Page 16 of Sad Girl Hours
Saffron
Thursday evening rolls around quickly. It’s been a hectic week so far. Last week, we were easing back into things but this week we’ve been fully back in the swing of it, with lectures and seminars and new deadlines popping up all over the place. I love it, I can’t deny it. I love being kept busy – especially by things I’m so interested in. I’ve made a TikTok a day so far, I’ve been so inspired by it all. It’s gratifying explaining things in ways that people can understand, getting rid of the academic jargon and untangling it into simpler terms so it makes sense. We all live here, in this universe, so we should all be able to understand how it works and how we got here.
I get here, to Nell’s house, however, just by walking.
“Welcome, welcome!” She stands in the doorway of the terraced house that she, Jenna and a girl called Bailey (whom I’ve never met and am not entirely convinced exists) share. She’s wearing a black shirt with orange pumpkins all over it, an orange, silky-looking thirties-style skirt, and she’s done her make-up to match – a smoky-ish eye but with bright orange eyeliner.
“You look amazing,” I say. “Very on theme.”
“Listen, there’s only one month you can wear pumpkin and witchy attire without people giving you strange looks. I intend to make the most of this and be on theme every gosh dang day.” She steps back to allow me into the house.
“You know the TikTok gays would be obsessed with you, right, Nell?”
“Well, I only know one TikTok lesbian,” she says, leading me through to the lounge. “So, I think you’d better up your game if you want to prove your point.”
“Are you trying to imply that you would prefer me to be more obsessed with you?”
“I’m saying ifyouwant to proveyourpoint, then you better had, yes. We have some grapes in the fridge if you want to start by peeling those for me. The skin always catches terribly in my throat.”
“You’re a menace.”
I sink down into the sofa next to her, glancing round the room. It’s pretty small and furnished with slightly battered IKEA pieces, but the housemates – or, I suspect, mostly Nell – have made it look really cute. There’s an autumn-leaf garland tacked atop the mantle, a candelabra in the fireplace and fabric pumpkins and further candles in groups on the hearth. Nell’s lit a few of them and they’re giving off a warm, sweet smell.
“This room’s so cosy,” I say. “Perfect for crafting and snuggling down to watch movies in.”
“Right? Jenna and I watched a horror film last night – not an award-winner or anything: the demon goat was very poorly CGI’ed – but you know she’s a secret wuss with things like that, and even she said the cosy vibes took the edge off a bit.”
I raise my eyebrows. “And Bailey?”
“We saw her on moving-in day, but haven’t seen her since. I’ve heard noises coming from her room so at least we know that she’s alive.”
“You know,” I say, “it’s such a shame we all only properly met when we’d already had to decide on our living arrangements for this year. We could have got a place together as a group.”
“My word,” Nell says, “maybe you are obsessed with me. Seeing me, like, five times a week just isn’t enough for you, you want to throw making spag bol of an evening together into the mix too?”
I fix her with what I hope is a ‘withering stare’ but I think probably ends up being more of a ‘moderately amused gaze’.
“Don’t we have things to be planning?” I say, despite still notreallywanting to plan anything.
“Fine.” Nell draws out the vowels. “Itisa shame, though,” she adds, smiling at me. “I really like spag bol.”
I feel a bit flushed as Nell continues. The room really is very cosy and warm.
“All right, autumn-slash-winter bucket list plans are a go. I’ve come up with a whole bunch of ideas, but I welcome your input if there’s anything you’d like to do. So, without further ado, may I present … Nell and Saffron’s Seasons of FUN.”
She produces a giant notebook, open to a page with a (very long) list on it and little autumn leaves and pumpkins doodled round the edges.
CRUNCH THROUGH LEAVES.
Make a blanket fort.
