Page 16 of Tricky Girls

So consumed we are in our thoughts of her, it’s really no surprise when two days later she’s still the topic of conversation.

Haz sits manspreading on the sofa, decked in her usual clubbing gear—black cargo trousers, black t-shirt, gold chains—with a can of cider sweating in her hand. The clock shows 10pm; another hour and we’ll start rolling out.

I hear jeers pass our window, a group on their way to a messy night out. Wednesdays on Hazelhurst is always sports night,where all the teams get together for a few hours of veritable carnage. Easily the maddest night out of the week, and easily the best.

The mainland hates us for it, so much so we’ve been banned for any foreseeable Wednesdays, meaning only Vipers is open to us tonight. Not that me and Haz are on any teams, but Nic’s our ticket to that.

I glance over to make sure she’s still there, as quiet as she’s being in the corner. She’s the only one not pregaming, instead remaining folded up on the armchair she claimed as hers when we moved in, reading one of her books for the semester. Only she can concentrate when Haz is blasting her screamo music.

‘I’m telling you,’ Haz says, jabbing my thigh with a finger, ‘we’re in.’

My eyes are still on Nic, watching for her reaction. She always stiffens up when Tilda’s mentioned, her eyes usually pinning us with violent objection. What her problem is is anyone’s guess. Ask her and she only clams up.

Tonight she doesn’t give anything away, her feelings as hidden as the rest of her.

‘Are we?’ I say dubiously.

Haz nods, licking the rim of her can where it froths. ‘She wants us, I’m telling you.’

‘And she toldusshe was straight.’

Haz scoffs. ‘Yeah, and how many straight girls have we both ended up in bed with?’

‘Exactly none?’

‘Speak for yourself. See, it’s not always about the genitalia—’

‘Haz.’ I roll my eyes. ‘That fucking word.’

‘It’s aboutenergy.Girls are drawn to masculine energy, dick or no dick. Most of them, anyway. Obviously we’re not but, girls like Tilda, a hundred percent. Come on man, she even flirted with you in the cold light of day.’

‘Huh? When?’

‘Still talking about drinks here?’she mimics, bringing to mind Tilda’s twinkly eyes as she said that.

‘Oh, that.’ I wave her away. ‘She was just messing.’

I don’t know why I’m making such a point to protest, to be honest. I want it to be true as much as Haz does but if there’s one thing you can rely on us for, it’s resisting every fucking thing the other says. Another thing that drives Nic up the wall.

‘The girl’s straight, Haz. Let’s just leave it.’

‘Please. I got her dripping just from stroking her leg.’

True, but she’d been drunk, slower to react. Hadn’t seemed disgusted though…quite the opposite, actually.

I get up to claim another can of cider, this whole conversation making me way more excited than it should be.

‘So what’s your plan then? Wear her down until she caves?’

‘Seduction, baby.’ Haz grins. ‘Heard of it? She’ll be begging—begging.Won’t need to force her hand.’

‘Uh-huh. And how does the almighty Harriet go about seducing a het girl who’s still crying over her boyfriend? She’ll probably be back with him by next week, and to be honest, I can’t be arsed with the mood you’ll be in when she does.’

‘Then I need to show her the grass is greener on the other side. And wetter. Hotter.’ She jabs me again, this time a backhand. ‘I know girls like her. You know, drawn to the darkness and all those spooky things. Kink central, I’m telling you. She’ll want knives and shit.Blood.A dicking that’ll leave her legs shaking for days.’

I shake my head, eyes drawn over to Nic again in my discomfort. She’s still paying us no mind. ‘Highly doubt all that. All girls want is respect and to be seen. It’s not that hard. Just give them what straight men won’t.’ Leaning my elbows on my chinos, I roll my can between my hands. ‘Shit, I’m a girl and that’s all I want.’

‘Nic,’ Haz calls, waving her drink in her direction, ‘what do you think girls want?’

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