Page 6 of Vying Girls

We join the other two. Elly shoves an overflowing plastic cup at Haz and Nic does the same for me, albeit less enthusiastically.

I regard the sudsy liquid. Spiked? Wouldn’t put it past her.

Then I’m gasping as she knocks into me, making me spill a quarter of it down myself.

‘Can’t be worse than that black shit,’ she says with a grin. Grinning at dousing me because she did it on purpose. I’ve only just dried off, for fuck’s sake.

I take a sip, biting down on the plastic as I resist the urge to chuck the rest at her smug face. Never seen her smile so much. It’s unnerving. Which is sad, because she has a nice smile. It lights up her whole face, turning her into something she’s not.

Not tonight though, not below that black mask. I’m not wearing one, neither is Haz. She’s not keen on things touching her skin. Unless it’s me, a thought that makes me smile. Sensory overload à la Tilda.

I cross to Elly, keeping Nic to the front of me out of reach. Elly has the short sleeves of her t-shirt rolled up, same as Haz. Only me and Nic felt the urge to cut half of it off, bodging the QR code on the back.

I can’t keep my eyes off Elly’s arms. They’re red from the cold and sharp slap of hailstones. Her tattoos are stark. She has nicearms, even when she doesn’t spend ten million hours in the gym honing them like Haz.

I run my palms up them and kiss her, standing up on my tiptoes. She has her mask resting on the top of her head like a pair of glasses. It plumes in shades of pink and purple, like a bird of paradise. She’s not keen on it, but equally reluctant to let it go. She’ll keep it on her just because it’s hers and she found it, a cute puppy guarding a resource. Unless I ask for it. Then it’ll be on my head quicker than I can blink.

‘Elly-Belly,’ I say into her ear, squeezing her tight.

‘Hey, Tilda.’ She smiles at me, running her hands up and down my hips. It’s a little patronising. I know I’m wasted. I don’t care. I’m just happy to be out with her and Haz. They make me feel so much,toomuch. There’s something binding here between us, a thick rope I can almost see. It twines tighter as we dance, never letting each other out of our sights.

Nic gets tangled in it. It frays when it touches her. She watches me from across our tight little circle, looking at Elly’s arms around me as I dance in front of her. There’s so muchhatethere, such viciousness.

I hold her eyes. She’s a part of this quartet whether she likes it or not. There is no Elly and Haz without Nic. We’re bound no matter what. A truth we’re both starting to understand the weight of, I think.

It’s so close to midnight, but I need to pee. I peel away from the others, the throng parting to let me through. I barely feel the brush of them, my gaze hazy on the far corner where the loos are. I’m going to regret this so bad tomorrow, already feeling queasy. But right now, tomorrow feels forever away.

I look back, just briefly, to see Nic on my tail. I knew one of them would follow, but I didn’t think it would be her this time. Whatever. Not much she can do to me behind a locked door.

But as a cubicle becomes free, she’s still on my heels. She slaps the door open with her palm, pushing me inside.

My body bounces against hers when I whirl round. ‘So, this is where you fuck off.’

That smile again. ‘After tonight, you won’t want me doing that.’

I want to argue but my need to pee’s reached fever pitch. Maybe I should just piss on her. Surely that’ll scare her off.

I undo my shorts. ‘Turn around.’

‘That’s why I’m here.’ She turns her back slowly. ‘This door doesn’t lock.’

I hover on the loo. It’s so tiny in here. Nic’s rightthere.It’s not about modesty. I’ve peed with Natasha loads of times. It’s about thewhy.If I leant my head forward just another inch, it would rest on her back. I’m so unsteady I can’t be sure I won’t.

‘Almost midnight,’ she comments.

‘I know. I’m peeing as fast as I can.’

‘You remember New Year’s Eve?’

I frown at the back of her head. ‘You mean when you gozzed in my mouth? Yeah, rings a bell. Hope you’re not looking for a repeat.’

‘Maybe that’s exactly what I’m looking for. A repeat of the past.’ She looks at me over her shoulder just as I get my shorts pulled up. ‘Aren’t there parts of your past you want to repeat?’

‘Nic.’ I fumble with the flush but it’s broken. I let out a sigh as I face her. ‘Can we philosophise some other time? Is this what booze does to you? My god. The rest of us just get horny.’

‘I prefer coke for that.’

I snort. ‘Not according to Skylar.’