Page 14 of Tricky Girls

Shuffling up behind my little damsel, I circle my arms around her, phone in hand. ‘What do you want?’

When she hesitantly takes the phone, I lower my arms, not quite touching her anymore but close enough to still be enveloped in her fruity scent. I catch Elly looking and send her a smirk. She shakes her head, but I see the amused smile she can’t quite hide.

‘I’ll pay you back,’ Tilda mumbles as she thumbs through the app.

I snatch the phone back once she’s done. ‘Don’t insult me, princess.’

CHAPTER 6

Elly

The sheet we’ve been working on is banished to the floor when the doorbell rings, signalling the arrival of our food. I can smell my burrito before I’ve even set eyes on it, fingers tapping the table in anticipation even as I push down the mild nausea in my stomach. Too hungover to eat this morning, it’s only now I’m badly craving some stodge. Haz returns to the living room with our meals clasped easily in her bulging arms, a disgusted frown on her face.

‘Little twat,’ she spits, dumping the goods on the table.

‘Didn’t tip again?’ I hazard a guess.

‘Shouldn’t have to.’

‘I’m sure you can afford a tip,’ Tilda admonishes, claiming the single can of sugar-free Coke.

Haz pushes her sub across to her. ‘Shouldn’t have to,’ she repeats. ‘You’re welcome for that, by the way.’

‘Thank you.’ Tilda pushes hair behind her ear, eyes downcast as she picks at the wrapping on her sandwich. I’ve seen that look before. That guilty pride that people like Haz and Nic can’t even begin to conceptualise in their dumb moneyed heads. ‘I appreciate it.’

Haz grunts, ripping into her chicken and bacon salad. She’s on one of her healthy protein hypes again, always trying to hone those perfect muscles of hers. I’ve tried to emulate her, usually as a response to her well-meaning bullying, but, shit, I like my comfort food and frankly the repetitiveness of gym workouts is enough to bore me to tears. Only the attention we seem to garner from the Varsity girls has me returning on the weekly.

Tilda hoists herself up on the sofa to eat, legs daintily pressed together, ripping little pieces of bread with her fingers before finally biting into it. So out of place in our disordered bachelor pad. Only Nic keeps a clean space around here. It’s the one thing she truly fucking hates us for.

I’m glad Monday’s her full day of lectures. Not sure what her problem was last night, but Tilda didn’t deserve her anger, especially not after what her asshole of a boyfriend did. Me and Haz, we’re used to it—expect it, even. Everything seems to trigger Nic at the moment. Not that her problems aren’t legit but it’s not cool to be slaying innocents along the way.

Tilda smiles as our eyes meet, her hand covering her mouth as she chews. Makes me wonder just how innocent she really is. She comes across as super sweet but her slutty goth vibe suggests otherwise. All but kills me the days she wears those pleated miniskirts and fishnets. Guess with winter coming, those days might be over.

She tugs at the belt on her jeans, drawing my eye. They’re more like jeggings, revealing almost as much as her tights lastnight had. I’d been on the landing, trying not to vomit again from imbibing too much fizzy alcohol, when Haz had come onto the girl. Had Tilda even been aware? Straight girls can be dense sometimes—just gals being pals and all that. I’ve seen that look in Haz’s eyes before though, felt a stirring in my own gut as she trailed her fingers up Tilda’s beautifully tapered leg. Then Tilda’d kicked her away and I almost fell down the stairs from laughing.

I feel Haz nudge me beneath the table and meet her narrowed eyes with a smirk. Oh yeah, Haz wants her too. The hottest girl on our course, hands down. I spent the whole of freshers last year hoping she was bi, she has that kind of alt energy about her, but she’s been attached to that skinny bloke ever since then, and last night put a lid on that dream for good. How many times can a girl proclaim she’s straight?

But…I don’t know. Is she? There’s just something about her, something I know Haz can feel too. That heated competitiveness in her eyes says as much.

All that being said, this girl has just caught the boy she loves cheating on her with her best friend. That’s rough for anyone. She can probably do with some mates, and I’m sure us dickheads wouldn’t be her first choice, but beggars can’t be choosers.

She makes a happy hum as she sips from her Coke, setting it carefully back on the carpet. I wrinkle my nose. Coke Zero. Horrid tasting stuff.

‘You know this is sugar free, too.’ I heft my can of Pepsi Max, careful not to spill any.

She shrugs. ‘You stick with what you know, don’t you?’

‘But how do you know you’re not missing out on something so much better if you never give it a chance?’

Tilda tilts her head, a twinkle in her eye. ‘Still talking about drinks here?’

With a grin, I plonk myself down next to her. ‘Here. Close your eyes.’

She tuts but does as I say. I take her half-eaten sub—god, she’s a slow eater—and place it on the sofa beside her.

‘Keep them closed.’ I shuffle closer, both our cans in hand.

‘Kiss me and I’ll kill you.’

---