Ashley spun round, me on his shoulders, and laughed.
‘Heya, it’s Craig and Robbie!’
‘Of course.’ Craig gave a crooked smile, and then noticed me. ‘Hey, who’s that?’
‘This is…’
‘Is this the famous Roxie that Purdy never shuts up about?’ Robbie had joined in, only to receive a glare from Ashley.
‘Hey, I do not…’
‘Yeah you do.’ CC cut him off, smirking. ‘Roxie this, and Roxie that, do you reckon Roxi will like this, I hope Roxie will – fuck!’
The drummer at this point had to duck very quickly as Ashley smacked the space that his head had occupied not two seconds ago. Craig and Robbie were roaring with laughter and I was giggling.
‘Ashes!!!’
We all spun round to see a tall girl, with long blonde hair, walking towards us.
‘Who is she…’ muttered Tommy, as Ashley took me from his shoulders, and placed me on my feet.
‘Kina.’ Ashley said quietly. ‘My ex.’
Somewhere in my chest, I felt something, like a small stab.
She had reached us, and smiled at Ashley.
‘Hey Ashes! I’ve missed you so much.’ She pouted, and then spotted me, her hazel eyes almost inspecting me as she took in my small skinny build, my short wild crop of black hair before she met my grey eyes.
‘And, who is this?’ she asked sweetly.
‘This is Roxie, she’s a little sister of a friend of mine.’
She stared at me for a moment, and I could almost see the cogs in her head working.
‘So… I’ve been thinking Ashley, about what happened between us. And, I realise, how badly I fucked up. Would you maybe consider, giving us another go?’ she suddenly asked.
As the last of her words left her mouth, I felt my breath catch in my throat, stuck like a lump you get, A warm hands embraced my own and I saw CC was holding on, ready to catch me.
‘Maybe.’ Ashley said slowly.
‘Cool! Well, here’s my new number. Toodles!’ She wrote something down on a page in her small, jewelled notebook, before ripping it out and offering it.
In my minds eye, I saw Ashley take it, and rip it to shreds. He wrapped his arm round me and said to Kina ‘Not a chance. I’m with Roxie.’
In reality, he took it and placed it in his wallet, saying he’d call her when he had made a decision. She smiled and looked at me, with almost a look of triumph, before leaving. I watched her walking out the door, and remained staring even after she had left my sight.
‘Roxie? Roxie!’ I blinked as I found a hand waving itself in front of my face. I looked up to see it was CC.
‘You ok?’ he asked in an undertone.
I nodded, trying not to speak when I knew I would sound choked up.
‘You want anything?’
‘I think I’m fine right now.’ I said, slowly and carefully, trying to keep the wavering note out my voice.
CC nodded, seemly understanding.
When we got back, CC made sure I sat next to him, while Tommy and Ashley shared the food out.
YOU ARE READING
The Missing Monroe
Fiksi PenggemarRoxie Avril Griffis cannot remember much of her early life. All she knows is that she was happy. Her father may have died before her birth, but for a period her mother and older brother were there by her side. But times change. She's sixteen now...
