“Mei, wait! Can I speak to you?”
She didn’t turn around, just pulled the door open. I dived in her way, gasping and pressing a hand to my side as the sudden movement sent sharp pain coursing through me.
Mei looked at me, her eyes softening. “Cati, you’re still in pain?”
“Yeah, my ribs are sore.” I widened my eyes. “You should see the bruise! You love colourful things, so…”
Mei grimaced and looked down at her technicolour high-tops.
“I’m sorry about Francesca. I don’t know what she said to you, but I doubt she was kind.”
Mei clamped her lips together and shook her head.
“She’s my… well, I mean, we’ve been… but it’s over now because she’s?—”
“Watch out!” Mei pulled me out of the way as a student burdened with books pushed through the library doors behind me.
“Sorry, so sorry,” he said. We watched as he skipped down the icy steps, and with an impressive contortion of limbs he somehow avoided spilling his books and himself.
Mei looked back at me, her rich brown eyes full of concern. “She isn’t a good person, Cati. I’m so surprised you?—”
“No, I know. She’s awful. I never should’ve got involved with her.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “It’s hard to explain, but she has this pull. She can be so… I don’t know, she’s intoxicating?—”
“I think what you mean to say is that she’s toxic?” Mei sniffed.
I winced and gave a short nod. Hearing it so plainly from someone else hurt more than I thought it would. Mei was right though.Francesca is toxic.Why had I been so blinkered?
“She warned me to stay away from you, Cati. She said I’d been a bad influence and changed you for the worse. She said this was all my fault?—”
“What? No! That’s not… ugh!” I clenched my fists. “Look, just ignore whatever she said to you; she twists things.”
“She’s scary! I don’t want to be unkind, but she’s a bit — I don’t know the right word in English.” Mei twisted two fingers at her temple, her eyes wide and unblinking.
I swallowed. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry you had to face her alone, and I promise it’s over. I’m staying clear of her, well, as much as I can when I…” I gulped, and sudden tears threatened. “I need a friend right now, Mei. Please?—”
Mei touched my arm; her hand was surprisingly warm against the morning chill. “Of course, Cati, whatever you need, but…” Her doll-like face suddenly looked so serious. “Can we go inside now, please? I’m freezing.”
My laugh escaped in a puffy cloud. I pulled open the heavy oak door, and we bustled into the foyer, the familiar scent of old books and polished wood filling my lungs.
Comforted by the quiet hum, I stayed long after Mei left for her lecture, and well into the afternoon. But I was tired and uncomfortable, and after a while, I gave in to the call of my warm bed and pyjamas. Francesca would probably be out with Jeremy, anyway. A pang of resentment twisted in my gut, but I shook away the thought of the two of them together.
He’s welcome to her. They can have each other.I just wanted to sleep.
Head down, I braced myself against the bitter wind, which felt like it was blowing straight off the Arctic. The ironclad sky threatened more snow. As I approached the halls, I saw a scattering of things in the quad, before realising they were my belongings cast from my window above — my mum’s blanket snagged in the bushes, my books, uni work, photographs, and cassette tapes, soaked and drowning in a slushy puddle.No, no, no.
Hot tears sprang as I frantically gathered up my things, ignoring the passing gaggle of girls I recognised from thefloor below ours. They pointed and whispered, their giggles carrying in the biting air.
Wild rage burned in my stomach as I charged up the stairs, my sorry possessions bundled in my arms, the wet blanket clinging to my chest. I dumped the sopping pile at my door and hammered on hers.
“What the fuck, Francesca?” I pounded my fists so hard the door rattled in its frame.
“It’s open,” she called casually from inside.
I clenched my teeth and charged into her room. Francesca lay on her stomach, feet swinging in the air as she flipped through a magazine, the scent of her new perfume — a sickeningly sweet citrus smell — cloying in the air.
I stormed over, ripped the magazine away from her and flung it across the room. It landed with a soft thud against the wall.
Francesca smirked and twisted around. “It seems I finally have your attention.”
