Most girls would be jealous of Calliope Draycott. She seemingly has it all. The friends, the money, the boyfriend, and in a few years, if all goes to plan, she'll have the job too. So why doesn't she feel happy? It's after a disastrous family dinner...
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When Arden asked if we could have a small get together to meet her boyfriend a few days ago, I agreed straight away.
How could I not? They've been together for a month, and despite living with Arden, I've never met the guy. I haven't even caught a glimpse of him. Honestly, if it weren't for his shoes by the front door or the banging against the wall that separates my bedroom and Arden's, I wouldn't be convinced that he was real.
From what I've heard though, he's definitely real, and very talented. Arden is a lucky girl.
Not that I'll say that when I meet him, I've promised Arden that I'll be on my very best behaviour, which means I have to bite my tongue and censor myself. It also makes me the slightest bit annoyed that the small get together has turned into a party.
All the lights are off, with the only source of light coming from the cheap disco ball we ordered on Amazon last month to add something to our nights in for when we couldn't afford a night out. I knew if I went outside I'd be able to see the lights through the window, it was difficult to miss as they flashed red, blue, green, changing colours to the beat of the music. For ten pounds it had probably been one of the best buys we had made for the flat.
For a moment, I think that I can see Theodore, the guy I went and got a coffee with last week, instead of actually eating dinner with my parents and Isaac. But I shake my head, as if to throw the thoughts out of my mind, because what would Theodore be doing here? Why would he be here? How would he be here?
I have to admit, I was slightly disappointed at first that I didn't ask him for his number or his email address or anything when it was time for me to leave, because I enjoyed his company. He had been a good listener when I needed one, and there was just something about him that put me at ease. All of it came crashing to an end though when I saw Isaac standing outside the restaurant, about an hour and a half after I'd walked out. He was holding my bag and my coat and looking around for me. So, I had stood up, thanked Theodore for the coffee and told him I would pass on the kindness he had shown me to a stranger too.
The smile on Isaac's face when he saw me crossing the road to him almost made me forget about Theodore almost immediately. Almost. Had I not turned around after Isaac had wrapped me up in my coat, and caught his eye from across the road, I probably would've, but there was something about the small smile and the wave he gave me before he walked away, his hands in his pockets, that kept me thinking about that moment for the rest of the week.
It doesn't matter though. It's not like I'll ever see him again.
The doorbell rings again, signalling the arrival of more people, and my annoyance grows, as it does every single time the doorbell rings. I'm not a huge partier, and I'm not that big on nights out either. I don't like being around loads of people, especially when I don't know them and so I stopped answering the door about an hour ago. Since then, I've been hiding in the kitchen, working my way through a bottle of rosé and glaring at anyone that comes near it.
