"She's looking fuckin hot tonight, Aus," Andy said, barely attempting to lower his voice, as the hubbub rose.
Terri and Mandy had arrived at the cricket clubrooms after our Wednesday evening game. This in itself was noteworthy. Terri never came to the clubrooms or the pub on a Wednesday night. She'd never said why, but her boyfriend Francis was quite controlling. I assumed it was he who made this rule.
However, it was Terri's attire that really caused all those present to gape. She was dressed in a manner never before seen by most. Tight jeans, pale blue shirt and wearing make-up. She looked fantastic. I'd seen her dressed in this manner, but many present had never experienced such a treat. Francis liked her dressed plain, her femininity well hidden.
I made a move to go to Terri, but Mandy walked ahead of her and took my arm, leading me to the side. Terri walked on by and went directly to Francis.
"Leave her alone, she's here to see Francis," Mandy said bluntly. "She might talk about you all the time and you might have put her up to this, but tonight she's dressed for Francis."
"She talks about me," I said, trying to sound bemused, but quietly happy to hear that.
"Francis will likely be shitty as anything at the way she's dressed. If you start talking to her that will be the final straw for him."
"I'll talk to her if I like," I said, now becoming a little irritated.
"And what if she finds out about you and me? What then?" Mandy said boldly.
"What do you mean you and me?" I said, suddenly angry and grabbing Melody's arm roughly.
I turned her away and lowered my voice, conscious that some of the attention was now on my reaction to Terri's appearance.
"There is no you and me. Never has been."
"There was last week when you took me up to your room and kissed me."
"Well who would tell Terri about that?" I said looking directly at her.
"Just be careful that's all," Mandy spat at me, as she turned and walked to where Terri was standing with Francis.
This was not the first time that Mandy had brought up our getting together up in my room. I was beginning to deeply regret it.
Terri did not once turn to look my way. I moved to the end of the bar and turned away to gather my thoughts.
"Oh, will you look at that, Aussie boy. The ugly duckling has morphed into a beautiful princess," Ness said sidling up to me. "She is looking good enough to fuck, isn't she Aus?"
"Settle down son," I thought to myself, looking to quickly harness my emotions. "Take a big breath and get into role."
"Yeah, she's looking alright. Taken her long enough. Francis should be happy tonight."
"He won't be happy at all," Ness said, narrowing her eyes and continuing to press. "He's a fuck'n oddball is Francis. Likes his girls to dress like boys and then will barely touch them."
"How do you know that," I asked, genuinely interested.
"Mandy told me. Mandy tells me heaps Aus," she said, looking hard into my eyes, watching my reaction.
"Does she really," I stated blandly.
"Really what?" said Finn as he joined us. He and Ness then took great delight in going tag team on me for about five minutes. They dredged up Felicity again; alluded to a liaison between me and Mandy and openly discussed why Terri had arrived dressed as she had.
It was Wendy who rescued me.
"How're you this evening Aus?" she said, butting into the conversation.
"Yeah alright," I replied. "Bit tired after the game, that's all. Thought I might get some air. C'mon."
With that we left the smirking hyenas and moved out onto the balcony. It was a warm evening with little breeze. I was happy to be with Wendy especially before she had too much to drink. She was very attractive and her understated summer dress could not hide her obvious attributes. In addition I found her a very nice, caring person. A good port in the storm, that was currently carrying on inside.
"Things getting a bit mixed up in your life Aus?" Wendy asked as we leaned against the railing and looked out across the park, in the fading light.
I thought of feigning surprise at her question, but thought, "Why bother. Everyone seems to be far more aware of what's occurring in my life than I'd like."
"Yeah; I guess it's; ahh..., it's all a little confusing right now."
"Welcome to my world," Wendy said staring out across the cricket ground.
"What do you mean by that Wends?" I asked, my attention suddenly diverted away from my own issues.
"Nothing."
"Yeah there is. You're nothing like the happy woman I first met when I got here. You've changed your hair color, you flirt with the boys and frankly Wends, you drink like a fish these days."
I hesitated there, as Wendy eyeballed me.
"Shit I've overstepped the mark here," I thought. "I've put a big Aussie boot right in it."
Suddenly Wendy burst out laughing.
"Oh Aus, you're such a treat. No one else but you could get away with that.! You with your colonial accent. Well you just come right out and say it."
I laughed along with her, somewhat nervously.
"You're right; I'm not the same Aus. I'm not happy at all. I've been betrayed Aus and I'm not happy about it at all."
"Been betrayed?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll explain one day. All you need to know is I haven't gone with any of those other boys. Sure they get a little feel and I fool around with their bits, but I haven't slept with any of them."
I smiled inwardly at her choice of words, while at the same time raising my eyes in surprise at what she was divulging. She moved her hand forward onto my arm and gripped it lightly.
"Don't be shocked Aus. I'd never go with one of them, but I'd go with you any time. Just remember that," she said as she dropped my hand and walked toward the sliding doors, which led back into the clubrooms.
At the last minute she ducked to the side and lent against the wall, out of sight of those inside. She looked to me invitingly and I closed the short gap between us. I wanted to kiss her.
