fuck you, peachy | skins

28. Effy

Finally out of the car, the group lop their bags down the dimly lit trail towards the campsite.

"...and my new imperial star destroyer lego set is astronomically cool. it's got 1758 pieces and a modified stormtrooper uniform" JJ blurts out to Ayla who walks alongside him, helping him carry the tent him, Ems and Naomi would be sleeping in. Effy was carrying the one they were going to sleep in with the help of Panda.

"That sounds wicked J. I'd love to come and see it sometime" she replies, genuinely interested.

"Awesome." J nods excitedly. "We will have to wear gloves of course though. Human touch can be damaging to the pigment"

"Of course" Ayla reassures him. Thomas brushes past them gently, away from Panda and Effy who are walking behind them. Panda calls after him, asking for him to come back, to which he replies that he wants to get ahead. 

"Did you hear about Thomas?" JJ whispers, leaning towards Ayla.

"Huh?"

"He found out about's Cook's carnal relations with Panda"

"What??" Ayla's eyes widen and shoot to JJ's, who nods slowly. She sighs, worried that Thomas was going to find out she already knew and didn't tell him. She had been planning to but had never found the strength. After a few seconds of silence, as she registers the information she had just been given, Ayla chuckles lightly.

"You don't have to call it that J"

"What?"

"Carnal relations" 

"Oh sorry, 'sex'" he corrects himself which makes Ayla chuckle a little more. "But it's messing with my head! His girlfriend's a no-good hussy and he's pretty much acting like everything's fine."

"That's Thomas for you." Ayla sighs. "Does Panda know that he knows?"

"I highly doubt it"

-

After five minutes or so they finally reach the campsite and everyone puts down their stuff, wandering around to check it out, excited for what the trip was to bring. Freddie throws his head back and howls, listening as it echoes through the trees. 

"Are you guys sure it's a good idea to stay here now those guys know where we are? Shouldn't we have changed location in case they come to.." Ayla begins before Freddie cuts her off.

"It'll be fine Ayla, don't freak" he chuckles, brushing past her and nudging her shoulder. 

Effy drags her feet glumly over to Ayla and wraps her arms around her tightly. Ayla knew what was up, she had seen the smile between her and Freddie in the car, followed by Freddie and Katie's snog. She strokes her hair gently, watching as everyone starts setting up their tents.

"Wanna go for a walk?" she asks, looking at Eff who looks back at her. 

"Yeah" Effy replies, detaching herself from Ayla. Both of them walk away from the campsite and into the dense woods. They walk around in silence for a bit, the sun streaming through the leaves, creating a light green hue around them. The ground was soft and covered in thick green undergrowth and an assortment of tiny flowers and mushrooms. 

"I'm sorry Eff" Ayla sighs without looking at her, bending down to pick a small purple flower. 

"It's okay." replies Effy. "I just feel lonely"

It's quiet for a moment as Ayla wonders what to say, twirling the little flower in her fingertips.

"Isn't Cook still seeing you?"

"He hasn't had sex with me all week," Effy says softly, before turning to look at Ayla. "You have something to do with that don't you Ayla?" Effy asks, knowing very well she did. 

Cook hadn't paid an inkling of attention to Effy since he kissed Ayla yet Ayla was only realising this now.

She doesn't reply, not sure of what to say, plopping herself down on the soft ground to inspect the tiny mushrooms which were growing everywhere. She picks one out of the ground gently and looking at it intently for a moment. 

"Mushies," she says, taking off her jacket and laying it out. Effy's eyes widen and she squats down next to her. 

"Really?" 

Ayla nods as she begins picking them and putting them in her jacket, thankful that Effy's mind had drifted away from the topic of boys.

- 

They waltz back to the campsite, hand in hand snickering with excitement. They sit down around a little campfire that someone had started and lay out the jacket. 

"Cheers" smiles Effy, as both of them pick up a mushroom and plop it in their mouth with a smile. The campfire was a little away from where everyone else was standing so at first only Panda noticed them and came wandering over. She sits down next to Effy, looking at the mushrooms with wonder. 

"Are they funny mushrooms?" she asks, looking at Effy and then at Ayla who nods, the slightest of smiles on her face, despite her growing dislike of Panda. A few seconds later Katie marches over.

"What are you doing?"

"Found some shrooms. Want some?" Effy offers, looking up at her.

"No! How do you know they're not poisonous? I don't want you ruining my party by, like, vomming blood!" Katie furrows her brow. 

"Don't worry Katie, I checked them. They aren't poisonous" Ayla chuckles slightly. 

"Well, this isn't supposed to be that kind of party anyway. It's just drinks and sausages. No mushrooms." Katie continues.  

"Whoa, mushrooms" Freddie's eyes shot up from the other side of the campsite, jogging over to the girls. "Give me some!" he says and Ayla scotches over so can sit down next to them.

"Freddie!" Katie yells, crossing her arms. He ignores her and starts munching one down.

"Did I hear mushrooms?" Emily smiles with excitement, coming out of her tent with Naomi.

"Emily! Don't you fucking dare!" Katie says turning to her. Emily doesn't listen to her.

Within a few minutes, only Katie and JJ were only ones neglecting the mushie circle. Katie was sulking over near her tent with a drink in her hand and JJ was dancing around contently with sparklers. 

Everyone in the circle chuckles and chatters amongst each other. Effy looks over to Panda who hadn't eaten any yet.

"Come on, Panda. Live a little." Effy eggs her on. 

"No, thanks! Love is our drug!" Panda beams in response, grabbing Thomas' arm. Everyone groans in disgust. 

"Sometimes you need a little more sugar in your bowl, though," Thomas replies, looking at her sternly as he picks up a mushie.

"Go on, Panda," Effy says. "Join the mushie feast". Panda picks up a tiny one and plops it in her mouth after a few moments of hesitation. 

"Eurggh." she shivers in disgust, making everyone laugh. 

 "How long till it kicks in, Ayla?" Thomas asks, looking at her. 

"Not long."