CHAPTER EIGHT...
'Golly, it looks amazing, doesn't it?' Lorna gasped as she looked round the hall. The university had hired the hall of the museum next to the Wills Memorial building and it was really spruced up with beautiful red, gold and green decorations and strategically placed mistletoes.
'Can't wait to find the first mistletoe and have a good ole' snogathon.' Lorna giggled at her friends.
'You best be hoping it's me you're having your 'good old snogathon' with, missy!' Matt mock-growled at her and bent to nip her neck playfully. She giggled and shrugged away from him.
Kainene smiled fondly at the two of them. Ah, long lost love. She turned round to Mykelos and Viola. 'Lorns' right. It looks wicked.'
'And yummy too,' Mykelos slyly added. Kainene and Viola turned to look at him askance. Yummy? Kainene started to ask what he meant then noticed what, or rather who he was staring at. There was a very fit, albeit slender looking boy standing next to the punch table.
'You're such an unapologetic whore, Mykelos.' Kainene shook her head and cuffed his head playfully.
'And don't you forget it, my dear girl. Now if you gorgeous ladies will excuse me, I have a date with a hunky man and the...my stars how fortuitous, exceptionally welcome mistletoe he's standing under.' With this unabashed comment, Mykelos sidled away.
'How on earth does he do it? And what if that guy's not gay and Mykelos gets punched in the face?' Viola asked worriedly.
Kainene laughed loudly, 'I doubt that's actually gonna happen. Mykelos just has this innate...I dunno, gaydar or something. He always knows who's gay and who's not. And he's so cool and whatever that even if the guys he chats up are straight, I bet he could turn them gay or bisexual at the very least.'
Viola stared at Mykelos who was now laughing and touching the other guy's arm slightly. Then she saw him lean over and plant a quick but proper kiss on the guy's lips and noticed the way the other guy's eyes widen with pleasure.
'Talk about macking.' She half-whispered impressed.
Kainene nodded, 'Told you. He's amazing to watch in action.'
They both heard some loud cheers behind them and turned around to see what the commotion was all about.
Rufus had come in with a few guys and all the rugby players were happy, it seemed.
'When will these people ever grow up and stop acting so immature?' Viola muttered a bit irritated. Then she hastily added, 'Excluding Rufus, of course.'
Kainene turned her head to look at Viola at that comment, 'Oh my God, Viola. I don't care about him anymore so don't worry about dissing him. I'm not going to jump down your throat in any sort of defence. Trust me.'
Viola looked sceptical at this but refrained from making any comments.
Kainene rolled her eyes and looked back at Rufus and his friends. Clearly her friends still thought she was hung up on Rufus when she so was not. Liar, liar, pants on fire, a voice chanted in her head and she hurriedly pushed it out.
She was about to turn her head away when Rufus suddenly looked up and caught her staring. She told herself to look away, but she couldn't. She felt like she was caught in the glare of headlights making its way towards her. She stared and kept on staring as Rufus told his friends something she could not make out then started walking towards her. She gulped audibly and glanced round to talk to Viola. Viola shook her head with a little knowing smirk on her face then whispered, 'You were saying?' Before letting out a tiny laugh and walking away, leaving Kainene alone.
Kainene turned back and saw that Rufus was now standing in front of her.
'Hey.' He said softly.
'Hey,' She replied in a forced gay tone. 'Wow, how are you?'
'Alright. Yourself?'
'Wonderful. Amazing actually. It's my first ball, so I feel kinna like Cinderella, you know. Like the clock's gonna strike midnight and I'll leave one of my glass...well not glass, slippers, or shoes behind and scuttle off. Although that would be incredibly stupid of course, as I'll have to walk for hours before I get back to Stoke and the whole midnight concept will be pointless. But that's why we have cabs, innit? So that's sorted. Best I call one for 11:30 or 11:15 as that way I get home before midnight, innit? And I shall stop rambling now before I combust here with utter shame and stupidity.' She ended breathlessly. Oh ye gods, make the floor open up and swallow me whole. Then cough me out in some faraway land like...Antarctica.
But with nice warm clothes.
Rufus laughed and shook his head, 'No, that was actually a very interesting tale. Would make a delightful modern Cinderella story, actually.' He smiled again and ran a hand through his gorgeous hair. 'I never got to say sorry for how things turned out. Or rather I did, then I ruined it by speeding off in a stupid burst of temper. I'd like to apologise for that as well. For everything actually.'
'Oh no, you have nothing to apologise for honestly. I was the stupid one who walked off and left you, understandably fuming. I'm the one who never gave you a chance to explain and I apologise for it as well. I'm the one who has to be sorry, really.'
Both of them stood there for a second looking apologetic, then they burst out laughing. 'Bloody hell, talk about awkwardness averted.' Kainene snorted as she pressed a hand to her side. This had been funny. It was like they both had to win a 'who can apologise best and last' competition.
'We should probably just wipe the whole stupid slate clean and start all over again. Friends.' She stuck out a hand.
'Friends.' He replied with a grin and shook her hand firmly. Then he added, 'But I would really like to explain about the whole Minty situation...'
'Remember, wipe the slate clean. That includes Minty stories. I don't wanna hear, lalalala.' She pretended to stick her fingers in her ears.
Rufus laughed and nodded, 'Okay then. Slate officially wiped clean. No more Minty stories. Hell, who's Minty?'
They both laughed at this. 'So, I take it you're sat with your friends, the red-haired one and Viola.'
'Yeah, I am. And some other friends too. Why?' She asked confused.
'Oh, just wondering. I could have possibly squeezed you in on my table. Or booted someone off.' He replied, grinning.
She laughed at this, 'That's extremely sweet of you, but no thanks. Don't want one of your rugby buddies using my head as his ball some day.'
They smiled at each other and lapsed into comfortable silence. Then, someone from Rufus' gang yelled out, 'Hey, Rufus. Get your skinny arse back here, mate. Ladies' man!'
Rufus blushed and gave the guy the 'V' sign. He turned back to Kainene and muttered, albeit jokingly, 'Stupid tosser.'
Kainene giggled, 'Well, guess it's time for you to go back to your mates. See you around then.'
Rufus smiled at her gently, 'You'll definitely be seeing me around, Nens. Starting tonight. I'm gonna have the first dance with you later.'
'Wow, aren't we cocky?' She teased him.