Page 61 of Perfect

Breaking me out of my train of thought, my phone vibrated in the pocket of my jeans. It was from Tom detailing the arrangements for where I was to meet everyone that evening.

For most of that day I had been carefully plotting what to wear. I knew I’d need to dress carefully to give the illusion that I was older. If they didn’t let me in the club, I’d be mortified in front of the others. Anticipation punched my gut. I’d only ever gotten in a club once before and on that occasion, the bouncer has been pretty shit-faced

I had been completely honest with Dad and told him I was going to Scarborough with a group of friends. He gave me the usual safety talk and said that I couldgo, as long as he dropped me off and picked me up. I was also to keep my phone on me at all times.

As I stood in my bedroom, I told myself it was time to let my hair down and do what most girls my age did, minus the getting pissed and falling around like a loon of course.

Critically eying my reflection in the full-length mirror, my brow furrowed. I didn’t look like me and I certainly didn’t feel like me.

The dress I had chosen was figure-hugging and made from laced material. As I dragged the garment over my head, I was relieved to see that it wasn’t as transparent as I’d first assumed, the dress possessed a nude body liner that thankfully concealed my underwear.

I thoroughly appraised my appearance. The outfit clung to my body and was not overly short in length, but the sweetheart neckline was dangerously low and revealed pretty much most of my cleavage. It certainly ‘enhanced my femininity in all the right’ (or wrong) places.

Nervous knots started to work themselves loose within me. Was I comfortable enough to wear this in public? It certainly didn’t fall in line with my usual sense of style. Goodness only knows what Dad would say when he saw me. I did look older though, which was of course the point.

I smoothed my perfectly painted fingers over my hair, the red nails an afterthought and scanned the blonde silky paleness against the deep tone of the dress. I had purposefully left my hair loose and it fell past my shoulders in waves.

The more I appraised my appearance, the better I felt. I looked OK, a little on the slutty side but so what. It wasn’t like we were going to church or anything.

I texted Tom to confirm I’d received his message and that my dad was going to drop me off outside the bar where we were due to meet.

Dad’s eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw me coming down the stairs, but he didn’t comment.

Thanking him for the lift, we agreed I’d message him later to arrange a time for pick up. He delivered yet another safety speech and told me not to put my drink down anywhere so it couldn’t be spiked. I smiled at his concern as I was a little more streetwise than he was giving me credit for.

Pecking him on the cheek, I climbed down from the car feeling a little uneasy.

The town centre was alive with people, a variety of ages. Some were dressed for a night out, others more student-like in jeans and T-shirts.

Two bouncers opened the doors to the pub and wished me a good night. I could see from their expressions that they were appreciative of what they saw and this gave me a boost of confidence, I’d never walked into a bar alone before.

As I entered the room, it was fairly busy with the low beat of music and plenty of noisy voices. Tom and the others were huddled in a booth at the back of the main room and I casually walked over to greet them.

All eyes were upon me and Ella was there with another girl, which took me by surprise.

She was sitting opposite Kyle, Max, and Nathan and looked pretty in what appeared to be a black dress. It was hard to tell as she was sitting.

“Hey,” I greeted them. My heart dipped as I noted that Connor was a no-show. Why I had even bothered hoping he’d come was beyond me. He probably didn’t even have clothes that fit in with the dress code for a nightclub. Even at the engagement party, he’d worn jeans.

They all said hi over each other and the lads rose to greet me. I had hugs and air kisses. Kyle, Max, and Nate were all dressed in trousers and shirts and all scrubbed up rather well, for country boys.

Ella introduced me to Natalie. A girl that I fleetingly remembered from Nate’s party. She had long black hair, deep brown eyes, and dark naturally tanned skin. She was beautiful and exotic and was dressed in tight black trousers and a floaty blouse, the print would make you feel nauseous if you stared at it for too long. Her lashes were also ridiculously long, but natural I guessed. It was explained briefly that the twins knew her from school.

Tom went to the bar to fetch me a beer and Ella moved over so I could sit in between her and Natalie. The three girls faced the three boys and when Tom came back, he pulled up a stool and positioned himself at the end of the table.

I sipped my beer. Tom wouldn’t take the money I offered him for my drink which was nice.

The conversation flowed and I scanned the pub and soaked up the charged atmosphere. A guy and girl were holding hands by the bar and my heartsqueezed, they looked so wrapped up in each other. I wondered fleetingly what it would be like to stand with Connor like that and hold hands.

“So how does it feel to be staying in the country Harlow, Ella tells me you live in London,” Natalie asked. She spoke with a faint Yorkshire accent.

“Yes, it’s cool. I’m sort of used to it now and everyone was so welcoming.”

Her plump lips turned down at my response and she looked surprised.

“Really, everyone?Even Connor?”

I swallowed the looming lump, here we go again I thought. There was a bitchy note to her voice, which hadn’t been there at first.

---