Silent, A Tense Exchange

Two Years Earlier, Gavin
 
A couple of guys about my age wandered over, dressed in army trousers, one of them grinning away, the other looking tussled and cross. I recognised them immediately. The two squaddie-like lads who'd climbed the pylon-like structure at the end of the pier yesterday.
 
'Hi, Jace,' Philippa said. 'Steve.'
 
'Hey, babe,' the guy grinning away said. 'Who's this then?'
 
'A friend of mine from the classes, Gavin.'
 
'Yo. I'm Jace. Nice to meet you, Gavin.'
 
'Cheers.' I thought he sounded quite posh - or, at least, relatively well-spoken.  Not like the locals. He plonked himself on the railing between us while the other guy, Terence Harlesden's son, just stood there staring at me in an unnerving manner.  About an hour ago, Terence had offered to promote my career.  
 
'We missed you last night, Jace,' Philippa said. 'Your party, and you weren't there.'
 
Another massive grin. 'Yep, last minute change of plan. I went to Blackpool with Steve here, things to do. Couldn't be avoided. Same place later, yeah?  You're invited too, Gavin.'
 
'Cheers.'
 
'No problem, mate. Invite whoever you want.'
 
The hostile one kept staring at me. 'Heard you've been saying stuff about my family.'  
 
'What stuff?' I said.  
 
'Bad things about my mum, and I'm not very happy about it.'
 
'I haven't said a thing about anyone. I don't even know your mum.'
 
'Yes, you do,' Steve shot back. 'My brother was at the party last night.  He said you were badmouthing our mam. Stop lying. Its a disgrace.'
 
'I didn't say anything about your mum,' I said, unsure of whether he was referring to Scott or the little brother Pete who'd walked me back to the House after the party. Whatever. Trouble. Steve looked like a bit of a nutter. I hoped Steve's mate Jace would take control of the situation.
 
'He's right, Steve,' Philippa said. 'It was your brother Scott and his immature brattish mates who started going on about your mum and Lyme House. You should keep Scott and his Year-9s under control.'
 
Jace nodded. 'Hey, cool it, man.'
 
'Are you calling our Scott a liar?' Steve said.  
 
'Yes,' Philippa said. 'Scott's a big liar who loves stirring up trouble. I was at the party and I didn't hear Gavin say a thing about your mum. It all came from Scott. And you should hear what he's been saying about you, actually. He says you were turned down by the army because youre emotionally unstable.'
 
Steve's face flashed with anger, reminding me of the previous evening when his brother Scott had reacted angrily to Philippa.  'I don't believe you.'
 
'Well, it's true,' Philippa said. 'Go and ask Scott's brattish mates if you think I'm making it up.
 
'I will. And if I find out youre lying...'
 
'Are you threatening me?' Philippa said.  
 
'If I find out youre lying, you'll be dead sorry.'
 
'Threatening a girl?' Philippa said. 'I suppose that makes you feel better, big man.'
 
'Stay away from my family,' Steve growled. 'All of them.'
 
'Oi, whats going on?' Jace said.  
 
But they didn't reply. Their eyes locked.  Really scary, as if Steve and Philippa shared some type of history, a secret. I thought of yesterday evening at Lyme House...Steve's grandfather Arthur Harlesden entering the dining room and looking straight over at us, at Philippa. Philippa was definitely causing trouble. Basically, she'd caused trouble since she'd arrived. She'd even managed to disrupt her own master class and shock the audience.  Yet, she and Steve had only met yesterday, plus they were from different parts of the country with nothing in common.
 
'Stay away from my family,' Steve repeated.  
 
'Hey, calm it, Steve,' Jace said.  
 
'Why should I?'
 
'Because Scott's lying.  He lies all the time, alright?'
 
Steve looked like he wanted to say something else but couldn't because whatever he did say would make him seem even more in the wrong. Scowling, he turned his back on us and strode off without a word, kicking an empty drinks can along.  
 
'Take no notice,' Jace said. 'He's been annoying all morning.'
 
'I thought he was your best mate,' Philippa said.
 
Jace shrugged. 'He is.'
 
'But he gets to you a bit sometimes?'Philippa said. 'Intense, heated? Can't do anything without him shadowing you?  Gets you into trouble everywhere you go? '  
 
'Yeah, 'Jace said. 'Exactly.'