’re weak. You’re both, like, weak, actually. Cowards.’
Dave tried to respond but found he had nothing to say.
‘Well, then,’ said Natalie. ‘See you around.’
She began to walk away. She could see Jim sitting at the wheel of his van, watching her. In a burst of courage, she turned back. ‘One more thing,’ she said. ‘You both have really small cocks. And I’m not, like, even joking now. Proper tiny!’
Dave swung the door closed and sat in silence. Finally he stole a glance at Stevie who was sitting hunched in his seat, his fingers pressed over his eyes.‘Fuck her,’ said Stevie. ‘Fuck her.’