13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough

be perfect. They were the same really. They were her peers, her classmates, and she loved them.
    Her phone buzzed. Aiden. He’d pick her up in ten minutes. Her smile stretched to a grin and her joy at the thought of seeing him sent another rush of drugged pleasure through her, making her shiver. Whatever it was, it was good shit. All the mellow of being stoned but with a clarity of perception. A pureness of emotion. So much warmth. She liked it. Maybe Aiden could score them some and they could do it together. And then they could do it together. She giggled aloud at her own joke.
    ‘What’s so funny?’
    Becca turned to see Natasha pulling the door to behind her.
    ‘Nothing. Just thinking silly thoughts.’
    ‘Good shit, isn’t it?’ Tasha said, sitting beside Becca on the step. Her pupils were dark and wide, black holes eating up the universe of her irises.
    ‘Yeah.’ Becca held out her cigarettes and Tasha shook her head. Despite having just put one out, Becca lit a second. The smoke felt good. It enhanced her rush. ‘You do it a lot?’
    ‘No. Just felt like letting go tonight.’
    ‘Don’t blame you.’
    ‘How come you’re out here?’
    ‘Waiting for Aiden,’ she answered. It wasn’t why she’d come out into the quiet, but it would do as an explanation.
    ‘Going already?’
    ‘Yeah, I’ve got shit to do tomorrow. Thanks for asking me, though – it’s been fun.’ She paused. ‘Even if Hayley and Jenny didn’t want me here.’
    Natasha’s face darkened and she let out a long breath, mist in the night. ‘They can be strange, but they’ve been nice over the past few days, like guard dogs around me – normal again.’
    ‘How do you mean?’ Becca watched her. ‘You guys not been getting on?’
    Natasha shrugged. ‘I’m not really sure. It’s just been odd.’ She squeezed Becca’s arm. ‘But everything that’s happened has made me look at things differently. I guess it’s why I wanted your friendship back. I just . . . It’s hard to explain. I thought of you when I woke up and knew I needed to make amends for being such a bitch.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it,’ Becca said. She actually meant it, too. Maybe it was the mandy, maybe it was that Tasha had nearly died, or maybe it was just too much water under the bridge. ‘We’ve grown up very different. We were probably always destined to go our separate ways. And you and Hayley and Jenny, well, you know. You were always going to be close.’
    Natasha shrugged and looked down at her shoes. ‘I suppose so. But we all change. Sometimes I think . . . I don’t know. They . . .’
    A car turned into the road and crawled towards them, the driver trying to spot the house numbers in the dark.
    ‘That’s Aiden.’ Becca got to her feet. But then she frowned and turned back. ‘They what?’
    ‘Oh, nothing. I’m just being stupid. I’m drunk. High. I’d better go back inside, anyway.’ She held out her hand and Becca pulled her up. ‘My adoring fans will wonder where I’ve got to. Well, Mark will, anyway.’ She pulled a vom face and they both grinned. ‘I’ve left him with Hayley. Maybe she’ll make a move and save me.’
    ‘He’s not so bad,’ Becca said. ‘You’re too hard on him.’ Aiden pulled up to the kerb and flashed his headlights. Becca waved and then turned to hug Tasha.
    ‘Thanks again.’
    ‘Enjoy the rest of your night,’ Tasha said with a wink. She looked towards the car. ‘I saw Aiden yesterday. He’s so different now. Like, all grown-up. What’s the score with you two? Is it a proper love thing?’
    Becca nodded. ‘Yeah. Yeah, it really is.’
    Tasha grinned. ‘Cool. Go fuck his brains out.’
    As they both giggled, Tasha leaned past Becca and waved.
    ‘Laters,’ Becca said and darted down the path.
    ‘Laters!’ Tasha called after her.
     
    *
    Aiden’s car was melted-chocolate hot as Becca slid across the passenger seat to kiss him. She held his face with her cold hands and pushed her tongue