The Turn of a Page

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

            ‘...Sharlene!’ Ashley shouted down the stairs.

            ‘Yeh!’

            ‘Where did you put your straighteners?!’

            ‘They’re in my room on the dressing table!’ Sharlene shouted back up.

            I had drove here to get ready; as I recall this was Ashley’s idea that the girls (us three) got ready at Sharlene’s and the guys would meet us at the school a bit later. Standing in front of the mirror in the top bathroom of Sharlene’s house, I concentrated on putting my eyeliner and mascara on without poking myself in the eye. There were more than just us three in our pack but we were pretty much best friends by now.

            ‘Can I borrow your curlers, Ash?!’ I shouted as I got my lip gloss out of my makeup bag and put it in my shoulder bag.

            ‘Yeh, of course. They’re in my bag over there.’ She pointed with her elbow. I rummaged round in her bag and pulled out her curlers, plugged them in and waited for them to heat up before I set about curling some thick strands of hair.

            Sharlene came running up the stairs. Catching her breath she spoke. ‘Kez, I forgot about Jamie. Do you mind if he grabs a lift too?’

            ‘Yeh, no problem,’ I said as I waited for the curlers to set some hair; she went back downstairs to let Jamie in (he must have just arrived).

            Pulling up in the car park, I cut off the ignition and told the other three to go ahead as I needed to change into my heels from my driving pumps. Locking the car with the key’s button, I walked my way over to the hall. The heavy air was vibrating with the bass of the speakers and the drums and bass guitar. It spiked with every twenty steps as I got closer to the doors. As I had told Baz to meet me inside, I stepped in and made my way round to the back where I suspected he would be waiting.

            On seeing him for the first time, I ran the last few yards and jumped right into his arms and planted my lips hard onto his. He looked really smart compared to his usual attire; he wore his black leather jacket over a bright blue shirt which was tucked into his lightest pair of jeans but he had left his hair alone.

            Clutching at his jacket’s collar, I smiled huskily. ‘You look nice.’

            His eyes looked over me, up and down. ‘So do you. I like your hair,’ he commented as he twirled a finger through one of the curls. I found myself blushing and was grateful that I had put some light blusher on.

            Turning around, I lifted one foot up between his legs and rested the heel on the edge of the chair behind him as he wrapped his arms round my mid-torso. Meanwhile, Charlie and Ashley were dancing together just on the dance floor that had been placed over the floorboards of the hall. We watched for a bit and I scanned the room to see if I could spot any of my pack or anyone else that I recognised. The band up on the stage consisted of a guitar playing lead singer, a back guitarist, a bass guitarist, a keyboard player and a drummer. They were really good and played mild rock and indy type of music. Feeling the beat course up through my body, I took Baz’s hands and led him over near to Ash and Charlie.

            In my heels, which were only three inches, I had to be careful not to lose my balance but I was sure that Baz would catch me if I did. Keeping my hair out my eyes, I rocked my body in time to the music and let Baz do as he wished so long as he stayed with me.