Page 52 of Couple Goals

‘Maeve, what are you talking about,’ Adriana laughs. ‘You don’t have a type. And if you did, it wouldn’t be pretty femmes like her, I mean don’t get me wrong, she’sgorgeousand I’m all for it, but like,’Adriana counts on her fingers. ‘Megan Rapinoe? Quinn? Your ex Hannah? Your biggest crushes have always been androgynous sporty types.’

‘Is that so,’ smirks Kira.

‘No they’re not,’ says Maeve, blushing beneath her make-up.

‘Where has your girlfriend gone now?’ asks Kira, her voice low to Maeve. ‘If you like her so much, don’t you want to be back kissing her?’

‘Yeah, Ido,’ Maeve, faces up to Kira. ‘See? People want to kiss me. In public. Strangers fancy me. They’re not hiding me away.’

‘Lucky for some,’ says Kira.

‘Yeah,’ Maeve sways. ‘It is lucky for some. Lucky lucky lucky me.’

It’s like she’s gloating, but it’s not ringing true. Kira looks visibly uncomfortable, and Adriana thinks this is perfectly reasonable. It feels like Maeve’s gloating is personal, though she doesn’t understand why.

Adriana follows Maeve’s hair as she drunkenly strides off through the dancefloor. Adriana grabs her friend’s hand and pulls her to the side, shouting over the music.

‘Maeve, what the hell is going on with you this evening?’

‘Nothing!’ Maeve yells back. ‘Why would anything be going on! I’m just dancing and flirting, like I thought I was meant to be!’

‘Maeve, I’m serious,’ says Adriana, concerned.

‘Urgh, fine then, if none ofyouwant to hang out with me then I guess I’ll find that woman again–’

‘Nope!’ Adriana steps in. ‘You’re drunk. I’m putting you in a taxi.’

Maeve seems not to hear her. With the slipperiness of an eel, Maeve pulls her arm away and heads off towards the bar. But Adriana keeps following her, until she manages, like a sheepdog, to guide her towards the entrance, and out into the fresh air of the smoking area at the front of the club.

‘Maeve, I’m serious. You’ve been off all night. You were being mean to Kira at the pre-drinks, and then what was that? It’s not like you.’

Maeve slumps dramatically down right on the pavement. Adriana is taken aback at this role reversal. She’s not used to being the sober one trying to make other people act more sensibly. Still, Maeve doesn’t answer, just pouts like an angry toddler.

‘What is going on with you full stop?’ Adriana asks. ‘You’ve been sooff! For weeks now! It’s like I don’t even know who you are anymore!’

Maeve’s face contorts. Adriana can’t tell if it’s from the discomfort of not being able to think clearly in her state of drunkenness or if it’s finally all these crushing feelings coming through at once. Then she covers her face like a baby doing peekaboo, like she can’t bear to have her expression seen. Maeve sniffles but doesn’t answer.

Adriana crouches down to be at her level. ‘Is this really all just about being Captain?’

‘It isn’tjust! It isn’tjust!It’s – that’s my whole career! If I’m not good enough… I’m never good enough… She doesn’t… She doesn’t even like me. I’m such an idiot.’

Maeve is sobbing so heavily it’s like she’s struggling to breathe.

‘Maeve, I’m calling you a cab, okay? You need to go home.’

‘No! Shan’t!’

‘Who’s done this to you? Why haven’t you told me? I’m your best friend, aren’t I? You’re supposed to be able to tell me anything?’

Maeve mumbles something, and Adriana doesn’t quite catch it.

‘What?’

Maeve suddenly shouts it at her. ‘Kira!’

‘What about Kira?’ Adriana looks at her blankly.

Maeve opens her mouth to answer, then shakes her head ferociously, drunkenly mimes pulling a zip across her mouth.

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