Me. Her. Him - Chapter 26

Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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September 1998

‘What did you think about Caz?’ I ask Hayley, crossing and uncrossing my legs. I can’t get bloody comfortable in this seat.

The conversation I had with Michelle, during my lunch break, has been floating around inside my head, making me re-examine Saturday evening over and over again. I’ve been trying to look for any signs in my memory that might prove Michelle was right about Caz. What if Caz had been watching us all evening? Why would she do that? I’m sure Michelle’s only saying that because she’s jealous, but even so, I can’t help it niggling away at me.

We’re sitting outside in the courtyard, the smouldering remains of my cigarette lying crumpled in the ash tray on the small iron table in front of us, looking like road kill. Why didn’t I bring my jacket out with me? I knew how cold it was when I walked back from work earlier.

Hayley’s checking her appearance in her travel mirror. She used to always have it on her when we were at school. She even had it confiscated in English once. The teacher gave her a lecture on being vain, which made the whole class erupt in laughter. Even I had to try my best not to laugh at the time. I had to console Hayley during break after she burst into tears. To this day we can’t talk about it without her cheeks burning red. Now she only gets her mirror out when she’s with us, and never, ever out in public.

She opens her eyes big and wide and pouts her lips, before snapping the mirror shut and placing it on the table.

‘Caz, she was great,’ she says picking up her mug of tea. ‘We had a right laugh on the dance floor, didn’t we? Especially when she spilled her drink. Why are you asking?’

I shift in my seat, looking over my shoulder, and into the kitchen, to make sure the patio doors are closed, before turning back around. There’s no way I’m staying out here much longer. I keep thinking about my warm bed and getting snuggled in under the duvet with a book. There’s a couple Michelle’s been banging on at me to read, and I keep meaning to get round to them.

‘Michelle doesn’t like her,’ I say, wrapping my arms tight around my body.

Hayley rolls her eyes and puffs out her cheeks. ‘Well, Michelle doesn’t like anyone new really, does she? In fact, come to think of it, the only person she seems to really like, is you, it’s clear to see you’re her best friend. She wouldn’t give a damn if me and Lauren upped and left, in fact I think she’d be pleased. She could have you all to herself then.’

‘That’s not true,’ I say, feeling as though someone’s stuck a pin in my back.

Hayley leans back, balancing her chair on its back legs. ‘Do you remember that first day at uni, when you introduced us to her? She had a face on her like someone had told her a bad joke when she examined us. She’s always preferred it when the two of you are on your own.’

I do remember the first day I bumped into Michelle, and when I introduced her to Hayley and Lauren. They both pulled me aside, and made some remarks about her that made me so angry, I wanted to slap them. I persuaded them both to give her a chance. Eventually the three of them did become sort of friends . . . I guess. But if Michelle wasn’t happy hanging out with them, I’m sure she would’ve abandoned us a long time ago. I do sometimes see Lauren and Michelle deep in conversation. They both have an interest in politics, and Michelle comes alive during those conversations. Michelle and Hayley don’t share much in common at all, there’s no way Michelle’s ever going to be into the Spice Girls like Hayley is.

‘Yes, but that was because she didn’t know you back then. You’ve got to remember, we’re staying here out of the generosity of her parents. If she didn’t like you, then she wouldn’t have bothered asking you guys to stay as well.’

‘I do know that, I do, but I just . . .’

She mutters something under her breath.

‘What?’ I say.

‘Nothing.’ She shakes her head and starts rummaging around in her purse.

‘No, if you’ve got something to say, I want to hear it.’

She fixes me with a steely glare. The top of my nose itches.  

It takes a long time for Hayley to respond to me, or that’s what it feels like. ‘I just sometimes wish you never bumped into Michelle that day. I’m going back inside.’

I stare after her. She makes her way through the patio doors, and into the living room beyond. Hayley’s never spoken to me like that before and it stings.

My eyes fall on Michelle, sitting on the sofa with a book open on her knee. I swallow hard. How can Hayley say that about Michelle, when she wanted to live with us here in the first place? It’s not like we forced her into the decision. She was enthusiastic about the idea, especially at the thought of not having to go back home to her younger brothers who drove her mad. Did she just think it would be a cool place to crash for a few months, while she decided what to do next?

The day Michelle first suggested we live in London filters through into my mind. We’d bought a couple of ice creams, and spent the afternoon languishing in the sun on the college green. I’d been the one to say that Lauren and Hayley should stay with us too, but she didn’t show any sign of disappointment to me then, at least . . . I don’t think she did. She agreed with me. I roll my shoulders back. Perhaps I hadn’t been paying too much attention to her reaction. Perhaps she’d thought it would be a good idea for just the two of us to share the place. After all, it does only have two bedrooms. We had to get extra beds when Hayley and Lauren said they wanted to stay as well.

It would’ve been nice just me and Michelle here, but having Lauren and Hayley with us, has made it extra special, and I’m sure Michelle sees it that way as well. I’m sure she wouldn’t want them to go now.

I get up from my seat. Hayley might be feeling a little homesick, maybe that’s why she snapped at me like that. But she never got homesick while we were at uni. I stroll back to the house and relish in the warmth that seeps into me when I step inside.

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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