like a brilliant idea a few days ago now seemed like the worst idea I’d ever had and I’d had a few bad ones in my time.
‘Oh, but I look so trashy,’ I’d sighed earlier when Lexie had turned up, insisting I change out of my old faithful black trouser and jumper, taking a pair of scissors to my very old and much-loved floral maxi summer dress, transforming it into something that would have made my mother blush.
A few moments later, in my makeshift skirt, the tiniest of strappy tops and a pair of death-defying high heels, Lexie considered I was ready.
‘Cinderella will go the ball,’ she pronounced proudly.
‘More like the ugly sister,’ I said sulkily. ‘Just so long as I don’t bump into anyone I know. That would be embarrassing.’
Judging by the number of wolf-whistles and tooting of car horns we attracted navigating the London pavements, I was under no apprehension as to how I was looking and it wasn’t demure or sweet. Trashy was definitely high up there. Now, hovering in a shop doorway trying to find some refuge from the arctic conditions, I cursed Lexie again. My nicely straightened hair had taken on an unbecoming frizz and I was convinced I might die at any moment from hypothermia.
‘Shall we just forget it and go home? Maybe we can phone Donna and arrange an appointment to see her or send her a letter or something. Like any sensible person would.’
‘Don’t be silly, we’re nearly there now. Come on,’ she urged, grabbing me by the arm. ‘We want to get in before the crowds arrive, get the best vantage point.’
Once inside, I was disappointed when Lexie refused to order me a nice warming mug of hot chocolate. Apparently they didn’t do them. What kind of establishment was this, I wondered? Instead, I had to content myself with a glass of orange juice and found a seat on one of the corner leather couches, trying my best to warm up.
‘It’s a bit quiet, isn’t it?’ I said, looking around the darkened room, picking out the occasional shadowy figures.
‘Well, it’s early yet,’ Lexie said curtly, as if I’d said something obviously stupid.
I looked at my watch. Ten-thirty wasn’t early in my book.
‘Can’t you at least pretend to be pleased to be here? Remember it’s me that’s doing you a favour. You don’t want to draw attention to us, do you?’
‘Sorry, Lexie.’ I hated nightclubs. Hated the way my bare thighs were sticking to the oversized couch. Hated the way everyone eyed one another up, as if deciding on whether to plump for the sherry trifle or the apple pie from the dessert trolley. The whole scene made me feel uncomfortable, even more so in my ridiculous outfit.
Two hours later, the place was just beginning to fill up and it was a job to make out who was who under the subdued lighting.
‘Wait here,’ said Lexie, ‘I’ll go and do a quick recce, see if I can spot Donna.’
‘OK.’ I leaned against a pillar, watching my sister disappear into the crowds, only slightly fearful that I might be abducted into the white slave trade.
‘Hello, darling,’ a deeply lecherous voice rang in my ear, ‘what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?’
‘Jimmy!’ I couldn’t help but smile, a warm fuzzy feeling filling my insides. His cheeky expression popping up when you least expected it always lifted my spirits, but then I remembered he was the reason I was sitting in this godforsaken place in the first place.
‘The things I do for you,’ I said, huffily. ‘I hope this is worth all the effort. You haven’t seen Donna around, have you?’
‘Not yet,’ he grinned, helping himself to a sip of my drink, ‘but I have it on good authority she’ll be turning up later.’
‘Really? How do you know that?’
He laughed, slipped an arm around my waist and, taking me by surprise, pulled me in tight to his body.
‘Do you want to dance?’ His voice came out in a whisper, the subdued lighting adding to the intimacy of our embrace.
‘I’d
‘Oh, but I look so trashy,’ I’d sighed earlier when Lexie had turned up, insisting I change out of my old faithful black trouser and jumper, taking a pair of scissors to my very old and much-loved floral maxi summer dress, transforming it into something that would have made my mother blush.
A few moments later, in my makeshift skirt, the tiniest of strappy tops and a pair of death-defying high heels, Lexie considered I was ready.
‘Cinderella will go the ball,’ she pronounced proudly.
‘More like the ugly sister,’ I said sulkily. ‘Just so long as I don’t bump into anyone I know. That would be embarrassing.’
Judging by the number of wolf-whistles and tooting of car horns we attracted navigating the London pavements, I was under no apprehension as to how I was looking and it wasn’t demure or sweet. Trashy was definitely high up there. Now, hovering in a shop doorway trying to find some refuge from the arctic conditions, I cursed Lexie again. My nicely straightened hair had taken on an unbecoming frizz and I was convinced I might die at any moment from hypothermia.
‘Shall we just forget it and go home? Maybe we can phone Donna and arrange an appointment to see her or send her a letter or something. Like any sensible person would.’
‘Don’t be silly, we’re nearly there now. Come on,’ she urged, grabbing me by the arm. ‘We want to get in before the crowds arrive, get the best vantage point.’
Once inside, I was disappointed when Lexie refused to order me a nice warming mug of hot chocolate. Apparently they didn’t do them. What kind of establishment was this, I wondered? Instead, I had to content myself with a glass of orange juice and found a seat on one of the corner leather couches, trying my best to warm up.
‘It’s a bit quiet, isn’t it?’ I said, looking around the darkened room, picking out the occasional shadowy figures.
‘Well, it’s early yet,’ Lexie said curtly, as if I’d said something obviously stupid.
I looked at my watch. Ten-thirty wasn’t early in my book.
‘Can’t you at least pretend to be pleased to be here? Remember it’s me that’s doing you a favour. You don’t want to draw attention to us, do you?’
‘Sorry, Lexie.’ I hated nightclubs. Hated the way my bare thighs were sticking to the oversized couch. Hated the way everyone eyed one another up, as if deciding on whether to plump for the sherry trifle or the apple pie from the dessert trolley. The whole scene made me feel uncomfortable, even more so in my ridiculous outfit.
Two hours later, the place was just beginning to fill up and it was a job to make out who was who under the subdued lighting.
‘Wait here,’ said Lexie, ‘I’ll go and do a quick recce, see if I can spot Donna.’
‘OK.’ I leaned against a pillar, watching my sister disappear into the crowds, only slightly fearful that I might be abducted into the white slave trade.
‘Hello, darling,’ a deeply lecherous voice rang in my ear, ‘what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?’
‘Jimmy!’ I couldn’t help but smile, a warm fuzzy feeling filling my insides. His cheeky expression popping up when you least expected it always lifted my spirits, but then I remembered he was the reason I was sitting in this godforsaken place in the first place.
‘The things I do for you,’ I said, huffily. ‘I hope this is worth all the effort. You haven’t seen Donna around, have you?’
‘Not yet,’ he grinned, helping himself to a sip of my drink, ‘but I have it on good authority she’ll be turning up later.’
‘Really? How do you know that?’
He laughed, slipped an arm around my waist and, taking me by surprise, pulled me in tight to his body.
‘Do you want to dance?’ His voice came out in a whisper, the subdued lighting adding to the intimacy of our embrace.
‘I’d
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