Sugar Secrets…& Revenge

by Mel Sparke

  The bell clanged behind him as the door was pulled open and the sound of the partying suddenly increased in volume.

  “Oh… Matt.”

  Catrina, now maskless and with her blonde curls bouncing round her face, was surprised to find him there.

  Matt, equally startled, jumped to his feet.

  “What, uh, are you doing out here?” he asked stupidly.

  “Came out for a quick cigarette.”

  “Shouldn’t smoke you know, it’s a disg—” Matt started to say out of habit and nervousness.

  “—disgusting habit! Yeah, yeah! Don’t lecture me, Matt - I’m in too good a mood,” Cat snapped. “Anyway, what are you doing out here on your own?”

  “Catrina, about me and Tasha—” Matt began, wondering what he could say to explain how he was feeling. He hoped being straight with her might work. But it didn’t.

  “Give it a rest! I don’t want to hear about you two again!”

  “Come on, Cat! All that stuff’s in the past now. And maybe you and me…”

  “You and me what, Matt? Listen, for the sake of everyone else, I may forgive you, but I’ll never forget what you did to me,” she hissed.

  “Cat… I—”

  “Forget it, Matt. Anyone’d think you really cared. Not quite your style, is it?”

  Catrina turned on her kitten heel and headed back inside.

  Matt slumped back down on to the step and stared up at the stars. He’d blown it. Again.

  Stomping towards Ollie, Elaine and Jakey, who were all dancing together to some silly old Kylie hit, Cat quickly wiped the tears from her eyes.

  Somehow, she’d hoped that she and Matt might get back together tonight, but she’d been caught out bumping into him like that and hadn’t been able to hold her tongue.

  She’d blown it, she knew. But no one else was going to.

  Cat forced her features into a beaming grin.

  “Got another hug for your Catwoman?” she asked, throwing her arms around Ollie.

  ‘“Course,” he grinned, giving her a great big bear-hug. “you saved the day. Cat. The whole thing could’ve been a disaster without you and your bright idea!”

  Catrina twinkled at him. “Well, I like to think I’d help a friend in need. Ollie.”

  “Listen, are you OK?” asked Ollie, holding her round the waist and looking into her still glistening eyes.”

  “Yes!” she said as brightly as she could, but giving herself away by glancing over quickly at the café door.

  Ollie spotted Matt’s downcast expression as he sat on the step outside and stared back in at the party.

  “Catrina…” said Ollie slowly, realisation dawning on him.

  “Uh-huh?”

  “Is this hug for Matt’s benefit?”

  Cat opened her mouth as if to say something then closed it again and gave him a sweet smile instead.

  “And let me guess…” Ollie continued, his eyes suddenly open to much of what had gone on over the past few weeks. “All that business with you and me. Was that all for Mart’s benefit too?”

  “Oh, Ollie!” simpered Catrina, opening her eyes as wide as she could. “You’re not annoyed with me, are you?”

  “I should be,” replied Ollie with mock sternness, “but I’m too happy tonight to be angry.”

  “And I saved your show remember!” she grinned at him, before taking his hands from round her waist and placing them round Elaine’s. “He’s all yours!”

  As Elaine laughed, Cat did a little twirl then shimmied her way around Jakey.

  “Have you seen Joe or Matt?” Sonja asked Anna, who was standing behind the counter, surveying the heaving room in front of her and taking a well-earned breather from serving endless food and drinks to the revellers. True to form, Nick had wandered off and found some luckless female to chat up.

  “No, sorry.” said Anna, who had - despite being rushed off her feet - seen both Matt and Joe leave. But Anna recognised their need to be alone and didn’t think it would do any good to go telling Sonja right now and spoil her fun.

  Sonja leant back against the cool metal of the counter and scanned the room again for the two boys. But instead of Joe or Matt, she saw Kerry, who was staring off into the dance floor.

  What’s she looking so fed up about? wondered Sonja as she shuffled her way back to her friend. As she squeezed her way over, she had to laugh at the fact that no one seemed to have noticed that the cranky old jukebox was doing its favourite old trick when it began to overheat: slowing down and speeding up.

  Well, that’ll soon be the end of this party, she smiled to herself, knowing that the music was only about a record away from being so distorted that people wouldn’t be able to stand it.

  As soon as Sonja arrived by Kerry’s side, she saw the problem: Mick was standing with his back to her, very obviously chatting up a flummoxed-looking Maya.

  And that wasn’t all. Following Kerry’s gaze, she saw what was holding her attention - Ollie was still dancing, but was now also kissing Elaine. A long, lingering kiss.

  “Just good friends then?” Sonja said wryly.

  “Doesn’t look like it,” shrugged Kerry. “And it doesn’t look like you’re a great matchmaker either!”

  Before Sonja had to admit she got it wrong about Mick, Cat - breathless from dancing - appeared in front of the two girls.

  “So, what did you think? Wasn’t I brilliant?”

  Sonja grinned at her cousin. “Yep, you certainly were, Cat. We were very surprised and very impressed. Weren’t we, Kerry?”

  “Totally. Great costume, Cat. Did you make it?”

  “I certainly did. Another of my many talents. Like making up great dance routines and riding motorbikes - eh, Jakey?” she cackled.

  Cat reached over and stroked the shiny head of Elaine’s mate as he beamed back at her like a lovesick puppy.

  Sonja swapped a knowing glance with Kerry. Catrina had that predatory look in her eye again…

  Which just goes to show, thought Sonja ruefully. A leopard-print Catwoman never quite changes her spots.

  Sugar

  SECRETS…

  …& Rivals

  SNEAK PREVIEW!

  “And she thought I’d make a brilliant model, said I had the right figure and face and everything!” Sonja stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room and studied her figure with appreciation.

  “Natasha was convinced I’d be snapped up straight away if I went for it,” she continued. “Isn’t that great?”

  Kerry lowered the magnified mirror she had been using to peer critically at her face. “It’s sickeningly great,” she replied, a touch of bitterness in her voice. “What did God think he was doing when he dished out people’s looks?”

  Sonja spun round to face her friend, a mystified look on her face. She wasn’t entirely sure what Kerry was going on about.

  “I mean, look at you,” Kerry went on. “There you are, tall, tanned and gorgeous. Perfect figure, looks to die for, nice teeth, shiny hair. You eat like a pig and stay stick thin. Then there’s me…”

  Kerry leapt up from the bed and stood in front of the mirror next to Sonja.

  “Just look at it,” she grumbled, stretching her arms out wide in despair. “Short, lumpy, fat thighs, huge arse, no boobs, hair I can’t do a bloody thing with, blind as a bat. Complete stinking failure, actually!”

  Sonja stared wide-eyed at her friend, astonished by the intensity of her unexpected outburst. Kerry was obviously having a Bad Hair Day, or suffering from PMT, or something.

  “Don’t be silly, Kez,” she clucked, soothingly. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about - you’re really attractive.”

  “Yeah, compared to a pig, perhaps!” Kerry took off her glasses and squinted into the mirror. A blurry blob with frizzy hair squinted back. “Mind you, not even pigs have got eyesight as bad as mine,” she sighed dramatically.

  “For God’s sake, stop whingeing,” Sonja chided. “I mean, it could be worse - you could
look like Cat.” She chuckled a little. “Now, as I was saying, Tasha was really encouraging. She said I had great bone structure, perfect for being a model. What do you think?”

  “I think Natasha is absolutely right, you’d make a great model,” Kerry said magnanimously. “If that’s what you really want to do, then you should go for it.”

  “Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t, at least not in the long term.”

  “So why are you going on about it?” Kerry demanded a little irritably.

  “I’m not! I just wanted your opinion, that’s all. But if you’re in such a foul mood I won’t bother…”

  Sonja gave Kerry a withering look which immediately made her friend wish she’d kept her mouth shut. Of course Sonja was right - she was in a foul mood and had been since she’d got to Sonja’s house two hours ago.

  They often met up at each other’s homes to get ready for a night out together (mostly at Sonja’s because she had more space). They usually had a couple of drinks while they got changed, experimented with different clothes, listened to CDs and generally got into the party mood.

  But tonight, ever since Kerry had arrived, all Sonja had done was go on and on about blasted Natasha and what a ‘laugh’ they’d had the previous evening. She hadn’t even thought to ask how Kerry was, what sort of day she’d had or anything remotely to do with anyone else.

  And when Kerry had tried to change the subject and ask if there was any news about Joe, Sonja admitted that she and Natasha had been having such a great time at the café, she’d completely forgotten to call on Ollie. They’d even gone to the pictures together and caught the later showing of the film she was supposed to have seen with Matt.

  “Ooh, come on, hurry up,” Sonja announced looking at her watch. “I told Tasha we’d meet her at eight. Mustn’t be late.”

  No, we couldn’t possibly be late for Tasha, Kerry thought bitterly. It wouldn’t do to keep poor Tasha waiting, would it? Never mind that I’ve spent hours of my life waiting for Sonja to turn up because she’s hardly ever on time. Oh no, suddenly we must all break our backs just because it’s ruddy Natasha!

  Kerry deliberately took her time finishing her nails; she had already decided that this was going to be a really bad night out.

  Sonja grabbed her bag from the dresser, opened the door and waved at Kerry to follow her, which she dutifully did. The girls then made the short walk to the bar where they had arranged to meet Natasha.

  As she walked through the door, Kerry half expected to see Matt or Catrina or one of the others. But tonight there were only the faces of people she barely knew. Oh, and Natasha sitting on a bar stool already being chatted up by a suave-looking older guy in a posh suit and tie.

  Catching the girls’ eyes as they walked in, Natasha pulled a ‘help me’ face over the guy’s shoulder. Immediately taking the initiative, Sonja strode over to where they were sitting and touched Natasha’s bare thigh.

  “Sorry I’m late, darling,” she cooed, “I got held up. I hope no one’s been hassling you.”

  She leant over and kissed Natasha on the lips.

  The guy at the bar’s eyes nearly popped out of his head while Kerry hung back in the doorway, deeply embarrassed by Sonja’s spot of acting.

  “Uh, no,” Natasha replied, immediately cottoning on. “This is John. John - meet my girlfriend.”

  Crimson-faced, the poor guy was already beginning to beat a hasty retreat. Once he was out of sight, the duo collapsed in hysterics and the tone of the evening was set.

  As Kerry had expected, it was the start of a rotten night playing second fiddle to the Sonja and Natasha show. And even though she couldn’t find any particular reason to hate Ollie’s sister, the fact that she and Sonja seemed to have such a good time together was enough to make Kerry retreat into a shell of unease in their company. The fact that they didn’t even seem to notice that Kerry was there didn’t improve the situation.

  Half-way through the evening Natasha suggested they go to a club called Henry’s.

  “I used to go there all the time when I lived at home,” she beamed. “I know Henry and he used to let me in even though I was only fourteen. He thought I was much older, tarted up in make-up and heels and little dresses. It was such a hoot!

  The music’s great and there’s always tasty guys there. C’mon, what do you say?”

  Kerry didn’t know what to say. Henry’s had always looked a bit sleazy to her from the outside and she’d never had any desire to go in there at all.

  “Oh wow, yeah, great! Let’s go!” Sonja hollered before Kerry could think of a way to wriggle out of it.

  Without bothering to find out what Kerry wanted to do. Natasha and Sonja left the bar and began heading up the street towards Henry’s. Reluctantly, Kerry tagged along behind.

  As soon as they got inside the club, Kerry’s heart sank even further. The place had changed hands several times since Natasha had last been there and with dingy lighting, faded soft furnishings and floors that your feet stuck to as you walked, it looked as if it had seen better times.

  Still, there was a dance floor and music - and that was all the girls needed really.

  Sonja and Natasha immediately made a beeline for the dance floor and began grooving wildly to an obscure 70s track. In no mood to join them, Kerry found a seat on the edge of the dance floor, wishing she was at home with a cup of hot chocolate and a Friends video.

  IS SHE REALLY YOUR BEST MATE?

  She’s meant to be your best mate, but lately she’s been more like an enemy. We’ve all been in Kerry’s shoes at one time or another! Put your friendship to the test with our top quiz…

  Nobody’s perfect, but a real friend is someone who you should be able to trust, who should always be there for you and who you can feel totally relaxed with.

  Read the following and decide whether each statement is TRUE or FALSE for you - then see if your best friend’s actually doing her job!

  1. Does she make you feel happy?

  “There are times when she makes me feel inadequate.”

  “She often snaps at me.”

  “I get the feeling I’m boring her.”

  “She takes the mick out of me constantly.”

  “She laughs at a lot of my opinions.”

  “It’s like she tries to outdo me all the time.”

  2. How loyal is she?

  “She’s started to spend more time with her other mates, instead of me.”

  “I sometimes think she’s talking about me behind my back.”

  “She’s easily impressed with other people, and swayed by their opinions.”

  “She sometimes puts me down in front of others.”

  “She’s let me down more than once lately.”

  “She seems to have private jokes and conversations with other friends - and I’m not included.”

  3. Are the bonds between you still strong?

  “We don’t seem to be as close as we once were.”

  “She can be pretty secretive, as if she doesn’t want me to share things.”

  “I used to tell her everything, but don’t feel like I can now.”

  “I don’t know what she’s thinking any more.”

  “We argue more than we used to.”

  “We don’t hang out as much as we used to.”

  4. Does she take advantage of you?

  “She expects me to drop everything when she’s in the mood to hang out.”

  “She’s always too busy telling me about her life to listen to what’s going on in mine.”

  “She just expects me to go along with her plans all the time.”

  “She sometimes comes out with hurtful comments without meaning to, as if she hasn’t thought before she’s opened her mouth.”

  “She’s always telling me how brilliant another friend is without ever saying anything nice about me.”

  “I think my feelings come way down her list of priorities.”

  COUNT UP HOW MANY TIMES YOU ANSWERED


  TRUE AND HOW MANY TIMES YOU ANSWERED

  FALSE FOR EACH SECTION. THEN TURN THE PAGE TO SEE WHAT IT MEANS…

  SO, IS SHE A GREAT MATE OR NOT?

  If you answered TRUE once or twice in each section

  Don’t panic - your friendship is still pretty solid. So, you’ve got the odd little niggle, but it’s nothing the two of you can’t sort out during a girls’-night-in with giant bag of tortilla chips and a good heart-to-heart chat.

  And while your mate might have her faults, are you entirely guilt-free? Or could you be overreacting to the situation?

  Is that what’s happening with Kerry? Or is she right to worry about what’s going on with her friendship?

  If you answered TRUE three or more times in each section

  Your friendship could be failing. If you’ve shared good times in the past, then it’s probably worth trying to work your hassles out - so get her round to your place and tell her straight how she’s been letting you down and getting you down.

  But of course, being that up front with someone is often easier said than done, as Kerry’s finding out…

  Sugar

  SECRETS…

  …& Rivals

  FRIENDS!

  Kerry can count on Sonja 100% — they’ve been best friends forever.

  BETRAYAL!

  Then Ollie’s sister turns up and things just aren’t the same any more.

  RIVALS!

  How can Kerry possibly hope to compete with the glamorous Natasha…?

  Some secrets are just too good to keep to yourself!

  www.fireandwater.com