Page 51 of House of Bass

“Wow.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Both of them laughed, she truly was like a manic pixie come to life. Once their laughter died down they faced each other like they were seeing one another for the first time that night. Harley took account of the faint glitter that lingered on Scarlett’s eyeshadow, it matched the colour of her shirt.

“Hi.”

“Hey.”

“Did you know that the first notable recorded comet in England was in 1066 after King Harold’s coronation which served as a powerful omen so they made the decision to put it on the Bayeux Tapestry?” Harley said.

“Thank you for the history lesson, Encylopaedia. I didn’t know that, I was a bit shit in history.”

“I was brilliant in history. An expert if you will,” she said the last bit teasingly at the comment Anika made earlier.

Scarlett grinned, “I only said that because you know everything about anything and clearly I wasn’t wrong.”

Harley accepted that because she was right, but it was also worth it to mention that she had an eidetic memory. “Eternally willing to serve as your human Internet.”

“How did you meet Ani?” she asks after.

“She’s friends with Lily. Their parents were best friends growing up, so they have always been in each other’s lives.”

Harley wasn’t aware of that. “Is Lily attending TUL next year?”

Scarlett nodded, “She’s applying for the scholarship. She can’t afford it otherwise.”

“I hope she gets in.”

A comfortable silence ensued. “I’m a little surprised to see you here. This doesn’t really count as an exciting or real comet, definitely no Halley so…” Harley drawed out, her question obvious.

“Why did I come? I knew you’d be here,” Scarlett answered with a shrug. She said it so plainly that she didn’t realise she had rocked Harley’s world by admitting she came out to the most ridiculous gathering in the hopes of seeing her. Especially because she was here for the same reason.

“Cool.” Aiming for casualness but a smile peeked through regardless.

“Come on expert, show me how to get a look at this thing. At least while Ani distracts them.”

She linked their arms but as they were about to go to an empty telescope, as a good half of the students were now drinking and chatting amongst themselves, she felt a hand yank her away.

Annabel.

She hijacked her without a word but a scathing look aimed at Scarlett and started to drag her across the open field. Her golden hair flew in different angles.

“Let go of my fucking arm,” Harley said through clenched teeth and she obeyed. Annabel was annoyed, that much was apparent by the way she had been initially stomped away.

“You lied to me.”

“I didn’t lie. I told you I saw a friend, she’s a friend.”

“Omission of details still counts as a lie.”

“This is childish. I’m allowed to have friends.”

“Of course, but why does it have to be her?” Annabel whined.

“Because your friends all have trust funds stuck down their throats and it’s nice to talk to a normal person.”

They had a standoff, people walked by them trying to listen in on their conversations but neither of them paid them any mind. Eventually, Annabel relented. “Fine but I just have to add in my sage opinion that I still don’t think she’s any good for you.”