I can see why Alice and Nat were having an in-depth about her earlier. I might not think much of Dylan but if he was my best friend, I’d be wary of his new date too. She’s definitely a bit annoying.
‘Sure, sure,’ Alice bats back. ‘Dylan, why don’t you explain to Octavia that some brilliant, creative things happen north of the capital.’
Dylan looks uncharacteristically nervous.
‘Goes without saying, Pickle,’ he says. ‘I’m from Sheffield for a start!’
‘And Zach, too. I had no idea the provinces could produce such fantastic talent!’ Octavia giggles.
The provinces. No wonder the art world gets a bad name where there are snobs like Octavia working in the industry.
‘Who’s for another game?’ I step in before Alice puts Octavia at the top of her hit list.
Half an hour later Alice and I are watching Octavia and Natalie finish a game together.
‘Natalie looks like she might shove that ping pong ball where the sun doesn’t shine,’ Alice chuckles.
Natalie throws her hands in the air as she wins. ‘Yeah! Well done Nat,’ Alice cheers.
‘Thank you,’ she says, taking a bow. ‘And with that, I’m going to leave the couples to it. Have a fun rest of evening.’
Octavia grabs a seat next to me and Dylan challenges Alice to a quick fire round of ping pong which has them racing around the table, one batting then running to the other side to bat back. It looks quite complicated to me but that might have something to do with the fact that I’m on my fourth beer. Alice is roaring with laughter as she chases Dylan round the table and I sit back, quietly wishing I was the one she was having fun with. But that’s ridiculous, I invited her friends for a reason and it’s good to see her having such a good time, even if I do feel a bit left out.
Sitting next to Octavia isn’t helping. She seems to have overcome her disdain for the plastic seating options and is now sitting uncomfortably close to me, causing Dylan to shoot daggers in our direction every time he looks over.
‘You’re very popular tonight,’ he says at one point.
‘What?’ But he’s back to ping pong with Alice and doesn’t answer. She looks so happy as she plays and my old friend self-doubt creeps in. Is she ever that happy when we’re together? Do I make her laugh as hard as Dylan does? I kick my foot absent-mindedly on the chair leg opposite me. I suppose that’s what you get when your girlfriend’s best mate tells jokes for a living.
I should have more faith in myself, I know, but the combination of beers and Dylan’s evident annoyance at my existence are unsettling. Once again I’m sat on the sidelines watching other people have fun. Once again I’m left feeling like the awkward kid at school, the one who everyone thought was weird because I was so quiet. They didn’t realise that I was only quiet because I was worried about what I might say and how I might come across. I spent so long racking my brains thinking of the right thing to say that I’d miss my opportunity or, worse, I’d speak too soon and then feel mortified about it.
I clear my throat, turning back to Octavia and trying to focus on her as she lists people we may have in common.
‘Clara, of course you must know her? Fellow Northerners and all! She’s doing brilliant things bringing art and magazines together.’
Having my ex dragged into the situation is the last thing I need. I know that Alice is working on her wedding flowers but we’ve agreed not to talk about it, for both of our sakes. I take another swig of beer as Dylan strides over.
‘You two look like you’re getting on like a house on fire,’ he says.
‘We’ve got so much in common,’ Octavia pats my hand lightly.
‘Have you now?’ Dylan’s doing a bad job at not scowling. I stand up, slightly woozy and wanting to get out of this weirdly tense atmosphere.
‘You okay mate?’ he says, just aggressive enough for only me to notice.
‘Where’s Alice?’
‘Loo,’ Dylan grabs a chair and I find myself sitting back down. ‘So, you’ve been bonding over art have you?’
‘Just talking about a mutual friend, Clara,’ Octavia says.
‘Isn’t she your ex?’ Dylan asks.
‘How did you know—’
‘Pickle told me all about it,’ Dylan replies without waiting for me to finish my sentence. ‘Sounds like it caused a lot of hurt.’ Byit, he meansme.Ihurt Alice when she found out that my last relationship was a messy one, that’s what he’s trying to say.
‘I’m going to head to the bar,’ I announce, not wanting to dignify Dylan’s comment with a response. As I get up, he calls after me.
