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.

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

November 1999

I pull the book down from the shelf that’s caught my eye and flick it over to read the blurb. It’s a thriller. I don’t read a lot of thrillers, fantasy is my bag, but the odd thriller surprises me, every now and again.

‘Found anything exciting?’

Michelle’s peering over my shoulders. Her breath is warm on my neck.

‘Not sure,’ I reply, reading the blurb over again, trying to picture the scenes of the story unfolding in my mind.

‘I’m not sure if that particular book’s my cup of tea,’ Michelle says.

I place it back on the shelf. ‘I’m trying to think of something to give to Caz. Don’t worry; I’ve already got your present sorted.’

‘Does Caz even read?’ Michelle asks, raising an eyebrow. It’s not quite said in a jokey way.

‘I’m not too sure, she’s never said. But you know what I’m like; I’m always giving books to people for Christmas. You loved the last book I got you, didn’t you, but I just struggle with everyone else.’

‘Yes, but you know my tastes. Lauren’s still not got round to reading the book you got her for Christmas last year. You’re wasting your time,’ Michelle says, her eyes drifting around the shop. ‘Look, you’ve always got me to talk to about books. The others will continue to frustrate you if you keep trying to get them into reading.’

‘I know, I know,’ I say. ‘But sometimes I wish they would at least try to be interested.’

It drove me mad at school when I couldn’t get Lauren and Hayley interested in reading. At the time I felt that they should like everything I liked.

‘Well, you know Lauren’s into politics, like me, so perhaps a political memoir might suit her, if you’re still intent on getting her a book. And for Hayley, let’s think, I would suggest anything with the Spice Girls on it. But definitely not another Posh Spice costume. I think I’m going to remember that for the rest of my life, it’s making me feel queasy just thinking about it.’

I grin, thinking back to Hayley’s costume last week. She ended up being sick down it in the cab ride back home.

‘God, she turned a lot of heads on the dance floor, didn’t she, wearing that outfit?’ Michelle doesn’t say anything. She picks a book off the shelf herself and scans the blurb. But something tells me her focus isn’t entirely on the words printed on the back cover. ‘Come on then, what’s on your mind? Put me out of my misery.’

I wait for a few moments as Michelle finishes reading the blurb. She places the book back on the shelf once she’s finished.

‘You disappeared for a good half an hour while we were there,’ she says, lowering her voice.

I look over my shoulder. The nearest person is several feet away, their own attention focused on a book they’re holding.

‘I went outside to have a cigarette,’ I say, sweat pooling under my arms.

I thought I’d gotten away with what happened on Halloween, between me and William. Of course Michelle had to be the one to notice something. Every time I seem to go off on my own somewhere, she seems to follow me, to check up on what I’m doing. I know she’s only looking out for me, but it’s a bit creepy.

‘You didn’t ask Caz then, if she fancied one as well?’ Michelle asks.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I should’ve thought of something else.

‘I couldn’t find her. You know how many people that were there that night. It was impossible to keep tracks on everyone as we were all in costume.’

‘Yes,’ Michelle says. ‘Although, when you did come back, I noticed you had white make up on your cheek. I chose not to say anything then because I didn’t want to cause an argument. Everyone else, apart from me, was too drunk to notice.’

She knows I left with William. I’d been stupid. I should have checked myself in a mirror before I went back onto the dance floor.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ I say. I look away from Michelle.

‘Angela, these people, Caz and William . . .  look, I’ve sort of become friendly with Caz over recent months like everyone else, I’ll admit that, but there’s something I don’t like about him. I can’t really give Caz advice, but I can warn you. I don’t like him one bit, Angela. Whatever it is you’ve got going on with him, you’re making a mistake and you need to put an end to it.’

‘Why do you care so much though?’ I ask. ‘We’re young, we’re in our twenties. I want to enjoy these next few years as much as I can. Before too long we’ll be thirty.’

‘So you want to spend the next few years sleeping around with your friends boyfriends then for fun, is that it?’

I glare at Michelle.

‘I’m not sleeping with William. When he . . . alright yes, he kissed me on Halloween, but it was just a spur of the moment thing. He . . . he told me things have been on the rocks between him and Caz for a while. If they do no longer want to be together, then I . . . I don’t know. I might consider going out with William, if they do split up.’

‘Of course that’s your decision, if that’s what you want to do,’ Michelle says. Her voice has darkened, and it makes me want to look away, focus on anything else. I don’t want to hear what she has to say. ‘But I’m warning you now, if you do start seeing him, then I’m going to tell my dad we’ve had a enough of staying in London and that he should put the house on the market. This was only going to be temporary after all. Just think about that, Angela. Do you want to give what we’ve got here up for William?’

I open my mouth to speak, but then I close it again. I know whatever I say won’t be enough to convince Michelle nothing’s going on. There’s no point in arguing with her, it’ll only make things worse.

My heart’s racing. It seems Michele’s given me an ultimatum, either I choose William or her. I can’t have both.

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

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