Silent, The Pier Stunt

Two Years Earlier, Gavin
 
I couldn't cope with Philippa and Aidan. They were sitting together on one of the disused fairground horses, deep in conversation, and they definitely looked like boyfriend and girlfriend, regardless of what Philippa had told me. Dawn and Paul stood around uncomfortably, like parents at a teens disco. School kids in hoodies swigged back vodka and cider and/or danced to loud music.
 
I was about to make another exit from the party when Jace turned up with three lads about my age. 'Yo, Gavin, where are you off?'  
      
'Heading back.'
 
'Aw, don't go, mate,' Jace said. 'Is this about earlier with Steve?  Don't worry, mate. It's all been sorted. Scott admitted making it up.'
 
I didn't say anything.  Just wondered whether I could dash round Jace and run off. He said, 'Steve won't start on you again. He's gone to his granddad's, and said if I see you, to tell you everything's cool. Hey, have a drink with us.'
 
Jace was wearing army gear and he'd had a crew cut since I'd seen him that morning.  'One of my mates did it,' he said, proudly.  'Here, feel it and tell me what you think.'
 
'Nah, I think I'll give it a miss,' I said.  
 
'Suit yourself.'  He passed me a bottle of vodka and I took a swig. His three mates introduced themselves. They had semi posh accents. Jace told me they were all at the Sixth Form of a private school a few miles off and that he'd won a scholarship to get a place at the school, even though he'd grown up in a rough part of town. Steve had gone to the local comp and was on a training course at a local college elsewhere.  
 
'Watch this.' Jace thrust the bottle of vodka into my hand and told me to guard it. 'You're going to be well impressed, mate.'  He raced to the railing overlooking the drop by the sea, high up above the pylon-like structure, and weaved his way through a group of kids.  'My turn.'  
 
The kids stopped to watch, getting out their phones to record whatever Jace had in mind. The sea looked treacherous, the water grimy and unsettled. Climbing up onto the railing, Jace began to walk along the surface, arms stretched out, a wicked grin on his face.
 
'Whoa,' he yelled, excitedly, jumping up and down on the railing. 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!'
 
'Careful,' I thought I heard someone say.  
 
The expression changed and Jace seemed to freeze.  'Help,' he cried. He was swaying on the railing. 'Help!'  
 
Everyone stood motionless, including the three semi-posh mates. Jace continued to wobble.  
From the corner of my eye, I saw Dawn and Paul mouthing stuff to each other. Words like: coastguards.  
  
'No,' Jace sobbed. One of his legs gave way and his hands flew up in the air.  This couldn't be real.  
 
A trio of girls in hoodies huddled together in a group hug, making dramatic sounds. Celebrity style sobs.  
 
'I don't want to die,' Jace yelled out, tottering on the railing, ready to tumble into to the water with its churning black waves and broken bits of net.
 
Unbelievable.  This guy was going to drown right in front of me and there was nothing anyone could do about it.  
 
'No,' he wept. 'Scared.'
 
And then, I found myself hurtling forward. I hadn't planned it. It just happened. I dashed over to the railings by the sea and pushed a couple of kids aside. I didn't know exactly what I was going to do, but I couldn't do nothing, so I continued shoving through the kids in the hoodies, ignoring their tuts and mutters of, 'Oi, watch it,' and Jace's posh mates just stared at me with amused looks in their eyes, and then Jace steadied himself and jumped on me, spinning me round and round and round, football player style.
 
'Hey, you were going to climb up and get me, weren't you?' he said, once he'd finished the spinning.
 
'You were going to drown.'
 
'I wouldn't have. It was all a put on, but thanks for coming over. Impressive, mate. I owe you.'
 
So he'd staged the whole thing.  I should have guessed all along, but whatever. The mates let out cheers, along with the kids in hoodies.  A couple of the mates lifted me up and put me on Jace's shoulders. He spun me round and round, cheering, shrieking.  After that, everyone was staring at me and smiling.  And for a few moments, I was elated, even though I'd fallen for Jace's prank.  
 
Popular once more, just like I'd dreamt about before taking part in Young Musician of the Year when I was fifteen. Those dreams never go away.  
 
Better still, Philippa had seen it all.  Seen me run to Jace's rescue. She'd fancy me now.  Correction, she already did fancy me, but she'd fancy me even more after my attempt to help Jace. Gavin, the King.  King Gavin.