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Hearing myself be referred to as Caiden’s girlfriend put a huge smile on my face. I knew he called me his girl, and we were exclusive, but I didn’t think we’d ever referred to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend before.
&n
bsp; I liked it. A lot.
Showered, using the bathroom in Lena’s bedroom, I finished blow-drying my hair and dressed in the short, tight, sparkly black-and-silver dress I’d bought for the occasion. A knock sounded at the door just as I was smoothing it down, hoping it covered enough of my legs to look like a dress rather than a top. I’d rather not end up flashing my underwear at Cassius’ parents if I could help it.
“Come in,” I called, and in walked Lena, carrying a metal case in her hand, a bottle tucked under her arm, and a pair of champagne flutes dangling from her fingers. Back in black again, she had on a short pleated skirt, with fishnet tights and chunky platform shoes, and a loose black T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. It had a sparkly sequin skull on the front, so I guess it was kind of festive. For Lena, anyway.
“Thanks for letting me crash here. Are you sure it’s okay?” I asked as she carelessly shoved a computer keyboard and a large pot of colourful pens aside, placing the bottle and glasses in front of the huge monitor on her desk.
“Yeah, it’s going to be fun. We all squash in together on New Year’s Eve—saves getting a cab home. We’ll probably end up with a few more girls in here.” She expertly popped open the champagne and managed to pour us two glasses, all without spilling a drop. Carrying my glass and the case over to me, she set them on the bedside table. “There’s yours. Let’s do make-up.”
We both beamed at each other. I’d never really done the whole getting ready for parties or nights out with my friends until I’d met Kinslee, and it was fun to be girly and just hang out and play around with make-up for a change.
“You’re not going for the whole goth look tonight, are you?” I teased Lena, as she sat herself on the bed next to me.
“It’s New Year’s Eve. I might introduce a bit of colour to my make-up palette.” Opening up the case, she started pulling out various tubes and pots, holding them up to my face. She looked so happy, I just let her get on with it.
“I so wish I had a sister,” she sighed, brushing a base layer over my face with a soft sponge.
“Yeah, me too. I was an only child; it was just me and my dad, so I don’t even know what it’s like to have siblings.” I sat silently, eyes closed as she brushed a base over my eyelids, then continued. “Saying that, it was nice, being just me and dad. And now, although I miss my dad so fucking much, and I still cry myself to sleep sometimes, I have this whole family who I’m not related to by blood but I feel closer to than anyone else. Your brother being one of them. You’re lucky to have him.”
She gave another sigh, then pulled a face. “Yeah, I suppose. I bet he annoys me more than you, though.”
“Oh, I’m sure he does. Isn’t that what big brothers are meant to do?”
“Yeah. Speaking of my brother.” She lowered her voice, even though no one else was in the room. “He mentioned you were in hospital. Are you, you know, okay? I didn’t really know you to ask before, but I wanted to know.”
I nodded slowly, not sure what to say. “I’m all good. He told you what happened to me?”
“No,” she was quick to reassure me. “It was an accident, really. We were doing one of our video chat things where he likes to phone me and annoy me about homework or whatever. West appeared in the background when we were talking, and I heard him say your name, and he asked if Cass could drive him to the hospital. I don’t think he realised Cass was on the phone.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, I had an accident. But I’m fine now. Totally healed.”
She eyed me for a moment, a torn expression on her face, clearly wanting to ask more, but at the same time, unsure whether she should. After a moment her face cleared, and she squared her shoulders. “Good. I’m glad you’re okay.” Handing me an eyeshadow palette, she changed the subject. “Pick a colour, and I’ll do your eyes for you.”
We were interrupted by a knock at the door, and both called “come in” at the same time. A mass of caramel hair, curvy body, and sparkly gold dress barrelled in, and I shouted, flinging myself off the bed and launching myself at Kinslee. We hugged each other, laughing, before I pulled back, flopping back down onto the bed.
“I wasn’t expecting you to get here until later.” I pointed towards the champagne bottle on the desk as she stepped out of her shoes.
“Just gonna grab a glass,” she called over her shoulder, heading into the bathroom and returning with an empty water glass, which she filled with champagne and held up towards us in a toast. “Cheers! Yeah, we left early because heavy snow was forecast, and my brother didn’t want to drive back through it.” She sank to the floor, stretching her legs out. “Anyway, don’t let me interrupt you guys. Carry on.”
“Do you two know each other?” I asked curiously, knowing that Kinslee hadn’t mixed in these circles before I came along. They both shook their heads—they knew who the other was but had never been officially introduced.
After ten minutes or so, we were all chatting like old friends, thanks to Kinslee’s natural warmth and open, friendly demeanour. The champagne was going down nicely, and Kinslee had persuaded Lena to try a different make-up style. Still heavy on the eyeliner, because that was just Lena, but her long lashes were curled and she had on sparkling silver eyeshadow and a sparkly lip gloss on her lips, which were painted a pale pink to match her hair. I had similar makeup, only with less eyeliner and more glitter. I then dusted us all with shimmering powder that I found in the make-up case, and just for fun, sprayed glitter spray in our hair.
“We look like disco balls,” I commented as we stood in front of the large mirror in the corner of the room.
“We have to bring the sparkle, it’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s do a selfie to commemorate the occasion. Shoes on,” Kinslee commanded and stepped back into her skyscraper heels. I grabbed my stripper shoes, as I called them—the kind with a clear plastic heel and platform sole—and slid them on my feet, making me feel tall for a change. Kinslee stood in the middle, me and Lena either side of her with our arms loosely linked around her, our champagne glasses held up in our other hands, and we took a series of selfies, pouting and laughing and blowing kisses at the camera.
“Who knew being all girly could be so much fun?” Lena mused as we made our way down the corridor and up the white polished stone stairs to the upper floor where the main party was happening.
Kinslee laughed, linking her arm through Lena’s. “Not me. But I can safely say, we are totally doing that again.”
I was about to reply when a familiar shiver went down my spine, and as I emerged on the upper floor, my gaze was drawn straight to his.
Fuck. Me. Sideways.
