Friday, 29th October 1999

Nathan and Darren's dinner-cum-housewarming party is taking place in Lindsey's house. She's not there of course, but plenty of people are. Nathan, obviously, has invited Jacqui, Darren has asked Charlotte and Vic and Mark are visiting. Oh, and the festivities are gatecrashed, much to Nathan's consternation by his 'childhood sweetheart' Deborah. And what an annoying, irritating animal she is.

The Deborah situation is made worse, when Darren, swayed by her residential woes invites her to move in. This does not please Nathan in the slightest and he moans to Jacqui about it. Jacqui, being Jacqui simply tells him to tell her straight - if he doesn't want her to move in, then he should tell her. He is sharing with Darren fifty-fifty, after all.

The meal progresses and Deborah makes a point of flirting with Nathan. Mark makes a song and dance about being back together with Vic. Darren tries to hide his jealousy and Vic pretends that she's not interested in Darren.

Next door in the Musgrove's house, Luke confesses to Ryan that he's told Margi about Greg and Susannah. Not unsurprisingly, Ryan is most put out. Later, he springs his own surprise on Luke when he admits to having slept with Abby at the weekend. And no, he's not planning on telling Katie. Luke simply calls him an "idiot" and suggests that Katie deserves better. Hmm... and we know who he's thinking of there, don't we?

Mick's busy falling out with people. He's already had a go at Jacqui about the chippy/wine bar and told her that she was wrong to have gone behind his back. He's also not speaking to Jerome and has a run in with Leo, when the latter calls round to take his things over Vonnie's.

"Look," Mick insists. "I'm just worried that if you walk out that door with Jerome, you'll end up in real trouble. More trouble than I'll be able to help you out of."

"I don't need protecting. I'm eighteen," retorts Leo.

"Well act like it then and not some stupid lad who's too short sighted to see what's right in front of him."

That said, Jerome's car is packed up and they're about to leave when Josh, together with a couple of mates, drives at high speed onto the Close. Josh proceeds to fill the air with his usual racist insults before holding up a petrol bomb and declaring:

"This is for my mate. He hopes you burn in hell."

Josh lights the bomb but as he pulls his arm back over his head in preparation for the throw, petrol leaks out, runs down his arm alight and before anyone realises what's happening, Josh is engulfed in flames.

Everyone watching - Mick, Leo, Jerome and the revellers from Number Nine - look on in horror. Not Josh's two pals, though - they drive off in a hurry.

Now *that's* spoiled Jerome's fun!