A Hole in the World (12 page)

‘Well, at least allow me to decorate your face and hair!’ Alexandra exclaims, as she pulls on the pink dress, careful not to rip it. ‘Will you do me the honour of doing me up?’

Bianca nods and zips the back of the dress up, gently removing Alexandra’s hair from inside the neckline. ‘You look beautiful,’ she says.

‘Thank you.’ Alexandra blushes a little as she reaches for Bianca’s hair brush and starts pulling it through her wavy hair. ‘I wish my hair was as straight as yours,’ she says. ‘I envy your locks.’

Bianca sighs. ‘Here.’ She reaches into the wardrobe and retrieves her hair straightener from the floor. ‘Use this. Just don’t blow any fuses.’

Alexandra blinks at the device. ‘What is this?’

‘Hair straightener.’ Bianca sighs as she wipes her makeup off in the mirror and reaches for more. She catches Alexandra’s confused look and says, ‘Okay, fine, I’ll do your hair for you. Just... give me a minute.’

Alexandra smiles gratefully. ‘You are the most gracious hostess!’ she exclaims.

Bianca smiles. ‘I try my best.’           

*

‘Why, don’t you two look gorgeous!’ Julia says as Bianca and Alexandra descend the stairs together.  ‘You look so pretty, Bianca.’

‘You don’t have to sound so surprised,’ Bianca says, grumpily.

‘Alexandra, you look
beautiful
,’ Julia says, smiling at the blonde. Bianca folds her arms and glares at the wall.

‘Whoa,’ Daisy says, from where she’s waiting by the front door. ‘You guys look great! Alexandra, did you straighten your hair?’ She walks over and steps behind Alexandra, running her fingers through the very bottom of her blonde hair which is brushing the small of her back. ‘It’s so
long
and
shiny
...’

‘Bianca did it for me,’ Alexandra says. ‘And I did her hair and makeup!’ She gestures at her friend who shrugs. ‘I believe I have perfected the application of makeup.’

‘Gotta admit she
did
do it well,’ Bianca says. ‘I’m not arguing about that.’

‘Couldn’t get her into a skirt though, eh?’ Julia says, casting an appraising look over Bianca.

Alexandra shakes her head. ‘I did try to persuade her, but she will not budge!’

‘Try bribing her with brownies in future,’ Julia says, with a shrug. ‘It used to work when she was younger.’

‘When I was
five
,’ Bianca snaps.

Daisy laughs. ‘Come on,’ she says, ‘before we’re late.’

‘You look beautiful, too, Daisy,’ Alexandra says, with a smile, admiring Daisy’s low cut blue top and short black skirt. ‘You did your hair up so nicely.’ She fingers a few stray strands by the base of Daisy’s neck and the redhead blushes until her ears go red.

‘Don’t be daft,’ she says. ‘I’m not
beautiful
.’

‘She’s fishing for ‘sexy’,’ Bianca whispers in Alexandra’s ear, as she makes her way to the door. Daisy smacks her on the shoulder.

‘Bianca, I was not!’ she exclaims.

‘You were so.’

Daisy chases Bianca out of the door. ‘Was
not
!’

‘Was
so
!’

‘So
this
is a party as your world knows it?’ Alexandra says, as they walk into the rented club and are assaulted by loud music and the sound of people talking and laughing. ‘I do not believe I care much for such festivities.’

‘Give it a go,’ Bianca says, with a laugh. ‘I’m sure you’ll love it.’

Alexandra sighs. ‘Then you do not know me very well. Could I not have remained at home?’

‘Well, if you won’t stay for me stay for Cory at least,’ Bianca says, with a huff.

Alexandra nods. ‘Of course. Cory.’

The boy in question pushes his way through the crowd at that moment, two punch glasses held in his hands. ‘You came! I’m really glad!’ He pushes the glasses towards the two girls, then glances at Daisy. ‘Oh. Sorry. I didn’t bring you one.’

‘That’s okay,’ Daisy says.

He turns back to Alexandra. ‘Do you like it so far?’

‘I do not believe I do, Cory, I apologise,’ Alexandra says. ‘Too much noise and commotion for me. I prefer balls with elegant dresses and polite conversation.’ She shakes her head. ‘This is anything but polite.’

‘Well, maybe you’ll like it more once you get some punch into you and dance.’ Cory grins at her. ‘And if you don’t, you can always go home; I won’t be offended.’ He gestures through the crowd at a table. ‘We’re all sitting there. Go on.’

Cory wanders off again as Daisy, Alexandra and Bianca push through the crowd, two of the girls holding giant red punch glasses in their hands. They take a seat around the round table and nod to Lewis and Scotty.

‘Not a bad party, eh?’  Scotty says.

‘It’s all right.’ Bianca shrugs. ‘Had better ones at St Mary’s.’

‘Were there naked pillow fights?’ Lewis says. ‘
Tell me
there were!’

‘No.’ Bianca glares at him. ‘We just knew how to throw a really good party. ‘Til Miss came along, of course.’

‘Course.’

They look around at the people dancing under the flashing lights. ‘So, does Cory know all these people?’ Bianca enquires.

‘Nah.’ Scotty shakes his head. ‘Some of ‘em are regular club goers. He decided to let them in to liven things up a little.’ He glances across at Alexandra as she goes to take a sip of the punch. ‘Careful! There’s alcohol in that.’

She takes a sip. ‘It tastes strange... what is this peculiar concoction?’

‘Swear she talks like a freak,’ Lewis says, downing his glass. ‘I want more punch. Get you a drink, Dais?’

Daisy nods. ‘Please.’ She gives him a smile.

‘Question is,’ Bianca says, as Lewis leaves, ‘can you trust him not to spike your punch?’

Alexandra licks her lips, all the punch gone from her glass. ‘It is as though my vision blurs,’ she says, looking alarmed. ‘Is this poison?’

‘Nah,’ Daisy says. ‘Just alcohol. Don’t drink too much, though, or you’ll have an awful hangover in the morning.’

‘Hangover?’ Alexandra says.

‘Head pain,’ Bianca informs her.

‘Oh, I see.’ She peers down into the glass. ‘Should I not drink this?’

‘It’s up to you.’ Bianca shrugs and downs her own. ‘I’m going to go get more.’ She stands up from the table and approaches the punch bar.  She waits in the queue for a moment before she finally gets her chance to fill the glass from the bright blue ladle.

‘Hey.’

She looks round as Cory approaches and smiles. ‘Hey,’ she says. ‘Good party.’

‘Yeah, it’s not bad.’ He gives her a grin. ‘Woulda been lame if you and Alexandra hadn’t made it.’

‘We’re happy to be here,’ Bianca says, raising her glass and taking a long drink.

‘You don’t
seem
happy.’ He gives her a puzzled look. ‘What’s up?’

‘Nothing.’ She shakes her head. ‘Just some... stuff. Scotty’s fault. All Scotty’s fault.’ She chuckles. ‘Ah well.’ She glances up, catching movement out of the corner of her eye, in time to see Alexandra coming across. ‘Oh, look. Here comes your fairytale princess.’

‘
My
fairytale princess?’ Cory enquires. ‘She’s
your
fairytale princess. Not mine.’

‘Hardly, I’ve seen you two with each other.’ Bianca sighs, drains her glass and goes back for another ladle as Alexandra approaches.

‘I have declared this drink to be interesting and worthy of further exploration,’ Alexandra announces, holding out her glass towards Bianca. ‘Would you mind?’

‘Sure.’ Bianca dips the ladle into the punch and pours a large amount into Alexandra’s glass.

*

Everyone is dancing. Everyone except Bianca, Alexandra and Cory.  Daisy and Lewis are dancing in the middle of the club, but every time Daisy turns around she casts the two girls at the table a look of utter distaste.  Bianca is honestly considering going over there and cutting in and dancing with Daisy to save her from the slimy boy, but the looks Daisy is sending their way are almost too amusing.

Cory, meanwhile, is circulating, asking anyone who pauses for breath if they’re enjoying the party and if he can get them anything. So far, the answer seems to be a resounding yes to enjoyment and no to refreshments, so the circulating is going quickly enough.

‘I much prefer the music contained within your ‘iPod’,’ Alexandra announces, after a moment.

‘Oh?’ Bianca turns away from her observation of the dance floor and looks at her blonde companion. ‘Why’s that?’

Alexandra shrugs. ‘Your taste seems to be more... expansive. Whereas Cory appears to like only one...’

‘Genre?’

‘Yes. Genre.’ Alexandra looks back over the dance floor as the boy in question approaches.

‘I’m so done circulating,’ he announces, dropping down into his seat with a yawn. ‘Next time, someone
else
is hosting the party. Then I get to dance and make out too.’ He downs the rest of his punch and throws the empty glass at the nearest necking couple. ‘Get a room!’ he shouts. He peers down at Alexandra’s glass. ‘You’re out of drink. Want me to get you more?’

‘Are you trying to get her drunk, Cor?’ Bianca says.

 ‘I’m horrified you’d even suggest such a thing.’ Cory yawns and checks his watch. ‘When’s a good time to kick everyone out and announce you’re an old codger at the young age of sixteen? You know, with the whole ‘get off my lawn’ thing and everything?’

‘Anything before eleven and you’re in the ‘over-protective mum’ stage. Before two and you’re ‘daddy protecting his little girl’ and anything before four is just
lame
.’ Bianca shrugs. ‘So, I suggest doing the kicking around three. Or put sleeping bags down and invite everyone to sleep here overnight.’

‘No
way
.’ Cory shudders. ‘I’m bored of this party even
now
and it’s only...’ He checks his watch. ‘Midnight.’ He pauses, checks again. ‘Seriously? Midnight? I thought it’d be at least one.’ He groans and drops his forehead onto the table.

‘At least you’re not a mum anymore.’ Bianca tilts her glass towards him. ‘Kudos for that.’

 Cory looks up at her, rolls his eyes and stands up, turning to Alexandra. ‘Care to make this evening
so
much less boring for me?’ he asks, extending a hand towards her.

She gives him a wide-eyed, confused stare. ‘I do not understand.’

‘Wanna dance?’ He gives her a big grin and she smiles shyly at him, getting to her feet. She wobbles for a moment, adjusting to standing while slightly inebriated, and accepts his hand.

‘I’d love to,’ she says, with a smile, letting him lead her out into the crowd.

*

‘
Wanna dance
?’ Bianca mocks, nose buried deep in yet another glass of punch. ‘
Wanna hump on the dance floor
?
Wanna let me be your Prince Charming because at least I have the parts that make up a
prince
or at least I
say
I do
?’

‘Someone’s bitter,’ Daisy mutters, from the chair opposite. ‘And I can tell you categorically that Cory definitely has prince-parts. I’ll just never get to see them.’

‘What? No. I’m not bitter. I’m annoyed. Slightly annoyed. A
tiny
bit annoyed. But not bitter.  Are they kissing?’ She leans forward, staring out onto the dance floor at Cory and Alexandra, the two of them
too
close for Bianca’s comfort.

‘They’re not kissing, Bianca,’ Daisy says. ‘If they were, I would have left already.’

Bianca pauses, realisation dawning. ‘You like Cory.’

Daisy gives her a wide-eyed look, mouthing like a goldfish for a moment before exclaiming, ‘I do not!’

‘You do so! It’s written all over your face!’

‘Oh yeah?’ Daisy slams her glass down. ‘Well the writing’s on your face too. You have a big crush on Miss Princess over there.’ She gestures across at Alexandra, who trips and giggles when Cory catches her.

‘Yeah, well, at least I’ll admit it.’ Bianca slumps backwards in her seat and glares daggers at Daisy. ‘What do you two see in him anyway? He’s a chauvinistic ass.’

‘No. No, he isn’t.’ Daisy shakes her head. ‘Lewis is a chauvinistic ass. Cory’s a wonderful, handsome gentleman who occasionally makes rubbishy jokes. He’s the type who would never hurt you and would be kind and...’ She breaks off, groans and leans forward, letting her head hit the table. ‘Oh, god, I’ve got it
bad
.’

‘Yeah, you do.’ Bianca sighs and stands up. ‘Screw it,’ she says. ‘Once I do this, go ask Cory to dance. Okay?’

‘Do what?’ Daisy asks, looking up, but Bianca’s already surging off across the dance floor, brushing people aside as she walks until she’s standing next to Cory and Alexandra.

‘Mind if I cut in?’ she says, venom obvious in her tone.

‘Erm... I was kinda just telling Alexandra a story,’ Cory says. ‘Can’t you wait until the end of the song? Or, until you’re back home?’

‘No, no I can’t. She’s
my
fairytale princess, remember?’ She grabs Alexandra’s hand. ‘Come on, Alexandra.’