Beyond Good and Evil

Chapter 19: Andreas

WARNING: This chapter contains strong graphic content. Please do not read if you are easily upset or offended.

The barbecue was in full swing. Elsa weaved her way through the bodies scattered around the apartment, chatting animatedly amongst their private groups. She had chosen to wear her newly purchased black sleeveless back lace split dress, whereas Alicia had gone with a casual, simple look. Other guests wore items such as summer dresses - despite it being the strat of spring - and long-sleeved suit tops with matching suit pants, no tie or coat.

She spotted Alicia sitting with Robert at the small wooden kitchen table from across the room, and ran over to join them.

"Al!" She squealed, throwing herself at her best friend. The two stood in a locked embrace for what felt like forever, until Elsa pulled back. "Can my man cook, or can't he?"

"Yes he can," Alicia nodded, shaking her coke in the plastic red cup she held. "In a few days, I'll be going back to Robert's."

Elsa's smile instantly disappeared. She had only just got Alicia back, after she had spent so much time with Robert. They had began to bond like they once had during high school and primary school, without Robert being in the picture. Whenever he was around, Alicia seemed to fall at his feet like a servant to Prince William. Elsa didn't know what was going on, but she knew Alicia's feelings for him went far beyond merely love. And the way he looked at her! Possessive, controlling, but also fondness.

"Damn," Elsa sighed, "I was hoping we could spend some more girl time together. When do we have to go back to that shithole, anyway?"

Alicia scowled, as if Elsa had said a bad word. Then again, it wasn't very often that the S word or even the F word came out of her mouth. "Stockholm is our home, and we have to be back by the seventh, at the latest."

Elsa narrowed her lips in a firm, confused line, retrieving her iPhone from the pocket of her purple leather jacket. She failed to keep up with the calender. They had been enemies ever since the dawn of space and time. She always forgot what the date was, even when people asked her.

"That's like, in three days' time, Al," she said. "I was hoping to spend some more time with Andreas."

"You know what?!" Alicia exclaimed, folding her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes into slits, "If you're obsessed with him so much, why don't you go and suck his dick?!"

She turned and stalked away, her aqua blue waves bouncing against her back. Elsa thought quickly, and threw herself at her friend, effectively tackling her to the ground.

"Get off me!" Alicia bellowed, rolling onto her back.

"What's your problem?!" Elsa fired back, tightening her arms around Alicia's legs. "All I did was say I would miss Andreas! You don't have to be a bitch about it!"

Alicia dived, causing them both to tumble across the wooden floor in a flailing, kicking ball. Elsa attempted to wrap her arms around her friend, but Alicia was as squirmy as a squid, evading her advances and half-stumbling to her feet.

Elsa threw herself at her ankles. Alicia toppled over like a domino, grunting as her stomach collided with the wooden floorboards. Elsa seized her opportunity, climbing onto her friend's back and straddling her.

"Elsa, get off me!" Alicia screamed, making a futile attempt to crawl forward.

All eyes were on them now. Elsa's blood ran cold, glancing around at all the unimpressed, disgusted gazes of contempt from strangers shaking their heads. One Elsa recognised as Mandy, from their textile history class.