One Foot Onto the Ice (28 page)

Susan shook her head. “She wouldn’t tell her.”

“She did,” nodded Marcus, “and she told me, but I can’t believe
you were trying to keep it a secret. We’re a team, Susan. You and I are good
together.” He sniffed at the women who were laughing together at the bar.
“You’re not like them. You don’t behave in this way.” He shook his head. “I’ve
seen a side to you this week that I’m not sure I like, but I don’t blame you,
my
mon amie
, I blame them.” Marcus focused on the bar and shook his head
dramatically. “Oh no. Now that’s not fair. Look, Susan, they’re mimicking you.”

Susan turned around and saw Jenna and Amber twerking in front of
the stools. Amber was pointing towards the circle of dancers and shaking her
head as she started to shimmy, and Jenna’s head was thrown back in laughter.

“She’s doing an impression of you,” stated Marcus. “And Jenna’s
laughing.” He sighed and stepped in closer, tentatively placing an arm around
Susan’s shoulder. “It’s all been one big dare.”

Susan shook him off. “I don’t believe you.”

“Oh get real, Susan, what would she see in you?”

Susan bit the inside of her lip. “She says I’m funny.”

“You’re not funny.”

“Well, she says I’m intriguing.”

Marcus shook his head again. “You’re not intriguing.”

Susan whispered. “She says I have good bone structure.”

“No, your flat hair detracts from that.”

“What am I then, Marcus?” Susan’s voice was raised. “The world’s
biggest fantasist?”

Marcus coughed, shocked by her outburst. “I wouldn’t go that far,
but you’ve just allowed yourself to get carried away. It’s been one week, Susan.
One week.”

“I know, but I know what I feel.” She turned to Marcus and
shrugged. “I love her.”

Marcus guffawed loudly. “How ridiculous. Oh Susan, Susan, Susan,
what am I going to do with you?”

“Nothing,” said Susan, “you’re going to leave me the hell alone.”

****

“Susan, hey, you’ve finished your wine.” Jenna turned around and patted
the bar stool for her to sit down.

“I was talking to Marcus: it softened the blow.”

“What blow?” asked Amber.

“No, she just means it’s a pain to talk to Marcus and alcohol
always helps.” Jenna laughed as she spotted the Mossyside girls body popping in
a dance off with the Mossyside boys.

“Did you, Susan?” Amber was frowning. “Is that what you meant?”

Susan thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Yes, that’s
what I meant.”

“So no more tales to tell?” probed Amber.

“No.” Susan smiled. “Everything okay with you two?”

“Yes great,” said Amber, “Jenna’s admitted it was a dare so we’re
all good again.”

“Oh don’t start that,” groaned Jenna. “I didn’t. We’re fine. It
was a misunderstanding.”

Amber shrugged. “Fine, play it your way.”

Jenna was about to respond when a husky voice distracted her.

“Jenna, hello.”

Jenna turned around and froze, totally shocked by the presence of
the woman standing beside her at the bar. “Hi,” she managed.

“Hi, to you too,” came the husky response. “Mine’s a mojito
please.”

Jenna paused, aware that all eyes were on her. “Susan, this is
Jackie, Jackie you already know Amber—”

Amber cut in. “Jackie’s a dancer at the club in town.”

The husky voice returned. “The club that Jenna’s avoiding.”

Jenna laughed nervously. “I’m not avoiding it. I’ve just been
busy.”

The tall, heavily made up woman smiled and reached out a hand to
Jenna’s waist. “I know, it’s fine. Your words were lovely and all is forgiven.”
She looked around at the room full of students. “But we’ll have to work on your
choice of venue. I assume you get off in a bit?”

“My choice of venue?”

“I’m not complaining, it’s a start. Will we head into town?”

Jenna frowned. “Don’t you work Friday nights?”

“Yes, but I’ve called in sick. I wanted to see you.”

Jenna was about to hold her hands up and ask what on earth was
going on when she felt a friendly tap on the back.

“Hey beautiful,” giggled the petite blonde. “I’ve missed you.”

Jenna glanced at Susan, then back at the lady. “Hi, Frankie, how
are you?”

Amber introduced the woman to the group. “Frankie works at the big
hotel at the bottom. How long have you been there now?”

The petite blonde giggled. “Three years and I’m meant to be
picking up my parents from the airport. It’s the first time they’ve ever
managed to get over here and visit, but I’ve sent them a taxi instead.”

“To the airport?” asked Jenna. “For their first visit?”

The small woman lifted herself onto her tiptoes and reached up to
kiss Jenna on the cheek. “Of course, I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”

The tall woman put her hand on her hip. “I didn’t realise this was
a group thing.”

“Nor did I,” stammered Jenna.

“GORGEOUS! You’re here!” A rather plump, rosy cheeked woman had
entered the room and raced towards the bar. She wrapped her arms around Jenna
and lifted her from the floor, spinning her excitedly. “I couldn’t believe it
when I heard from you. I’ve been looking out of my window everyday hoping to
see you.”

Amber nodded. “Julie runs the Montriond cable car.”

Susan spoke quietly. “I don’t think we’ve been on that one.”

“I wonder why?” clucked Amber, enjoying the show.

Jenna swallowed. “Julie, it’s good to see you,” she nodded, “and
you, Frankie,” she coughed, “and you, Jackie.”

Julie rubbed her hands together. “So, what’s the plan? Are we
leaving these ladies to it and heading to a restaurant? I was meant to be at a
rather posh gala dinner tonight and the menu looked incredible, but I’m sure we
can find something just as nice.”

The tall lady placed her other hand on her hip. “No one’s leaving
me behind.”

The short lady looked puzzled. “I thought we were off to the
cinema?”

“No, she’s taking me to a restaurant,” confirmed the plump one.

Susan swivelled around on her chair and faced the bar, desperately
trying to ignore the embarrassment.

“I’m not quite sure what’s going on,” said Jenna.

“You asked me on a date,” said the tall lady.

“No she didn’t,” said the small lady, “she asked me.”

The plump woman pulled her phone from her pocket and clicked on
the text message. “I think you’ll find it’s me who’s dating Jenna tonight.”

The two other women delved into their purses for their phones,
swiping them to life and displaying their very own proof of entitlement.

Jenna sat backwards onto the bar stool and tapped her teeth together.
“I think there’s been some sort of misunderstanding.”

“You seem to have quite a few of those,” laughed Amber, taking
another huge sip of beer.

Jenna shook her head. “Mate, this is one step too far.” She turned
to address the expectant women. “I lost my phone yesterday and I think
someone’s been playing a joke.”

The tall lady reached her mojito from the bar. “I was here first,
so I should get the date.”

“No,” said the short lady, “last time I saw her she promised she’d
call, so this date was coming my way.”

The plump lady took Jenna’s hand and started to haul her towards
the door. “Food’s always the priority. We’re off to a restaurant.”

Jenna pulled backwards and shook her hand free. “I’m sorry,
ladies, there’s been a misunderstanding—”

“There’s that word again,” whispered Amber into Susan’s ear.

“Maybe we could all just have a drink and a catch up here?”

Susan shook her head and climbed off the bar stool. “I’ll see you
later. I’m getting some air.”

“No, Susan, wait. They’re just women I know.”

The voice was husky. “She certainly knows me.”

“Me too,” giggled the small woman.

“And me,” moaned the plump one.

“They’re friends,” said Jenna.

“No they’re not,” laughed Amber, taking another swig of beer,
“they’re lovers.”

“Oh, Amber, will you please just stop it. This isn’t funny at
all.”

Amber smiled and looked at the three women all vying for
attention. “It is
rather
comical.”

Jenna snapped. “It’s not funny to play with people.”

Amber shook her head and narrowed her eyes. “You’re the biggest
player out there, Jenna.”

“I’ve heard enough,” said Susan, turning away and walking out of
the room.

Jenna addressed the ladies. “Stay, go, have a drink on me, dance
with the kids, do whatever you want, but please know this wasn’t intentional. I
think you’re all great, but I don’t want to date.”

The plump woman crossed her arms. “But I’ve given up a gala dinner
to be here.”

“And I’ve left my parents at the airport,” said the short one.

“Well I’m not sad that I’ve bunked off work,” announced the tall
woman, “and these mojitos
are
rather good.”

“Please forgive me,” said Jenna dashing out of the room.

****

Susan let the cold air bite away her embarrassment. Amber had
clearly set the whole thing up, but that wasn’t the point. The point was they
came. They
all
came at such short notice, and at the expense of other
more pressing events. They all came for Jenna.

Susan tilted her head towards the sky and gazed up at the stars.
Was this one big act? Was this the grand finale with Jenna and Amber in cahoots
putting on the show of all shows to end the week here: to excuse Jenna from making
her promised journey home? Susan sighed. There was no denying it. Nothing would
change it. She loved her. Even after all of this, she loved her.

“I’m so sorry,” pleaded Jenna as she walked out of the guesthouse
and over the frosted decking towards Susan. “Amber’s a dick, an absolute dick.
They’re just women I’ve had flings with. They weren’t expecting anything more.”

Susan shivered in the cold evening air. “But they all want more,
don’t they? They all came.”

“But I didn’t ask them to come. Amber did.”

“I’ve got one question for you?” said Susan, looking at Jenna’s
wide eyes. “Did you tell Amber about Daisy?”

“What about Daisy?”

“That I left her at the services?”

Jenna exhaled heavily, misting the cold air. “Fuck, Susan, it’s
not like that.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“Right,” said Susan, rubbing her bare arms and turning to leave.

“But only because she thought you were going to report us for our
behaviour on the bar.”

Susan stopped and stared at Jenna in disbelief. “So you gave her
some ammunition just in case I did?”

“No, it wasn’t like that.”

Amber stepped out onto the decking and laughed loudly. “No, it
wasn’t like that at all.” She turned to Susan. “She was laughing at you. She’s
been laughing at you this whole week. She couldn’t wait to tell me.”

“Please, go away, Amber,” said Jenna. “Look at you, you’re drunk.”

“No, I won’t go away. She needs to know the truth.” Amber took
another step over the frost and looked Susan up and down. “She’s been laughing
at your clothes, your hair, your totally crap dancing. She thought it was
hilarious that you left Daisy at the services and she said you won the medal
for
teacher you’d never want to teach your own kids
.”

“This isn’t true.” Jenna was shaking her head.

“Yes it is. She said your hair would have more bounce if you did
it on an ironing board with an industrial iron, and she said your breath smelt
like shit.”

“Susan, ignore her, she’s drunk, she’s taking it too far.”

“No, I’m not.” Amber was animated. “Look at you, Susan. At the
start of the week she’s fucking me on that bar and now she wants to play happy
families with someone like you. As if!”

“THAT’S ENOUGH,” shouted Jenna.

Susan shook her head. “I’m sorry, Amber, but I just don’t believe
you.”

Amber laughed loudly. “Oh yeah? So you don’t want to know what
we’ve been laughing about the most?”

“Not really, no.”

Amber grinned. “Oh I think you do …
Quiffy Quinn.
It
doesn’t just happen in gym class, does it?”

Susan’s cheeks flashed up with colour.

“It happens when you’re fucking as well! Jenna’s been telling me
what a problem you seem to have. She’s hardly got two fingers in and you’re
quiffing all over the place.”

Susan shot a glance towards Jenna, unable to hide the hurt and
betrayal in her eyes. “How could you?” she gasped, turning to race away, crying
out as her heels slipped on the frosted decking.