The One and Only Read Free Page B

She grinned at me, her cheeks dimpling. ‘You know what he’s like.’
    I nodded. Ryan. The world’s most successful flirt.
    ‘So you went out?’ I said.
    Hayley sipped her beer. ‘Yeah. Only a couple of times, though. One of those times was your party. But I didn’t see him after that. We . . . it wasn’t a big deal. You know?’ She stared up at me meaningfully.
    ‘Whatever,’ I said hurriedly. God. The last thing I wanted her to think was that I was interested.
    Why not be interested? said a small voice in my head. Eve doesn’t want you any more. I took a swig of beer. ‘This is a good place, isn’t it?’
    Hayley nodded. ‘Yeah. Though I went to this really flash club last week which was better. Cost a fortune to get into.’
    I didn’t know what to say to that. I tried to think back to the Six Steps Ryan had told me about.
    Six Steps to get you any girl.
    I sighed. Who cared about steps to a girl. I’d had a girl. The perfect girl.
    What are you doing now, Eve? Are you thinking about me?
    ‘I can’t stay long here, though.’ Hayley’s voice brought me back to the noisy room.
    ‘What?’ I shouted.
    ‘I’ve got to check on the fish in my sister’s flat,’ Hayley explained.
    What was she talking about?
    There was a long pause.
    Then Hayley spoke again. ‘I think I’ll go and dance.’ She looked at me expectantly. The words ‘me too’ stalled in my throat, like a crap car.
    I watched her high-heel her way onto the dance floor, then I turned round and slumped against the bar. Why was I so rubbish with girls?
    It was easy with you, Eve. Why aren’t you here?
    I stared down at my beer. The music thudded in my head. I’d never felt lonelier in my life.
    Ryan materialised at my elbow. ‘What’s the matter?’ he said. ‘You’re not blowing Hayley out are you?’
    I ran my hand through my hair. ‘I just can’t talk to her,’ I said. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
    Ryan rolled his eyes. ‘Believe me,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to say much. I guarantee she’s not interested in your conversation.’
    I stared at him.
    ‘I told you already,’ Ryan said, exasperated. ‘She likes talking. She likes you. Just listen. Then go for it.’
    He vanished, dragged onto the dance floor by one of Chloe’s friends.
    I wandered round the club for a while. Everyone else seemed to be having a great time, but all the fun had evaporated for me. I hated myself for feeling so crap.
    Snap out of it, Luke. You’re being stupid.
    Maybe I should try talking to Hayley again. I looked round for her. And suddenly, as if by magic, she was there, right beside me.
    ‘Hi.’ I smiled. ‘I was looking for you. I owe you a beer.’
    Her eyes sparkled up at me. ‘I have to go,’ she said.
    ‘Oh,’ I said. ‘Oh . . . OK.’
    Hayley hesitated a second. ‘D’you want to come with me?’
    ‘What?’ I said. ‘To the fish-care flat?’
    She grinned. ‘Yeah. It’s not far. In fact it would be nice to go with someone. I get a bit freaked out in the dark on my own.’
    I nodded. I knew what that felt like from the night that Eve’s ex, Ben, had beaten me up. I drained my drink.
    ‘Sure,’ I said. ‘I’ll come with you.’
    The flat was about twenty minutes’ walk away.
    Hayley talked most of the way there. ‘It’s not really my sister’s flat,’ she said. ‘It’s her boyfriend’s. He’s only twenty-one but he’s loaded. He bought her this dress I’m wearing. She only wore it once then she let me have it. She does that with loads of stuff – make-up and jewellery and . . .’
    I tuned out completely. It was a cold night and our breath was misting in front of our mouths. I glanced down from time to time, snatching glimpses of Hayley’s bum and legs. She had this slightly strutting way of walking which was really sexy.
    We stopped outside a modern-looking brick apartment block. Hayley fumbled with a key and we were inside. The hall was laid with a soft grey carpet and the walls were painted pale