Hello World

by Joanna Sellick

  Back in the car, Blake regards me with a curious glance at my threat.

  ‘You wouldn’t dare,’ he says slowly, amusement seeping into his voice.

  ‘You just keep telling yourself that,’ I smirk before bursting into giggles.

  Truth be told though, they’re nervous giggles, and currently my stomach is doing cartwheels and flips uncontrollably. All of my instincts are screaming at me that this party is a terrible, horrible idea.

  Blake rolls his eyes and shakes his head, trying to act nonchalant which only entertains me further.

  ‘So you guys are definitely going up to March tomorrow, right?’ Blake asks and I nod. March is the little town where my parents used to live. The plan had been to go up there today and then come back in time for the party but Jay had woken up feeling awful this morning and just needed to spend all day in bed.

  ‘Providing he’s feeling better,’ I note. ‘I’m still trying to work out whether this is a good idea or not,’ I frown.

  ‘Well, if it helps, I think you’re doing the right thing.’ Blake smiles reassuringly. ‘Unless of course the house is haunted and you end up falling head first into a pit of terror, then maybe not. Just watch out for any trap doors or spooky goings on.’

  Despite myself, I laugh again.

  ‘Right, and I should probably avoid any ghosts and zombies that come across my way too?’ I raise an eyebrow.

  ‘Exactly. And if there is a loud noise or scream, for goodness sake don’t go towards it,’ he sighs, shaking his head mockingly. ‘Whenever someone goes towards the screaming they either end up dead, zombified or dead.’

  ‘You said dead twice,’ I point out.

  ‘I was emphasising my point.’

  My nerves only seem to intensify further as we approach Dixie’s house and my heart seems to have dropped into my foot by the time we actually reach the front door. Apparently Dixie had told Blake the house would be open earlier so Blake doesn’t bother knocking and just pushes his way in.

  ‘Up here!’ Dixie announces when he calls and we trudge up the stairs to the first floor.

  Dixie comes flying out of her room, a pair of unplugged curlers in her hands and a look of fierce determination on her features. She eyes me up and tilts her head to the side before nodding.

  ‘Okay, I think I can work with this,’ she announces approvingly, her lips quirking up mischievously.

  ‘Erm, thanks?’ I laugh, tugging on my jacket nervously. Dixie winks.

  ‘You’re quite a bit shorter than me but I think my sister’s stuff will fit you. As for you,’ she declares, turning to Blake. ‘Sort your hair out and then vamoose, this is a girl’s only zone.’

  Blake’s hand immediately flies up to his hair and he frowns. ‘What’s wrong with my hair?’

  ‘It’s too neat,’ she criticises before shooing him off the landing.

  Personally, I think Blake looks perfectly fine; he’s in skinny jeans and a dark, checked shirt with his black, leather jacket pulled over the top, but I daren’t argue against Dixie’s judgment.

  ‘Good luck,’ Blake calls, winking at me before I’m pulled into Dixie’s room, where Leah is already sitting comfortably on her large double bed. Dixie and Leah are like chalk and cheese really, Dixie with her vibrant personality and Leah with her general shyness. Yet, judging by the photos hung up on the walls, the girls go back years.

  Dixie literally bounces when she walks, and she bounds over to the vanity table, flicks on her IPod and picks up a heavy-looking make-up bag before regarding me again, her burgundy skirt swaying whenever she moves. She has coupled this with a black-and-white, striped blouse made from floaty material and a pair of killer black boots.

  Leah on the other hand is in a white, strapless dress, sequins forming a sort of belt around the bust and pale, beige heels. Her blonde curls are delicately pinned up on top of her head.

  ‘What are we thinking, Leah?’ Dixie asks, both girls now studying me closely.

  ‘Keep it natural,’ Leah decides in a soft voice. ‘Hair down, but we should go over her natural curls with the curlers to make them stand out more. Sit,’ she instructs, patting the bed beside her.

  I oblige and sit down, facing so that my back is to her so she can play around with my hair whilst Dixie tops up my mascara.

  ‘So, you and Blake, huh?’ she grins. I look at her with astonishment and my cheeks start to burn.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘You and Blake, are you together or what?’

  ‘Erm, we aren’t… we’re not like, dating-’

  ‘Pout,’ she says suddenly and I stare at her with confusion. ‘Pout,’ she repeats, miming the action and holding up red lipstick.

  ‘What happened to looking natural?’ I question, raising an eyebrow. Dixie makes a dismissive motion.

  ‘This will look great, trust,’ she assures me, and there is nothing more I can do than follow her instructions. ‘Anyway, I’ve known Blake for a long time, don’t think I can’t tell when the guy likes someone,’ Dixie grins, finishing with the lipstick and holding up a tissue. ‘Clamp,’ she instructs and I put the tissue between my lips to get rid of any excess lipstick.

  ‘That’s ridiculous,’ I protest. ‘We’re just friends.’

  Dixie snorts, but when I go to argue further she puts a finger on my lips and makes a shushing sound before announcing she’s disappearing to get her sister’s dresses and dances out of the room.

  I just sit there and stare, my mouth falling open. Behind me, Leah laughs at my expression, a soft, musical sound.

  ‘Dix can come across as abrupt and brash, even sometimes rude, but she will always have your best interests at heart. It’s just her way,’ she informs me with a smile. I nod.

  ‘Is Dixie a nickname or something?’ I ask randomly. I’ve never come across someone who has that name before. Leah laughs again.

  ‘My real name is Danica,’ Dixie announces, returning with a bundle of outfits slung over her arm.

  ‘But she reminds everyone of a pixie. Pixie, Dixie,’ Leah informs me, trying to keep a straight face as she says the last two words.

  ‘Anyway, this is what we have to work with. These should be your size,’ Dixie says, lying the dresses down on the bed.

  Leah holds up a white dress with red, pink and yellow flower prints covering it, buttons running down the front.

  ‘This is cute.’

  Dixie makes a face and I’m inclined to agree with her.

  ‘It’s too sickly sweet,’ Dixie says. Leah scowls but dismisses the dress anyway.

  All three of us reject the electric blue body-con dress with weird lacy bits hanging off it.

  ‘I don’t even know why she has it, Zoë needs to burn that immediately,’ Dixie murmurs distastefully. ‘Well I guess it’s a toss up between these two, the bathroom is just across the hall.’

  The first is a plain dark purple, one-shouldered, long-sleeved dress that tucks in at the middle. The second has a pale, lace top attached to a black skater skirt.

  ‘The lacy one,’ Leah decides. ‘It goes better with your hair.’

  ‘It’s slightly too big,’ I frown, having to hold the middle up. Dixie dives into her wardrobe and returns with a thin black belt that she fastens around my waist.

  ‘Perfect,’ she announces happily. It turns out that although Dixie is a bigger size than me, we share around about the same shoe-size so she lends me a black pair of boot-heels.

  The whole experience is slightly strange to me. I’ve never had a group or even a single girl friend to share clothes with or share make-up secrets with before.

  When we’re finished, I stand in front of the mirror, completely dumbstruck. The girl in the mirror can’t be me, can it?

  ‘You look great,’ Leah says with a smile and Dixie just winks.

  ‘If we could get there before they run out of alcohol, that would be great!’ Cole shouts up. Dixie swears down at him but we emerge from her room nonetheless, her arm looped through mine encouragingly. I t
ry to stay planted at the top of the staircase but Dixie is having none of it.

  ‘About time,’ Blake sighs, mockingly checking his watch. But when he looks up his eyes settle on me and widen considerably.

  I knew this was a bad idea.

  ‘I know, I look terrible, I shouldn’t have bothered,’ I say in rush, suddenly feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. I try to escape but both girls keep me pinned in place.

  ‘No, you look… wow,’ Blake says, lost for words yet breaking into a grin anyway.

  ‘You can be my fake-girlfriend anytime,’ Nathan announces, looking impressed.

  ‘Hey, we look hot too,’ Dixie scowls, pointing between her and Leah.

  Cole laughs and wraps an arm around her, pulling her close.

  ‘You always do,’ he grins and she giggles, rewarding him with a quick kiss. Then she turns to Blake. ‘You boys can take Nathan’s car while we take yours. Keys,’ she demands. ‘Also, nice hair.’

  Blake rolls his eyes.

  ‘Promise me you won’t crash the car?’ he groans.

  ‘Come on, would I ever?’ she asks innocently. Blake raises an eyebrow. ‘That was one time! It’s your fault for lending your car to a learner.’

  Begrudgingly, Blake hands over the keys to his fancy sports car and Dixie leads Cole out, ruffling his hair as she goes. Nathan then turns to Leah.

  ‘So everyone else is hooking up, how about we make this a triple-date?’ he asks with a smirk. Leah just smiles and shakes her head, walking out of the door. ‘Is that a maybe?’ Nathan calls after her, following Leah out.

  ‘Ready?’ Blake grins, holding out an arm. I loop my arm through his and take a deep breath.

  ‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ I laugh.

  Just as we walk out of the door, Blake whispers in my ear.

  ‘You look beautiful.’

  CHAPTER 20

  Charity’s nineteenth is being held in one of the biggest and most luxurious clubs outside of London. Not that I expect anything less, of course.

  The outside is all made up of panes of black glass that reflect every light in the busy street, and there are even two bouncers on the doors. For a moment I worry that I’m not actually on the guest list but they let me through anyway and I wonder just what Blake must have said to get Charity to agree to my being allowed in.

  I stick close to Blake and Dixie stays on my other side, catching glances of me every now and then just to make sure I haven’t been lost in the teeming crowds.

  The club décor is just as dark inside yet illuminated by brightly coloured strobe lights that flash and pan around the club. Several people sit at the bar, the bar tender putting on shows and winking at the girls who return the flirting by leaning too far forward over the counter.

  A band around Blake’s age is situated on a stage down at the front, rocking it out, the music they’re playing bursting my ear drums and making everyone have to shout at each other to hear anything at all. The dance floor is packed with bodies and anyone not there is squeezing into booths. The place is well and truly packed.

  To say I’m uncomfortable would be an understatement.

  The majority of the kids are one or two years older than me, some of the boys winking or looking me up and down as I pass, making me want to pull the skirt of my dress down to cover more of my legs or just allow my fringe to cover my face completely.

  ‘Welcome to the world of bitches and money,’ Dixie whispers in my ear, staring down one of the guys who shuffles past me, almost grinding against my leg as he goes.

  ‘Hey Whore!’ someone shouts in her direction. Dixie’s face crunches up in fury but when her gaze lands on the guy calling to her it softens and she breaks into a grin, insulting the guy back before they both break into friendly conversation.

  I know Jay and I insult each other all the time, but I can’t help but think that’s a bit over the top.

  ‘Blake!’ a sickly high-pitched voice squeals in delight, flinging herself at Blake and wrapping her arms around his neck. Blake raises an eyebrow in my direction and unhooks Charity from himself.

  Tonight the girl is wearing a tight, shimmery black dress that just about covers her thighs.

  ‘Hey, birthday girl,’ Blake laughs and Charity laughs as if it’s the funniest thing anyone has ever said. I wonder how many drinks she’s already had?

  ‘Yeah, happy birthday,’ Nathan grins, but she ignores him completely.

  ‘I’m so glad you could come,’ she tells Blake. Then her gaze moves in our direction and she seems to realise that me, Leah and Nathan are also here. Dixie and Cole have very discretely disappeared. Her gaze turns icy when it lands on me.

  ‘Oh, Neve. So glad you could come,’ she says through a tight-lipped smile.

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ I reply, faking a smile so much that it hurts my cheeks. ‘And hey, we still haven’t been on that shopping trip!’

  ‘I’ll have to clear my diary,’ she says venomously before turning to Nathan. ‘Oh hey, Nathan,’ she says, returning back to her flirty voice. Nathan grins, happy to be finally getting a reaction. ‘Omigod Leah, it’s been so long! How are you?’ Charity asks, looping an arm through Leah’s and carting her off. At least Charity’s greeting to Leah sounds genuine.

  When Charity is out of hearing range, Blake smirks.

  ‘Shopping trip?’

  ‘Bonding time,’ I say innocently.

  Blake grins, shaking his head in amusement. ‘I’ll take your word for it. I’ll go get us drinks- oh wait, you’re not old enough to drink, are you?’ he frowns.

  Nathan laughs, producing a twenty-pound note. ‘Correction, she’s not old enough to buy drink.’ He flashes me a wink before disappearing into the crowds and Blake rolls his eyes.

  I just laugh and pat him on the back for his effort before Blake leads me up the stairs to the balcony seating and we slide into a booth.

  Everyone in the club seems to know Blake, and we are stopped several times on our way up. People even approach us while we are sat down.

  Blake introduces me to everyone but I just say hello and then keep my head down, although after a few drinks I find myself starting to relax a bit.

  Blake heads off to the bar and Nathan slides into the booth in front of me, grinning.

  ‘You are such a lightweight, Neve,’ he laughs.

  ‘I am not!’ I say a little too loudly, bursting into giggles. ‘Okay, I may be a little tipsy, but really I’m just really, really happy,’ I tell him. Well my speech isn’t slurred, so I can’t be that drunk.

  ‘You used really three times in that sentence,’ he smirks, leaning back in his seat. ‘Anyway, I was thinking about that gallery trip. I’m still up for it if you are. And hey, I’ll even buy us lunch at one of those old, fancy restaurants,’ he muses.

  Something occurs to me then.

  ‘Nathan, are you… asking me out?’ I say carefully, trying to get my head to think straight, although it’s spinning so much thanks to the music that it’s almost impossible. Nathan chuckles, a gleam in his eye.

  ‘Yeah, I guess I am.’ Nathan clasps his hands and leans them on the table. ‘What do you say?’

  Carefully and slowly, I look Nathan up and down. Nathan is a nice guy. He’s into the same things as me, he’s sweet and fun. What is the harm in going on one date?

  Nothing, is the answer. Yet the word gets stuck in my throat and my heart clenches as if just saying the word ‘yes’ would be going against my very being. It just feels wrong.

  ‘I.. don’t think I can,’ I admit, frowning at myself.

  Instead of the reaction I’m expecting, Nathan just chuckles again and nods knowingly.

  ‘Ah, I see. It’s Blake isn’t it?’ The corner of his mouth twitches upwards in amusement.

  ‘No!’ I say with exasperation, my cheeks turning red. Why does everyone come to that conclusion? ‘It’s complicated… I’m going to find the ladies room now,’ I announce, jumping up and stumbling a little bit. Honestly, it’s hard
to tell if me tripping is from the alcohol or just me in general.

  I push past the crowd of bodies as I try to find my way down the steps to the bottom floor. The music is still blaring loudly but I can stand it now, and I sway gently with the rhythm as I walk. Someone gets in my way and as I try to push past them I end up almost falling head first into Dixie.

  ‘Neve!’ she coos, bringing me in for a hug. Looks like I’m not the only one a little tipsy. ‘Oh, that reminds me, Blake-’

  ‘Why does everyone keep going on about Blake?’ I interrupt, lifting up my hands in confusion. ‘You, Jay, Nathan. There is nothing going on with me and Blake!’

  Dixie smirks.

  ‘I was actually just going to say that Blake is looking for you, he’s over by the bar.’ She laughs and the colour in my cheeks brightens. ‘But that’s good to know, kiddo.’

  I shake my head in disbelief at my own stupidity and, forgetting about the ladies room, start making my way over to the bar. I see him vaguely leaning against it, waiting for the barman but its too loud for him to hear me if I call over.

  Yet someone beats me to it anyway, her blonde hair giving her away easily. Charity.

  I roll my eyes as she does her best to flirt with him until she abruptly grabs his shirt and pulls him close to her. So close that their lips meet.

  That sobers me up a bit.

  All I can describe it as is that moment in Mean Girls when the blonde slut gets the guy and the camera zooms dramatically into the horrified face of Lindsay Lohan.

  I stop in my tracks, my mouth falling open and my heart dropping into the bottom these damn heels. I’m frozen long enough to see Blake pull away with surprise and have his eyes settle on my shocked expression but by then I’ve seen enough and I turn on my heels, disappearing into the crowd.

  By some miracle, I manage to find the exit to the club and fly out into the cold night, the biting wind nipping at my bare skin. I groan then. I’ve left my jacket inside, yet I can’t bring myself to care.

  God I’m stupid. The only reason I’m here in the first place is so that Blake can win over Charity’s attention again, that’s what I’ve previously agreed to. So why does it bother me that Blake’s plan is actually working? Why can’t I stand to see him kissing some other girl?