FOURTEEN

Billie was up first the following morning. Remembering the events of the night before, she felt cheap and embarrassed. She was disgusted with herself for sleeping with Danny on their first date. She knew in her heart of hearts that it wasn't the done thing for a nice girl. She blamed the drink; she would never have let him make love to her if she hadn't been inebriated.

Danny stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes. 'Good morning, my little sweetheart. You are fucking beautiful, has anyone ever told you that?'

Billie could feel her face reddening. She wasn't used to being intimate with boys. Last night she'd been brazen but this morning, in the cold light of day and without alcohol inside her, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. 'I hope you don't think bad of me, Danny, because we slept together on our first date. I've never done anything like that before.'

Danny put his finger onto her lips to silence her. 'Ssh, I don't think any less of you, Bill. I really like you. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing and I know you're a decent girl. Don't regret it though, eh? You'll make me feel bad. I only did it because I thought you wanted me to.'

Billie looked at the hurt expression in his eyes and immediately felt guilty. 'I'm sorry, Danny. I didn't mean it like that.'

Danny pulled her close to him. 'Don't worry, I know you didn't. Anyway enough said about last night. What do you fancy doing today? Are you busy, or can we spend the day together?'

Billie felt a sense of relief wash over her, as she realised that he was still keen. She knew from all the gossip she'd heard in the past that boys were only interested until they got their wicked way with you. Maybe she had found a good one after all. 'I was planning on seeing my little brother and having dinner at Jade's. I'm sure Jade wouldn't mind if you want to come with me or if you don't fancy that, we can do something else.'

Danny couldn't think of a worse way to spend the day, but kept his thoughts to himself. He'd have rather lain in bed and fucked her all day but he daren't try it on again as he knew she was feeling bad about herself. 'I'd love to meet your little brother,' he lied with a false smile. 'Do you mind if I have a shower before we go?'

'No, of course not. It's the third door on your right. I'll pop downstairs and see Carly and Jamie and make some coffee. When you're finished up here, I can have a shower and get myself ready.'

Billie found Carly and Jamie eating toasted sandwiches, drinking tea and chatting nineteen to the dozen in the kitchen.

Carly smiled at her friend and noticed how radiant she looked. 'I hope you don't mind, Bill, but we were starving, so I made us some breakfast. I would have asked you first, but I didn't want to disturb you, in case you were still asleep.'

Filling the kettle up with water, Billie turned to her friend. 'Of course I don't mind. You can do what you like here, you know that.'

Jamie finished his mug of tea. 'Is it all right if I pop upstairs and see Danny, Bill?'

'Of course you can.' Billie shut the door as he left the room and relayed the previous night's events to Carly. She was her best friend, so Billie held nothing back and told her the truth.

Carly sat at the kitchen table, her mouth wide open like a goldfish with shock. Pulling herself together, she fired a series of questions at Billie. 'Was it big? Did it hurt? How long did it go on for?'

Billie couldn't stop laughing at her friend's nosy attitude. She felt as if she was being interrogated for a crime she'd committed. Turning the subject around, Billie asked what had happened between her and Jamie.

'We got on really well, Bill. We was kissing and cuddling all night, but nothing else happened. Jamie's such a gentleman, he's so lovely. I really do like him.'

Hearing the boys coming down the stairs the girls quickly changed the subject. Danny strolled into the kitchen like he owned the place and sat down at the table. His hair was wet and glistening and he smelt of soap. Billie thought he looked more handsome than ever.

'I'm starving, my little sweetheart. Make us something to eat, babe. Me stomach feels like me throat's been cut. I could murder a fry-up.'

Billie searched through the fridge. 'There's no sausages, Dan, but I can do you egg and bacon.'

Danny smiled at her eagerness to please him. He liked a bird that waited on him hand and foot. 'Egg and bacon's fine, girl. Do me four slices of bread and I'll have a couple of sandwiches.'

Billie cooked breakfast and dragged Carly upstairs to get showered and changed. Hearing the landline ring, she ran to answer it. 'Billie, it's Mum. How are you?'

'I'm fine, thanks. Carly's here with me and we've just had some breakfast.'

'I'm glad you're OK and you've got some company,' Chelle said, not really meaning it. 'I rang to tell you that me and Nathan are going to stay at this hotel an extra night. You don't mind, do you?'

Billie gave a thumbs-up sign to Carly. 'Of course I don't mind, Mum. Don't worry about us, me and Carly are fine.'

'I'll be home by the time you get in from work tomorrow and I'll see you then.' Michelle put the phone down and resumed shagging her toyboy. After being sex starved by Terry for months, she was now making up for lost time.

Billie's eyes were full of mischief as she put the phone down and turned to face Carly. 'My mum's not coming back till tomorrow. Shall we ask the boys to stay again?'

Carly was a bit unsure. 'I don't know, Bill, what about work? We've got to go in, we can't both throw a sickie. How will that look?'

Billie had the devil in her now. She couldn't stop thinking of the sex she'd had the previous night, and was hoping that a repeat performance would quash her feelings of shame. 'We'll make work, Carly, I promise we will. When we go to work, the boys will have to leave.'

Carly smiled at her friend. 'OK then, but you can ask them if they want to stay. I'm not doing it.'

Billie couldn't get downstairs quick enough to tell Danny that her mother wasn't coming home and to ask him if he wanted to stay another night.

Danny and Jamie were more than happy to outstay their welcome. Working on the markets, they didn't graft on Mondays and said they were happy to leave when the girls left for the office the following day.

Danny suddenly had a thought. 'Listen, Bill, now we've got the place to ourselves, why don't we have a cosy day in, just the four of us? Me and Jamie will go and get some wine and beers and later on we'll order a takeaway. We can go and see your little brother another day, eh, babe?'

Billie felt horrible about letting Jade down. It was only yesterday that she'd rung her and promised she was coming. Still, what Danny was saying was right really, she could go and visit her little brother anytime. It wasn't often she had the house to herself, so she might as well make the most of it.

Billie squeezed Danny's hand. 'Why don't you and Jamie go to the off-licence? It's only up the top of the road and I'll ring Jade and tell her I'm not going round there.'

Billie dialled the number, took a deep breath, and waffled with nerves.

'Jade, it's me. Do you mind if we cancel this afternoon? My date went so well, Danny's gorgeous. He wants to take me out again today, somewhere special, he said. Carly's here with me, we're going out in a foursome.

Understanding Billie's excitement, Jade replied kindly, 'Of course I don't mind. You go and have a good time. Tell me about last night then, where did you go?'

'We went to a pub in Romford and we ended up in an Indian restaurant. He's really nice, Jade. In fact I'd like you to meet him.'

'OK, love, we'll arrange something when you come round in the week. Do you still want me to pick you up on Tuesday?'

'Yes, of course I do. How's Terry Junior?'

'He's fine. I'll pick you up from the usual bus stop and you can fill me in on all the gossip. You have fun, Bill, and I'll see you soon.' Jade shivered as she ended the call. She had an uneasy feeling inside her and was sure it was something to do with this boy that Billie had met.

She may not have known Billie that long, but she'd grown to love her in a short space of time. Terry would be as happy as a dog with two tails if he was looking down. It had always been his aim, his dream, to bring the two of them together and Jade liked to think that he'd had something to do with their chance meeting. He'd probably had a barter with God, knowing him. Thinking of Terry, Jade smiled. He'd needed someone to take care of Billie Jo and she was in no doubt that he'd handed her that responsibility.

If she met Danny it would put her mind at rest. She was a good judge of character, and would know within minutes if he was a good or a bad lad.

Keeping that thought firmly in her mind, Jade put Terry Junior to bed for a short nap, poured herself a glass of wine and put on her Friends video.

Danny and Jamie returned from the off-licence with a crate of lager and three bottles of wine. The next few hours were spent partying. Billie had sorted out some of her own CDs and the four of them were singing and dancing around the living room. At teatime they were hungry and ordered a couple of pizzas.

By eight o'clock all the booze had run out and the four of them had started on the spirits in Michelle's drinks cabinet. By nine o'clock they were all wasted, especially the girls. Danny left Carly and Jamie to it and carried Billie Jo up the stairs. He was desperate to fuck her brains out, but she was in no fit state.

Putting her into bed fully clothed, Danny lay beside her. He loved this house and would give his right arm to move in here with her. His mother's house, God bless her, was a stinking shithole.

Danny knew that he'd fallen on his feet for once in his life and was determined not to fuck it up. Billie was smitten, he knew that. She was good fun, beautiful, and he fancied the pants off her. His next job would be to win over the mother, give her a bit of the O'Leary charm and, with a bit of luck, get his feet under the table.

Women loved Danny and he knew it. Mums, grannies, aunties, sisters, he had them all eating out of his hand. There was no reason why Billie's mum was gonna be any different. He had to get out of Dagenham, it was doing his head in and this was his perfect opportunity. He was sick of working on the markets as well, freezing his bollocks off day in, day out for a paltry wage.

Well, if he stuck with Billie, he might not have to do that much longer. Billie had told him last night, when she was drunk, that she had a fair bit of money coming her way when she was eighteen, some trust fund or something that her old man had set up for her. Maybe she could buy a little business and they could run it together. With visions of wealth running through his mind, Danny fell into a happy sleep.

Billie awoke to find herself being frantically shaken by Carly. 'Bill, it's eight o'clock, wake up, we'll be late for work.'

Unable to move her head off the pillow, Billie opened her eyes. 'I'm gonna have to ring in sick, Carly. I really don't feel up to it. You go, make up some story that I've been ill all weekend.' Billie had never taken a day off work since the day she'd started, so she doubted she'd be in any trouble. She felt so ill and vowed there and then never to drink again. She'd probably consumed more alcohol this weekend than she had in her entire life and was now paying the price.

Danny was absolutely marvellous. He patted her back as she was sick, gave her a cold flannel for her forehead, found her some tablets for her headache and made her tea and toast. He finally left the house at lunchtime. He and Billie were both worried that her mother might arrive home at any minute.

Danny arranged a date with her for the following Wednesday. Billie thanked him for looking after her and they said their goodbyes. Closing the door behind him, Billie ran back upstairs, jumped into bed and put the quilt over her head. Her mind was all over the place and she was now suffering a bout of paranoia. She felt guilty about having sex, downcast about getting drunk twice and awful about missing work. She really liked Danny, but knew she'd made a rod for her own back by sleeping with him. Now she'd done it once, he'd probably expect it all the time, and in all honesty, although she really fancied him, she hadn't especially enjoyed the experience. Somehow, it just hadn't felt right and it had left her feeling dirty and sordid once the effects of the drink had worn off.

Billie wasn't very clued up when it came down to contraception and stuff. The thought of going to her family doctor, who'd known her dad so well, filled her with dread. She was seeing Jade on Tuesday. She was like a big sister to her and hopefully would give her some advice. Maybe she could go to Jade's doctor and get some contraception.

Billie tried to relax; there was no point worrying, what was done was done and as Danny had said, he'd known when to pull it out, so there was no harm done. Even if she was inexperienced, Danny wasn't and he would look after her.

Convinced she had found the love of her life, Billie drifted off to sleep.

Only time would tell if her instincts were right.

The famous old saying states, 'The proof is in the pudding.' Danny O'Leary had been called many things in his lifetime. Unfortunately for Billie, proven wasn't one of them.