“It isn’t my fault!” he insisted “You’re the one who wore a mini dress”
“Hey” she sighed “I didn’t pick this out. Cyn did”
“It’s still really short”
“Arthur!” she slapped him on the shoulder and he laughed
“Can I look at them if I promise not to say anything”
She shot him a look “Perhaps”
He grinned and did so but stopped looking at her legs and stated concentrating on where he was going after nearly running into a pole.
“So” said Arthur, he ran a hand through his sandy hair and tried to look casual “What’s so special about this Aaron bloke”
Gabrielle grinned sideways at her friend “I dunno. He seems nice.”
“Have you two like” Arthur bobbed his head around “You know…*you know*’ed?”
“Shagged?”
“Yeah”
She shook her head. Aaron was not the kind of boyfriend you shagged. He was the kind you had hesitant snogging sessions with on the couch. That was the extent of their relationships. A few snogging sessions on the couch and several trips to the cinema. He was nice. That was it. She didn’t want to marry him and she didn’t particularly want to shag him either.
“No”
Aaron nodded and grinned leeringly at her “Are you sure”
Gabrielle shoved him, and laughed “Fuck off Kelly”
They reached John’s house, but didn’t’ dare go in. Auntie Mimi was very scary, she loved Cynthia, and thought Gabrielle was a good influence on those horrible Beatle lads. Hated Arthur though. He had been banned from the Smith household for eternity after he ran into her garden twit his bicycle several years ago.
“Where is it?” asked Arthur
She squinted and pointed down the street “About five houses that-a-way”
He nodded and looked at her expectantly “You coming?”
“Neh, I’ll wait for John and Cyn”
Arthur shrugged and gave her a wave before heading down the street. Gabrielle ventured through John’s gate and practically tip-toed up the porch. She knocked on the door and yanked on her skirt. It really was short. Mimi probably wouldn’t approve.
The moon was full tonight, casting a light blue shadow over everything. The clouds parted just around it but weren’t threatening rain or snow. A good sign. Gabrielle pulled her jacket closer around herself anyway. Mini dresses in February. Everyone must have gone mad.
A blonde head appeared in the window and the door opened, with Cyn standing there grinning “Quickie John’s room” she giggled stepping out on the porch and hugging Gabrielle. “See, you look gorgeous, I told you that dress would do you nicely”
Gabby groaned and tugged on it “It’s so short, I feel like me arse is exposed”
“oooh!” John’s head popped out. He had that same post-sex glow about him too. “Who’s exposing them selves? Where? I want to bare my self to the world!”
Cynthia giggled “He’s an exobitionist I think”
“That I am” John agreed heartily, he blinked at Gabrielle “God that thing really is short”
“I know” she laughed “I can’ bend over”
John shrugged and stomped down the stairs “I believe there is a drunken party I have been asked to attend. Shall we ladies?” he curtsied and fluttered his eyelashes at Cyn.
Cyn and Gabby grinned at each other
“Where are Paul and George?”
John shrugged “Coming, I sent them for booze”
***
John was dancing with Cynthia, and Shaz, and a red headed girl no one was quite sure the name of. He seemed to be enjoying himself and grabbing arses at every turn. George was chatting up a girl in the corner. By the way she was leaning over the arm of her chair, it seemed he was being successful. No one knew where Paul had run off to, presumably to shag someone. Couldn’t be sure though. And Gabrielle…. Was stuck on Aaron’s arm.
Not that she minded. It was just completely obvious she was on display. Arm Candy. Great. Arm candy in a way mini skirt. The whole evening had been spent slowly ingesting scotch, one glass at a time and talking to Aaron’s mates. They were all very nice. A few, she knew from Art school. But a lot had the same reaction:
“This yer new bird, Aaron? Wow, dead ringer for the French bird.”
Dead ringer for that French bird? What French bird? Brigitte Bardot was the only French bird Gabrielle knew of, and only through George’s, Paul’s, John’s, Arthur’s, Mike’s, Pete’s, Stu’s and basically any other male she had met in her life.
Honestly. It was just a girl.
Gabrielle plastered a smile on her face and danced with Aaron. She just didn’t care anymore. This was one of those times when her mind would drift to New York. All alone in a big city with no friends. No George or Beatles. Loneliness was the type of emotion that you could feed off of until it kills you. But she wanted to go now. She wanted to study art and actually be interested in it.
They turned around as Buddy Holly crooned out the occasional rock n roll ballad. Slow dancing.
Gabrielle had an idea when you slow danced it was supposed to be romantic and you were supposed to concentrate on the one you loved…. Or lusted for. She didn’t lust for Aaron. She was just happy to spend time had have someone like her. She dropped her chin on his shoulder. Possibly, if she was normal (which Gabrielle highly doubted she was) she would be concentrating on the feel of Aaron’s body through shirt, how lovely his arms felt around her like a bubble of love.
Bubble of love. That somehow rhymes, she thought.
Bubble O’ Love.
That’s what she was looking for. A Bubble O’love. She wasn’t getting it with Aaron. Maybe she’d get it in America. Or maybe not. A bubble O’ Love. It half made her laugh and half made her wonder if such a thing were possible.
The turned round again and she caught sight of George. He and the blonde girl stood up. She took his hand and giggled. Gabrielle mentally reminded herself to tease George next time she saw him. Then she saw Paul. He wasn’t looking at her, but talking to one of Aaron’s mates and scanning the crowds of people. He was looking for her. Paul was the Bubble O’ Lust.
And oh what a yummy bubble he was.
She pulled Aaron closer, feeling guilty. Why was she thinking of Paul. Why wasn’t she in love with anyone. And why was she stiffening as Aaron’s hand’s slid lower over her back towards her arse.
Paul caught her eye and she cringed. He gave her a meek wave and a small wink. The most she’d gotten from him at all was a muttered ‘Lo Gabby’ in a while. She winked at him and blew a kiss. Paul made a big show of catching the kiss and holding it to his heart with fluttery eyelashes. He snogged his hand and then blew one back at her.
Gabby grinned. The song ended. She grinned wider.
“Wanna go find someplace quiet” Aaron whispered against her ear. All seductive like.
She gave him a big smile and patted him on the shoulder “maybe later. I fucking need to get more drinks in me”
Aaron gave her a look and she smiled back in false glee “Got to get me self drunk!” she announced and the twirled around in the direction of Paul.
“James my love” she reached up and kissed him on the cheek, “How are you”
He raised his eyebrows at her playful demeanor “I’m quite fine, and yerself”
“Wondering if you’ll make me a G&T as I am far to pissed to do it myself” she said and wound her arm around his waist.
Paul pulled away politely and she pouted at him “Ah, come on Paulie,” she imitated his voice from the evening several nights ago “Don’t be like that, luv”
He caught her eye and she was surprised at how serious he was. “No body likes a tease” he said stonily “So stop playing with me”
The music started up again, fast number that made people cheer. Gabrielle’s mouth fell open as she watched him walk away from her. She stared at his back until it disappeared around the corner. That did not just happen. Her mind was saying that, she knew differently. And she could see there was something under that statement but her alcohol ridden mind wouldn’t let her see it.
She shut her mouth and turned around to the wall, giving it a fierce kick and swearing angerly
“Fucking hell!”
She needed another drink.