Wicked Be Thy Game

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Prologue

We rode our taxi into the night. Through the misty window, the world outside stood bare and lifeless. There was nothing but rows of empty shops, the blackened windows gazing back at us as we travelled through their street. The air was chilly, harsh and unwelcoming. Yet here we sat, waiting to reach our destination.

The excitement of Christmas had long passed. In its place we were graced with the arrival of the New Year. Credit cards had been maxed, new dresses and new shoes purchased; all so that we could shine. Glimmer and glitter like the stars that begged to be ogled in the night sky.

We were a quartet. From the colour of our hair to the phones in our purses, we were different. But we shared one common goal: we wanted to be that star.

A loud whoosh claimed our attention, four pairs of eyes turned to follow the path of the flashing firecracker as it flew through the sky.

“Pretty,” whispered Katie, the blond sitting opposite from me. She moved closer towards the window to get a better look. Just as quickly as the firecracker ascended into the sky, it burned out to scatter below. The sight enraptured Katie. Her day had been spent preening and pampering for this evening’s main event. Life was simple for her: look good and buy the right clothes.

“Is it midnight already?” Katie asked once the last flickers ebbed away.

The redhead next to her scoffed loudly. “Don’t be stupid. It was barely nine o’clock when we left Maneesha’s house and that was what, twenty minutes ago?”

“Oh,” Katie said with a frown. She spared one more glance to the sky outside before reclining back against the seat into a more comfortable position.

The redhead ran a hand through her hair. Her carefully tousled bed head was maximised to scream one thing and one thing only. Tabitha Morley liked sex. Sex, parties, and above all: the florescence of the limelight. Her lithe body was barely covered in a provocative, slinky dress. At first glance it appeared respectable enough, but the backless dress, with its wet effect, was a siren’s calling card.

I turned my back on them then, ran my fingers along the condensation on the window and wrote two words. Isobel McQueen.

This was the first time the whole group had met up since college had broken out for the Christmas holiday. Tabby had family visiting, Katie as the daughter of divorced parents had spent her holiday divided between the two, and Maneesha had flown with her family back to their homeland. Me? I had spent Christmas with two parents, a sister and my cat.

“I love your dress, Iz. You look hot.”

Katie’s voice brought me out of my daze. My eyes sought out and met hers. Inside the darkened confines of the taxi, I could barely make out her eyes, but I could imagine what they looked like. Her baby blues would be shining brightly with their puppy dog stare. My gaze diverted to my skirt, and with a flick of my wrist, I dusted off an invisible speck.

“I know.”

I reached for the purse resting on my lap, pulled out my mobile, and scanned the messages. When I looked up, it was to find Katie watching me with a keen look on her face, her curls bouncing slightly as she moved in her seat.

“You know, when you wear silk it emphasises your body,” I said. My eyes trailed a path down her stomach, “It really highlights any excess you might carry.”

Tabby laughed out loud. “You been stuffing yourself, podgy?”

Katie laid a protective hand across her stomach. “No,” she gasped. “I haven’t been stuffing myself – well –not much,” she muttered, “and I’m not podgy, Tabby.”

Tabby laughed again, “You pregnant?”

Katie gasped out loud, “No!”

Maneesha, who sat beside me, grinned at their squabble. “We brought back a ton of designer clothes from India for dirt cheap. I must have changed outfits at least three times on Christmas Day.”

Tabby nudged Maneesha with her foot. “I thought you didn’t celebrate Christmas?”

Maneesha shrugged her shoulders. “We don’t. Still, I got some old lady perfume from our neighbours here, Harold and Pamela, and ate turkey,” she said cockily.

I smirked, “And the morning after?”

Maneesha smiled, “Spent looking at the toilet bowl.”

Maneesha, like her peers, enjoyed indulging in drinking: beer, wine, spirits, and whatever else she could get her hands on. Her parents might be aware that their daughter was not an angel, but Maneesha never gave them a chance to discover just what kind of fun she got up to.

The minutes dragged slowly, and still we’d yet to reach our destination. Behind us stood the quiet back roads, fading by the second, as the brightly lit city centre beckoned. The air inside was hot with the heater blaring out warm air. I pressed my cheek against the window in an attempt to ease the dull throbbing I’d acquired. When that failed, I leaned back against the headrest and closed my eyes, trying to relax by blocking out my surroundings.

“Iz – Iz – Izzy,” Katie repeated loudly.

“What?” I snapped back, irritated by her interruption.

“Do you have any tissues?” she asked.

“No.”

“Are you sure?” She persisted.

Head thumping, I uncrossed my legs and leaned in closer towards her. “N-o,” I enunciated. “Is that any clearer?” I paused.

Katie bit her lip and nodded her head. “Yes.”

I reached over and patted her lap, “Good.” I eased back into my seat, my eyes still locked with hers. Out of my peripheral vision, I could see we had reached our destination; I peered out the window.

“We’re here.”

I gazed at the grey building standing before us, flashing ‘Time’ in neon lights.

A newly established club at the centre of town, it was the hottest place to be and this New Year’s Eve was promised to be one of its best nights.

After paying our fare, we climbed out the taxi and were met with the sight of a long queue, running from the entrance of the club to halfway down the road. Guarding the entrance were two, large, muscled men. They were both dressed in black trousers and black shirts. One was bald and the other had a mohawk. Both had a similar stony look etched on their faces and an earpiece with the wire dangling down one side of their necks.

“Damn,” Maneesha muttered as she looked at the crowd of people waiting to get in, “this sucks.” The scene before us had even managed to dampen Katie’s mood, who had been gushing non-stop since we’d stepped out of the cab.

Tabby smiled cockily. “Watch and learn kids, watch and learn.” She sauntered towards the front of the queue until she stood before the two bouncers. I followed behind her with interest. This was going to be something to see.

Tabby approached the much younger, mohawk-haired, bouncer.

“Hi,” she whispered huskily, leaning her body close towards him. She bit her lip suggestively and undid a button adorning the top of her dress. Her blue eyes locked with his, while her right index finger ran slowly across the top of her breasts.

“Could you please let me and my friends in?” She smiled up at him, licking her lips under his intent stare. I rolled my eyes at her antics, while beside me, the other two followed in her footsteps by thrusting their boobs out and smiling coyly.

I looked on as the bouncer gazed at Tabby with a smile on his face. He grabbed her arm, took a step closer to her and grunted, “Get. Back. In line.” His smile dropped and in its place was a hard granite face. “There’s no jumping in the line.” With one hand still on her upper arm, he thrust her back into the queue.

Tabby squealed loudly, lost her balance and, if it weren’t for the steadying support of Maneesha, would have toppled flat on her face.

She ran her palms down the sides of her body, trying to regain some semblance of dignity.

I raised an eyebrow. “So that’s how it’s done?”

Tabby growled in frustration, eyes flashing angrily. “You think you can do better?”

“Well, I don’t think I could do any worse,” I smirked at her before brushing past.

“Hey.” I acknowledged the same bouncer Tabby had been trying to get past. He was an intimidating sight, standing there with his bulky arms crossed and tattoos peeking from under the sleeves of his t-shirt.

A grin broke out on his face, “McQueen, I ain’t seen you in a while. What you been up to?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Nothing much. You going to let us in, Jack?”

“For you? Of course,” he said.

“Good to know.”

“They with you,” he nodded at the trio behind me. I glanced behind me to stare at the disgruntled Tabby and the smiling faces of Katie and Maneesha. I turned back to face him and nodded in the affirmative.

Jack moved aside to give way. I walked forward but paused to take a step back towards him. With a bent head, I leant forward to whisper into his ear.

When I drew back, it was to be met with another one of his smiles. He raised his hand in a salute, and with a nod of my head, I made my way towards the entrance of the club with the others at my heels.

“Sorry, little girl.” Jack’s voice drifted, “you don’t look eighteen. I’m gonna need to see some ID.”

A loud screech filled the air followed by a familiar long wail, “Izzy.”

I looked over my shoulder to see Katie’s path being blocked by the two bouncers.

“They won’t let me in,” she shouted while futilely trying to walk around the bouncers.

“Sorry Kate. The man needs ID, best to do as he says.” I turned my back on her and waved a hand above my shoulder. “See you inside.”

“Guys,” Katie wailed.

“No ID – no entry,” the older, bold, bouncer barked at her.

“We’ll save you a seat, Katie,” Maneesha called out to her.

It was difficult going down the corridor of the club. Save for the light at the end of the tunnel, we were surrounded by pitch black. As we drew closer, the path in front of us brightened.

“Why’d they only wanna see ID from Katie?” Maneesha asked puzzled.

“No idea,” I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe it’s her baby face,” I said quizzically.

Tabby scoffed loudly from beside me, muttered ‘who cares’ and sauntered past us into the club.

We stood at the entrance of a mass of heaving bodies, cascaded in green, flashing lights.

“Whoa,” Maneesha mumbled. A sentiment with which I silently concurred. Maneesha and I then caught up with Tabby and together found a table in the corner. We had a great view of the club; from our vantage point you could easily see all the people coming and going.

“Who’s getting the first round of drinks?” Tabby sat herself down in one of the vacant chairs and pulled out a cigarette from her purse.

I leaned back into the chair opposite her. “Since you didn’t get a round in the last time we were out, and seeing how you got us all in the club…”

Tabby scowled, “I got a round in last time.”

I tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear, “Obviously you were too drunk to remember. But you definitely didn’t.”

Tabby continued to search for some elusive item, her scowl deepening when she failed to find it.

“Careful Tabs, you’re going to give yourself premature wrinkles.”

Tabby smirked, “No need to worry bout me, Iz.”

I placed the purse that was on my lap on the table in front of me. “Tabby…” I pulled out a compact from my purse and examined my reflection in the small mirror, “I don’t-” I stopped to lock eyes with her, “worry about you.” With a click, I snapped the compact shut.

“Better get those drinks in quickly,” I looked at her, inclined my head towards the bar, then popped the compact back into my purse.

Tabby dropped the cigarette on the table and smiled tightly, “Right. The usual, Neesh?” Tabby stood and waited for a response from Maneesha, when the other girl nodded in agreement she proceeded to make her way towards the bar. I watched her retreating figure for a second and then turned around to glance at the entrance of the club.

The music pounded loudly, fast, and hard. I reclined against the chair, drumming my fingers on the tabletop to the beat of the sound. Maneesha soon got up to go to the toilets, leaving me sitting alone at the table. I scanned the club for anyone interesting. I recognised some of the faces from college but none that made me want to go up and say hello.

As I sat there feeling boredom creep in, Tabby tottered over carrying the long anticipated drinks.

She put the tray down on the table, “voila.” She collapsed into one of the seats, grabbed a glass and guzzled down the contents. I picked up my drink and idly sipped at it.

“Pacing yourself?” I enquired before taking another sip, savouring the taste in my mouth.

Tabby scowled at me furiously.

“Shut up, Izzy. It’s New Year’s Eve and I wanna have a good time.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Tabby. I forgot you need to be completely wasted to be fun,” I remarked. Her face screwed up in anger, I could see that she was just dying to say something. Her body rigid, I watched as she reigned in her temper before opting for another one of her hollow smiles.

The music in the club changed from a fast track to a slow number as Maneesha returned.

“Well, well, check out the hotties in the corner,” Maneesha remarked suddenly with interest as she sat herself down. “Hey look, they’re coming over.”

I swivelled my head to catch sight of the three boys Maneesha was talking about and was not so impressed. They swaggered over with the egotism so many teenage boys possessed, their over-gelled hair shining under the glow of lights. Tabby hiked up her skirt to reveal even more of her leg, and both girls rearranged their faces with their most seductive smiles.

Not one of the boys waited for us to ask them to sit with us as they happily settled themselves down next to each of us, making sure to be pressed up against us as much as possible. But then again, I thought to myself, I was sure that the ‘fuck me’ eyes from Tabby and Maneesha were invitation enough.

They introduced themselves as Ben, Gary and Kevin, second year students at another college, and kindly let us know that they were practically worshipped by all the girls.

“And, y’know, we just thought we’d come sit with the fittest girls in the club tonight,” said Gary to Tabby, giving her a sly wink. She shifted closer against him, moving forward slightly so that he got a clearer view of her cleavage.

Maneesha, however, had long passed that stage and was already engaged in a violent game of tonsil hockey with her guy, Kevin.

Obviously upset to be missing out on such action, Ben cleared his throat and casually draped his arm over my shoulder, his fingers brushing against my bare skin.

I stared at the arm intently and slowly turned my head so that our eyes were in line. Up close, I could see his face in detail, the smattering of acne on his cheeks, the sweat clinging to his forehead. His breath was coming out in shallow puffs, suffocating me with its stale odour of beer and cigarettes. Lost in his anticipation, it took him a few seconds to decipher my look before that lecherous smile of his faded, and he finally removed his arm.

“Come on, baby,” Tabby said to her partner as she reached for his hand and rose. “Let’s go dance.” Fully entranced, Gary bobbed his head eagerly and allowed himself be dragged away to the dance floor. Maneesha and Kevin were too busy to even notice the exit of the two, but I made good use of it and moved down to another seat, away from Ben.

“So, err, you found anyone to kiss at midnight yet?” Ben asked, obviously not one to give up so easily. When I didn’t bother to answer him, he continued. “’Cause, I was thinking, you know, that maybe I could let you, you know,” here he paused for emphasis, “kiss me.” He swiped the back of his hand over his chin, evidently pleased by his performance.

“Let me kiss you?” I laughed, unable to restrain my disbelief. “Listen, mate, you must be missing some brain cells, because the only way I’d actually let you kiss me was if I was high or drunk off my face, and even then I wouldn’t guarantee it. So why don’t you do both of us a favour and find a girl who doesn’t mind losers.” I gave him a bright smile revelling in the sight of an unattractive shade of red making its way up his neck and face. He looked so stumped for words that I almost laughed again. It was a total of three seconds before he jumped up and scurried away somewhere, probably to mend his bruised ego.

“God, that was too easy,” I muttered to myself as I took another sip of my drink. As I placed the empty glass on the table, an elbow knocked the glass over. I sent a searing look at Kevin who had momentarily managed to dislodge his tongue out of Maneesha’s mouth and mutter a sheepish ‘sorry’. Following in Tabby’s footsteps, Maneesha dragged her new-found friend to the dance floor.

o0o

Katie plopped down on the seat beside me, “It’s cold out there.”

“Maybe you should’ve worn more clothes,” I dully muttered while drumming my fingers. I looked up at her and smiled, “Took you long enough to get in.”

Katie beamed, “I couldn’t find my ID. I ended up emptying my whole purse on the ground.” She giggled loudly.

Our table got more crowded as the night progressed, drinks changed hands more quickly and the intoxicated got more vocal. After my second drink I started to linger, barely taking another sip before dumping it on the table. Any enjoyment had long ceased, my feet ached and so did my ears from the drunken bodies as they tunelessly sang one song after another.

The highlight of my evening made its appearance when a drunken idiot emptied the contents of his stomach onto my shoes. Enraged, all I could do was to utter some choice profanities since the jerk was too hammered to take in what I was saying.

I stumbled towards the toilets, consoling myself with the fact that my sandals were not open toed. Inside, I held my shoes under the sink and turned my head away while the remnants of vomit washed away. After wiping my shoes with tissue, I carefully washed my hands. My appearance in the mirror caught my attention. I noted the traces of red on my cheeks. Sadly the flushed state was not from excitement; the night had turned out to be a bigger disappointment than I could have hoped.

The back of the club was empty as I headed back, apart from one couple. They were like every other couple in the club, but their stance caught my attention. They stood close, a seemingly intimate posture with nothing amiss, except the way the girl had her hand wrapped around the guy’s. It wasn’t in a very romantic way but more clingy.

Intrigued, I took a closer look at them, from the way the girl stood in her small skirt and top. The guy was dressed more casually, sandy well-kept hair, his shoulders hunched. He looked less than comfortable. I took a step backwards into a darkened corner so my presence went by unnoticed.

“Well, well, well,” I muttered under my breath as their voices rose in volume and recognition hit. Now that I’d identified who they were, I was pleased to note that all was not well between Gemma Clarence and Jake Phillips.

His body taut, Jake defiantly stared down a weepy Gemma as she bawled her eyes out. All I could see was his back, his shoulders taut and head bent.

“What, you’re telling me you tripped and fell onto his dick?” Jake growled. I smirked at his choice of words. This was a side to him I’d never seen. Silently, I urged him to say more, do more than was usually expected from the golden boy.

Jake Phillips was a good looking guy. Well known around college, he was liked by his peers and teachers alike. With his toned body from playing rugby, he was a most desirable catch.

When the argument became more heated and the outcome more evident, I decided to make an escape. I quietly made my way back towards our table but this time with a smile on my face. With a lighter attitude, I bantered, drank a little more enthusiastically and waited out the New Year.

“10, 9, 8,” I sang along with everyone at the table as midnight drew closer.

While Tabby, Katie and Maneesha might glimmer, my star shone brightly.

“7, 6, 5…”

I took calculated risks.

“4, 3, 2…” I shouted loudly.

Always had one hand firmly in control.

My eyes scoured the club and spotted the familiar locks of sandy blond hair, rushing out of the club. Alone.

Knew what I wanted.

“1,” I screamed in unison with the sea of voices. I raised my glass and clinked it against the glass of the person on my right. “Happy New Year.”

And always won.

A/N:

The idea for this story has been floating in my head for a while, but I wasn’t too sure about posting it. I’d appreciate some feedback as to whether you enjoyed reading this or plain hated it. The heroine is a bitch so you might have a hard time swallowing her story but things will be getting interesting.

I know I’ve been neglecting Hit and Run, but at the moment I’ve run out steam and the story’s not holding my attention. I haven’t abandoned it, but just need a little reprieve.

Leila