Page 8 of Sad Girl Hours
Chapter Eight
Saffron
Thursday evening rolls around quickly. It’s been a hectic week so far.
Last week, we were easing back into things but this week we’ve been fully back in the swing of it, with lectures and seminars and new deadlines popping up all over the place.
I love it, I can’t deny it. I love being kept busy – especially by things I’m so interested in.
I’ve made a TikTok a day so far, I’ve been so inspired by it all.
It’s gratifying explaining things in ways that people can understand, getting rid of the academic jargon and untangling it into simpler terms so it makes sense.
We all live here, in this universe, so we should all be able to understand how it works and how we got here.
I get here, to Nell’s house, however, just by walking.
“Welcome, welcome!” She stands in the doorway of the terraced house that she, Jenna and a girl called Bailey (whom I’ve never met and am not entirely convinced exists) share.
She’s wearing a black shirt with orange pumpkins all over it, an orange, silky-looking thirties-style skirt, and she’s done her make-up to match – a smoky-ish eye but with bright orange eyeliner.
“You look amazing,” I say. “Very on theme.”
“Listen, there’s only one month you can wear pumpkin and witchy attire without people giving you strange looks. I intend to make the most of this and be on theme every gosh dang day.” She steps back to allow me into the house.
“You know the TikTok gays would be obsessed with you, right, Nell?”
“Well, I only know one TikTok lesbian,” she says, leading me through to the lounge. “So, I think you’d better up your game if you want to prove your point.”
“Are you trying to imply that you would prefer me to be more obsessed with you?”
“I’m saying if you want to prove your point, then you better had, yes. We have some grapes in the fridge if you want to start by peeling those for me. The skin always catches terribly in my throat.”
“You’re a menace.”
I sink down into the sofa next to her, glancing round the room.
It’s pretty small and furnished with slightly battered IKEA pieces, but the housemates – or, I suspect, mostly Nell – have made it look really cute.
There’s an autumn-leaf garland tacked atop the mantle, a candelabra in the fireplace and fabric pumpkins and further candles in groups on the hearth.
Nell’s lit a few of them and they’re giving off a warm, sweet smell.
“This room’s so cosy,” I say. “Perfect for crafting and snuggling down to watch movies in.”
“Right? Jenna and I watched a horror film last night – not an award-winner or anything: the demon goat was very poorly CGI’ed – but you know she’s a secret wuss with things like that, and even she said the cosy vibes took the edge off a bit.”
I raise my eyebrows. “And Bailey?”
“We saw her on moving-in day, but haven’t seen her since. I’ve heard noises coming from her room so at least we know that she’s alive.”
“You know,” I say, “it’s such a shame we all only properly met when we’d already had to decide on our living arrangements for this year. We could have got a place together as a group.”
“My word,” Nell says, “maybe you are obsessed with me. Seeing me, like, five times a week just isn’t enough for you, you want to throw making spag bol of an evening together into the mix too?”
I fix her with what I hope is a ‘withering stare’ but I think probably ends up being more of a ‘moderately amused gaze’.
“Don’t we have things to be planning?” I say, despite still not really wanting to plan anything.
“ Fine .” Nell draws out the vowels. “It is a shame, though,” she adds, smiling at me. “I really like spag bol.”
I feel a bit flushed as Nell continues. The room really is very cosy and warm.
“All right, autumn-slash-winter bucket list plans are a go. I’ve come up with a whole bunch of ideas, but I welcome your input if there’s anything you’d like to do. So, without further ado, may I present … Nell and Saffron’s Seasons of FUN.”
She produces a giant notebook, open to a page with a (very long) list on it and little autumn leaves and pumpkins doodled round the edges.
CRUNCH THROUGH LEAVES.
Make a blanket fort.
Go to a maize maze.
Our joint birthday party, baby.
Visit a pumpkin patch.
Make all of the soup.
Look out for the hunter’s moon in October
Have the first hot chocolate/pumpkin-spiced drink of the season.
Go to a bookshop, pick out a book for each other and then read them together by the fire.
Have a candlelit board-game night.
Autumn baking (bake a pie, pumpkin-shaped bread rolls, etc.).
Go apple picking.
Have a horror-movie marathon with fun spooky-themed snacks.
Make lots of autumn crafts (e.g. embroider autumn leaves, make clay pumpkins, paper chains).
Dress up for Halloween.
Carve and/or paint pumpkins.
Go to a bonfire and watch the fireworks on Bonfire Night. Bring marshmallows and muffins to toast.
See the Northern Lights (??!).
Do an autumn-themed scavenger hunt in the woods.
Have a marathon viewing session of Gilmore Girls/Over the Garden Wall/any other cosy show.
Go to the Halloween lock-in at the castle dungeons.
Gothic Horror Night.
Watch the Christmas lights being turned on.
Pick out real Christmas trees for our houses and decorate them.
Go stargazing on a clear night.
Go to the Christmas markets.
Go ice skating in the town hall square and ride on the Ferris wheel.
Christmas movie and pyjama day.
Christmas baking day (cookies, gingerbread houses, etc.).
Christmas-card photoshoot.
Go sledging (if it snows).
Celebrate New Year.
Just generally have the time of our gosh dang lives.
“I can definitely always rely on you to be thorough,” I say, scanning the list.
“Thorough is my middle name.”
“I thought it was Paige.”
She pauses for a beat. “Thorough is one of my middle names.”
“Well, all right, Nell Paige Thorough Holloway, I do have a couple of questions.”
Nell sinks further back on to the sofa and gestures with her hands. “Hit me.”
“Gothic Horror Night?”
“We all dress up as someone either from a gothic horror novel or someone that wrote one, close all the curtains, light a concerning number of candles and do readings of our stories or poetry. I bagsy Poe, by the way. I already have the raven.”
“Obviously. I feel like I should be more surprised that you own a stuffed raven than I am.”
Nell cocks her head to one side. “Who said Nevermore is stuffed?”
I stifle a laugh. “Moving on. You should know I’m a terrible baker.”
“So am I. Next.”
“What do you mean by the Christmas-card photoshoot?”
“I mean, I think it would be hilarious if we sent out a group Christmas card with a really cheesy picture of us all on the front.”
“Like eighties-mall photoshoot vibes? Double denim?”
“Oh, one hundred per cent. With awkward poses and really grimacing, toothy smiles. And tinsel round us like feather boas to add the festive touch.” “Oh, obviously.”
Nell looks at me, eyes ever so slightly narrowed. “I’m worried you think I’m joking.”
“Nell, believe me: at this point, I consider myself pretty well primed on how seriously you take things, even things that are generally very unserious themselves. I know you’re not joking.”
“I do commit pretty hard, it’s true.” She pokes her leg up in the air, revealing a pair of fluffy orange socks with a hole scandalously revealing a single big toe. “I’ve had these socks since I was twelve. But anyway, socks aside, let’s get down to business.”
“To defeat the Huns?”
“If we have time, sure. But I meant more to decide on our first activity. Are you free this Saturday?”
“I think so,” I say. “I might have some work to do, but I—”
“Excellent. Be ready for ten o’clock sharp. Dress warm. And cute. Although the cute part can probably go without saying with you, Miss Fashion Influencer.”
“Hate that, thanks. But OK, ten o’clock. What are we doing?”
“You’ll find out on Saturday. I’ve planned an excellent day of autumnal fun, if I do say so myself.”
“Which you do.”
“I do. And you will too after this weekend.”
I’m not great with surprises. “Any hints?”
“Hmm, OK, let me think. You’ll be a maze d.”
“That’s not a great hint, Nell.”
“Or is it? You’ll have to wait and see.”
“You’re enjoying this far too much. You’re like some kind of pumpkin-spice-scented dictator.”
She looks oddly touched. “I really am.”
I just hope that I enjoy it too. Not for my sake necessarily. But I know it’ll bring Nell more joy if she thinks I’m having a good time. And so, whatever the chaos she’s planned for us on Saturday turns out to be, I’m determined to rally and enjoy myself. For her.