Chapter Three
The deli bell jingles above me as I walk through the door.
Oh, this place is cute. It must be a relatively new addition to the town, because it wasn’t here on the main street when I was growing up.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee alone is enough to comfort me – well, it was coffee shops that kept me going back when I was in London, so it makes me feel weirdly at home. Also, I can see the pastries from here, and I just know that they’re going to turn my day around.
I spot Mel immediately, sitting at a table opposite the counter. She looks great – not just happy but fancy with it, with long eyelashes, perfectly manicured nails, and make-up that could have been done by a professional.
‘Leah!’ Mel calls out, jumping up to greet me with a hug. ‘Oh my God, it’s been forever.’
‘Hi,’ I say, squeezing her back. ‘I know, it feels like a million years.’
‘Well, I got you a milkshake and a muffin – just like old times,’ she tells me, pointing at the items on the table. Oh, they look good.
‘Wow, you look amazing, Mel,’ I say, genuinely impressed.
‘Thanks, Leah. It takes an army,’ she insists with a casual bat of her hand. ‘How have you been?’
‘Fine,’ I reply, trying to muster a smile. I’m going to have to do better than that. ‘I mean, great, yeah.’
Mel takes her seat and gestures for me to join her.
‘I've got so much to tell you!’ she says excitedly. ‘I have a boyfriend now – Eric. He owns The Hopeful Ghost, and he thinks it’s hilarious that we used to under-age drink there, because honestly, he’s such a baby about ID-ing people these days. I worked there, for a bit, but I quit recently because I'm started my own business.’
‘Really? What are you doing?’ I ask, genuinely curious.
‘I'm opening a beauty treatment place,’ she replies. ‘I figured, I spend a fortune on all this shit, so if I open my own place then not only will I be making that money, but I can get all of my stuff done for free. I'll be offering everything from eyebrow waxing to pedicures – and everything in between – and I’m even planning on offering Botox, if you’re interested.’
Presumably, she means that in a general way, not because I look like I need it, although it has been a rough few months.
‘In fact, if you're in the mood for a makeover, I'd love to do it – for free of course,’ she tells me. ‘I still need portfolio work.’
‘Aww, that’s very kind of you, thank you,’ I tell her – not that I’m planning to take her up on her offer anytime soon.
‘God, we have so much to catch up on,’ she tells me – and this is the part I’ve been dreading. ‘But I think what you really need, first, is a night out. Before we get into the nitty-gritty of everything, we should have some fun.’
I’m relieved to have been thrown a lifeline, as far as catching up goes, but I really, really don’t fancy a night out.
I open my mouth to protest but Mel holds up a hand to stop me.
‘Listen, Leah, I need to say something, to get the awkward part out of the way,’ she begins. ‘I have a new best friend.’
I stifle a laugh because she looks like she’s being serious.
‘It's okay, Mel. I figured you’d have moved on since we were kids,’ I reply, hopefully reassuring her.
Mel shakes her head, looking slightly uncomfortable.
‘It’s Angie,’ she says simply. ‘Remember her?’
Angie?! The girl who used to pick on me at school – that Angie? Mel and I never liked her. The idea that they are friends now feels surreal, but then again, people grow up, right?
‘Wow, that’s a surprise,’ I tell her. ‘But that’s great.’
Mel sighs.
‘The most awkward part isn’t that we’re friends,’ she continues – Jesus Chris, what is she going to say next? ‘Angie is married with two kids, and she's married to Tim.’
My eyes widen for a second before I quickly withdraw my reaction. Tim was my boyfriend, briefly, when I was in year 11. It’s really not a big deal but the fact that she’s pointing it out makes it seem like it is.
‘It’s fine, Mel. Everyone moves on,’ I insist, hoping I sound convincing.
Mel smiles, clearly relieved.
‘Good, because Angie is here,’ she blurts. ‘I thought it’d be good for the three of us to hang out. Imagine, being part of a fun little trio – sort of like the Sex and the City girls, just without the boring one.
I’ve seen that show and I would really love to know which on she considers the boring one.
As Mel waves at the window, I turn around and see Angie standing outside. Mel gives her a wave, gesturing for her to join us, so Angie comes running in.
You know how at school you have different types of girls – the cool one, the pretty one, the smart one, the one that’s good at sports. Yeah, well, Angie was every single one of them at our school. I used to be jealous of her, to secretly wish that I looked more like her – and it’s strange, because obviously she is still attractive, but she just looks like any other woman on the street. In fact, she looks exactly like I remember her mum looking, back when we were kids.
Angie envelops me in a hug, - something I wasn’t expecting, although that very much seems to be the theme of the day.
‘Leah, it’s been ages!’ she says as she holds me close.
‘Yeah, it really has,’ I say, managing a smile. So long, in fact, that Angie seems to have had a personality transplant.
‘I invited Leah out with us tonight,’ Mel tells her. ‘We’re thinking of going to The Ghost for a drink or five.’
Angie’s face lights up.
‘That’s perfect!’ Angie says. ‘Tim is working tonight – Leah, you remember Tim? He works at the Ghost with Eric – and my mum has the kids tonight so I’m free as a bird.’
Does everyone have kids and then dump them on their own parents, I wonder?
I open my mouth to make an excuse, but nothing comes quickly enough.
‘Come on, Leah, we’re all adults now, it’s about time we made friends,’ Angie says, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I would have been her friend, back at school, if she hadn’t been such a cow.
‘Okay,’ I agree reluctantly – well, what else can I say?
Mel stands up.
‘Fab. I’ll grab you a milkshake and a muffin, Angie. Be right back.’
Now it is just me and Angie. I smile at her, trying to think of something to say, but Angie beats me to it.
‘Leah, just a friendly reminder – Tim is mine now. Hands off,’ she says, laughing it off as a joke, but there is a glint in her eye that clearly suggests otherwise.
Okay, I take it back, perhaps we’re not all grown-ups now. This is going to be fun.