Spark (2 page)

****

Music blares from the Cassie’s house, and I nearly pee my pants when my stilt-like heels skate on the sloped gravel driveway, almost knocking me on my arse like one of those wafer-thin supermodels tripping on the catwalk. Now I know why these heels were at the
back
of my wardrobe.

Composing myself, I knock on the door. It remains unanswered for at least a minute, so I walk inside the entry, and through to the kitchen. “Hello,” I shout to be heard above the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Cassie comes around the corner, and lets out an impressive wolf whistle. “Got the legs out, I see,” she teases.

I shrug my shoulders. “Well, you’re always nagging me to.” I can’t see what the big deal is. They’re just legs.

Cassie gives me a wide smile. “I’m glad you’re finally starting to listen. You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks. You too,” I say, giving her a hug. Cassie’s little black shift dress looks like a style from the sixties
and
she has her legs out, too, with a pair of red strappy heels wrapped around her delicate golden ankles. She looks amazing.

“C’mon, let’s go shopping.”

First stop is the liquor store, where Cassie buys a pack of cigarettes, and a bottle of
Stolichnaya
Vodka.
Holy hell.
What a combination
. We buy some limes from the supermarket, and we’re done.

Cassie drives like a madwoman back to the house, and I squeal loudly as her car skids into the driveway, showering the neighbour’s roses in a fine layer of dust.

Yeah. This is gonna be fun.

****

Second drink down, with my limbs turning jelly-like, we decide to eat something otherwise our night will be over way too soon. I perch on a barstool at the kitchen bench, while Cassie assembles a plate of cheese and crackers. We enjoy a minute or two of silence while we feed our faces, and, as if on cue, we look at each other and giggle. Cassie’s nagged me for so long to do this, I don’t think either of us believes it’s actually happening.

We move outside to the courtyard, Cassie flicking on the outdoor gas heater between our chairs.

Over the next hour or two, the vodkas go down nicely. Cassie gulps it down like water, but I can’t keep the same pace. I am
not
a seasoned drinker, and tonight I’m not gonna pretend to be. I need to ease into this whole drinking-and-going-out scene.

Cassie’s face softens. “How’s your mum doin’?”

Guilt seeps into my bones, like it was simply lying dormant under the surface. “Yeah, she’s good. I still feel bad for moving out, but she’ll be okay.”

As tough as it had been at home, I only left when I knew Mum could stand on her feet. But no matter how much time passes, I’m still haunted by that day. No child should ever have to see its parent like that.

I’m here. I promise I won’t leave you, Mum. Just tell me what I need to do. I don’t know how to help. Please. Tell me.

“How do you like living out of home?”
Good, a change of subject.

“I love it, but it’s kinda weird only having myself to take care of. Looking after my brothers was never ending. Now, I have all this spare time on my hands.” Maintaining a family of six was by far the most challenging thing I’d ever had to do. Mum was a freakin’ superwoman incarnate to do it as long as she did.

“Yeah, there’s nothing like moving out for the first time. Now you can get out, and do all the things you should’ve been doing. We’ll have to find you a handsome fella,
then
you’ll have something to do with your time … and your hands.”

I roll my eyes at her. Has she any idea how hard that’s going to be?

“Well, you don’t want to be single forever, do you?” she teases.

I stare deep into her intense, dark-caramel eyes. “
Really?
Did you have to go there? Of course I don’t want to be single forever. Fuck. It’s not like I’ve had the time to scale the earth for the perfect man.” Not when the bookshelf has been so convenient.

I’m only human. I have needs and desires, but I’ve been so tied up taking care of everyone else, what I
need
and what I
want
seem long forgotten. I
want
passion. I
want
to lose myself with someone, just like I’ve read about, and I want it so bad it bleeds. When I see how happy Cassie and Crystal are in their relationships, it makes me crave it all the more.

Cassie lights up a cigarette. “You’ll find one. You’ve just gotta put yourself out there. When was the last time you at least kissed a guy?”

Last night. Brayden. He was fantastic, but we did more than just kiss.
That mouth of his … gah!

But I know she means the last time I kissed a
real
guy. Unfortunately, the reality of the last time is nowhere near as exciting.

“The last one was Alex … you know, from the gym.” I’d met him during the first week I’d joined. You could call it luck that he showed an interest, but I think he just sniffed the fresh meat on the gym floor.

She gasps. “God, like six months ago?”

I shoot her a dirty look. “Gimme a break. I’m not exactly fending them off.” Book boyfriends yes, real men … where do I find one of those?

“Well I’m glad it didn’t go anywhere with him. He’s creepy-old, and I don’t like him.”

Eleven years is a big gap, by anyone’s standards. But that’s not
creepy
, is it? Someone old enough to be my father—
that’s
creepy. I wonder what Alex thought of me being that much younger. It was probably a complete turn-off. A violent shudder runs through me. I’m SO glad I haven’t bumped into him since then. Hopefully, I never will again.

“You’ve made it pretty clear what you think, Cassie.” There was definitely something about him, though, apart from his good looks.
Something
that drew me in. His arrogance should have sent alarm bells ringing, or the fact that Cassie told me to be wary, but I liked him anyway. I don’t know why I was surprised when he got bored of me and moved on.

“Speaking of men, Jeremy’s flying home on Sunday.” A glorious smile spreads across her face.
Jeremy, the pilot
. The new boyfriend.

We’re always drooling over our favourite occupations, usually firemen, more recently landscape gardeners, but pilots are right up there. I may have also daydreamed about Jeremy the pilot … only once or twice, but I would never tell her that. Cassie is definitely smitten. Her eyes come over all dazed and mystified whenever she talks about him.

“Maybe, if you’re lucky, he’ll have his uniform on when he comes over,” I say, raising my eyebrows up and down. There’s nothing like a man in uniform, although I have a particular fixation with tradesmen. I can’t help it when they’re in the office most days, picking up keys to do repairs at the properties we manage. It’s one of the few perks of my job.

“Yeah, that
would
be good, but he won’t be wearing it for long.” Cassie winks.

I give her a shy smile, resisting the urge to imagine her boyfriend naked.
Too late.

I inwardly shake my head.
So not cool, Eevie
.

“Did you end up talking to your
friend
about the flowers?” she asks, and my stomach backflips after her last word.

Oh. I’d forgotten about
that
. I frown. “No,” I say simply.

“Did you even ring and thank him?”

Whoops. That’s not like me. “No, you’ve had me pre-occupied.”

“Is he hot?” she asks, taking a final drag of her smoke, and stubbing it out in the pot plant beside her.

What?

“Cassie,” I growl. Jon certainly isn’t bad looking, I’d just never
looked
at him like that.

“Got any photos of him?”
Why won’t she let this go?

I scroll through my phone, enlarging a photo of him. His blond hair is a bit longer and wavier than normal, and his blue-green eyes sparkle with his slightly crooked smile.

Cassie raises a perfectly-shaped brow. “Mmm, just as I suspected. He’s cute. I’ll fix us another drink. We need to talk about this boy some more.”
Great.

Cassie walks inside, and I secretly hope she forgets about Jon by the time she comes back.

“Well, wouldn’t you know! We’ve finished the bottle.” Cassie holds the empty bottle upside down, and frowns.
Conversation avoided
. “Let’s go out.”

She spins on her heels, the bottle clanging against the door frame as she returns inside. I hear muffled sounds of her giving address details as I join her. “Yes … we’re ready now.” She hangs up the phone. “The taxi’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Okay, I’ll just go to the bathroom.”

I glance in the mirror, and pat my clammy hands against my flaming cheeks.
Thank you, vodka
. I put on some lip-gloss, and lean on the basin to stare closer at my reflection. I’ve been to nightclubs a few times before, but this time it feels different. Now, I am free.

A car beeps its horn, setting my heart racing. We race outside and slide into the backseat of the cab. “Orchid Lounge, please,” Cassie directs the driver.

When we arrive, Cassie hands the driver a note and ushers me out, pushing my purse against me as I try to pay. The enticing wave of music kicks my heart rate up a notch. Cassie grabs my hand, and we walk to the front of the line. She beams at the suit on the door, and he smiles and kisses her on each cheek, muttering something in another language, Italian maybe. He gives me a devilish smile, unhooks the rope, and ushers us in. I avoid eye contact with anyone in the line. I can’t stand queue jumpers, and now I’m one of them.

“That’s what I call service,” I say to Cassie, impressed.

Cassie blinds me with her white teeth. “Antonio is one of my clients, and I look after his property
very
well. He’s also part-owner of the club.”

She pulls me through the crowd to the circle-shaped bar. The club is modern, with murals of purple orchids on the walls, dark timber floors, and leather booths. It definitely looks like the place to be, and attracts a good-looking crowd.
Is the man of my dreams here tonight?

“It’s my shout,” I yell at Cassie, trying to be heard over the music. “Two vodkas with fresh lime and water please,” I say as soon as a handsome bartender looks my way and smiles.
Cute on a stick.
I do my best not to drool over him as he gets our drinks. Cassie sways to the music beside me, flashing her wide smile to the occasional face she must recognise. You could expect to see her on the cover of a magazine, with her delicate features and flawless skin. Her sleek burgundy bob shines beneath the light, and she
totally
rocks that dress.

The barman winks as I pay for the drinks. I stand there and smile like an idiot, wondering if he’s being friendly or if he actually thinks I’m cute. Whatever it is, he’s made my night. Maybe there’s hope for this bookworm yet.

But there’s a problem here. I seriously need to learn how to flirt. I’m sure that with a bit more confidence, and spending more time out with Cassie, I’ll be able to do just that. Tonight is merely the beginning.

After quickly finishing our drinks, Cassie takes my hand and leads me through the crowd to the dance floor, brushing several bodies along the way. The music reverberates through my body as the fast paced techno beat works its magic, the stress of the week starting to melt away.

Dancing like maniacs, we shake our bodies on the floor for what seems like an eternity. Truth be told, I’m pretty exhausted, but sense the weight I’ve been carrying is beginning to lighten. I know I have to let it go, but having carried it for so long, I don’t want to make any sudden moves. I take one of Cassie’s cigarettes and suck in a long drag, like I do it all the time. It burns the back of my throat, and I’m hit with a major head spin … or is that the alcohol?

At close to two am, the club is still packed.

“You’re a freakin’ dancing machine, Eevie, but I think it’s home time,” Cassie says, draping her arm over my shoulder.

“Yeah, let’s go,” I say, grateful for an out. Cassie puts her hand in mine, and leads me out the back entrance into an alleyway. Foggy breath spills from my mouth, and my body involuntarily shudders, like I’ve just walked into a deep freezer. I know it was time for some fresh air, but this is ridiculous.

“It’s fucking freezing,” Cassie says, wincing.

“Yeah, Canberra winter sucks,” I say, shivering. The temperature is such a contrast to the heat on the dance floor, with all those sweaty bodies moving around. I was one of them only moments ago, and I can’t wait to do it again. Cassie and I huddle together as we walk to the taxi rank.

“Good night?” she asks.

A wide smile spreads across my face. “Yeah. Great night … thanks.”

“Anytime, girl.”

****

Sunlight beams into the room, taunting me to wake up. With this much light, there’s no way I could possibly get back to sleep. In Cassie’s spare bed, sprawled out in a tangle of crisp white sheets and a mountain of pillows, the bathroom calls me. I prop myself up on my elbows. My head throbs.
Ahh!
I have a cracking headache. Running my teeth over my tongue, I almost gag at the deathly taste in my mouth … oh … the cigarettes.
Yuck!
I cough to clear my throat, and find my way to the bathroom.

A tired girl with smudged mascara and lipstick stares back at me in the mirror. Ha! I’m still fully clothed. I
literally
went straight to bed. When I finish up in the bathroom, I dawdle into the kitchen for water. As I fill my glass, Cassie walks in.

“How are we feeling this morning, Miss Lawson?” Cassie asks, the corner of her mouth curling up. She scoops me into a hug. “Last night was fun,” she whispers in my ear.

“Yeah, but remind me,
Miss Clark
, to give the cigarettes a miss next time. I feel like some disease-riddled animal crawled up and died in my mouth.”

Cassie lets out a loud laugh. “Deal. I know I’ve gotta give them up. Do you want anything for brekkie? I’ve got raisin toast, cereal … eggs if you want,” Cassie says, waving her hand towards the pantry.