fuck you, peachy | skins

7. Cook

The group walks hesitantly onto the boat which is littered with middle-aged citizens drinking cocktails and munching on cheese and biscuits.

"Well, this is already the weirdest fucking party I've ever been to," says Ayla as she watches Cook's hand trail up Kayleigh's dress. 

"When she said party.." begins Freddie, as his hand glides down Ayla's back and around her waist, pulling her in closer to him, trying to divert her attention from Cook. 

"You thought she meant more of an acid fuelled sex rave without the Mancunians," says Ayla, paying little attention to the fact that Freddie's hand is around her waist. She thought it would feel more comforting than it did.

"This is more..." begins JJ

"Jelly and ice cream" finishes Effy. The group stands motionless in the doorway as they all watch Cook tuck into the Champagne. Cook glances over at Freddie and gestures for him to come over. Freddie lets go of Ayla's waist and walks towards him.

-

The group slowly disperses and individual conversations arise. Uninterested in engaging in conversation, Ayla leans against the back wall with a glass of Champagne and watches Cook and Freddie talk intently. Emily walks over and leans against the wall next to her.

"Cook or Freddie?" she smiles, knowing exactly who her sister is tossed between. Just like Ayla could read Emily's mind, Emily could read Ayla's.

"Probably Freddie. Not Cook for now," she replies taking a sip of her champagne.

"You pretend that you don't like him playing hard to get but you secretly do" giggles Emily

"No, I fucking don't" Ayla replies defensively, thinking maybe she actually did. The two of them are quiet for a moment as they watch Cook and Freddie talk. Cook looks as serious as either of them had ever seen him. "Freddie's nicer I suppose but something attracts me to Cook and I don't know what it is."

-

Cooks sniffles down Uncle Keith's special blend, leaning his head back with a smirk. Next to him, Ayla Katie and Effy snort the fine white powder off the grotty bathroom counter as Panda watches. Ayla straightens her posture and leans against the wall smiling, excited for the drugs to kick in. Freddie, JJ, Naomi and Emily weren't interested in narcotics and were somewhere within the party.

"Well, come on, then. Jesus" says Karen impatiently waiting for Cook to pass her and Kayleigh the bag of drugs.

"All in good time, babes. Weird girl. Hold that" says Cook passing the bag of drugs to Pandora who examines them with curiosity.

"Fucks sakes, are we getting any or what?" Karen complains. Effy rolls her eyes and waltzes over to Ayla.

"Shut up Karen. They are Cook's drugs anyway so be patient". Effy sighs in annoyance.

"Fuck off" replies Karen. Effy looks at Ayla and the two of them chuckle. Ayla liked Effy and was happy they seemed to be getting close. She missed Tony and Effy reminded her of him a lot.

It's silent for a moment before Ayla looks over to Panda who's opening the bag of narcotics and tipping its contents down her throat.

"No, no, no. Wait!" Ayla says trying to stop her. It's too late.

"Hang on what are you doing," Karen asks looking over to Panda.

"What? Was that wrong?" asks Panda turning to face the lot of them, her mouth ridden with fine white powder which had now turned into a soggy paste from her spit.

"Did you just swallow my drugs?" Cook says shocked as Ayla and Effy hold back a chuckle. Typical Panda.

"She's fucking finished it!" Karen says aggressively. Cook takes the empty bag out of Panda's hands and turns to face everyone as he laughs.

"It tastes horrible," Panda says with a disgusted look on her face.

"You're not supposed to eat it! It goes up the nose, you twat." Kayleigh says standing in the corner with Karen as the others laugh.

"My mouth's gone all numb," says Panda looking a little sick. Ayla steps forward and grabs Panda's hand.

"I'm not surprised. Let's go fly a kite Panda" she chuckles, nodding to the door.

"Yeah come on Panders, we're out of here," Effy says ushering Panda, Katie and Ayla out the door as Kayleigh and Karen yell at Cook.

-

Ayla tilts her head back as Effy grabs her hand and leads her onto the dance floor. Colours are brighter, people are louder, the world is more interesting: they are both drugged up beyond belief. Ayla feels a shiver down her spin as Cook brushes past her, ignoring her completely as he walks over to Effy. Uninterested in watching Cook play hard to get, Ayla moves away from them and towards the bar where Freddie and JJ are.

Ayla smiles at Freddie and JJ as she stumbles towards them. JJ and Freddie look at each other worried, it being bluntly obvious how fucked Ayla was from Uncle Keith's special blend.

"Umm hey Ayla," says Freddie pursing his lips as she pulls up beside them.

"Hi," she says, picking up a random glass of champagne from the table. She's about to drink it before Freddie takes it out of her hands.

"Ay ay ay no! You don't need anything else" he says putting the glass back on the counter. She looks at him dead in the eyes as the world rocks side to side.

"What are you guys doing," she asks trying her best to act normal.

"Well Cook said he is going to go and get some more drugs so he can fuck Kayleigh, so we are just waiting for him to come back," says Freddie.

"Why would getting more drugs make it possible for him to shag her?" asks Ayla scoffing.

"He thinks if he impresses her then..." Freddie trails off. It's quiet for a moment as Ayla nods her head slowly. JJ looks at Freddie.

"See I don't know why Cook wants to fuck Kayleigh when he told you.." JJ begins before Freddie cuts him off.

"J. Fucking don't," Freddie says bluntly. Ayla chuckles and looks up to Freddie who looks deadly serious.

"Wait. What did Cook say to you?" Ayla asks

"Nothing. Let's go dance alright?" Freddie changes the subject, grabbing Ayla's hand and leading her to the dance floor. She is so monged she forgets all about JJ's close slip up within seconds.