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It’s only when a text pings through from Jake, making me check my phone and notice the time, that I remember why I came here in the first place.

I say, ‘We’ll have to pack up, lunch is nearly over – and I cannot be late for media again. Anyway, I was looking for you before to see if you wanted to come to a house party this weekend.’

‘Aparty?’ Anissa repeats, with such open disbelief written all over her face that it must be the first time she’s been invited to one.

I am a horrible, horrible person, and an even worse friend.

But my intentions aren’t … malicious. Are they? I’m not doing this to benastyto anyone. I’m just …

Thinking ahead. Big picture. Trying to …

I swallow the lump in my throat and forge ahead. It’s too late now. I’ve mentioned the party, I’veinvited her, I can’t take that back.

‘Yeah. You know my friend Jake? Jake Wandsworth, from school. Well, he said some guy at his college is having a house party, and he said I could bring a friend along. So I just thought …’ I take a breath, Anissa’s wide, wide eyes and gaping mouth making me skirt as close to the truth as possible. ‘Because he’s an OWAR fan too, and his mate Max – the guy who does the Sir Grayson/Moonwalker cosplay, he’ll be there as well, so I thought maybe you’d … want to come? Hang out with them a bit? You could come and get ready at my house, and –’

Anissa’s eyes remain wide, but now there’s a gleam in them, and her open mouth splits into a broad smile. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Yeah. I mean … Yes. Why not? There’s going to be alcohol there, and no parents, and I have no idea what any of the Colleg Carreg lot arereallylike, but Jake wouldn’t be friends with anyone that horrible –’

Except moody, judgey Max …

‘And … And like I said, I thought maybe you’d get on alright with him. And Max.’

Very muchand Max.

I am a bad friend.

Or a good one? Maybe they’ll hit it off. Maybethey’llbe besties right off the bat, and I’ll get Jake back, and we’ll all be mates and everyone will be happy.

And I reallywouldlike to spend time with Anissa. The party could be fun. Maybe around some new people and with some common ground, she’ll open up a bit and be more like she is in Discord, like she’s been this lunchtime. Bubbly and unfiltered and funny and engaging.

Is itreallythat bad if I’m also hoping she might take Max off my hands?

Anissa’s still quiet, so I carry on. ‘I don’t know if it’s exactly your scene, but – well, you could stay over mine as well after, if you wanted. My mum won’t mind. And if it’s that bad, we can just leave early and watch some episodes of OWAR. Or –’

‘Cerys,’ she interrupts. How long have I been rambling and babbling? It’s mostly down to guilt, but also I’ve never invited someone to a party and a sleepover before. This whole ‘making friends’ lark is alotless straightforward when you can’t just match your outfit to theirs, and bump into them at a coffee shop before college.

God, imagine asking someone on adate. This is bad enough.

No amount of romcoms could prepare me for that.

So I shut up, and Anissa smiles at me likeI’mthe one who needs reassuring, and says, ‘That sounds awesome. I’d love to go.’

I breathe a sigh of relief, and promise to message her all the details later, and we can sort out timings for her coming round on Saturday.

Thiswillbe awesome. We’ll have fun hanging out, she’ll get on fine with Jake, I don’t doubt that she and Max will end up in some deep discussion about their favourite fan-theories, and while they’re keeping each other busy, me and Jake will have the perfect opportunity to grab some alone time.

The Plan is officially back on track.

So why do I feel like I’m doing everything wrong?

OWAR Discord #324

Fanfictions!

@mythicwitch

So … I did something