Page 37 of Wish You Were Here
Will looks across the table at me.
‘I was going to say, we really need to find a girlfriend for poor old Ben.’
‘Definitely,’ says Hugh.
‘Poor, sweet, single little brother,’ says Poppy.
‘He definitely needs a decent shag,’ says Simon. ‘His internet history is damning.’
‘You check my internet history?’ I ask incredulously.
‘It’s what any good flatmate would do.’
‘Well, can you please not check my personal, none of your business, internet history, please mate,’ I say, not very happy that Simon feels it is within the realms of his responsibility as my flatmate to keep tabs on my internet search history.
‘Of course,’ says Simon. ‘You should be free to search Pornhub for big tits, naughty teens caught on camera in the safety of your own home.’
‘Disgusting,’ says Poppy, and despite the deliciousness of the food and the barrage of good news, I am not feeling particularly jolly.
We finish eating before Abigail and Simon tell us to go and sit down because they are going to wash up. Poppy, Hugh and Will go into the living room and start watching something on television, while I decide to use the toilet and finally reply to Saskia’s message. Obviously, I can’t mention my jealousy towards Brad, and so instead I go with something far more congenial.
Great news about Brad! Although obviously commiserations on the hair condom. I imagine you wore it well though! How can you say that Brad is too good for you? You are amazing, and I think Brad is the lucky one. The parkrun wasn’t great. It just reminded me how out of shape I am, and also that finding love in London feels near impossible. In other news, I just found out that my flatmate (Flatmate Simon) is dating one of my oldest friends (Abigail), and they’re in a serious committed relationship! Also, Poppy is pregnant, and I’m going to be an uncle – probably a fun uncle or ‘funcle’. Excited for our next FaceTime. Beno xx
I push send, then wander into the living room and fall onto the sofa next to Will, asCountryfilestarts on BBC One. Apparently, Hugh is a huge fan. He was born in the Cotswolds, spent most of his youth romping about in muddy fields, riding horses, wearing wax jackets and wants to one day leave London and get a pile with a few acres of land. Perhaps when that happens, I will be in a loving, committed relationship, or even, heaven forbid, married! I have no idea how long I have before Poppy and Hugh sell up and get a place in the country, but hopefully it is long enough to sort my life out. Although at the moment, everything is looking pretty bleak, including the weather, which seems to have somehow got even worse.
16
Saskia
I have been on cloud nine since my date with Brad. Obviously, the hair condom was a bit of a low point, capsizing an uncapsizable kayak wasn’t my finest hour, but going back to his flat afterwards, sleeping together sober and having the best day together afterwards, I feel a sudden positivity about my life. That along with the Fudge Cake gig, and as my thirtieth birthday approaches, I feel like things are beginning to fall into place. My life, which had seemed not that long ago like it was hurtling towards complete and utter disaster, is looking up. Although there is one slightly dark cloud on the horizon and I am trying to deal with that tonight. I am having dinner with Jess and Aaron at their flat, and I am going to tell Jess about Brad. She also has some house news. Is tonight going to be a turning point for us as we look forward to new and exciting pathways in our future, or is it going to be the beginning of the end of our friendship? Or am I being far too dramatic, and everything will be fine because it’s me and Jess and we always are?
I get to their flat, which is on the fifth floor of a tall block of modern flats near Darling Harbour. It’s a small one-bed, but it’s perfectly situated, modern and with stunning views across the CBD. It’s where they have lived for the last few years since they decided to get serious and move in together.
‘Come in,’ says Jess when I arrive. She immediately gives me a hug, and I see Aaron behind her, wearing a Sydney Swans AFL top and holding a bottle of Tooheys New.
‘Hey, Sas,’ says Aaron, and he gives me a quick hug before he offers me something to drink. ‘We’ve got wine, beer and Jess got these pre-mixed cocktail things from Coles.’
‘They were on special!’ says Jess. ‘Pina colada or Pimm’s lemonade?’
‘I’ll give Pimm’s lemonade a go,’ I reply, walking into their flat, which is as clean and tidy as always. According to Jess, Aaron is a bit of a neat freak. You wouldn’t know it to look at him because he’s usually dressed down in sweats and an AFL top, but when it comes to his living space, he likes everything to be in its place. I walk into the kitchen area, which is open plan and attached to the living room, which also has a small balcony. Aaron passes me a Pimm’s lemonade, and we all walk out onto the balcony. It’s a beautiful warm evening, and we stand together and enjoy the view.
‘How’s things?’ says Jess. ‘Excited about the Fudge Cake gig?’ Jess was the first person I messaged about it, obviously.
‘Just a bit. Although nervous.’
‘We’ll defo be there, won’t we, Az?’
‘For sure,’ says Aaron, taking a sip of his beer. ‘Right, I have to finish up with dinner.’
‘What are we having?’ I ask.
‘Steaks, potato wedges and salad,’ says Aaron, walking back inside, leaving me and Jess alone. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I can definitely feel a bit of tension in the air between us. Perhaps it’s just me because I know I have to tell her about Brad, or maybe it’s her news about the house, but I can feel something niggling between us. We have known each other since the age of six, and I can count the number of arguments we’ve had on one hand. Jess and I just get on. We’re like Vegemite and toast or fishand chips. So, when something is a little off, I feel it deep within myself.
‘I hope you’re starving. He’s made heaps,’ says Jess, after a moment.
‘I’m pretty hungry, actually,’ I reply without telling her why. An early morning kayak, a decent workout from sex with Brad, and I only had a small lunch because I didn’t want Brad to think I was a pig – he ordered a salad and so I ordered a salad too, despite being starving from all the water and bedroom-based activities. ‘So, what’s happening with the house?’
As soon as I ask, I see her face change, and clearly something has happened. Jess has never been very good at hiding her feelings.
