Page 4 of Sad Girl Hours
Somethingflickers in those eyes, and even though she says, “I don’t see why not. I reckon we ought to give it a go anyway –” even as she puts on a smile that could put an end to the Mona Lisa debate (no, she’s not smiling:thisis a smile) – I know some part of her is lying.
“FOUR, THREE, TWO…”
Under the watchful silver eye of the moon, the clock strikes midnight (“ONE!”), and although it won’t be real for another couple of weeks, I do still feel suspended in the future, just for a second.
Bejewelled sparks scatter into the air above the building and cheers erupt within, along with a chorus of, “Happy New Year!”
“It never feels real, does it?” I say. “You know, even when it actuallyis. Nothing really changes and yet somehow it always feels as though we’re entering a brand-new age, a new epoch dawning.”
“No,” Saffron says. “It doesn’t.” She takes a step closer to me, rubbing her arms. She’s still smiling, despite the looming threat of pneumonia. “Happy sort of New Year, Nell. It’s been lovely entering this epoch with you.”
“Happy – sort of – New Year. It’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance and traverse space and time with you,” I say.
“My favourite activity.” Saffron continues to glimmer.
There’s quiet between us for a moment. Both space and time feel as if they’re pressing around us along with the velvet black of night. Ithasbeen lovely being wrapped up in all of this with her. And so…
“Let’s do this again sometime,” I say.
Saffron’s head tilts to the side. “What, traverse space and time?”
“Well, preferably, yes. But no, I meant hang out. You know, with Jenna – and Casper and Vivvie too, if they like.”
“Sure. That’d be nice.” She looks at me, her expression reflecting her words, and I find myself staring back, letting the sentiment ofmore of whatever this has beenecho out between us.
The quiet and the anticipation of all this newness (and the way she keeps looking at me like she finds me as fascinating as I do her) crackle around us and I wonder.
That’s the end of the sentence. I just wonder.
“WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?”
The quiet is brought to an abrupt end by the arrival of Jenna in the quad. She jogs over, Casper and Vivvie not far behind, and thrusts an arm over my shoulder.
I shrug. “Here.”
Jenna casts a discerning eye between the two of us, before offering me a laden half nod that I know means,I don’t think anything massively exciting/scandalous has occurred but I’m going to require more information imminently anyway.
“It’s gone midnight, by the way,” she says, grabbing my face and planting a firm kiss on my forehead. “Happy Not-New Year.”
“Oh, is that what all the shouting was about?” Saffron says with a soft smile.
“Yeah, we just thought someone had been murdered,” I add. “But that would explain it.”
Jenna raises an eyebrow. “And the fireworks?”
Saffron doesn’t pause. “The victim wasn’t well liked.”
Casper and Vivvie reach us as I let out a snort to rival Babe himself, and Saffron turns her energy up another notch to greet them. “Hey, guys! Sorry I missed the countdown!”
“What’ve you been up to?” Vivvie says, giving Saffron the same look Jenna gave me.
“Just the usual,” I volunteer. “Looking at the stars, entering epochs, misattributing cheers to the aftermath of a grisly, violent crime.”
Saffron lets out a laugh, and Vivvie looks between us before settling her gaze on me. “You’re a bit weird, aren’t you?” she says, zero malice in her words or tone. “I love that for you.”
“Oh, she’s absolutely crackers, yes,” Jenna says proudly, giving my shoulder a brief squeeze.
“All the best people are,” Casper says.
