Drinks 'n Dares

The Tactful Art of Changing the Subject

Chapter Eighteen – The Tactful Art of Changing the Subject

Claire's POV

Though I had always been fond of diet Coke, it never particularly pleased me when it was spat in my face. This was exactly what happened when I told Carla and Kira about my weekend's exploits. I'd known what Carla's reaction would be of course. Although the diet Coke had been a surprise. But there was no feasible way of not telling her. Carla, along with Kira, was my best friend. I had to tell her. I just wished I'd waited until she'd put the coke bottle down.

"You what?" she demanded, using a napkin to wipe at her mouth. Meanwhile Kira subtly took the coke bottle and put it on the other side of the desk from Carla.

I dabbed at my face with a napkin. "You heard what I said."

"You made out with Jon?" she all-but shouted.

"Jeez." I glanced around. "Tell the whole world why don't you?

It was Monday afternoon and I was back at work, and as usual for a Monday lunch time Carla Kira and I had gathered down in the Photography and Design Department. Carla had bought us lunch, but unusually for her she'd bought us bean sprout sandwiches and diet drinks. I was just waiting for her to get over grilling me so I could ask her what the heck was going on.

"Technically, the whole world already knows." Said Kira wryly. She eyed her sandwich before setting it down again. "You are supposed to be engaged aren't you?"

"That's not the point and she knows it!" Carla burst out. She leaned forward off Kira's desk, which she was sitting on. "Did you, you know, go any further...?"

It took me a second to realise what she was on about and when I did click I squealed, "Ew no! We were just kissing. Nothing else!"

"There's no such thing as just kissing." She said dismissively. "And what do you mean 'ew'?" How can you kiss the guy if you're revolted by the thought of him with his clothes off?"

Kira thwacked Carla over the head with her sandwich. "She's not saying that she's revolted by him you air-brain. She was just surprised at you making the jump from 'we kissed' to 'we did the friggin nasty.' But she's known you that long I'm surprised that she's still surprised at how your dirty mind twists everything."

"Whoa." Carla blinked. "What's up with you?"

She frowned. "Along with a few other upsetting things I am starving. And you bring me this." She held up the sandwich indignantly. "What is this?"

"My sentiments exactly." I muttered.

"They're sandwiches." She said defensively. "What's the big deal?"

"The deal is that usually you get us sandwiches that have actual ingredients. You know, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and cheese or something? All this has is sprouts and…oh my God is that hummus?"

"So what if it is? I'm on a diet okay? There are a few big auditions coming up this month and I'd like to look my best." She said and held up a magazine. Sure enough any article that had the word 'audition' in is was circled in red pen.

"Aw Carla." I moaned. "Not another fad diet. This is because of Harvey isn't it?"

She sniffed. "So what if it is?"

"Carla you-"

"Okay, okay cut it out already." She reached around Kira and snatched back her diet coke. Taking a swig she said, "I would now like to change the subject. I have something to say concerning you-" She pointed to me, "-and you." She pointed to Kira. "Which do you want to hear first?"