one

five

I had totally forgotten we were in business as a Sex Clinic until Maeve came storming over, looking as though she had the potential to murder the next person who came anywhere near her. I choked on my sandwich in surprise and fell dramatically off the wall I had been using as a seat, groaning as I looked at my now bleeding knees.

"Alright pissflaps" she said, clearly choosing to ignore the fact I was still crouching on the floor. I stood up, embarrassment flushing my ears a dark shade of crimson. "You know you don't have to spontaneously fall off a wall every time you see me" she continued smirking, "a simple hi Maeve would have sufficed". I rolled my eyes, frantically searching for a comeback that would make me look somewhat cool. Not finding one I simply flipped her off unenthusiastically. "That's it?" she rolled her eyes back at me and laughed softly "God I thought you were supposed to be smart". "And I thought you were supposed to be a good person" I retorted, recovering myself quickly, "life's a bitch sometimes Maeve".

She pointed to my guitar changing the subject: "you play that?". "No I just keep it around for decoration," I answered. "Sorry I was just trying to have a mature conversation for once" she glared at me, trying to disguise the hint of a smile that was playing on the corner of her lips. "Yeah" I replied properly, "I've been playing on and off since I was nine. I started ukulele with my brother one summer and it just sort of naturally progressed from there." "You didn't tell me you have a brother", she pointed accusingly at me. "Had" I corrected with a wan smile "and you never asked". "Oh shit I'm really sorry" her voice softened. "It's okay" I bit my top lip, trying to force my lips to curve into a smile, "he died just over four years ago. My parents told me that he'd accidentally taken something, misread the packet, but I found the note a few months later.

He was sweet, you know, the kind of guy who got ridiculously emotionally-engaged in film plots, and rushed to turn your room into a fort when people picked on you at school, and told you stories about how intensely expansive the universe is. They say loss brings you closer together but I think that's when my family really stopped working". "How old was he", Maeve asked quietly, looking at me with concerned eyes, "almost eighteen" I answered, "I don't usually tell people he's died. At least not straight away. It's easier to pretend he's at home with my parents and I just can't see him".

"My mum's a drug addict" Maeve spoke suddenly, her voice cracking slightly, "tries not to be but she is". I opened my mouth, sure that there was something I should say but confused as to what it actually was. "Don't apologise" she waved me off. I shut my mouth and swallowed, breaking the thick silence that hung between us.

"I have a brother too, you know" Maeve continued, "he's the funniest guy I know but he can be a bit all over the place if you know what I mean. I don't see him much. So I didn't get lucky in the family department either."

I stared in front of me. At some point our friendship, if I could even call it that, had shifted into unknown territory and the new Maeve felt important but simultaneously intensely confusing. "Anyway", she turned to face me, "what I came to tell you was that Otis fucked up his first session for the sex clinic so what are you doing tonight?" "How do my evening plans have anything to do with the sex clinic" I asked. Maeve looked at me, irritation written all over her face and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Okay fine, I met this girl in history and she invited me to her party, happy now" I shot at her. "Wait you got invited to Aimee's party" she looked at me, confused. "Yeah I mean that's genuinely what an invite means". I shook my head, panicking slightly: "wait you think she was joking?" I asked quietly. "Of course not" she brushed me on the arm with the back of her hand, telepathically calming me down, "I'm just surprised. I was going to invite you to come with me to find clients". "To find clients" I repeated trying not to laugh. "For the sex clinic idiot" she winked at me and started to walk away "see you tonight then snowflake".