Hello World (17 page)

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?

Why do I care?

I lean against the cooling glass of the club, my head starting
to throb.

I decide it must be the alcohol. There is no other explanation
for
this
.

Feeling ridiculous, I wrap my arms around me and start walking.
I don’t own a car, or know how to drive, but there must be a bus or something
around here. My feet choose the direction for me and I press my palm against my
forehead as it starts to pulse a migraine.

As I get further from the club, my head begins to clear and I
feel my body learning to breathe again.
Blake
is just a guy,
I chant.
Blake is just
a guy, get a grip
.

It’s then that I notice someone is following me and a shiver
crawls over my skin.

Someone lets out a low wolf-whistle behind me and I freeze all
over again, slowly turning around and praying that it’s just Nathan trying to
wind me up.

It’s not Nathan.

Instead, two guys start to approach me, both twice my size with
beers in their hands, their jeans halfway down their hips and a drunken sway to
their swagger. The taller one sniggers.

‘Hey girlie, does your mother know you’re out this late?’ he
coos, his gaze travelling from my face downwards.

Actually, my mother’s dead, so
I guess she couldn’t care less
, I think
darkly as fear starts to sober me further, jumbling my insides.

‘Sorry fellas, I’m really not in the mood for this tonight,’ I
say dryly, trying for a bored expression when really my mind is fizzling before
me.

I take a step back and rapidly try to remember what on earth I’m
supposed to do. Scream and run? Yell fire? Curl into a foetal position and hope
my prince charming comes striding in on a noble stead?

‘Aw, don’t be like that. We’re only after a little bit of fun,’
the second jeers, taking a few steps closer towards me.

‘Too bad really, she’s taken.’ A furious, male voice cuts
through the panic clouding my mind and I look up to see Blake standing behind
the two guys, the street lamps lighting him up from behind and casting his
silhouette in light. Two other shapes linger behind him and as they come into
focus I see Cole rolling up his sleeves and Nathan looking around with slight
amusement. He winks at me and I narrow my eyes into daggers, sending them in
his direction. His lips twitch upwards.

‘Huh,’ one of the guys muses. ‘You should keep her on a better
leash, mate. You never know who’s walking around at night,’ he snickers again,
making a move towards me.

Now Nathan’s expression hardens, and he takes a step forward.

‘I swear to God-’ Blake threatens, crossing the space between
him and the second guy in several effortless strides.

‘You’ll do what?’ the guy growls, cutting Blake off and marching
forward to meet him.

‘I’ll ram my heel up where the sun don’t shine so fast you won’t
be able to walk for years,’ a female voice snarls. Dixie appears beside Cole,
her usually bubbly figure now rigid and ready for anything.

She isn’t wearing high-heels exactly, but the heels of her heavy
combat boots are enough to make the guys think twice.

The second guy chuckles and sneers down at Blake before backing
off and muttering to his mate something about me not being worth it after all.

The five of us stay planted in our spots, not moving until the
two men are out of sight.

All I want to do is burst into tears.

‘Well… I think that’s the most exciting thing that’s happened
all night,’ Dixie says at last.

I just stare at her before turning around and walking away,
adding humiliation to my list of things that have gone wrong tonight. Everything
in me is shaking and I press my nails down hard into the palm of my hand to try
and steady everything.

Faintly, I hear the boys arguing before footsteps hurry up
behind me. I manage to wipe at my eyes just before Blake dives in front of me,
blocking my way.

‘Where on earth are you going?’ he asks desperately. At least he
doesn’t have Charity’s lipstick imprint on him; that may have pushed me
overboard. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Home,’ I say bluntly, ignoring the “are you okay?” part of it.
‘Turns out I’m not really feeling the party scene.’ I try to move around him
but Blake mirrors my movements.

‘You’re going to walk?’ he retorts, folding his arms and raising
an eyebrow. I just narrow my eyes at him and he puts his hands up in surrender.
‘Okay, okay. Look, what just happened in the club-’