The Rings

[ fourteen ]

No. I was not shopping for Harry's party, I was just shopping for clothes.... 'Cause my wardrobe was as good as a cupboard full of newspaper.

I stopped at a pretty lace top. It was something Charlotte might wear... If she were to become a prostitute. For some odd reason, I liked it. It had grey stripes and it looked like a wooly texture, long sleeves and cut high above the waist. It was so not me. But I liked it.

I threw it into the basket and continued browsing. As I scrolled the racks, I became suddenly aware of my knowledge. What goes with what, what doesn't work and what it just plain wrong together. I came across a black pencil skirt with two fake zips at the front.

If I was going to look different tonight, I felt like a pair of fishnet tights might help my look, so I chucked a pack of five into the basket.

I couldn't resist but to buy a pair of shoes, so I picked up some, also black, flat boots with buckles, stopping before my shins. They were pretty, but practical and I felt drawn to them.

The price came to £42.30 and I did my best to keep my mouth shut. I didn't want to cause a scene, like my mother used to, yelling out loud something like, "That's a rip off!" Or, "I'm never coming here again!" Whilst I would hide behind a rack of expensive purses.

******

"Ready for the party tomorrow?" Liam asked, smirking at me as we sat together in F.S. I gritted my teeth and forced a smile.

"Yeah," I said. I still hadn't forgiven him for allegedly taking me to the party just to annoying Niall. Thankfully, this wasn't Niall's party, so hopefully he wouldn't be there.

I also felt the need to ask Harry first, just in case, after what Niall said, even though I knew fully well that everyone at college just went to any random party. But also I didn't want to see him until the party, I wasn't sure why. Maybe I could hide under the lights easier there.

******

When I arrived back home after F.S., Charlotte was on the sofa yet again, a miserable look on her face and a bowl of ice cream in her hand. Did she think she was in a teen romance film? She was so melodramatic.

"Skye, take me to the party!" She blurted.

"Oh, hi, nice to see you too," I said, sarcastically. "What party?"

"The one's Liam's taking you to," she snapped.

"How'd you know about that?" I stammered, dropping my bag by the doorway, in it's usual place.

"Danielle told me." She said.

Who was Danielle, again? "How'd she know?" I asked, again.

" 'Cause. You two are like a couple and people pick up on your conversations." She said, like it was normal.

"Do you have people spying on me!?" I snapped.

"Shut up! Of course, I don't!" She grunted, smacking some ice cream in her mouth. "I meant that people just hear rumours and stuff and I know there's a party, so take me!"

"What's wrong with you?" I groaned, walking into the kitchen and pouring myself some juice.

"Me and Harry are done." She stated. "And I need a distraction. So take me out."

Who did she think she was? She was nothing but rude to me and then she expected me to do something nice for her? And I couldn't anyway.

"Charlotte, you can't go to the party..." I murmured.

"Why not!?"

"Cause."

"Tell me why not! Give me one good reason?"

"Well... It's ... It's ...."

"SKYE."

"IT'S HARRY'S PARTY."

There was a silence.

Oops.

Well she did ask.

"...Why would you go to Harry's party!? He hates you!" She yelled, standing up from the sofa and standing squarely, like she were about to attack me.

"How would you know!?" I screamed back.

She sighed. "Because ... Because he loves you." Her voice lowered and she collapsed back onto the sofa.

I stared at the back of her head. "No, he doesn't..." I snapped, although, I was trying more to convince myself.

"Yes, he does." She raised her voice again and within a second she was back in my face. "And you are still fucking around with Liam, whilst Harry loves you! You're disgusting!"

"WHAT!? I HAVEN'T BEEN NEAR LIAM!"

"YES YOU HAVE, I CAN SEE IT, HE'S GOT YOU WRAPPED AROUND HIS FINGER AND YOU'VE GOT HARRY WRAPPED AROUND YOUR'S AND THAT'S WHY HE LEFT ME."

I was completely speechless.

I lowered my voice, to a whisper. "You want to know something?" I said, softly. "I hate the pair of them and the reason I am going to this party is to piss them both off and put them in their places because they are attempting to play me."

Charlotte said nothing, just threw herself back onto the sofa and huffed. "You're such a ..." She trailed off as a knock came from the door.

I stormed towards it and slammed it open, seeing as Charlotte wasn't planning on moving. Outside the door was Simon, a shocked look on his face.

I swallowed hard. "Did you hear...?" I stuttered.

"All of it." He said, grimacing at me, like I was something on the bottom of his shoe that he stepped on. "And so did the whole building."

Then he left. Again. "Simon, stop!" I called after him. "Don't keep doing this!"

He completely ignored me as he ran down the stairs and left. I slammed the door and pressed my back to it.

"You see? You're losing all of them, one by one." She said, staring into space, as though she were possessed.

I scoffed. "You're being ridiculous." I bayed, storming to my room and slamming the door on her.

That woman was crazy. There was no way I was staying in this apartment with her any longer. She was freaking me out and if I stayed any longer, I would probably go insane.