Toxic

Chapter 3

Andre flopped onto his plush sofa and manoeuvred me onto his lap stealthily. He kissed all down my neck and back up again, ever so gently. That is what I love about him, for all his attitude, he was such a gentleman and never tried to push his luck.

"Carly asked me to a party at her house on Friday." He mentioned between kisses.

That threw me. "Why? She barely knows you."

"She's okay, she talks to me in Physics."

There was no chance in hell that I was letting him go to that party on his own. I'm not jealous of him hanging out with other girls, I mean, he is friends with Yasmin too, but this wasn't a case of the green eyed monster. This was the way to prevent Carly getting her claws into Andre.

"You can be my plus-one," he snickered.

"Okay." Thank goodness he didn't mind me tagging along.

Andre stops kissing me and looks into my eyes. His own gleam, such a beautiful ocean blue. His tanned arm sweeps my hair off my face as he leans in to kiss me again.

"I got you a little something." He told me when he finally pulled away, rather reluctantly I might add.

He eased off the sofa and ran upstairs.

Andre doesn't need to buy me presents, I have everything I want in him, but it is sweet to think that he has remembered our seven month anniversary today.

He reappears and rather uncharacteristically for him, looks down at the floor as he passes me the little box.

I opened it, knowing I'd love whatever gift he had given me.

It was a necklace, an oval purple stone surrounded by...diamonds? It was a real gemstone. That must have been so expensive.

"Is it an amethyst?" I ask.

He nods.

"It's beautiful. Can you put it on for me?" I was thrilled, purple is my favourite colour.

Andre fastens the clasp around my neck, standing back to admire it, delighted at my reaction. His handsome face lights up.

He hugs me, and I savour the feeling of his face buried in my hair.

Carly was wearing a red body-con dress and matching stiletto heels when she opened her oak front door on Friday evening.

Andre gawped at her, so I elbowed him sharply.

Trust her to wear red. It was such a provocative colour. I wondered who she'd try it on with tonight.

We had wondered what time exactly to turn up; first there would look like we were trying too hard, while as Andre pointed out, if we came too late, all the booze would have gone and he'd be stuck with wine.

She greets us warmly. "So glad you could make it," and leads us through the hallway into a living room, heaving with our classmates.

"I'll just get some drinks, back in a tick." She dismisses herself gracefully.

The two living rooms have been knocked through to create one long lounge and all around us people are knocking back drink like there is no tomorrow.

Carly returns with a bottle each for us. Andre picks the electric blue and I chose the cherry red one.

"How many people did you invite?" I marvel.

"Oh, both sides of the year, I thought it would bring us all together. No one sees each other much any more because of different timetables."

The doorbell rings again and she bounces off, nimble in spite of her shoes.

Andre spots Joey, Mikey and Simon and saunters off to join them, just as Yasmin approaches.

"Let's go in the garden." She suggests, smiling over at both our boyfriends who are challenging each other to see who can chug their drink first.

It's not quite dark yet, and the horizon is streaked with orange and pink.

"So, do you think I should go the whole way with Simon?"

"Only if you want to, don't let him pressure you into anything." I advise.

"No, he hasn't said anything. I just, well, I think I love him already. I know its only been a few weeks."

"It's not the drink talking, is it?" Yas looks likes she has had a few as it is.

"No, no. He's so sweet."

"Hang on for a bit, it might freak him out."

She nods and drains her glass. "Let's go and dance!" she tugs me up off the bench and back inside.

Simon wanders over and steadies her when she stumbles. "I'll take her home," he reassures me. At last Yas acknowledges she has had enough to drink and hugs me before pulling on her furry coat.

"Bye babe," her words are slightly slurred now.

With one last smile, like the cat who got the cream, Simon puts his arm round her shoulders and they leave the room.

I haven't seen Andre for a while now. I'd been outside with Yas longer than I thought. The clock on the mantelpiece struck quarter past eleven.

Come to think of it, Carly wasn't anywhere to be seen either.

I'd worn my black studded biker boots, thankfully without heels, so I could easily manage stairs.

I pushed open the first door. Small box room, empty save for a single bed wedged into a corner.

The second room was locked and the handle wouldn't budge no matter how many times I rattled it.

The bathroom was at the end of the hall and the door was open, showing me no one was there.

That left Carly's room. I extended my hand, liquorice nails prodding at the wooden door.

Carly herself was with a boy on her immense king sized bed, her camisole straps sliding down her arms as she kissed whoever it was hungrily.

No. God, no. Fool, how could he?

It wasn't Andre I was cross with. He'd seen the pretty girl facade, and followed her up the stairs, where no doubt she'd thrown herself at him. Still, he must have known I didn't take to Carly.

"Get away from him" I snarled. "Now!"

"Whoops".

Carly looked extremely unperturbed, considering she had been caught in the act. She poked Andre, whose ashen face mirrored my own.

He looked as though he were in a state of trance, for his eyes were glassy and unfocused. Almost like a child who'd been indulged with too many sweets and now felt sick.

His shirt lay crumpled on the floor. He quickly put it on, while Carly took her time slipping into a dressing gown.

"Stay away from him from now on, do you hear?" I warned her.

"I'm sorry, Thorn, we were drunk."

That won't wash with me. As soon as Andre had his top back on I flashed the witch one last look of contempt before taking him with me.

"What the hell were you doing with her?"

"I couldn't help it." He murmurs on the way home.

I peer at him under the streetlight. His face is dreamy. He would walk around aimlessly all night if I wasn't with him.

"Never go near that bitch again." I whisper this, so truly angry the words lodge in my throat.

Andre doesn't appear to hear this. He looks spellbound.

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