One Foot Onto the Ice

by Kiki Archer

  “That would be a start,” smiled Jenna. “Come on, mate, let’s just get over this.”

  “That’s one thing you’ve got right. I am a mate.” Amber reached into her jacket pocket. “Because I found this.”

  “My phone!” wailed Jenna. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “Anytime,” shrugged Amber, taking another huge swig of beer.

  “Oh come here,” Jenna pulled Amber off the stool and wrapped her arms round her shoulders. “Thank you, you’re a life saver. Now show me that twerk.”

  ****

  Susan heard the shriek coming from the bar and watched as Jenna almost lifted Amber off the floor. She turned back to Marcus and spoke slowly. “Say it again?”

  Marcus nodded towards the bar as if confirming his facts. “They’re laughing at you, Susan. I know all about your little slip-up where you left Daisy Button at the services. And how do I know? I know because Amber told me. And how does Amber know? She knows because Jenna told her. And why did Jenna tell her? Because she thought it was hilarious that a…” he pulled on his moustache and thought for a moment, “…now what name did Jenna call you? Oh yes, that’s right. She thought it was hilarious that a dozy cow like you could leave a kid at the services.”

  Susan shook her head. “She wouldn’t tell her.”

  “She did,” nodded Marcus, “and she told me, but I can’t believe you were trying to keep it a secret. We’re a team, Susan. You and I are good together.” He sniffed at the women who were laughing together at the bar. “You’re not like them. You don’t behave in this way.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen a side to you this week that I’m not sure I like, but I don’t blame you, my mon amie, I blame them.” Marcus focused on the bar and shook his head dramatically. “Oh no. Now that’s not fair. Look, Susan, they’re mimicking you.”

  Susan turned around and saw Jenna and Amber twerking in front of the stools. Amber was pointing towards the circle of dancers and shaking her head as she started to shimmy, and Jenna’s head was thrown back in laughter.

  “She’s doing an impression of you,” stated Marcus. “And Jenna’s laughing.” He sighed and stepped in closer, tentatively placing an arm around Susan’s shoulder. “It’s all been one big dare.”

  Susan shook him off. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Oh get real, Susan, what would she see in you?”

  Susan bit the inside of her lip. “She says I’m funny.”

  “You’re not funny.”

  “Well, she says I’m intriguing.”

  Marcus shook his head again. “You’re not intriguing.”

  Susan whispered. “She says I have good bone structure.”

  “No, your flat hair detracts from that.”

  “What am I then, Marcus?” Susan’s voice was raised. “The world’s biggest fantasist?”

  Marcus coughed, shocked by her outburst. “I wouldn’t go that far, but you’ve just allowed yourself to get carried away. It’s been one week, Susan. One week.”

  “I know, but I know what I feel.” She turned to Marcus and shrugged. “I love her.”

  Marcus guffawed loudly. “How ridiculous. Oh Susan, Susan, Susan, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Nothing,” said Susan, “you’re going to leave me the hell alone.”

  ****

  “Susan, hey, you’ve finished your wine.” Jenna turned around and patted the bar stool for her to sit down.

  “I was talking to Marcus: it softened the blow.”

  “What blow?” asked Amber.

  “No, she just means it’s a pain to talk to Marcus and alcohol always helps.” Jenna laughed as she spotted the Mossyside girls body popping in a dance off with the Mossyside boys.

  “Did you, Susan?” Amber was frowning. “Is that what you meant?”

  Susan thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Yes, that’s what I meant.”

  “So no more tales to tell?” probed Amber.

  “No.” Susan smiled. “Everything okay with you two?”

  “Yes great,” said Amber, “Jenna’s admitted it was a dare so we’re all good again.”

  “Oh don’t start that,” groaned Jenna. “I didn’t. We’re fine. It was a misunderstanding.”

  Amber shrugged. “Fine, play it your way.”

  Jenna was about to respond when a husky voice distracted her.

  “Jenna, hello.”

  Jenna turned around and froze, totally shocked by the presence of the woman standing beside her at the bar. “Hi,” she managed.

  “Hi, to you too,” came the husky response. “Mine’s a mojito please.”

  Jenna paused, aware that all eyes were on her. “Susan, this is Jackie, Jackie you already know Amber—”

  Amber cut in. “Jackie’s a dancer at the club in town.”

  The husky voice returned. “The club that Jenna’s avoiding.”

  Jenna laughed nervously. “I’m not avoiding it. I’ve just been busy.”

  The tall, heavily made up woman smiled and reached out a hand to Jenna’s waist. “I know, it’s fine. Your words were lovely and all is forgiven.” She looked around at the room full of students. “But we’ll have to work on your choice of venue. I assume you get off in a bit?”

  “My choice of venue?”

  “I’m not complaining, it’s a start. Will we head into town?”

  Jenna frowned. “Don’t you work Friday nights?”

  “Yes, but I’ve called in sick. I wanted to see you.”

  Jenna was about to hold her hands up and ask what on earth was going on when she felt a friendly tap on the back.

  “Hey beautiful,” giggled the petite blonde. “I’ve missed you.”

  Jenna glanced at Susan, then back at the lady. “Hi, Frankie, how are you?”

  Amber introduced the woman to the group. “Frankie works at the big hotel at the bottom. How long have you been there now?”

  The petite blonde giggled. “Three years and I’m meant to be picking up my parents from the airport. It’s the first time they’ve ever managed to get over here and visit, but I’ve sent them a taxi instead.”

  “To the airport?” asked Jenna. “For their first visit?”

  The small woman lifted herself onto her tiptoes and reached up to kiss Jenna on the cheek. “Of course, I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”

  The tall woman put her hand on her hip. “I didn’t realise this was a group thing.”

  “Nor did I,” stammered Jenna.

  “GORGEOUS! You’re here!” A rather plump, rosy cheeked woman had entered the room and raced towards the bar. She wrapped her arms around Jenna and lifted her from the floor, spinning her excitedly. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard from you. I’ve been looking out of my window everyday hoping to see you.”

  Amber nodded. “Julie runs the Montriond cable car.”

  Susan spoke quietly. “I don’t think we’ve been on that one.”

  “I wonder why?” clucked Amber, enjoying the show.

  Jenna swallowed. “Julie, it’s good to see you,” she nodded, “and you, Frankie,” she coughed, “and you, Jackie.”

  Julie rubbed her hands together. “So, what’s the plan? Are we leaving these ladies to it and heading to a restaurant? I was meant to be at a rather posh gala dinner tonight and the menu looked incredible, but I’m sure we can find something just as nice.”

  The tall lady placed her other hand on her hip. “No one’s leaving me behind.”

  The short lady looked puzzled. “I thought we were off to the cinema?”

  “No, she’s taking me to a restaurant,” confirmed the plump one.

  Susan swivelled around on her chair and faced the bar, desperately trying to ignore the embarrassment.

  “I’m not quite sure what’s going on,” said Jenna.

  “You asked me on a date,” said the tall lady.

  “No she didn’t,” said the small lady, “she asked me.”

  The plump woman pulled her phone from her pocket and clicke
d on the text message. “I think you’ll find it’s me who’s dating Jenna tonight.”

  The two other women delved into their purses for their phones, swiping them to life and displaying their very own proof of entitlement.

  Jenna sat backwards onto the bar stool and tapped her teeth together. “I think there’s been some sort of misunderstanding.”

  “You seem to have quite a few of those,” laughed Amber, taking another huge sip of beer.

  Jenna shook her head. “Mate, this is one step too far.” She turned to address the expectant women. “I lost my phone yesterday and I think someone’s been playing a joke.”

  The tall lady reached her mojito from the bar. “I was here first, so I should get the date.”

  “No,” said the short lady, “last time I saw her she promised she’d call, so this date was coming my way.”

  The plump lady took Jenna’s hand and started to haul her towards the door. “Food’s always the priority. We’re off to a restaurant.”

  Jenna pulled backwards and shook her hand free. “I’m sorry, ladies, there’s been a misunderstanding—”

  “There’s that word again,” whispered Amber into Susan’s ear.

  “Maybe we could all just have a drink and a catch up here?”

  Susan shook her head and climbed off the bar stool. “I’ll see you later. I’m getting some air.”

  “No, Susan, wait. They’re just women I know.”

  The voice was husky. “She certainly knows me.”

  “Me too,” giggled the small woman.

  “And me,” moaned the plump one.

  “They’re friends,” said Jenna.

  “No they’re not,” laughed Amber, taking another swig of beer, “they’re lovers.”

  “Oh, Amber, will you please just stop it. This isn’t funny at all.”

  Amber smiled and looked at the three women all vying for attention. “It is rather comical.”

  Jenna snapped. “It’s not funny to play with people.”

  Amber shook her head and narrowed her eyes. “You’re the biggest player out there, Jenna.”

  “I’ve heard enough,” said Susan, turning away and walking out of the room.

  Jenna addressed the ladies. “Stay, go, have a drink on me, dance with the kids, do whatever you want, but please know this wasn’t intentional. I think you’re all great, but I don’t want to date.”

  The plump woman crossed her arms. “But I’ve given up a gala dinner to be here.”

  “And I’ve left my parents at the airport,” said the short one.

  “Well I’m not sad that I’ve bunked off work,” announced the tall woman, “and these mojitos are rather good.”

  “Please forgive me,” said Jenna dashing out of the room.

  ****

  Susan let the cold air bite away her embarrassment. Amber had clearly set the whole thing up, but that wasn’t the point. The point was they came. They all came at such short notice, and at the expense of other more pressing events. They all came for Jenna.

  Susan tilted her head towards the sky and gazed up at the stars. Was this one big act? Was this the grand finale with Jenna and Amber in cahoots putting on the show of all shows to end the week here: to excuse Jenna from making her promised journey home? Susan sighed. There was no denying it. Nothing would change it. She loved her. Even after all of this, she loved her.

  “I’m so sorry,” pleaded Jenna as she walked out of the guesthouse and over the frosted decking towards Susan. “Amber’s a dick, an absolute dick. They’re just women I’ve had flings with. They weren’t expecting anything more.”

  Susan shivered in the cold evening air. “But they all want more, don’t they? They all came.”

  “But I didn’t ask them to come. Amber did.”

  “I’ve got one question for you?” said Susan, looking at Jenna’s wide eyes. “Did you tell Amber about Daisy?”

  “What about Daisy?”

  “That I left her at the services?”

  Jenna exhaled heavily, misting the cold air. “Fuck, Susan, it’s not like that.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Right,” said Susan, rubbing her bare arms and turning to leave.

  “But only because she thought you were going to report us for our behaviour on the bar.”

  Susan stopped and stared at Jenna in disbelief. “So you gave her some ammunition just in case I did?”

  “No, it wasn’t like that.”

  Amber stepped out onto the decking and laughed loudly. “No, it wasn’t like that at all.” She turned to Susan. “She was laughing at you. She’s been laughing at you this whole week. She couldn’t wait to tell me.”

  “Please, go away, Amber,” said Jenna. “Look at you, you’re drunk.”

  “No, I won’t go away. She needs to know the truth.” Amber took another step over the frost and looked Susan up and down. “She’s been laughing at your clothes, your hair, your totally crap dancing. She thought it was hilarious that you left Daisy at the services and she said you won the medal for teacher you’d never want to teach your own kids.”

  “This isn’t true.” Jenna was shaking her head.

  “Yes it is. She said your hair would have more bounce if you did it on an ironing board with an industrial iron, and she said your breath smelt like shit.”

  “Susan, ignore her, she’s drunk, she’s taking it too far.”

  “No, I’m not.” Amber was animated. “Look at you, Susan. At the start of the week she’s fucking me on that bar and now she wants to play happy families with someone like you. As if!”

  “THAT’S ENOUGH,” shouted Jenna.

  Susan shook her head. “I’m sorry, Amber, but I just don’t believe you.”

  Amber laughed loudly. “Oh yeah? So you don’t want to know what we’ve been laughing about the most?”

  “Not really, no.”

  Amber grinned. “Oh I think you do … Quiffy Quinn. It doesn’t just happen in gym class, does it?”

  Susan’s cheeks flashed up with colour.

  “It happens when you’re fucking as well! Jenna’s been telling me what a problem you seem to have. She’s hardly got two fingers in and you’re quiffing all over the place.”

  Susan shot a glance towards Jenna, unable to hide the hurt and betrayal in her eyes. “How could you?” she gasped, turning to race away, crying out as her heels slipped on the frosted decking.

  “Ha! She said you were clumsy too,” laughed Amber, looking down at Susan lying on her side.

  Jenna raced to Susan’s aid and lifted her up. “Don’t believe her, please don’t believe her. Look at her, she’s drunk.”

  Susan pushed Jenna away and wiped the wetness from her arm, sniffing quickly as a slow tear trickled down her cheek. “I BELIEVE HER,” she shouted. “Now leave me alone.”

  Jenna took Susan by the wrists. “It’s not true. I’m telling you, it’s not true.”

  Susan shook her head. “I don’t believe anything you say anymore.”

  Jenna gasped. “Susan! This is me!”

  “And I have no idea who you are,” said Susan, walking back to the door with her heart torn in two.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Susan’s alarm went off at 6.00 a.m. She silenced the beeping and immediately checked her messages. The inbox was empty. She sighed to herself, feeling the deep pain spread once again across her chest. Jenna had followed her back inside and professed her innocence a further two times, but nothing could take away the sheer embarrassment of Amber’s words.

  Susan thought back to the way Jenna had given her one last chance to believe her, as she’d put it, before storming off with the three women in tow when she hadn’t received the response she’d been hoping for. Susan sighed. There was no way she could forgive her. The pain was too great. She shook her head and pulled herself out of bed, glancing at the handwritten note that was still sitting on her bedside table. “Apologising doesn’t mean you’re right or wrong. It just means you
value your relationship more than your ego.” She lifted it up and held it close to her chest, unable to stop her tears.

  ****

  “She came! She came!” Priggy was squashing her face against the coach window and waving frantically. “She came!”

  Champagne jumped up from her seat and looked through the glass. “And he came too!” she wailed.

  “Ladies, ladies, will you please just sit down.” Marcus Ramsbottom was doing a final head count.

  “Just one minute,” pleaded Priggy, charging straight down the aisle.

  “Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Love’s young dream and all that.”

  “Now this is the stuff of legend,” laughed Champagne as she edged past him. “We’ll never forget you for this, Professor.”

  Marcus tilted his pelvis forwards as the two young women squeezed past. “All part of the job,” he said proudly.

  Susan was sitting in the seat at the front, watching the full on snogging that was happening on the curb. She climbed out of her chair and stepped down towards the door. She popped her head out and spoke quietly. “Calm it down a bit, ladies, the younger girls are watching and Mrs Button’s on the backseat.”

  Priggy and Champagne looked up at the coach windows and saw the fourteen smiling faces. “Sorry,” they giggled.

  Phats reached down and lifted a chain from his neck. “I want yous to ‘ave ‘dis.”

  “Really?” giggled Champagne, tilting her head forwards and letting him drop the gold bling into position.

  “Yeah, and I want yous to ‘ave ‘dis too,” said Mischa pulling one of the sparkling gems from her tooth. “Smile,” she said.

  Priggy opened her mouth and let Mischa press the jewel onto her incisor. “Thanks,” she said nervously running her tongue over the bling.

  “So, we might see you at the Manchester open day?” asked Champagne rather too hopefully.

  “Yeah yous might,” said Phats nodding.

  “Laters,” said Mischa, giving Priggy one final kiss on the lips.

  Priggy and Champagne stood on the curb and watched as the two Mossyside Comp kids crossed the road and boarded their own bus. “That was so romantic!” they squealed in unison.