Backstage

Chapter 7

Standing in the mirror I pulled on a tight fitting dark green dress with 3/4 length sleeves. It was short and tight but it looked casual and not to much like a prostitute-like I had looked at a James Blunt concert when I was 16. I was absolutely ecstatic for this romantic day with Ashley, we had never done anything like this but I was sure I would love it.

Fastening a mint green enamel necklace and adding some gold bangles to my left wrist I looked in the mirror. My brown hair had been straightened to the level it smelt like a barbecue and my face was coated in gallons of make up but I knew Ashley preferred it a lot when I made the effort.

It took me back to the day 6 months ago when he had asked me to come out for a meal, I was ecstatic at the time. I remember we had been talking for a couple of weeks, so not long really but I instantly found him a very attractive guy and he had a wonderful personality. Okay, maybe not wonderful but he was a breath of fresh air who understood me and my sense of humour which seemed to be a massive turn off for lads.

Remembering that day it brought back memories of the tight hug he had held me and made me feel safe and secure. It seemed to take all the pain of life away from me as though someone actually cared which to me was frankly amazing. I had always been the bad tempered , unprepossessing and fugly. Millie and Esme were so pretty and they often got a lot more attention than me, I say often about 100% of the time.

When Ashley had finally showed a interest in me I instantly fell in love with him for seeing through my wall of friends and actually looking at me, when he asked me out I was so happy it took me 3 days to chose a outfit! I was smitten when he asked to be my boyfriend and I loved him for that, I still loved him but maybe not in the way I used to but I guessed we would recover soon.

Esme poked her head around the door looking at me disapprovingly before uttering "We're going now" she and Millie were going into the London-Stratford for a day of shopping. That had begged me to come but I had explained that me and Ashley where going out.

"Okay see you later" I smiled cheerily

She looked at me as if about to say something meaningful but paused herself to say goodbye and I heard the pair leave. Ash was picking me up at 10-30 and it was now 10-35 so I was expecting him to arrive shortly. I decided to go and check the communal post boxes while I waited. There was a few letters for the others but nothing for me surprise surprise.

I was quite panicked now as it was eleven and not a sign or word from him, at eleven 15 approximately my phone bleeped I guessed it would be him saying he had got up late or something and was on his way, picking up the blackberry which needed replacing but I had no money so half the time it worked half the time not. It read Ashley's named so typing in my long password of "millieandesmeareperf" which would not change I clicked on the message.

"Sorry can't come today, got other stuff on"

I replied with a okay although I was fuming! He could have text me that a hour ago I could have gone to London with the girls I loved Westfield and hadn't been for ages and I had some spare cash as I had been working overtime at costa. I had been studying at university here in Bioscience but Ashley had convinced me it wouldn't get me anywhere so I had dropped out. In many aspects I wanted to go back but Ashley would never let me. I had text Millie to tell her what happened and she text back a small miracle.

"We missed the quarter to eleven train so we are having to get quarter to twelve although Westfield have late night shopping so we can come back late, come down station with us" I changed into some tartan leggings and a grey jumper and headed out towards the station, it was only a five minute walk so when I arrived at the station and purchased my tickets I had just made it thanks to Millie holding the door for a few moments so I could jump aboard.