lust for life • james cook - skins

12 - cook

My eyes are closed, my head tilted toward the ceiling, desperately trying to block out the sound of Emily nagging the ear off of me.

We're sat in a corner of the common room, it's early, and I'd rather be anywhere but here at this very moment.

"Cook!" She exclaims, nudging me roughly. "Are you even listening to me?"

I open my eyes and turn my head to look at her. She's sitting beside me, an irritated look plastered on her face.

"God, you're fucking hopeless," she sighs, shaking her head.

I grin at her. "That's me."

She smacks my arm. "This isn't fucking funny! You need to get your shit together, Cook. You can't just lead on a girl like that."

"I didn't ask her to like me, did I?" I mutter scornfully.

This is about Eve. She blabbed to Emily about how we kissed after that underground party where we sold the weed for Tommo. She told her all about how straight after we kissed, I told Eve I was waiting for Effy to come. That apparently upset Eve. I don't remember any of this, mind you.

"I was fucked off my head, Ems," I groan. "Can you just shut up about it now? Clearly I wasn't thinking."

Emily glares at me. "You really don't get it, do you, Cook?"

I shrug at her, helplessly. "Clearly not."

"It's not just over that, it's everything else. You know how much Eve likes you. You can't just fuck with her like that, just because you feel like it."

"Sorry, Emily," I say, standing up. "But this really isn't my problem. I'm with Effy. She knows that. Everyone knows that. Her fault if she chooses to get upset over it."

"Are you really with Effy, though?" Emily challenges, staring up at me.

I blink at her. "Yes, I'm fairly fucking sure I am."

She puts her head in her hands. "Just, think, for once, would you?"

I tap my temple with my finger. "Always thinking, babe. Besides, what goes on in my noggin is none of your concern. You have other things to be worrying about."

"Like?" She scoffs.

I nod my head toward Naomi, who's sitting with Pandora and Effy on the other side of the room.

They're comforting Panda as Thomas got sent back home after his mother came to Bristol to pay him a surprise visit. Shit timing, as his apartment was decorated with drying hash plants and teenagers drinking, smoking, and fucking.

Poor girl, she really liked Thomas.

Emily frowns at me, her cheeks going red to match her hair. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I raise my eyebrows at her, knowing Naomi is a touchy subject, before turning around.

"Ta-ra, love," I smile, waggling my fingers at her mockingly as I walk away. I can hear her muttering behind me as I leave.

I head over to where Effy and Naomi are sitting, their arms around Panda, who's snivelling quietly into Effy's shoulder.

"Alright, girls?" I smile at them.

They all stare at me blankly. I nudge my foot at Pandora.

"Bad time?" I mumble, and they all nod in sync at me.

I pat Pandora's knee awkwardly. "Don't worry, Pands," I comfort her, as she sniffles in response. "There's plenty of fish in the Congo."

"Fuck off, would you, Cook?" Naomi snaps at me.