I cant quite work out what's going on. The girls have huddled closer together resembling some kind of creepy little cult meeting. I must be drifting in and out of sleep as I can only really hear mutterings and the occasional enthusiastic "Amen!" or "Preach it!" from Eva.
I can't quite fully slip into unconciousness as Rebecca's monotone drawl of a voice is like a distant drilling on my skull, but the semi-dreams I am having are dark and intense with contorted figures floating about my mind like the bloody cirque du soleil; I keep jerking awake and wondering who the shady character gatecrashing my sleep is, it doesn't feel like Harley.
Too much gin. Gin baaad.
I finally snap straight out of my sleepy haze when I hear "Christmas party?" uttered by Grace.
"When are we having a party?" I ask rubbing my puffy, sore cheek and shuffling closer to the crazy lady cult.
Yasmin looks pleased with herself, "Tomorrow night. At Lenny's if you can persuade Danny?"
They look at me expectantly, like wide-eyed labrador puppies.
"Um... Sure?"
I love a party as much as the next slut, and it might only be the 1st of December but Tuesdays are pretty dead at the club so a xmas party could be just what everyone needs.
Yasmin jumps up and hugs me and the others squeal like 12-year-olds at a school disco.
"Okay, we invite EVERYONE we know. Work colleagues, Facebook friends, one-night-stands, family- if you want. This has to be huge. And totally rife for SLUT sabotage"
I screw up my face as Yasmin makes wild hand gestures listing the people we could invite to the party, "Did I miss something?"
Eva jumps in, "Yes. You did. We are having the ultimate WE'RE SINGLE night and celebrating our..." she looks over uncertainly at Yasmin for a cue, "essential... feminine independence and prowess?"
Yasmin nods proudly.
Grace sits quietly in the corner, looking at the chest of drawyers where sat a picture of her and Assmunch cuddling.
"And after the party... You'll help me break Ben's heart?" she asks quietly, her eyes fixated.
I shrug off my sleep, "No"
As I say this, Rebecca simultaneously says "Of COURSE" and for a moment our eyes meet, and I maintain it can only be comparable to how it felt looking into Medusa's eyes.
I scowl at Medusa and wrap my arms round Grace's shoulders.
"Gracie this is stupid"
As I say this the others look at me like I'm Josef fricken Fritzl or something, I pull her head to look at me, "I know he has really hurt you. But he's a moronic jerk and he will regret this for the rest of his life. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a fist to the nose, oh BOY does he, but don't get fixated on this... You'll go... crazy"
I think this is probably the most logical and profound I've ever been; and who'd have thought it only took some liquor and a blow to the skull.
She looks at me, her pretty green eyes sparkly with tears, but doesn't say anything. If I know Grace Griffiths, her mind is made up. Who am I kidding; the crazy always defeats the rational.
The girls look smug and Yasmin sits me down, grasping my hand; I feel like I'm meeting with the guidance councillor again. She looks at me like she can see into my soul, how does she do that? I swear she can hear my thoughts right now. Stop thinking Anya.
Grace, Eva and Medusa are topping up their drinks and discussing party outfits, Yasmin picks up the ice bag I threw on the floor when I arrived and dabs my cheek gently.
I don't flinch, she has an incredibly soothing character, kind of like a witch doctor or something. She's so beautiful too; these incredible hazel eyes and velvety chocolate skin, if she wasn't my friend I'd probably try and sleep with her.
"Anny, I know you didn't get that from a thrown bottle..."
This throws me. Fuck I must be a shit liar.
"Sure I did.. I already told you that bitch from Lenny's-"
She stops me with a look. Crap, she really must be a mind reader.
I look away from her, I feel awkward, like I'm 16 and right back in the principle's office again.
"Yas, would you- um, would you not tell the others? Especially Gracie... She'd tell my brother and-"
She takes the ice pack away and looks troubled, "I won't tell anyone. But you should think again about what I said. We might sound a little mental... But I'm sick of seeing my friends screwed about by men. Why shouldn't we take pleasure in a little pain? To forgive is divine; to revenge is human"
I'm not an English graduate, or even an avid reader of quotes, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't an accurate one.
She continues, "Think about it at least. You know we all have your back...even Rebecca."
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
#9 Rebecca- The Pact
"I propose we make a change to this S.L.U.T attitude" Yasmin states boldly, "Grace, where are your glasses? We're toasting"
At the mention of a drink I jump up and offer to get glasses, after all, I did bring a sparkly Moet in an attempt to cheer up Gracie; not that I want to share it with everyone but I'd do anything to perk up the somber mood of the night, and I'm interested to see where Yasmin is going with this SLUT talk.
I rifle through Grace’s cupboards and salvage 3 different sized glasses and 2 mugs, one clean and one not so clean (Anya can have that one). After everyone has had a glass poured we sit and wait for Yasmin to continue.
I notice that Anya has already downed her glass of super expensive champagne and thrown it to the floor- I bite my lip to stop myself commenting.
“If you don’t mind me asking” I say coolly, “what do we have to toast to?”
Yasmin leaps towards me excitedly, seemingly she has worked herself up to give us an inspirational pep talk.
“To being SINGLE and in CONTROL. We are 5 attractive, intelligent and confident women and listen to us winging and moaning about a few pathetic XY chromosomes- what I propose is that we show the opposite sex who really rule this world”
God, if pitching this idea as a Beyonce song is her plan she best change tactics.
The girls laugh nervously, probably also afraid that Yasmin may burst into song; her eyes look wild and I’ve never seen her quite so animated- except the time she got sent free Isabel Marant boots.
“Don’t laugh” she snaps, “Rebecca- how did you feel when Will dumped you for that rich sloane?”
“Um… not…good?” I answer hesitantly.
“Right.” She continues, “And Eva- Anya- aren’t you sick of being sex dolls to be used at will?”
“I like being used for sex…” Anya mutters, whilst Eva nods dejectedly.
“And Gracie…” she softens her tone, “do you want Ben to regret fucking up the best thing that ever happened to him?”
She nods sadly, “Yeah but that’s not gonna happen; he hasn’t even come over to try and beg for forgiveness. Men dial out emotion like robots. I don’t think they’re born with the ability to care”
Yasmin bounds up again, sloshing that super expensive champagne over herself, “And THAT is why we are going to get our own back. Reverse the roles. Avenge our fellow S.L.U.T sisters. Break some hearts.”
Now we’re all a bit tired, and also a bit tipsy, but I’m not really understanding Yasmin’s wavelength here.
" You sound like Miss. Habbingsham” laughs Anya.
“You mean Miss. Haversham,” Yasmin shrugs off casually, “And I’m glad you paid attention to GCSE English.”
Eva sits up straight, "Yasmin out with it please, what are you suggesting? Because I'm really not into being one of those weird aggressive feminist cock-haters"
"No, but what I'm saying is that we make a pact to never let ourselves lose our heads over a man again. We get our revenge, and we refuse to let our hearts lead our heads. I don't know about you guys, but it seems one person in a relationship is always made the fool, and I sure as hell don't wanna be that shmuck"
Her words slowly formulate a shred a sense in my head. I mean she's still absolutely lost the plot of course but I'll let that slide. We silently soak up her words. Even Anya looks like she's paying attention which is something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.
"It's time for us to be a bit selfish, get ours and that. It's about time we evened out this playing field..."
"I guess I do like the idea of using guys for sex." Anya perks up.
"I wouldn't mind showing Dr. Stewart that he messed with the wrong chica" Eva adds heatedly.
"Yeh," Grace looks nervous about speaking up, "I guess I'd feel better knowing that Ben was torturing himself over me"
I pretend I'm not really listening but I definitely am down with this; William Arnold III you are going to pay for finishing with me 2 months before Christmas. And I mean literally pay; I'm gonna bleed the bastard dry.
At the mention of a drink I jump up and offer to get glasses, after all, I did bring a sparkly Moet in an attempt to cheer up Gracie; not that I want to share it with everyone but I'd do anything to perk up the somber mood of the night, and I'm interested to see where Yasmin is going with this SLUT talk.
I rifle through Grace’s cupboards and salvage 3 different sized glasses and 2 mugs, one clean and one not so clean (Anya can have that one). After everyone has had a glass poured we sit and wait for Yasmin to continue.
I notice that Anya has already downed her glass of super expensive champagne and thrown it to the floor- I bite my lip to stop myself commenting.
“If you don’t mind me asking” I say coolly, “what do we have to toast to?”
Yasmin leaps towards me excitedly, seemingly she has worked herself up to give us an inspirational pep talk.
“To being SINGLE and in CONTROL. We are 5 attractive, intelligent and confident women and listen to us winging and moaning about a few pathetic XY chromosomes- what I propose is that we show the opposite sex who really rule this world”
God, if pitching this idea as a Beyonce song is her plan she best change tactics.
The girls laugh nervously, probably also afraid that Yasmin may burst into song; her eyes look wild and I’ve never seen her quite so animated- except the time she got sent free Isabel Marant boots.
“Don’t laugh” she snaps, “Rebecca- how did you feel when Will dumped you for that rich sloane?”
“Um… not…good?” I answer hesitantly.
“Right.” She continues, “And Eva- Anya- aren’t you sick of being sex dolls to be used at will?”
“I like being used for sex…” Anya mutters, whilst Eva nods dejectedly.
“And Gracie…” she softens her tone, “do you want Ben to regret fucking up the best thing that ever happened to him?”
She nods sadly, “Yeah but that’s not gonna happen; he hasn’t even come over to try and beg for forgiveness. Men dial out emotion like robots. I don’t think they’re born with the ability to care”
Yasmin bounds up again, sloshing that super expensive champagne over herself, “And THAT is why we are going to get our own back. Reverse the roles. Avenge our fellow S.L.U.T sisters. Break some hearts.”
Eva sits up straight, "Yasmin out with it please, what are you suggesting? Because I'm really not into being one of those weird aggressive feminist cock-haters"
"No, but what I'm saying is that we make a pact to never let ourselves lose our heads over a man again. We get our revenge, and we refuse to let our hearts lead our heads. I don't know about you guys, but it seems one person in a relationship is always made the fool, and I sure as hell don't wanna be that shmuck"
Her words slowly formulate a shred a sense in my head. I mean she's still absolutely lost the plot of course but I'll let that slide. We silently soak up her words. Even Anya looks like she's paying attention which is something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.
"It's time for us to be a bit selfish, get ours and that. It's about time we evened out this playing field..."
"I guess I do like the idea of using guys for sex." Anya perks up.
"I wouldn't mind showing Dr. Stewart that he messed with the wrong chica" Eva adds heatedly.
"Yeh," Grace looks nervous about speaking up, "I guess I'd feel better knowing that Ben was torturing himself over me"
I pretend I'm not really listening but I definitely am down with this; William Arnold III you are going to pay for finishing with me 2 months before Christmas. And I mean literally pay; I'm gonna bleed the bastard dry.
#8 Eva- The Pact
I share my story to the attentive girl audience; Grace and Anya sigh sympathetically, Yasmin nods pensively, and well, Rebecca looks plain horrified but that's to be expected. She's probably the most straight-laced girl I've ever met but I honestly love and respect her for it. She kind of reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, except less friendly looking.
"So wait, rewind" she says with a puzzled expression, "Did you meet this older man """dancing"""?"
"Okay, Becca, you don't have to keep referring to stripping with air quotes" I laugh it off, "and no, he's my professor, keep up"
This doesn't comfort her in the slightest. She uncrosses her legs and then crosses them again and smooths down her pencil skirt.
Yasmin cuts in, "Okay Eva, this guy is a Grade 1 jerk. Aside from him breaking the LAW, if you're going to embark on an illicit relationship then the first thing you do is lay down the serious stuff. I can't believe he didn't think you would work out he's an MWC"
Anya, struggling to keep her eyes open, and rubbing her cheek adds "If the sex is good, why does it matter?"
Rebecca scoffs.
I consider this for a moment; the sex is fantastic. But I can't bear liars. If he'd have been straight with me all along I might have been a little less pissed. Since my dad lied to my mum and, in fact, the entire family about his affair for 3 years, I've taken male mistruths rather personally.
Still, I can't help but feel massively duped by Professor Player. His web of lies is pretty much an insult to my intelligence and ego; it scares me that people can deceive others so easily. I think back to one particular night where we lay in post-coital bliss, and I told him about my dad coming back to town and the whole family escapade, and how anxious I was about seeing someone who caused so much grief to me and my family. I nestled my head into Dr. Stewart's chest furrow, that lovely space that all men have between pec and armpit, and he stroked my hair and whispered in the darkness "I could never hurt you Eva"
The thought of this makes me ball up my fists to stop myself crying.
"Fucking hell, this really is the Sad Ladies United Together Society"
Grace laughs between tears and outstretches her arms to beckon me into sofa snuggles. I curl up next to Anya and Grace strokes both of our heads in that same comforting way she always used to at school; the restorer of the calm. She looks over at Rebecca, who is now alone on the sofa opposite, still pressing her skirt down to remove non-existant creases.
"Becca, it's been what like three weeks since you and William, does it get any better?"
Rebecca looks up, almost alarmed to have been brought into the Sad Ladies United Together conversation, "Yes of course it does. All I want to do now is make him regret finishing with me for that fat toff"
She covers her mouth after she angrily blurts this out as if she has revealed some awful secret, and then restores her calm expression, "I mean whatever, it is what it is. There are plenty of other eligible batchelors left in London right? Is Prince Harry single yet?"
I laugh at the sincerity of the comment and turn to Anya who is drifting into a sleepy haze by my side. The bruise is spreading from her cheekbone and her under-eye is turning into a dark purple; I've seen the aftermath of Anya's catfights enough times to be desensitised to any war injuries she has, but something about the mascara streaks and the overnight bag in the hallway doesn't add up.
"How's dickhead An?"
She doesn't open her eyes, and instead shrugs and purs languidly, "Dunno Ev, I haven't fucked him in like two weeks"
The answer is vague enough to be interrogated but assertive enough to leave well enough alone; emotions are so high tonight it would be precarious to press her further. Hey, perhaps we're all getting our periods.
We lay silently soaking up the events of the night, and occasionally one of us offers a "FUCK MEN" type of outburst to which we all nod to, that is until Yasmin stands up abruptly:
"Right. I've had enough of this. Sad Ladies United Together no longer. I will not have my friends turn into pathetic, self-pitying losers"
Grace frowns, "Jeez Yaz, can we not be losers together for just one night?"
"No. We cannot. Now listen to me"
I almost try to offer a protest but I'm exhausted from being so angry all day so I lay back and turn my attention to Yasmin.
"So wait, rewind" she says with a puzzled expression, "Did you meet this older man """dancing"""?"
"Okay, Becca, you don't have to keep referring to stripping with air quotes" I laugh it off, "and no, he's my professor, keep up"
This doesn't comfort her in the slightest. She uncrosses her legs and then crosses them again and smooths down her pencil skirt.
Yasmin cuts in, "Okay Eva, this guy is a Grade 1 jerk. Aside from him breaking the LAW, if you're going to embark on an illicit relationship then the first thing you do is lay down the serious stuff. I can't believe he didn't think you would work out he's an MWC"
Anya, struggling to keep her eyes open, and rubbing her cheek adds "If the sex is good, why does it matter?"
Rebecca scoffs.
I consider this for a moment; the sex is fantastic. But I can't bear liars. If he'd have been straight with me all along I might have been a little less pissed. Since my dad lied to my mum and, in fact, the entire family about his affair for 3 years, I've taken male mistruths rather personally.
Still, I can't help but feel massively duped by Professor Player. His web of lies is pretty much an insult to my intelligence and ego; it scares me that people can deceive others so easily. I think back to one particular night where we lay in post-coital bliss, and I told him about my dad coming back to town and the whole family escapade, and how anxious I was about seeing someone who caused so much grief to me and my family. I nestled my head into Dr. Stewart's chest furrow, that lovely space that all men have between pec and armpit, and he stroked my hair and whispered in the darkness "I could never hurt you Eva"
The thought of this makes me ball up my fists to stop myself crying.
"Fucking hell, this really is the Sad Ladies United Together Society"
Grace laughs between tears and outstretches her arms to beckon me into sofa snuggles. I curl up next to Anya and Grace strokes both of our heads in that same comforting way she always used to at school; the restorer of the calm. She looks over at Rebecca, who is now alone on the sofa opposite, still pressing her skirt down to remove non-existant creases.
"Becca, it's been what like three weeks since you and William, does it get any better?"
Rebecca looks up, almost alarmed to have been brought into the Sad Ladies United Together conversation, "Yes of course it does. All I want to do now is make him regret finishing with me for that fat toff"
She covers her mouth after she angrily blurts this out as if she has revealed some awful secret, and then restores her calm expression, "I mean whatever, it is what it is. There are plenty of other eligible batchelors left in London right? Is Prince Harry single yet?"
I laugh at the sincerity of the comment and turn to Anya who is drifting into a sleepy haze by my side. The bruise is spreading from her cheekbone and her under-eye is turning into a dark purple; I've seen the aftermath of Anya's catfights enough times to be desensitised to any war injuries she has, but something about the mascara streaks and the overnight bag in the hallway doesn't add up.
"How's dickhead An?"
She doesn't open her eyes, and instead shrugs and purs languidly, "Dunno Ev, I haven't fucked him in like two weeks"
The answer is vague enough to be interrogated but assertive enough to leave well enough alone; emotions are so high tonight it would be precarious to press her further. Hey, perhaps we're all getting our periods.
We lay silently soaking up the events of the night, and occasionally one of us offers a "FUCK MEN" type of outburst to which we all nod to, that is until Yasmin stands up abruptly:
"Right. I've had enough of this. Sad Ladies United Together no longer. I will not have my friends turn into pathetic, self-pitying losers"
Grace frowns, "Jeez Yaz, can we not be losers together for just one night?"
"No. We cannot. Now listen to me"
I almost try to offer a protest but I'm exhausted from being so angry all day so I lay back and turn my attention to Yasmin.
Friday, 12 August 2011
#7 Yasmin- The Pact
"Oh he will" I say firmly, so assertively I start to sound a little scary.
Grace wipes her snotty nose on my shoulder; I'm wearing a brand new Acne dress but that's by the by. She looks up at me, Anya looks at me, both sets of eyes pleading with me for some good methodical wisdom, but for once I don't have the answer. Ben was a bit of a knobber but Grace honestly thought she was gonna marry the guy; he was her first longterm relationship and love of her life and I know the standard lines
You can do better
I bet he's kicking himself
are just not gonna cut it tonight. I'll change the subject.
"So I broke up with Stefan tonight and he stalked me all the way to your station."
The girls look at me momentarily to judge how to react and I guess from my nonchalant vibe they gathered I wasn't too broken up, and then they cracked up.
"Oh Yaz, the poor fella, I bet he didn't see that coming at all" Eva laughs.
"Good riddance" Rebecca scoffs, "He wasn't intelligent enough for you anyway"
Anya perks up at the mention of Stefan, "Yaz he was hot, would you mind if I shagged him?"
I laugh; genuinely. I don't think I would even care if he had a gangbang with the four of them in front of me, what I do feel is a weight lifted and I'm not sure why. He was certainly a good boyfriend, if a little intense; he doted on me with gifts, we had great sex and even though I have more testosterone than him we had a perfectly enjoyable year together.
Grace perks up a little with this news, "God. This has been a bit of a shit day for us hey"
Rebecca kicks off her heels and lounges back in the chair, "Um. Welcome to the club bitches. I was dumped 2 weeks ago and being single isn't exactly a rave, whatever Beyonce may claim."
Anya giggles lazily, "Well maybe you need to get laid more"
Rebecca shoots her a look and purses her lips, debating a response but deciding to instead recline back and bite her tongue.
I've yet to fully understand the beef between these two to the full extent. Anya, Eva and Grace have known each other since first school and I think when Rebecca and I came on to the scene there has been a battle between her and Anya for Grace's full affection. As I was the last of the girl crew on the scene I only witness the cold exchanges and occasional catfight between the two of them, but Eva tells me they used to get on well a few years back and that the animosity between them seemed to arrive out of nowhere. Strange, but not worth dwelling on as it's not too often the five of us are together at the same time.
Grace and I see each other daily thanks to our shared workplace at Chic; it's rare to see Eva as she's either working on her dissertation or, ahem, stripping; until two weeks ago Rebecca spent every waking moment with that creep ex of hers, and Anya, well only the Lord himself can predict her schedule.
"It's nice, us all being together again I mean" says Eva, "It's been like...months"
"I'm sorry it had to take adultery for me to pick up the phone and get us together again" Grace says wistfully.
"Well, while we're sharing, my day has been pretty terrible too" adds Eva, draping herself over the sofa arm and dangling her long, shiny black hair over it.
Grace wipes her snotty nose on my shoulder; I'm wearing a brand new Acne dress but that's by the by. She looks up at me, Anya looks at me, both sets of eyes pleading with me for some good methodical wisdom, but for once I don't have the answer. Ben was a bit of a knobber but Grace honestly thought she was gonna marry the guy; he was her first longterm relationship and love of her life and I know the standard lines
You can do better
I bet he's kicking himself
are just not gonna cut it tonight. I'll change the subject.
"So I broke up with Stefan tonight and he stalked me all the way to your station."
The girls look at me momentarily to judge how to react and I guess from my nonchalant vibe they gathered I wasn't too broken up, and then they cracked up.
"Oh Yaz, the poor fella, I bet he didn't see that coming at all" Eva laughs.
"Good riddance" Rebecca scoffs, "He wasn't intelligent enough for you anyway"
Anya perks up at the mention of Stefan, "Yaz he was hot, would you mind if I shagged him?"
I laugh; genuinely. I don't think I would even care if he had a gangbang with the four of them in front of me, what I do feel is a weight lifted and I'm not sure why. He was certainly a good boyfriend, if a little intense; he doted on me with gifts, we had great sex and even though I have more testosterone than him we had a perfectly enjoyable year together.
Grace perks up a little with this news, "God. This has been a bit of a shit day for us hey"
Rebecca kicks off her heels and lounges back in the chair, "Um. Welcome to the club bitches. I was dumped 2 weeks ago and being single isn't exactly a rave, whatever Beyonce may claim."
Anya giggles lazily, "Well maybe you need to get laid more"
Rebecca shoots her a look and purses her lips, debating a response but deciding to instead recline back and bite her tongue.
I've yet to fully understand the beef between these two to the full extent. Anya, Eva and Grace have known each other since first school and I think when Rebecca and I came on to the scene there has been a battle between her and Anya for Grace's full affection. As I was the last of the girl crew on the scene I only witness the cold exchanges and occasional catfight between the two of them, but Eva tells me they used to get on well a few years back and that the animosity between them seemed to arrive out of nowhere. Strange, but not worth dwelling on as it's not too often the five of us are together at the same time.
Grace and I see each other daily thanks to our shared workplace at Chic; it's rare to see Eva as she's either working on her dissertation or, ahem, stripping; until two weeks ago Rebecca spent every waking moment with that creep ex of hers, and Anya, well only the Lord himself can predict her schedule.
"It's nice, us all being together again I mean" says Eva, "It's been like...months"
"I'm sorry it had to take adultery for me to pick up the phone and get us together again" Grace says wistfully.
"Well, while we're sharing, my day has been pretty terrible too" adds Eva, draping herself over the sofa arm and dangling her long, shiny black hair over it.
#6 Grace- The Pact
So no sooner than Rebecca had uttered that last sentence, comes a gigantic CRASH and my front door collapsing to the floor, along with some stray plastering.
Through what was once my door and is now a hole in a wall came a flurry of limbs and blonde hair in the form of Anya.
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU HUH? COME OUT YOU LITTLE MAGGOT, IM GONNA KNOCK YOU INTO NEXT YEAR. NO ONE CHEATS ON MY BEST FRIEND AND-"
"Anya!" I say patiently, watching her fly past us into my bedroom.
"HIDING ARE WE? THAT'S OK, MAKES IT MORE FUN FOR WHEN I FIND YOU AND POUND YOU"
"Anya." She storms into the kitchen and throws a wine glass against my wall.
"I'M GETTING PISSED OFF NOW BENNY WENNY, COME OUT HERE-"
"ANYA"
"What." She looks at me, gasping for breath, having clearly just sprinted the speed of a cheeter up 13 floors of stairs.
"He's not here."
She pauses, breathing heavily, and looks at the four of us sat sheepishly on my sofas. Rebecca tuts knowingly, and the others stare, mouths to their vaginas.
"Anya... " Eva says in a bewildered tone, "I think you just broke down Grace's door"
Rebecca scoffs, "Good effort, even for you"
Anya ignores this and having regained her breath walks slowly over to me and kneels on the floor in front of me. Her eyes are bloodshot so she's clearly wasted, or tripping out (I never can tell what she's on these days) and I notice the slight formation of a blueish bruise spreading slowly across her right cheekbone to her under-eye. She puts her hands on my knees, and resting her body weight on me she looks up.
"Gracie, I'm so sorry. I'll pay for it. I was just so mad at that little weasel", she's slurring, "I, you know, you're just, my best fffriend and I won't let anyone do that to you because you're my best friend you know"
I cut her off, "Anya it's fine", and it really is, that door was long needing replacement anyway, "what the fuck happened to you? Where have you been? And why have you got a black eye?"
The girls crane round to check this out.
"Shit Anya! Did you fight someone again?" Eva asks her, rushing over and wiping her booze-soaked hair out of her face so she can look at the bruise.
"I'll get ice" Yasmin walks off, rational as ever.
Rebecca remains seated and uninterested, "She probably lamped a barman again".
Anya glares at her, "Hey. See what I did to that door bitch?" She starts to get up but I tug her back down and grab her hands. Yasmin brings over the pack of Birds Eye peas and tries to press it against Anya who flinches and pushes her away
"Look thanks but I'm fine," she gets up and sits close to me on the sofa, her breath reeks of gin and I notice that her cheeks are also stained with mascara, matching mine, "That bitch at Lenny's threw a beer glass at me, got my face didn't she. Cunt"
Rebecca shudders at the c-word.
"Anyway," she ruffles her stringy dirty blonde hair and grabs my hand again, "Gracie, I'm so sorry about Ben, are you okay?" she asks with a frankness that I recognise instantly in her and have done since we were 11 years old.
"It sucks," I could feel fresh tears coming back (it's AMAZING how much you can cry in a day), "I hate him and I'm never leaving the flat again"
Anya throws her arms around me in a bear hug and then settles into laying her head in my lap and cradling my leg. Yasmin sits on my other side and says firmly, "Look, she may be smashed but she's right, the jerkoff can't get away with that"
Rebecca looks bored, "Well beating him senseless isn't the answer"
I feel a heavy, fresh wave of sorrow through me again, and my heart starts to ache with every beat; the thought of physically hurting him pleases and then distresses me simultaneously. I use the little energy left in my body to sigh and rest my head on Yasmin.
"I just want him to feel what I'm feeling right now."
Through what was once my door and is now a hole in a wall came a flurry of limbs and blonde hair in the form of Anya.
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU HUH? COME OUT YOU LITTLE MAGGOT, IM GONNA KNOCK YOU INTO NEXT YEAR. NO ONE CHEATS ON MY BEST FRIEND AND-"
"Anya!" I say patiently, watching her fly past us into my bedroom.
"HIDING ARE WE? THAT'S OK, MAKES IT MORE FUN FOR WHEN I FIND YOU AND POUND YOU"
"Anya." She storms into the kitchen and throws a wine glass against my wall.
"I'M GETTING PISSED OFF NOW BENNY WENNY, COME OUT HERE-"
"ANYA"
"What." She looks at me, gasping for breath, having clearly just sprinted the speed of a cheeter up 13 floors of stairs.
"He's not here."
She pauses, breathing heavily, and looks at the four of us sat sheepishly on my sofas. Rebecca tuts knowingly, and the others stare, mouths to their vaginas.
"Anya... " Eva says in a bewildered tone, "I think you just broke down Grace's door"
Rebecca scoffs, "Good effort, even for you"
Anya ignores this and having regained her breath walks slowly over to me and kneels on the floor in front of me. Her eyes are bloodshot so she's clearly wasted, or tripping out (I never can tell what she's on these days) and I notice the slight formation of a blueish bruise spreading slowly across her right cheekbone to her under-eye. She puts her hands on my knees, and resting her body weight on me she looks up.
"Gracie, I'm so sorry. I'll pay for it. I was just so mad at that little weasel", she's slurring, "I, you know, you're just, my best fffriend and I won't let anyone do that to you because you're my best friend you know"
I cut her off, "Anya it's fine", and it really is, that door was long needing replacement anyway, "what the fuck happened to you? Where have you been? And why have you got a black eye?"
The girls crane round to check this out.
"Shit Anya! Did you fight someone again?" Eva asks her, rushing over and wiping her booze-soaked hair out of her face so she can look at the bruise.
"I'll get ice" Yasmin walks off, rational as ever.
Rebecca remains seated and uninterested, "She probably lamped a barman again".
Anya glares at her, "Hey. See what I did to that door bitch?" She starts to get up but I tug her back down and grab her hands. Yasmin brings over the pack of Birds Eye peas and tries to press it against Anya who flinches and pushes her away
"Look thanks but I'm fine," she gets up and sits close to me on the sofa, her breath reeks of gin and I notice that her cheeks are also stained with mascara, matching mine, "That bitch at Lenny's threw a beer glass at me, got my face didn't she. Cunt"
Rebecca shudders at the c-word.
"Anyway," she ruffles her stringy dirty blonde hair and grabs my hand again, "Gracie, I'm so sorry about Ben, are you okay?" she asks with a frankness that I recognise instantly in her and have done since we were 11 years old.
"It sucks," I could feel fresh tears coming back (it's AMAZING how much you can cry in a day), "I hate him and I'm never leaving the flat again"
Anya throws her arms around me in a bear hug and then settles into laying her head in my lap and cradling my leg. Yasmin sits on my other side and says firmly, "Look, she may be smashed but she's right, the jerkoff can't get away with that"
Rebecca looks bored, "Well beating him senseless isn't the answer"
I feel a heavy, fresh wave of sorrow through me again, and my heart starts to ache with every beat; the thought of physically hurting him pleases and then distresses me simultaneously. I use the little energy left in my body to sigh and rest my head on Yasmin.
"I just want him to feel what I'm feeling right now."
#5 Anya
Can't walk straight.
Eye swollen and tears streaming.
Stumbled into a young couple and scared the girl. I think she thinks I'm a beggar or an addict or something.
I don't recognise where the fuck I am but I must be near Grace's as the taxi driver took me here and only chucked me out early as he clocked that I have no cash.
STOP CRYING.
I smack myself round the face to liven myself up a bit. My brain is a merry-go-round fueled by gin, and more gin, and maybe tequila, and not cocaine for once.
I fucking hate him for ever making me do drugs. It made my heart palpitations so much worse, and I know my brother Joe hated me a bit more every time he saw me on it. And Gracie for that matter; I hate it when I let people down.
So I made a pact and tried to get clean tonight and get rid of him.
Harley Hunter.
Harley fucking Hunter.
Met him at 20, he was a drummer and his band used to play at Lenny's - my occasional choice of workplace. I felt him staring at me throughout his first set there, and I couldn't possibly count how many glasses I dropped that night under the pressure of his gaze; I was possessed. His head was lowered so his messy hair covered his eyes, but whenever he'd get really into the drumming his hair would swish back and his eyes would be fixated on mine, imploring me to look back; he was the nearest thing to Kurt Cobain I've ever and probably will ever see.
Too bad he's insane.
The first year was a whirlwind of sex and weed and more sex and I couldn't bear to leave his bed and so he told me I didn't need to and we moved in together. That's about when shit got real.
It started when I would come back from Lenny's late and he would ask where I'd been and if I was shagging Danny, my manager, and I'd tell him fuck off Harley you know he's gay but secretly wished I had been out shagging Danny because he's gorgeous and then Harley would sulk and start drumming furiously on the coffee table with the remote control and once I tried to grab it off him to stop it because you'll fucking break it and that was the first time he hit me.
Sharp and short backhand to the cheek.
He cried and promised it would never happen again and can we just have a spliff and forget it? so I would and he would and we would go to bed and it would be okay again for a few weeks. But like all sadists, he got a hit out of hitting and it became more frequent.
It would never be more than one blow to the face or body, or one push- enough to temporarily wind me but never more- so it was always easy to lie and hide it from people, not that I ever see people in the day time anyway but that's not the point.
The girls hated him anyway; Grace in particular. I don't blame them. He was rude; he would grunt answers to questions they asked him, and if he wasn't falling asleep he would be trying to kiss my neck whilst I was talking to them and I'd bat him off me and that would make him throw me a round a little bit later on. Not that I should be so lighthearted about physical abuse, but it never really hurt that much, and the initial shock went away after it became more frequent, and I'm not a masochist or anything but I figured if it didn't hurt that much I should just deal with it and let him hate himself a bit more every time.
Why didn't I just leave him then? Well that's easy. I was obsessed with him. I get obsessed with everyone. That's probably why I haven't had a serious functional relationship; I get bored after one shag if there's no passion, and if there is, well then it ignites something inside me that turns me a little bit insane, far too intense to have a proper relationship but just enough to keep me hanging on until it burns out.
With Harley it didn't burn out until last week; I can't pinpoint how or why but it just did. I woke up one morning after too much coke with his arms wrapped round my waist tightly, so securely that I didn't have a chance of squirming out, and so I just lay there for hours planning on how I was going to finally leave him.
And that leads us to tonight; one swollen cheek, the formation of a black eye and a broken rib later.
I had packed all my stuff, ie. a guns n roses t-shirt and a toothbrush, and left a letter on the bed (god knows I wasn't gonna dump his crazy ass in person). I had just got a text from Gracie asking me to stay over after finding her cunt of a boyfriend in bed with another girl, and I felt inspired to get out of this cesspit of a relationship once and for all. I told her I was coming over IMMEDIATELY and considered the best way to impart physical pain upon that douchebag Ben, who I'm almost certain touched me up at Grace's 23rd, and decided upon a fist to the testicular region; something I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing yet but that I'm sure would induce girl tears. Anyway, so I pour myself a few g&ts for dutch courage, as breaking up with a womanbeater and planning a man-beating all in one night is a little too much for sober Anya to handle.
So I'm knocking back my 4th when the door swings open and Harley stumbles in, out of his mind on ket or some other dirty drug I'm too scared to try, and he knows something is wrong straight up when he sees my overnight bag. I tense up a bit, I'm drunk but I'm ready for what's to come, and you know what, come and get me.
He walks towards me menacingly
Where the fuck are you going?
I answer stoicly, Grace's- I'm not coming back by the way.
He tries to hug me and cries into my shoulder, and mutters my name and tells me I'm all he lives for, and if I wasn't used to two years of this I'd probably cry too but I push him off me and make for the door. Needless to say that didn't go down to plan.
So here I am now, and I'm definitely lost on Grace's street that I've been to 200 hundred times, but I had to buy another bottle before I got here to calm my nerves. I've had worse injuries but this time I actually fought back, and it scared him. I caught his temple with my ring and drew blood and he let his grip on me loosen in shock and that's when I bolted through the door, and down the stairs, and across roads I'd never seen- even though I knew he wouldn't be following me.
And after begging a taxi to take me across London I think I may be outside Grace's door.
Fucking hell, if that bitch Becca is there already I might have to throw myself down Grace's 13 floors of stairs.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
#4 Rebecca
God I fucking hate the sodding, stinking Tube.
You're thrust into an armpit and some cheeky teenager always manages to be standing crotch to my ass with no viable way of dodging to that one free seat in the middle of the carriage, and not to mention the awkwardness of accidentally catching someone's eye and then quickly looking down to recover but you're actually now staring at their crotch-
Never again.
I only hopped on because I couldn't call Addison Lee quick enough to get to Grace's apartment, and I completely underestimated the time it takes to get to her grotty crack den of a flat, and that 15 minute walk in the pitch black, and in high heels. Fuck it. Money may be tight, but I'm getting a cab from the station to hers.
Ohw I just WISH I was rich. There were the cutest leopard ponyskin heels in the window of KG I walked past earlier, and I just know I'd be less devastated about William breaking up with me for that god awful sloany redhead from Bristol, Clemmie something or other, if I had them on and around my feet. I had a revelation today, two weeks after furiously beating myself up asking why he ended such a perfect relationship with such great potential; I know its because Clemmie has a signet ring and I don't.
That's why he's taking her to his family's ski chalet in Chamonix, because she is rich and has a triple-barrelled surname, along with a definite distant relation to the Royal Family.
I'm not jealous though. Not at all. Sure, she might be loaded and posh, but does she have ambition, intelligence, grace and poise all wrapped up in a sexy size 8 frame?
Well, she's definitely got love-handles so that rules out the last one.
I'm not returning the necklace he bought me though, nu uh no way no how. If that cheeky swine thinks he can break up with Rebecca Spencer-Mills and get away with it he has another thing coming to him.
Oh fuck I've walked past Grace's house. Sorry I didn't mean house. I meant jazzed-up dungeon.
Double fuck, the """lift""" doesn't work. And I don't wear flats.
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I guess they heard my sighs of exhaustion from the bottom floor as Eva, Yaz and Grace are standing in the doorway before I even have a chance to knock. I make a shoddy job of hiding how shocked I am at the state of Grace.
"I know I know.. I look like death"
I shake my head overenthusiastically and stretch my mouth into the best forced smile I can muster.
"Hun you look fiiiine!"
It sounds kinda weird and high-pitched when I say it and I'm clearly not fooling anyone.
"I forgot you still had those pyjamas" I say, still force-smiling. She should really burn those pjs, in fact, if I can get her dressed normally ever again I'll burn them.
"Oh these?... Well get used to them because I'm not changing ever again. What's the point of dressing up, I have no one to look nice for"
I gasp silently. This is worse than I thought
"Nonsense silly. Now come on, let's sit down and make a list of reasons why you're far better off without that swine" I lead her by the arm on to her gross mouldy grey sofa, "Hi girls how are we?" I ask smiling.
I've known the girls for about 3 years now but it doesn't make it any easier integrating into the wolfpack. I still feel I have to make up for not having been a childhood friend or a work buddy, especially when it comes with Anya sodding Lusher.
Grace won't see that that girl is just trouble, and she always will be; bailing her out every other day whether it be money loans, a bed for the night or just making sure she's got her bloody knickers on. And wasn't her dad a famous rock star in the 70s or something? How does she not have money? Probably blew it on cocaine or something.
Okay. That was catty of me; my therapist told me to concentrate negative thoughts towards positive ones.
Ugh, I just can't. All I can think about is how she almost broke William and I up at graduation, and that I cannot forgive.
"So... is it just the four of us then?" I ask optimistically.
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