Dancing In The Athenian Rain

Chapter 1

In the western Sydney heat, my jeans chafe against my inner thighs as I dash across the street. Belinda power-walks ahead, her mini skirt riding up until I can see her butt cheeks, then she tugs it down. "Hurry up, Donna."

"I'm coming," I answer breathlessly, racing to catch up with her.

"You're so fat. Listen to you huffing and puffing."

"I had to pay for your train tick―"

"Blah, blah. Shut up."

I jog up beside her. "What movie are we seeing?"

She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. "Why does it matter?"

"I was just wondering."

She scowls. "You're so needy, you know that?"

I lower my head and stare at the footpath ahead of us. I can't respond. Scott said the same thing when I asked him if he loved me.

"I can't believe you asked him if he loved you," Belinda says with a snarl, as if reading my thoughts.

"I didn't... he told you?" My cheeks flush, and not from the early December summer heat.

She raises an eyebrow. "Yeah. You totally freaked him out. Seriously, what the hell? We've barely graduated and you turned eighteen like a week ago. Love, Donna?"

I duck my head. "He wanted to... but I wanted to make sure..."

"Sex isn't about love, you bimbo." She forehead slaps me.

"Ouch!"

"You don't want to be a thirty-year-old virgin, do you?"

I hesitate. To me, sex is lovemaking. "If I can't find someone who―"

She slaps me again. "You're such an idiot. Just keep your mouth shut, okay? If you wanna keep your boyfriend, learn to just shut up."

I purse my lips, accustomed to her way of treating me. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I could find better friends, but no one ever seems interested in me or what I have to say... except Dr. Stephens.

She shoves my shoulder. "Hello?"

"Sorry."

She rolls her eyes and climbs the stairs to the cinemas, me trailing behind.

We enter the gloriously air conditioned building, where the smell of popcorn wafts over me. I love movies. My favorites are the historical epics. The cinema is actually doing a special marathon of Troy, Gladiator, and Clash of the Titans. I hope that's what we came to see.

Belinda tugs down her skirt again, and adjusts her top to expose maximum cleavage. "You stink."

I sniff myself. The walk from the train station made me sweat. "I'll be back."

I dart into the bathroom, snatch up some paper towels, and soak them. I rush into a stall to clean up. Once I've wiped down, I whip out Dr. Stephens' specially made deodorizer. He designed it just for me, using my body chemistry to create a balance and remove body odors naturally. The guy's a genius... well, most of the time. I'm the only one who appreciates it though.

With my B.O. neutralized, I spritz on some perfume, just in case. I don't want Scott smelling my B.O. on my clothing. I'm hoping we'll make up and everything will be okay. We've been dating for nine months, and despite a few temper tantrums on his part, we usually get along.

Sniffing myself to check I smell like flowers, I head back out.

I see Scott as I leave the bathroom. His back faces me as he talks to Belinda and another girl with them. She's from the local girls' school, and friends with some of my friends, so I don't think much of it. Until she stretches up, flicks back her dark hair, and kisses him.