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“I’ll take a strut in the corridor and raise you a flounce past the common room.”
Her smile broadens to infinity, eyes sparkling with joy. “You’re on. Winner gets a catcall.”
Giving up any pretence that we’re still getting ready, we leave her room, walking arm in arm along to the common room to jolt some rampant envy into proceedings. Failing that, maybe we can fish out a compliment or two. Something to keep our spirits buoyant all night.
“Looking good,” Harrison calls out. “Almost as good as Brooke.”
“Call that a compliment?” Marnie yells back, grinning.
“Don’t you?” Brooke says from behind me, making me jump a foot. “Being nearly as gorgeous as me sounds like the height of flattery.”
I sling my arm around her waist and give her a hug, feeling giddy and generous. This day has given me so much already and seems set to give me more.
“Careful. Feel me up too much and Harrison’ll get ideas.”
He sniggers. “Oh, believe me. He’s already got those.” He turns to me. “What d’you say, Paisley? Want to be our unicorn?”
“I’m good thanks. Battery powered boyfriends all the way.”
“If we’re adding another,” Brooke adds. “I vote for a second male.”
“Honey.” He holds his hands over his heart. “I thought I was your one and only.”
I turn away as they kiss, watching Floss walk past the room without even glancing in, clutching her laptop to her chest.
Not only is she no longer hanging with us but the gallons of friends she had in her year have abandoned her. It seems unlikely to be for the same reason, though perhaps there’s some weird code I don’t know about that demands a shunning.
When I turn back to the room, Marnie stares after her with a wistful expression. Her eyes drop to the floor, then she glances over to me, and I feed her the biggest smile I can, happy to have her back for a while.
“Ready to start the catwalk?” I ask, waving at a route across the floor.
She poses, sucking in her cheekbones to such impressive effect my mind feeds me the idea she’s a skeleton. My stomach pinches tight again, then I wink. “Come on, honey. Show us how it’s done.”
“What are you talking my girl into?” James says over my shoulder. He leans his hand on me, just a light touch but my skin crawls at the sensation and I squirm away. He shrugs as he moves past me, circling Marnie’s waist with his arm. “You look incredible. I’m jealous, sending you out to let other guys see you.”
“We can go to a female-only nightclub if you’re that worried.”
“Want to come to my room real quick? Give me a close-up to treasure.”
I wait for her to say no. He’s already stolen our mealtimes, he can’t have this, too.
But she turns to follow him, instead.
“Our car’s almost here,” I remind her. “By the time you get to his room, it’ll be here.”
“Don’t be selfish, Paisley.” James turns and winks at me, the rest of his face stony. “You can spare her for ten minutes since you’ll have her the remainder of the night.”
“Ten minutes, huh,” Harrison jibes. “You gonna do it twice?” From the glance James gives him, the boy just earned a space at the top of his shit list.
Disappointment grips me so hard, I stare at the floor for a full minute, unable to muster the energy to interact. Then Brooke gives me a shoulder nudge, and I haul a smile into place.
“You look fantastic. Is that dress one of Marnie’s?”
I shake my head but don’t elaborate, then she sees my shoes and gives a squeal. “Balenciaga witch boots? You’re kidding.” She delivers a mock slap. “Have you been fucking a millionaire on the sly? Those are gorgeous. Harrison.” She grabs him closer. “See those?”
“Yes. Remarkably, I haven’t gone blind in the last two seconds.”
“And remember my birthday?”
