Page 101 of How We Began

That was when it hit me, I recognised those dulcet tones. I squinted a little at the girl brandishing the serving spoon.

“Beth?”

“Yes?”

“Oh goodness, you just scared the life out of me! Where’s your makeup?”

It was Goth Chick, without the black war paint.

“I fancied a change. Why? Does it look terrible?”

I stared at her. “No. Uh, you look beautiful. Like really beautiful.” I couldn’t stop staring. Frankly it’s amazing what some heavy foundation and black eyeliner can hide. (Note for future self, in case needed).

She flushed bright red, which made my own cheeks heat as well.

“Um, thanks. Do you want some dinner?” she asked.

“Hell yeah, I’d love some. I can’t cook to save my life was about to stave off starvation with some Cheerios.”

“Starvation? Really? You know you can open a jar of sauce? You don’t need a fit guitar playing dude to do it for you.”

Everyone knows my wily ways.

“Yeah, but…”

Nope I had nothing.

She passed me a bowl filled with pasta and jarred sauce while rolling her eyes. “Here you go. Dolmio at its best.

And just like that, Goth Chick, who is no more and shall now just have to be called Beth, sat down and had dinner with me for the first time ever.

“So you and Eva are still not talking?” I asked once I finished shovelling cheesy pasta in my mouth.

“Nah. She is still hanging out in the other flat with Adrian.”

“Who’s Adrian?”

“The guy I was seeing.”

She said this like I was supposed to know. I wanted to ask how when she didn’t speak to us for months, and even since she’s been back she hasn’t told us what happened.

“Want to talk about it? Is it worth losing a friend over a guy?” I cringed thinking of something coming between Mer and me. I’d be gutted on levels that even Ben hasn’t made me reach.

“It’s not really over a guy. Well, it is, but it is a bit confusing.” Her fresh scrubbed face tinged a rosy pink.

I leaned back in my chair. Excellent, I wasn’t in the mood for studying anyway. “I am all ears, and I have all night,” I grinned. “Do we need alcohol?”

She laughed. “Lilah, I think you always need alcohol!”

I could have been offended but what would be the point? “Okay, I’ll go and get some and be right back.”

I grabbed my purse and dashed out of the door, jogging over to Digby Bar where I relieved Trev of six, oh, okay, ten bottles of beer.

Three bottles down was when she finally got to the crux of her problem.

“I never really fancied Adrian, I just hung out with him so I could hang out with Eva.”

“I don’t get it? Why would you do that? I thought you and her were friends anyway?”