Lucy in the Sky by Paige Toon Page A

room is made of ice–tables, chairs, the bar, decorations, everything. Giant ice chandeliers hang down from the ceiling. It’s breathtaking and I’m already wishing I had an ice room in my flat.
    Our flat, I mean. I’m feeling more and more single with every day that passes. I haven’t spoken to James since he woke me up the other night. Every time he or that sodding text pops into my mind I force them back out again. One minute my heart is telling me one thing and my head is telling me another and the next it’s the other way around. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’m just going to enjoy the here and now. Considering what could be waiting for me when I get home, I think I owe that to myself.
    Is he cheating on me? No, no, he can’t be. But maybe he is. Oh, give it a rest, Lucy!
    The barman immediately whacks out four solid-ice glasses and starts pouring vanilla vodka into them. We look around the room. There are only about six other people in here.
    I turn around and see a replica of Michelangelo’s David behind us. ‘Looks like the cold is affecting him too.’ Nathan grins, observing the statue’s not-very-ample genital region.
    It’s a surreal experience. Looking down out of the ice window we can see people walking by on the busy pavement, dressed in their summer clothes. ‘It’s freezing in here!’ Molly laughs.
    ‘That’s the point, my darling,’ Sam tells her.
    Five minutes later the six people already in the bar when we came in make their way out, their pagers bleeping. The bartender collects up their ice glasses.
    ‘Where are you all from?’ he asks us. I notice his English accent for the first time.
    ‘Manly,’ the others tell him, but he’s looking at me.
    ‘Manly originally but I’ve been living in London for about ten years.’
    ‘Which part?’ he asks.
    ‘Marylebone,’ I tell him and he nods.
    ‘If you’re originally from Sydney, why on earth are you living in London?’
    ‘I like it.’
    ‘She’s dating an Englishman,’ Molly chips in.
    ‘What about you?’ I ask him quickly. ‘Where are you from?’
    ‘Essex, I’m afraid. I’ve been here since April last year. Almost time to go home again.’
    Ten minutes and two free shots later, the barman points at theearpiece he’s wearing. ‘They’ve been telling me your half an hour is up for eight minutes now. Your pagers must be broken.’
    We say our goodbyes and head outside onto the warm, bright pavement. I literally feel like I’m thawing out after the cold air in the ice room. The alcohol coursing through my veins probably helps too.
    ‘Right, then,’ says Sam, rubbing his hands together. ‘This is where the fun starts.’
    He pecks me on the cheek. ‘See ya, Lucy. Look after her for me.’
    Molly kisses Nathan and then grabs his arms, shaking him affectionately. ‘And you look after him !’
    ‘I will, don’t worry. Bye, Luce, have a good night.’ Nathan bends down and gives me a kiss, daringly close to my lips.
    ‘Bye!’ I immediately feel my face heat up.
    ‘We wouldn’t have wanted to stay in there for much longer–I was freezing my tits off!’ Molly laughs as we walk away. For all of ten seconds I resist the urge to glance over my shoulder, but when I finally give in and look back I can’t see them anymore.
    Molly and I make our way around the other side of Circular Quay to the International Passenger Terminal. It may not sound glamorous but the bars gracing the downstairs decks certainly are, with their funky interiors, cool laid-back exteriors and perfect views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
    ‘There you are.’ Molly smiles. Amy is already seated in one of the chocolate-brown outdoor sofas next to a couple of girls who look vaguely familiar.
    ‘Lucy!’ one of them exclaims when she sees me.
    ‘Oh, my God! Amanda! Jenny!’ I hardly recognise my friends from school. They jump up and hug me and drag me down to sitbetween them, whereupon they want to know anything and