ARABELLA • Alex Turner

FIVE

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     By the time Friday night rolled around, Arabella was ready to wind down with a joint, a glass of wine and a nice little gossip session.

She had spent the past few days camped out in the library on campus, working her fingers to the bone, and there was nothing more she wanted after such a demanding week than a relaxing night in with her best friend.

   As always, Sophie was waiting for her by the door when she walked up the street.

   She was wearing pink pyjama bottoms and an oversized grey sweater probably belonging to Miles, and she was cradling a big ball of fluff which Arabella immediately recognised as the flat adoptee, Jammy.

Jammy, or Jammy Dodger, was an overweight ginger cat whom Sophie and her flatmates had pretty much claimed as a house pet despite not being allowed animals.

   His real name was Wallace and he was owned by an older couple, though he visited the students every day and was very lovable towards them. They all adored him, spoiling him with cuddles and treats and toys whenever their budgets allowed for it.

As soon as Sophie spotted her brunette friend unlatching the front gate, a big grin took over her face.

"Look who's here, Jammy! It's Auntie Arabella! Doesn't she look gorgeous? And she's got a present for us." She spoke in a baby voice, crooning at the cat as if he were a human child able to respond.

Arabella smiled as she approached the glowing doorway, cheeks ruddy from the cold.

"Hi Jammy! I've missed you. You're looking very handsome today." She reached out to scratch the purring cat under the chin with her mittened hand. "Can you tell your fake Mummy to move her arse out of the way? Because it's freezing out here."

Sophie cackled and stepped backwards to allow Arabella into the house. Given the student budget, it was surprisingly toasty.

Leaving Jammy on the sofa, the two girls made their way up to Sophie's bedroom where Arabella stripped her coat, scarf and gloves off and began digging through the Tesco carrier bag she had brought.

"We've got a bottle of red, pizza, garlic bread, mushrooms because I wanted them, lots of Doritos." The brunette listed out the items as she placed them on the bed. "Oh, and sour cream. Thought we could make nachos."

Sophie squealed and clapped her hands, chucking a few bottles of nail varnish and two charcoal face masks onto the pile. "I've got a few grams left of the stash too in case you wanted to smoke up."

Arabella grinned as she made herself comfortable on the bed. "I'm so glad you said that 'cause there's nothing I want more right now. Jenny's been getting on my tits this week."

Sophie laughed, already pulling up Netflix on her laptop. "Say no more. Operation girls night is a go."

After a few episodes of Gossip Girl, the pair retreated downstairs to cook dinner. They cracked open the wine and chatted on the sofa while the oven heated, Jammy deciding to use Arabella's lap as a napping spot so that she was unable to move.

"I still can't believe you told Alex he was lying about being in the Arctic Monkeys." Sophie laughed as she slid the pizza and the garlic bread into the oven. "Miles thought it was well funny."

   Arabella's jaw dropped. She would've lunged across the kitchen to hit her friend had the cat not been sleeping on top of her.

   "Sophie! You told Miles?" She whined. "Oh my God. I'm never speaking to Alex again. If we ever see him I'll have to hide."