Page 100 of Tricky Girls

‘Yeah. I’ll be there.’

‘Cool. See you later then.’

I watch the door swing shut. When I turn back, the others are watching me with disapproval.

‘Donotengage,’ Haz warns.

‘Donottell me what to do. Besides, I’m not. Nothing wrong with being civil, is there?’

She snorts. ‘There’s everything wrong with it.’

‘Whatever.’ I pick up the camera bag before they can protest. ‘Let’s get these back. We’ve got a night out to be getting dolled up for.’

It’s times like this when I miss Natasha the most. Haz and Elly never get ready with me since they’re usually done in two seconds flat. Maybe three for Haz.

It’s lonely kneeling before the mirror on my own, putting on my makeup with music blasting to make me feel like I’ve got company.

Me and Natasha always made a thing of it, piling into her room with the big mirror, makeup and alcohol strewn around us as we chatted about the night ahead.

There’s no alcohol tonight; no doubt the bubbly will be flowing freely at the meal. Last year there was so much left over I was able to sequester a whole unopened bottle back to halls.

I vaguely remember Haz and Elly sitting at the other end of the table. They’d only taken notice of me when we started playing a course-wide game of Never Have I Ever and it came to light that Natasha and I had snogged. The only two on the course to have done so, drunken though it might have been. Haz had raised her drink at us whilst Elly grinned charmingly, fluffing up that hair of hers.

And that had been that until Halloween.

I have to wait a few moments to put on my mascara, blinking back tears. Despite what Natasha did, I really do miss her sometimes. It’s like grief, it comes in waves. And tonight there’s a whole tsunami of it.

Makeup done, I jump up and smooth down my dress. I ordered it online, terrified it either wouldn’t fit or wouldn’t make it here on the ferry at all. But it did and it’s perfect, a red, slip-like velvet number. It’s a bit short at the back but I’m sure that’ll be appreciated by the others.

I layer it with some silver necklaces and my Docs. Then I’m done, clunking down the stairs to the living room.

I’m the first there which surprises me. Well, first apart from Nic who’s got her back to me, fiddling with the TV. She turns to look, eyes flitting quickly over my outfit. When they return to mine, there’s none of that guardedness in them. There’s an open bottle of whiskey on the table, a tumbler on the TV cabinet. She’s making a night of it too.

The longer her gaze lingers on me, the more uncomfortable I grow. I sit on the sofa, pulling my dress down as far as it will go. I’m not used to this, this heatin her eyes where there’s usually ice.

I’m the first to look away, fiddling with the strap of my bag as the other two make their way down, dashing in their twin suits.

‘Fuck me,’ Haz blurts when she sees me. ‘No really, fuck me.’

I smile, glad for her irreverence to break the tension. ‘Maybe if you’re lucky.’

‘You’re gonna freeze,’ Elly says, her brow puckering despite her wandering eyes.

‘You’ll have to keep me warm then.’

I stand up, careful not to flash Nic who’s still staring, holding that tumbler of whiskey to her lips.

‘Have fun, kids,’ she murmurs. ‘Be quiet when you come in.’

Haz

I don’t know where the fuck my suit jacket went but I’m too pumped up to give a shit. Vipers is hopping tonight, their official Christmas event bringing in the entire student body.

The only body I’ve got my eye on tonight is the one under my hands right now. I guide Tilda into the club by her hips, shouldering out the way all the other assholes who dare come too close. The feel of velvet makes my clit twitch. She’s a vision, a fucking vision. Don’t know how I’m gonna survive the night without putting my mouth to those merlot-painted lips.

At least Elly’s struggling just as much. As we left the lodge, she sent me a look over Tilda’s head that practically screamedI can’t fucking take her.

Yeah, me neither buddy.

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