A Dangerous Friend

Take Me Out

Jade sat on the edge of the sofa, feeling like a substandard prom date, left alone to wallow in silent disapproval while their shortcomings were discussed elsewhere. The apartment was tidy, but the tang of air-freshener failed to mask the smell of stale beer and pot-smoke. She couldn't imagine Tori living in a dump like this after her parents place in L.A. But then Tori wasn't the only one who lived here. She fidgeted with her phone. She hadn't seen the other occupant, but her presence was apparent - from the bedroom a conversation was being had, although she could only make out the occasional word of Tori's side.

...my only friend, Carla...it's not like that...

Carla, it seemed, was not keen.

...when? When do I ever... not fair, and you know it...

She wondered if she should say something. Actually, she wondered if she should just march in there and stab Carla in the face, but it was hard to say how that would go down with Tori. Maybe she should give it up and go back to the hotel. It was costing her quite a lot, especially now that her plan to crash at Tori's was probably - scratch that, definitely - not on the cards. But she could picture the look on Tori's face if she came out and found her gone, and even worse she could imagine the smugness on Carla's when she found out. So it looked like she was just going to have to sit it out.

... one time... last night, and I had to...

She wondered if she was being unfair to Carla. For all she knew, Carla was a lovely girl, and Tori was a selfish layabout who was forever deserting her to go off with strange women out of the blue.

...please, Carla...

Or possibly not. She'd just resolved to give it another thirty seconds before she went in there, when she heard the bedroom door opening. She quickly pushed her earphones in, rearranging her features into an expression of innocent ignorance. "Everything okay?" she said, pulling them out again.

She could see Tori turn, the smile on her face applied a fraction too slowly. "Yes!" she said, brightly. "I'm ready."

"Great," Jade said, relieved. "You look..." She struggled for the kind of compliment you might give a friend. "Nice."

"Thank you," Tori said, slightly more coquettishly than Jade felt comfortable with. "So do you."

Jade felt an unaccustomed blush rising. "Thanks."

"Shall we go?"

"Let's."

.

.

.

"I thought we'd drop the car at the hotel and take a cab," Jade said. "Then we can have a couple of drinks."

"Um, sure," Tori said. She fiddled with her handbag.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just..."

"What?"

Tori sighed. "I know I said I'd pay for everything, but..."

Jade glanced at her, and the look on her face was so tragic that she had to laugh. "That was a joke, Vega," she said. "I don't expect you to do that."

Tori's relief was palpable. "Thanks," she said. "So, where are we going?"

"I don't know, this is your town. I've never been here before. Where do all the cool kids hang out?"

"I... don't know."

"There's a surprise."

"Hey! You're not allowed to be mean to me now we're friends."