The Bad Girls' Club (27 page)

I picked up a little quiche and looked around for Beth. She wasn
’t outside but Satoshi stood near the barbecue with Daniel, sipping on a beer. Satoshi waved when he saw me. I smiled. At him. Not Daniel.

Beth sat at the kitchen bench away from everyone. Good, I could have my say. I marched over to her.

‘I’ve got a few things to say to you,’ I said, putting my hands on my hips and waiting for her reaction.

She jumped up and pulled me over near the stove, looking around to see if anyone could overhear us.

‘Thank god you’re here. Where’s Imogen?’

This wasn
’t what I was expecting. No guilt? No apology? All she cared about was Imogen?

‘
Imogen?’

‘
Yes,’ Beth hissed at me. ‘Imogen. Daniel.’ She made a strange gesture that I’d have never understood if I’d not known the situation.

‘
I know. But what have you been saying –’

‘
Shut up and listen. Poppy’s set a trap to spring Caitlin. I overheard her laughing about it with Helena. Only, it’s not Caitlin. It’s Imogen. They sent her a message to meet in the dining room, stripped off and ready for a quickie. Then they plan to spring her.’

Poppy sat on the couch with Helena. She had a phone in her hand and they were both laughing. Poppy whispered something to Helena.

Shit. So, right now, Beth had betrayed me to Poppy and Imogen had thought more of shagging Daniel than listening to my problems. Why was I friends with these girls again?

Beth grabbed my arm.
‘We have to get her out of here. She’s our friend. We can’t leave her to this pack of bitches. You go get her, I’ll distract Poppy.’ Beth shoved me into the hallway. ‘Hurry.’

I sighed, but walked to the dining room door. I couldn
’t just leave Imogen, really. She might be a complete knucklehead when it came to Daniel but that’s when you needed a friend the most, surely. I’d rescue her and then I’d be pissy.

‘
Imogen?’

‘
Be out in a sec.’

‘
Imogen. It’s urgent. Poppy knows you are having an affair –’

‘
Stop.’ The door opened a crack and Imogen poked her head around the door frame. ‘Can’t talk now.’

‘
But, Poppy, she’s setting you up.’

‘
It’s OK. I’ll explain later.’

Beth looked up as we walked back in the room. I shook my head.

‘Where is she?’ She bounded over to me, out of Poppy’s earshot.

‘
I tried. She won’t listen to common sense.’

We both stared at each other, trying to come up with a plan.

‘We could get Daniel to stop her?’ Beth said, looking at Daniel outside. ‘She’d listen to him.’

We walked toward the door then I realised something.

‘Yeah, but if Poppy catches them together, it’ll just make things worse. I’ll go talk to her. She’ll listen to me.’

But just then Poppy stood up and clapped her hands together.
‘OK, people. Gather around. It’s time for the grand tour.’

The grand tour, with Imogen as the main attraction.

‘This will kill Imogen. If she couldn’t stand Smith’s beach, how is she going to handle this crowd? I’d rather throw her to the hyenas at the zoo. And she’ll lose her job… we have to do something.’

We couldn
’t even get to her now. There were about twenty people surrounding Poppy, blocking the way between the kitchen and the hallway.

‘
Quick, think. We need to create a diversion.’

I looked at the food on the table. If Beth wanted a diversion, she
’d get a diversion. And I had a few things I wanted to get out of my system.

‘
You bitch!’ I screamed, loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear as I reached for the mud cake. ‘You big-mouthed cow.’

I ducked as the cake whizzed past me and hit the wall. Juliette was
n’
t mucking around. I turned; the cake had splattered everywhere.

People came running into the room. I looked for something to throw back. I picked up a plate of savouries but Juliette gestured at a container of dip. But her outfit – the dip would ruin it.

‘Come on,’ she hissed under her breath.

I picked up the dip.

‘I think this will improve your tacky outfit,’ I said, hurling it in her direction. I picked up the savouries and began pelting them, missing Juliette but getting a few of Poppy’s more annoying friends as they crowded back into the entertainment room.

‘
You think so?’ yelled Juliette, moving around the table. She hurled some paté, getting chunks of meat in my hair then popped a mini quiche in her mouth before using the rest as ammo.

‘
Yeah, I do think so.’ I craned my neck to see if Imogen had come out of the bedroom but the room was so crowded, I couldn’t see a thing.

Juliette picked up the hommus and aimed it at my head.

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ I yelled. ‘You wouldn’t dare throw that –’

Juliette looked serious.

‘Really, no,’ I hissed at her, moving closer. ‘This dress cost over $300.’

‘
Well, why did you tell Poppy about my threesome?’

Juliette
’s nostrils flared and she raised the container of dip.

It flew past my ear, almost hitting me, while I stood in shock.

‘I didn’t tell her. Honest.’

I chased her around the table. There was a huge, creamy sponge in the middle of the table. I had to do it. I picked up the plate. If it ruined Poppy
’s new house, then so much the better.

The guys had come running in from the barbecue area, chanting:
‘fight, fight, fight.’

‘
I’ll put $20 on the skinny blonde.’

I was ready to fling that cake until someone pushed through the crowd. Mum.

‘Beth! What do you think you are doing?’

I hesitated for a minute then hurled the plate; whipped cream and strawberries going everywhere.

Mum pushed her way back out of the room.

‘
Poppy,’ she called. ‘Where are you? Get in here. Now.’

Cream and cake covered most of the room. Strawberries stuck to the sofa and cream slid down the windows. What a mess. Poppy
’s house was looking well and truly warmed.

Poppy burst into the room with Mum behind her. She saw the mess and screamed.

‘What the hell is going on here? Beth, Juliette. Stop it. Stop it.’

Juliette looked at the bowl of beetroot dip and grinned. I think the moment for distractions had passed but that wasn
’t going to stop her. The dip flew from her hand. Splat. Smack into Poppy’s face.

Chunks of pinky-red gloop covered Poppy
’s hair, her face, her dress. She tried to wipe it off but that just smeared it. She wiped her hands on her dress and stamped her feet.

‘
Juliette, get out of here. Get out of here now. You too, Beth. You’re going to regret this. Everyone, ignore them. Get back in the hallway.’

She grabbed people, who backed away from her. No wonder. She was dripping with dip. This lot weren
’t going to miss out on the drama anyway. As everyone cleared away from Poppy, she stopped ranting long enough to hear the creak of a door in the hallway.

Poppy and Helena looked at each other, then at Caitlin.

‘Caitlin’s still here? Then who’s the bitch that’s shagging my husband?’

Poppy stomped out of the room. I tried to follow her but people blocked my way. Juliette grabbed me and pushed her way through them.

Poppy’s hand was on the doorknob, ready to reveal Imogen. I could tackle her to the ground, I could smash her. I signalled to Juliette but she wasn’t looking.

She grabbed Poppy and pushed her against the wall.

‘You wanted me to think Beth told you, didn’t you? That is just typical of your stupid tricks, Poppy. Are you still in high school? Yes, I had a threesome, Poppy. What of it? Do you want all the juicy details?’

I got pushed in the back. It seemed suddenly everyone in the back room wanted to be in the hallway.

‘Are you jealous? And I had my first orgasm. And you know what else, Poppy. I’ve done lots of things – dirty, kinky things.’ Juliette was right in Poppy’s face. ‘Tying boys up and whipping them and spanking them too. And you know what? I like it. I like it a lot.’

Wow, Juliette was impressive. Her voice rang out, clear and strong. Poppy tried to squirm away. I looked at the faces – shocked, curious, amused – all except
Satoshi. He had a glint in his eyes.

‘
I’m a dominatrix, Poppy. How do you like that? And I’m never going to make you rice balls or cheesecake ever again.’

‘
Stop! Stop! I don’t want to hear this.’ Poppy put her hands over her ears.

‘
I do,’ said Satoshi.

‘
So do I,’ said most of the guys in the room.

‘
Me too,’ said Helena. ‘I love those rice balls.’

Poppy
’s eyes bulged and the beetroot dip started running down her face. A bright pink ball of dip dropped onto the floor. She looked for a moment like she was going to whimper, but Uncle Rex pushed through and pulled Juliette off Poppy.

‘
I think Poppy asked you to leave.’

Poppy took a few deep breaths.

‘You’re proud of it, aren’t you?’

‘
And why wouldn’t she be proud?’ I asked. ‘Just because you’re a prude, Poppy, doesn’t mean everyone else has your stupid hang-ups.’

Poppy spun on her heels.

‘Beth,’ she grinned. ‘Oh, Beth.’

I didn
’t care. She had nothing on me. Though with that grin spreading over her face, I wasn’t so sure. I tried to think – the sex in the toilets? The vibrator? The other night with Sebastian? Did she have spy cameras on us?

‘
Maxine?’ she said, arching her eyebrow.

I gasped. Mum glared at me from across the hallway and everyone else stared, waiting for some new revelation. I should have just kept my mouth shut. My guts twisted like demons of hell were trying to burrow into my entrails. The world would know. I looked at Mum and started backing away. Maybe I could flee. Maybe I could deny it all. Maybe I could give her some dirt on someone else and she
’d leave me alone.

But Juliette, all brave and warrior-like, couldn
’t save Imogen on her own. Then I realised that I didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought but them. These were the people who were important to me, not stupid Helena and Caitlin giggling in the corner. I wasn’t going to lie or pretend to get the approval of Poppy and her stupid friends. Screw them. Screw Aunty Jean and Uncle Rex. Screw Mum, even. I couldn’t believe Poppy could stand there so self-righteous after all she’d done.

Before I could say anything, the bedroom door opened.

‘Leave them alone, your fight is with me.’

Imogen wore the same dress as Poppy although clean and not dip-splattered. Poppy slowly looked her up and down as though her brain couldn
’t quite work this out.

‘
Holy fuck. Imogen? No. No way. This has got to be a joke.’

I pushed myself between Poppy and Imogen, trying to hustle Imogen toward the front door so she could escape. At least she was dressed, not naked like the text message had requested.

‘So? I kissed a girl. Want to make something of it?’ That’d get the focus off Imogen. I sounded tough but inside I was anything but. I waited for it. For the world to come crashing down around me. For sirens and disaster and disgust. But all I saw was a bedraggled Poppy.

I could breathe again. In fact, I felt light and happy once I
’d said the words out loud. Confession is awesome.

‘
You lezzo, you filthy –’

‘
Calm down,’ said Aunty Jean. ‘What’s the big deal? Everyone does that stuff nowadays.’

‘
It all makes sense now,’ said Poppy, looking at Juliette and me. ‘You two knew about this, didn’t you? You were trying to protect her. And you… Daniel, DANIEL! Come here!’

Personally, if I found out my husband had been cheating on me, I
’d have kicked him out rather than set up stupid revenge schemes. I remembered some of the fantasies Sebastian had shared with me last night over dinner. But that wasn’t cheating, not when it was all out in the open. No lies and running around behind people’s backs.

Meanwhile, Poppy went at Imogen. I got ready to jump in but Poppy skidded across the floor on a glob of cream and ended up on her arse. Uncle Rex helped her up.

‘What are you grinning at Beth?’

‘
You have this great house but you don’t have much else, do you?’

‘
And what do you have that’s so great, Beth? Tell me.’

‘
I’ve got someone who’ll watch my back when I’m in the middle of a scrag fight. And I’ve got someone who’ll tell me when I’m getting too big for my boots.’

I gulped.

‘I have the two greatest friends in the whole world.’ I looked at Imogen and at Juliette and smiled. ‘Friends who care about me, no matter how much I fuck up.’

Poppy glared at me, about to say something, but I stopped her.

‘And all you have Poppy, is a face full of beetroot dip.’

For a moment, Poppy gulped at the air, like a goldfish. It didn
’t take long for her vitriol to flood back though and, with Jules and I taken care of, she turned her focus on Imogen.

‘
You weren’t too worried about my pathetic excuse of a husband when you were shagging him, were you, Imogen?’

Juliette moved closer to Imogen.

‘Don’t even bother coming into work on Monday. I’ll send your manky stuff to you. No job, no reference, no pay. Maybe you should drop by McDonalds on your way home. Hog into a Big Mac and give them your resume at the same time.’

Someone cleared their throat. An older woman, very nicely dressed, stood in the dining room doorway. Where had she come from? Had she been in there with Imogen?

‘Sorry, Poppy. You no longer have the authority to fire Imogen. She works for me. Apparently she didn’t get the email I sent on Friday because she was out of the office running errands so I thought I’d pop in and tell her. Two birds with one stone.’

Poppy cringed and moved towards the woman but the woman backed right off.

‘Interesting decor you have here,’ the woman said with a sweeping gaze towards the back room.

‘
Oh, ignore the mess,’ Poppy said. ‘I know some very childish people but I can get you a glass of champagne.’

‘
No need to bother.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I have another engagement to get to. But maybe you should drop by my office on Monday so we can talk about your expense account.’

Imogen grinned. She hadn
’t been meeting Daniel at all? This woman was obviously Poppy’s boss. I remembered the day at lunch, the promotion.

As the front door closed, Poppy
’s shit-eating grin disappeared. Suddenly there was silence. Poppy’s face contorted, her eyes narrowing and her lips pursed. This was the monster face, the one I’d seen so many times but the one she normally kept hidden from everyone else.

‘
Poppy, calm down,’ said Aunty Jean.

‘
Shut up, Mum,’ Poppy yelled then she grabbed Imogen’s arm and dragged her across the room to where Daniel cowered in the corner.

‘
You want him? You can have him. I don’t give a fuck.’

She pushed Imogen, slammed her against Daniel.

‘Look at you. You want to be me, don’t you? Wearing the same dress, stealing my husband. But you can’t. You can’t be me. I’m beautiful.’ That was questionable at the moment. ‘Are you happy now, Imogen? Take it all.’

Poppy laughed like a mad thing and looked at Caitlin and Helena for backup. They both avoided her eyes.

I felt a little sorry for her. Then I remembered my 18th birthday party.

‘
I’m sorry, Poppy. I’ve been an idiot but you know what? I don’t want him. I thought I did then I realised he’s just hollow, like a defective chocolate that you’d expect to have a sweet gooey centre but has been botched up somewhere so all you get is a big fat nothing and disappointment. I never slept with him and I’m glad I didn’t and I think you’d be better off without him too.’

I wanted to applaud her, this strong and calm Imogen, talking all the sense, but it just made Poppy worse.

‘What? Are you feeling sorry for me? I don’t need your fat sympathy, Imogen. And I don’t need your fat arse around here. I’m glad we didn’t catch you out. The sight of your naked arse would make me vomit.’