lust for life • james cook - skins

14 - cook

I grin at JJ as he enters my dorm room. I fling my arms out, inviting him in for a hug. He sheepishly obliges.

"JJ, lad!" I greet him, ruffling his mop of hair. "You're finally here. We have much to discuss."

JJ groans and pulls away from me, fixing his curly hair. "Please don't tell me this is another one of your master plans, Cook."

I throw my head back, laughing. "Fuck off, kid." I toss a dirty t-shirt that was laying on my bed at him, and he flinches as it lightly hits him and lands on the floor.

"I appreciate that you called it a master plan, though," I chuckle as I pull my t-shirt off over my head and look around for a new one.

"It must really be something good if you're changing your shirt for this," JJ sniggers, and I pause to look at him.

I point at him, then at the desk behind him. "Do me a favour and pass me a hobnob. And drop the cheek while you're at it, lad."

JJ obliges, handing me a biscuit, and I shove it in my mouth to hold while I put on a new shirt.

"Make sure you listen carefully to this," I say, as soon as I'm changed, crumbs spraying out of my mouth. "It is a very elaborate and intricate plan that I can't afford for you to fuck up."

JJ scoffs. "You don't even know what elaborate or intricate means."

"Oi, watch it," I warn him. "I dunno what's gotten into you today, maybe Freddie's got the better of you or summet, but I'd recommend you can it soon enough kid."

JJ shrugs, plonking himself down on the edge of my bed. "Alright, sorry, Cookie."

I smile. "No worries, kiddo." I grab my phone out from under JJ's arse, as he managed to sit on it. "Right, to business."

"May I ask what this business is?" JJ queries.

I stare at him in response. "Women, JJ," I state. "We've had many failed attempts at getting you laid, but tonight's the night, I'm sure of it."

"How so?" JJ blinks, perplexed.

"Go into details on the way. We've gotta go to Pandoras." I pull him off the bed by his wrist.

JJ sighs and doesn't object as he lets me drag him out of my dorm, down the hallways and out of the building.

-

When we arrive outside Pandora's house, there's already a faint thumping of music and the sound of girls singing.

We peer through the hedges of her front driveway and stare into Pandora's bedroom window. I squint, frantically searching for any sign of life.

"Are they - are they getting undressed?" I question, craning my neck to get a better view. I get closer to her house, now almost on her driveway, my head ducked as to not look as obvious.

"Cook, they're not. Why would they get undressed?" JJ whispers-shouts at me as he joins me to crouch behind one of the pillars at the entrance to her driveway.

"Can I just remind you that Pandora's party is specified as a girls-only event."

I turn to look at him. "Yup," I nod, getting up, still ducking, to make my way closer to her front door. "And you know what that means?"

"Of course I do!" JJ calls after me, his voice slightly louder now as I crouch behind her car. He comes up behind me, also crouching.

"Ok, so I'm not 100% sure what it means," he mumbles.

I laugh and turn to face him. "So let me enlighten you, Double J," I start. "Pyjama party means only one thing - girls getting friendly."

"Friendly?" JJ echoes, confused.