Chapter 7
"O.K...the
stablehand thing didn't matter, but this..."
Candy,
stunned into silence, turned and ran out of the store, closely followed by
Lori-Beth.
"Come
on, it doesn't mean that nothing can happen between you..." Lori-Beth tried to console her friend, but both knew it was
hopeless. "Time for some
retail therapy?"
Candy
looked up at Lori-Beth through damp eyes. "Definitely".
2
hours later, Candy and Lori-Beth's Zed cards had been put through their paces,
and in their possession they had S Club 7 videos (for the nieces and nephews, of
course), the latest styles of KMart underwear, and perfect outfits for the BDO
afterparty.
"Feeling
better?" Lori-Beth comforted
Candy as they sorted through their purchases over a frappuccino.
"We'd better go home and get changed, the afterparty starts in a
couple of hours".
*through
the magic of the internet...to the afterparty*
Stepping
out of their lipstick-pink limo, Candy and Lori-Beth marvelled at what the
organisers had done with the venue. "And
to think I once did gymnastics here..."
Candy gave Lori-Beth a 'wtf' look as they straightened up, and prepared
to make their grand entrance into the North Shore Events Centre.
"Do
I look O.K.?" they turned
around and asked each other at exactly the same time.
"Great",
Lori-Beth said as she surveyed Candy's Mandy Moore-styled slim-cut suit and
stilletto boots. Lori-Beth had
taken the Sophie Ellis-Bextor option, and was wearing a haute couture long black
dress.
"Hi
girls". Two familiar-looking
guys approached Candy and Lori-Beth as they reached the red carpet.
"Orlando",
one introduced himself as he kissed Lori-Beth's hand, linked his arm through
hers, and asked her permission to escort her up the red carpet.
"Of horse..." Lori-Beth
was captivated.
The
other approached Candy with a similiar introduction.
"Jude...and
your name is?"
Candy's
mind flashed back to her favourite scientific movie of all time, Gattaca,
and smiled warmly at Jude as she introduced herself. As Jude linked arms with her, and they began the red-carpet
walk, Candy began to think that forgetting Nath wasn't gonna be so hard after
all.
After
their grand entrance, and having their photos taken for the classiest
publications in town (Sunday Star Times, Woman's Day), Candy, Lori-Beth, Orli
and Jude were seated, waiting for official commencement of the night.
Lori-Beth
turned in her seat, scanning the room for someone, before locating him in the
crowd.
"Might
go have a word with Marsh, he's just out of prison you know", Lori-Beth
said.
"Three
rolls of the dice?" Orlando
bristled at the mention of another man.
Lori-Beth
ignored him, turning her head to hear Candy's words of advice as she walked off,
"DON'T FORGET TO CALL HIM TAMA!!"
"Ummm
O..K." Jude nodded and smiled, before yelling "AND GET YOUR BUS
SIGNED!"
Candy
looked at Jude, taking a moment to register who he was.
"Oh, won't be needing you anymore, but thanks, you were a great
designer handbag".
Jude
paused, as over Candy's shoulder he saw a chick in skanky bikini top and jacket.
"Ahh
that's alright", he shrugged, "hope the rest of your night's
good".
"Candy",
she looked around, a whisper reaching her ears.
"Over here"
A
hand grabbed her as she reached the side of the room.
"Nath?"
"I
have to talk to you, caught up with Bryan half an hour ago, know why I haven't
heard from you *sigh* 3 hours...it's not what it looks like, honestly".
Candy
sighed and tapped her foot impatiently, just like one of those rich chicks on
Titans, when they need an explanation for why their sister's having an affair
with the husband they thought was dead but really just made it look like that so
he could have an affair with the babysitter.
"Go on..."
"I
just went shopping with him because I was paid".
"Oh...so
you're an escort?" Candy
looked up with renewed interest.
"I
can't stand him...we've got nothing in common, he frequents strip clubs, goes to
counselling coz he thinks he's the lead guitarist in Metallica, he wishes...oh
and he knows NOTHING about horses, what a loser".
Candy could do nothing but agree. Anyone who didn't like small-and-blonde was a friend of hers.
There was a time when Howie fell off the stage...it was an accident, but I pushed him