Me. Her. Him - Chapter 41

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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New Year's Eve 1999 

By three o’clock in the afternoon, on New Year’s Eve, I’m standing in our porch welcoming friends. I told them to come early. I spot my friend Adam, who was on my course at uni, sauntering down the stairs to our flat, his dark Ted Baker coat hugging him tight.

‘Ah mistletoe.’ Adam steps closer to me glancing up the bunch hanging from the top of the door; Hayley insisted we keep it up for today. He holds his arms out. I feel his breath on my cheek.

‘Not today, Adam, and not ever.’ I laugh, pushing him back.

‘Ah, you’re just being a spoilt sport,’ he says. ‘I bought new after shave and everything thinking I might get a kiss.’

‘I’m serious, go on, we’ve got your favourite, Peroni, go on beer’s calling you.’

He slips into the house towards everyone else in the living room. I reckon there must be about twenty people here by now; we’re not going to have space for everyone if more people turn up. I’m just glad that Michelle decided to go back to her parent’s for New Year’s at the last minute; she’d be having a fit right now if she was here.

‘That’s about everyone, isn’t it?’ Lauren appears behind me.

‘Yeah think so, guess who I just had a near miss with thanks to Hayley’s mistletoe?’

Lauren pulls a face. ‘Oh God, not Adam. He just tried it on with me as well. Can you imagine Michelle’s reaction if she was here?’

‘I know. Remind me again why we invited him?’

‘We didn’t want anyone to feel left out, remember,’ Lauren reminds me. ‘And anyway, as much as he can be annoying, he is a good laugh. Come on, you look like you need a drink. There’s a bottle of Pinot open.’

I close the front door, satisfied everyone’s here and hurry after Lauren. Caz wraps her arm around me and prematurely bursts into a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, which makes me laugh, I push her away. Caz isn’t the best singer in the world, and she’s even worse when she’s had a few to drink. It’s clear she’s already had a few drinks.

‘Do you know what, this has been the best year, you know,’ she says and hiccups. ‘Having you guys in my life has been the best thing.’  

She hurries off to the kitchen to get herself a drink. Everyone else seems to think she’s a bit mad. They’re all gazing after her like they’re trying to work out who she is. Lauren pushes a glass of Pinot into my hand and we clink glasses.

‘Cheers,’ we both say in unison.

I spot William chatting to one of the guys we knew at university. I look away, picturing his lip twitching. I’ve seen him shake hands with a few people, while he’s been here, it’s almost like he already knows them. Perhaps he does. A nervous thought enters my mind that he’s trying to drum up some more business. Despite what Caz has told me about him, I’ve never seen him deal drugs with anyone.

William saunters over to me, once he’s finished chatting. He’s holding a half empty bottle of Peroni in one hand. Heat rushes into my cheeks. How can he come over to me now with Caz standing just a few feet away? My eyes find her. She’s deep in conversation with a girl I knew at university, who’s looking like she’s eager to get out of her way.

The last conversation William and I had on Halloween burns in my mind, making me relive the moment we shared over and over again.

‘Where’s the lovely Michelle this evening then?’ he asks.

I take a step back a little. He seems to have put on far more aftershave than usual. I’m trying to work out if he’s drunk or not, but I’m sure he’s only had a couple.

‘She’s away at her parents,’ I say.

I’m sure I mentioned that to Caz the other day. She would’ve told him, surely.

‘Oh good, I keep expecting her to come waltzing through the door and spoil the fun.’ He grins, and places his hand on my waist.

‘William.’ I keep one eye on Caz, but she’s too deep in a conversation with Lauren and Hayley to realise what’s going on. ‘Last time we spoke you told me that your relationship with Caz was on the rocks. But I see no evidence of that at the moment. In fact, she seems more loved up with you than ever.’

He glares at me. ‘I am trying to sort things out between us, but, it’s difficult at the moment. But do you seriously want to be with me, Angela? I’m not interested in a romantic relationship, but if you want to have a quick fling, I’m more than up for that. In fact, we could nip into your bedroom now. No one will notice.’

He’s grinning at me, and then he leans in to kiss me on my neck. I push him back. I open my mouth to say something but close it, disgust building inside me.

I don’t want a quick one night stand. I want a relationship. I wonder how many girls’ he’s slept with while he’s been with Caz. If he’s like that now, will he change? I can’t believe I allowed him to kiss me now; the thought makes me want to throw up. I hadn’t thought this through. Michelle was right. I should’ve listened to her.

‘Fuck off, William,’ I say, and make my way over to where Caz, Hayley and Lauren are. The back of my neck feels as though it’s on fire.

Before I have a chance to get further away from him, William grabs my arm.

‘No one speaks to me like that,’ he says, pulling me back towards him. It’s like he’s making a move to dance with me. That’s all everyone else will see it as.

‘Fuck off out of here, now,’ I say, my spit landing on his cheek, before I loosen my arm free from his grip.

I march back towards Hayley and Lauren. I’m aware he’s still standing behind me, watching.

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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