Taking Off
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Katie sat down at the third desk in the second row. Sixty nine other students, most of them younger than her, filled the room. She straightened her back and tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. After two letters and a phone call from her GP, they had revised her case and let her go through the first round, on condition that she would stay clear of alcohol for the whole duration of the course.
“Welcome everybody. You have two hours to complete this test, I hope you find it simple. You may start… now! Good luck all.”
The usual shuffle of paper ensued. Katie had discovered she enjoyed watching other students rush through this process and she paused a few seconds before she turned over her own and read the first question. Methodically skipping the ones she couldn’t answer within two minutes, she made her way through in one hour and a half. She used the remaining thirty minutes to reassess the difficult questions and managed to solve more than half of them. Nonetheless, four bothered her all the way home, especially as she worked out three of them on the train back.
***
Katie waved at Beth from across Old Compton Street and directed her to the upstairs room in Rush. Katie perched on the window sill and Beth nudged a stool in the space between Katie’s legs and the group of women behind them.
“It’s been a while since you called, what brought this on?” Beth asked.
“I’ve been busy. Went for a big exam today and I needed to chill out.”
Beth took her sandals off and spread her legs over Katie’s lap, her foot digging into Katie’s tummy. “I’m always happy to chill out with you, you know.”
Beth announced she wished to celebrate her pay rise and she started a tab behind the bar. She didn’t accept Katie’s request for a soft drink and added a vodka shot to her Coke. When Beth went to the toilets, Katie poured her alcoholic beverage into a discarded glass on a shelf. She then ordered all the following rounds, explaining the barmaid served her quickly as she knew her.
They chatted, they flirted, they kissed. Beth decided she wanted to get back to Katie’s.
Beth stopped at the off licence around the corner from Katie’s and grabbed two bottles of wine but Katie refused to pay for them.
“How tight are you? I got you so many drinks in the bar.”
“It’s not about the money. I just think you’ve had enough alcohol for the night.”
“Now you’re my mum. Killjoy.”
“I’m not your mum.”
“Why do you care anyway? You used to be fun.”
The three men at the counter smiled and one of them winked at Katie.
“Let’s talk at home,” Katie said.
“Maybe I don’t want to go home with you then.”
“Then don’t.”
“Alright, I won’t.”
Beth strolled out and Katie placed the bottles back and picked up a chocolate bar.
