Page 34 of Seven Exes

‘Toilet’s fucked again.’ Bibi bounces a little as she lands heavily on my bed. I’m straightening my hair and turn back to the mirror.

‘You’re kidding, the overflowy thingagain?’ I sigh. ‘This seems to be every weekend lately. Have you rung the landlord?’

‘Yip and yip,’ Bibi confirms. ‘The arsehole has promised to send his dippy son-in-law over with a plunger again. Because that obviously worked so well last time. Louise is currently on duty in there, bailing out water, but she’s going out with Sven later. Can you take the next shift or shall I?’

I turn to face her. ‘I don’t know. I might be able to do the last shift, but I’m going out myself in a sec. Sorry.’

Bibi sits up straight. ‘Going where?’ She sounds outraged. ‘What are you doing without consulting us?’

I turn back, staring resolutely in the mirror. I don’t want to face Bibi when I say this.

‘Alex finally replied.’ I tug my hair tightly with thestraighteners until it hurts. ‘We’re meeting in a few minutes at The Swab.’

There is silence and I don’t turn around. Instead, I stare down, unable to even look at myself.

‘What’s happening?’ Louise arrives in the doorway. I can hear in her voice the anxiety that something is going on without her. The FOMO is strong with this one.

There is a beat of silence and I pick up my hairbrush, swallowing hard to push back tears.

‘What?’ Louise sounds scared now. ‘Where are you going, Esther? Have I done something? It wasn’t me who broke the toilet again, I swear. Maybe it was Sven? He had onions again.’

‘No,’ Bibi snaps, standing up. ‘Of courseyouhaven’t done anything.’ She makes theyousound like an accusation.

I check the clock on my phone; it’s time to go.

I pick up my bag, steeling my nerves and giving myself another anxious lookover in the mirror. No lipstick on my teeth this time.

Bibi quietly clears her throat. ‘She’s going to meet Alex,’ she tells Louise in a low voice.

‘Oh!’ I don’t need to see Lou to know the expression she currently has on her face.

‘See you guys in a bit,’ I mutter, exiting without looking at either. As I close the flat door behind me and head down the entrance hall, I hear their hushed worried voices.

The few minutes from front door to pub are brutal, with every step bringing a whole new set of nerves. I don’t knowif I’ve ever felt this nervous. It’s way worse than it was with Alistair and Paul. This isAlex. My Friend with Benefits, Alex. My lover, Alex. My friend. This could be very bad – awful really.

I reach for the door of the pub, wondering if I can quickly cram in a couple of shots to steady myself. It’s then I hear my name.

‘Esther.’

It is a statement, not a question, and for a moment I can’t bring myself to look. This has been a long time coming – seven years – and I don’t really know if I have the strength to handle it.

As if in slow motion, I turn and look into the eyes of someone I loved so, so much for so long. But – ultimately – not in the right way.

‘Hey, Shelley,’ I say shyly, taking in my oldest friend and how she has changed – and all the ways she hasn’t.

EX 3: ALEX SHELLEYAKA The Friend With BenefitsPART ONE

St Jude’s Comprehensive School

7QT form room

9.34am

‘Miranda George?’

‘Here, Miss.’

‘Louise Hickman?’

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