ability to cope with the mundanity of work. Although, Abby’s moroseness takes the edge off the feel-good. She hasn’t been out since she got The Call from Matt two weeks ago. I switched into broken heart nursing mode, piling the fridge and cupboards with her favorite comfort food and nodding sympathetically through the repetitive angst. Trying not to sound too much like a mother, I cajole her into returning to lessons. The quicker I can get Abby hooked up with another guy, the better.
Work today involves more sales training. Intensive, mind-numbing parroting of everything I learnt a couple of months ago. The irritating sly smiles and sniggers, from the group of girls who’ve pigeonholed me into posh bitch, push me to the verge of a confrontation.
Regret over my decision to work here follows me to the battery farm everyday, and this kind of crap doesn’t help.
After my stomping around upstairs, swearing, Abby appears and decides dressing up and a night out is what we both need. She thinks I could do with a bit of male attention, and part of me agrees. Three months since I broke things off with Josh and I’m missing him. If I’m honest, I miss the physical side of our relationship more, and someone finding me desirable.
Abby insists on playing dress ups with me and I cave to her whim. She gleefully arrives in my room with her bulging tote of cosmetics and a selection of dresses.
About an hour later, she pushes me in front of the mirror. “There!”
The short black dress barely reaches my knees and hugs my small figure a little too tightly for my comfort. I pull a face when I look at the heels she gave me. Sure they make my legs longer and sexier, but falling flat on my face won’t be a sexy move. I remove them and put on flats; Abby pulls a face.
“Do you want me to change the dress as well?” I threaten.
“No! Don’t you dare!”
For once, Abby’s handiwork on my face gives me a natural look, the eye makeup accentuates the green of my eyes, rather than the panda eyes she favors. I turn and pout at her, she leans in and takes a shot of us on her phone. I’ve agreed to go to the Union with her. Not because I might see Evan. Okay, I’m lying.
As I walk arm in arm with Abby, a doubt nags at me. We’re getting on so much better without her boyfriend and his posse. Do I really want to help find Abby a new one?
****
EVAN
Two weeks, and Lucy hasn’t called or appeared. I relax and resume my routine. Hopefully someone intervened before she had a chance to find me.
Ness crosses my mind occasionally, something about her sticks with me. Apart from wanting to get her naked. I’m pissed off I only got as far as kissing her, and I can blame Lucy for that too. The spark of a different type of connection between me and Ness stays, a shared desire to run away from childhood bonds. Our lives are miles apart, yet for the first time in a long while, she’s a girl I want to get to know. Ness is challenging and clever; interestingly different. And I’d like to understand why she chose the path she has, limiting herself when she’s such a smart girl.
Since Matt isn’t seeing Abby anymore, I know I won’t come across Ness unless I look for her. The sprawling campus deceptively hides the number of students who attend and because Abby isn’t in my department, I’m unlikely to come across her either. Despite my interest in Ness, I’m unsure about finding her and giving the wrong impression. The last thing I need is a full-blown relationship and if you chase a girl, that’s what they think will happen. In my experience. No. It’s better if I try and forget her instead.
So back to my old haunts and habits. Pubs, alcohol and blurry memories of the night before.
Bodies vie for spots at the bar and the air is thick with heat when I arrive at the Union with my drinking buddies. Our pub crawl began a couple of hours ago, the progress predictable - drunk, giggling girls and Matt’s voice already twice as
Work today involves more sales training. Intensive, mind-numbing parroting of everything I learnt a couple of months ago. The irritating sly smiles and sniggers, from the group of girls who’ve pigeonholed me into posh bitch, push me to the verge of a confrontation.
Regret over my decision to work here follows me to the battery farm everyday, and this kind of crap doesn’t help.
After my stomping around upstairs, swearing, Abby appears and decides dressing up and a night out is what we both need. She thinks I could do with a bit of male attention, and part of me agrees. Three months since I broke things off with Josh and I’m missing him. If I’m honest, I miss the physical side of our relationship more, and someone finding me desirable.
Abby insists on playing dress ups with me and I cave to her whim. She gleefully arrives in my room with her bulging tote of cosmetics and a selection of dresses.
About an hour later, she pushes me in front of the mirror. “There!”
The short black dress barely reaches my knees and hugs my small figure a little too tightly for my comfort. I pull a face when I look at the heels she gave me. Sure they make my legs longer and sexier, but falling flat on my face won’t be a sexy move. I remove them and put on flats; Abby pulls a face.
“Do you want me to change the dress as well?” I threaten.
“No! Don’t you dare!”
For once, Abby’s handiwork on my face gives me a natural look, the eye makeup accentuates the green of my eyes, rather than the panda eyes she favors. I turn and pout at her, she leans in and takes a shot of us on her phone. I’ve agreed to go to the Union with her. Not because I might see Evan. Okay, I’m lying.
As I walk arm in arm with Abby, a doubt nags at me. We’re getting on so much better without her boyfriend and his posse. Do I really want to help find Abby a new one?
****
EVAN
Two weeks, and Lucy hasn’t called or appeared. I relax and resume my routine. Hopefully someone intervened before she had a chance to find me.
Ness crosses my mind occasionally, something about her sticks with me. Apart from wanting to get her naked. I’m pissed off I only got as far as kissing her, and I can blame Lucy for that too. The spark of a different type of connection between me and Ness stays, a shared desire to run away from childhood bonds. Our lives are miles apart, yet for the first time in a long while, she’s a girl I want to get to know. Ness is challenging and clever; interestingly different. And I’d like to understand why she chose the path she has, limiting herself when she’s such a smart girl.
Since Matt isn’t seeing Abby anymore, I know I won’t come across Ness unless I look for her. The sprawling campus deceptively hides the number of students who attend and because Abby isn’t in my department, I’m unlikely to come across her either. Despite my interest in Ness, I’m unsure about finding her and giving the wrong impression. The last thing I need is a full-blown relationship and if you chase a girl, that’s what they think will happen. In my experience. No. It’s better if I try and forget her instead.
So back to my old haunts and habits. Pubs, alcohol and blurry memories of the night before.
Bodies vie for spots at the bar and the air is thick with heat when I arrive at the Union with my drinking buddies. Our pub crawl began a couple of hours ago, the progress predictable - drunk, giggling girls and Matt’s voice already twice as
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