September 1992

I pull Michelle along with me, along the corridor and down the flight of steps at the end, brushing past a couple of girl’s making their way up.

‘So, Michelle, where d’you come from?’ I ask.

Michelle pushes her glasses up her nose. ‘Um, from Devon, originally, so not too far from here, my family move about quite a bit, so I’ve . . . I’ve never really settled in one place before.’

I stare at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘Oh really, that’s fascinating.’ We breeze out into the bright September sunshine. Ahead of me I spot a guy lifting a suitcase out of a blue Volkswagen. He looks kinda cute; he’s with his parents though, rats. His Mum’s got her hands on her hips as she gazes up at the university, a big smile on her face, like she’s the proudest Mum in the world. ‘So, why did you move about a lot?’

We slow down as we reach the college green, the smell of freshly mowed grass hitting me in the face. This is where everyone seems to be mingling. A couple of girl’s hug each other ahead of me, excited grins on their faces.

‘Well . . . Dad works in the army, so it’s to do with his job,’ she says.

‘Wow, the army, bet he’s led an interesting life. Ah, there’s Hayley and Lauren, c’mon.’

My friends have got themselves two ice creams; I’d spotted the ice cream truck outside the gate when I’d driven in earlier. There’s no way I wanted my parents driving me here, I knew Mum wouldn’t want to leave if she did.

‘Hayley, Lauren,’ I call out, waving. I knock into a girl and mouth an apology as I hurry over to them. Lauren and Hayley are both staring at me, their eyes flick across to each other then back at me. God, I hope this isn’t going to be awkward. ‘This is Michelle; I literally just bumped into her coming out of my room.’

Michelle steps forward. ‘Hi, oh, I love your dress, Hayley.’

Hayley looks at the green dress she’s wearing. ‘Oh, this old thing, I’ve had it years, was thinking of giving it away actually.’

Michelle takes a step back. I fix Hayley with a fierce stare.

‘Anyway, look, Michelle, we’re going to have a look around and see what clubs there are to join, then we’re gonna go to the pub, want to join?’ I ask.        

She shifts back slightly. God, I could kick Hayley for the way she spoke to her just now. There’s no way she’s going to want to hang around with us now.

Michelle nods. ‘OK, yeah, sure.’

I link arm with her again. ‘Oh, you’ll have to drop your books back in your room when we go out,’ I say.

Hayley and Lauren linger behind a little before following us towards the main university building. I hear Hayley murmur something to Lauren that makes my skin bristle.

‘Another one of Angela’s projects.’

I resist the urge to spin round and tell her to take it back. At least Michelle won’t have understood what she meant like that, but I know Hayley was referring to Michelle and what I was like at school, always taking someone on under my wing.

I smile at Michelle and for the first time since I bumped into her, she smiles at me. Perhaps this might turn into something more meaningful. Perhaps I might make Michelle my new best friend just to annoy Hayley.

*****************

Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend