Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters: Angelic Business, #1

Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters

By Olga Núñez Miret

Text copyright ©2015 Olga Núñez Miret

Published by Olga Núñez Miret (Just Olga Books)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including, but not restricted to, organizations such as Amazon, Google, etc), in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author.

Edited by: Express Editing Solutions (www.expresseditingsolutions.co.uk)

Cover: Lourdes Vidal (www.lourdesvidaldisseny.jimdo.com)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Petra (a.k.a. Pink)

Chapter 2. The Meeting (Part 1)

Chapter 3. The Meeting (Part 2)

Chapter 4. Identity

Chapter 5. The Test

Chapter 6. Secrecy

Chapter 7. And now to work

Chapter 8. The dark truth

Chapter 9. Boys will be boys

Chapter 10. Liar, Liar

Chapter 11. Falling

Chapter 12. The ball

Chapter 13. Tell me what you want, what you really, really want

Chapter 14. I wanna

Chapter 15. And now...

Chapter 16. The end?

Thanks and coming up next...

Links

This was not a dream. It was true. And it was happening to her, Pink. Was it even possible? And why her?

Chapter 1. Petra (a.k.a. Pink)

It’s very true. Nobody can make you feel as humiliated as a really close friend can. Yes, we were close. But from that to assuming... Seth and I had known each other for years, lived next to each other, went to school together, shared things. And Seth was the most popular guy at our high school (and therefore the most popular guy in my universe), and had all the girls he wanted and all that. I know; you’ve watched the movie. And you know that everybody believed I was in love with him and wasn’t it a shame that I wasn’t his type, and was rather plain and... plump... But, OK, it was fine that everybody thought that and felt sorry for me. What wasn’t fine, not by a long stretch – what was really offensive – was how he himself believed it. He had phoned me on the fatal evening (5th November, if you must know), at around midnight, quite drunk, asking me to go and collect him from Chris’s party. They had invited me but I was busy writing, and I knew how these things went. Because, of course, I was also boring, clever and studious. I didn’t drink and I didn’t do drugs.

I went to pick him up (I had to borrow my parents’ car, but they liked Seth, and I was convinced that at least my mother thought that things would develop between us) and I found him necking a girl. I’d never seen her before, probably she was from a neighbouring town. Once he’d said his goodbyes (something on the line of I’ll call you, but very slurred) he followed me, or rather, I half-carried him to the car. I had to stop once so he could be sick. Then, when I stopped in front of his house to let him out, he turned to me, kissed me on the cheek (lovely experience, still smelling of sick and all) and said the memorable:

You know, Pink, if you ever...I know you don’t have a boyfriend, but...you know...If you can’t find ...If you ever want a bit of a...cuddle and a kiss or...anything else, anything really... I’ll...I’ll do it for you.

I just pushed him out of the car, feeling sick myself. And I could not sleep after that.

Next day it only got worse, although I didn’t think that was possible. I hoped he would not remember the comment and didn’t even expect or want an apology, but oh, no, that would have been too easy. I tried to avoid him during the day, even decided not to talk about it to my best friends, Lorna and Sylvia. You see? Maybe if I didn’t talk about it, it wouldn’t have really happened. I could just pretend it had been a nightmare and I had imagined it all.

I left school without meeting him, and I thought I had succeeded and was home safe. But no, too much to ask. As soon as I got to my door I heard somebody running towards me. I didn’t even need to turn; I knew it would be him.

Pink, Pink! Hey...I’ve been trying to catch up with you all day!

You finally have. What did you want?

I...Listen, about yesterday...

I didn’t want to make him feel bad about it either. It was my maternal, mother-hen instinct towards him that had been developed over years (if not imprinted in my DNA) and I could not switch it off, even when he was vile. I decided to pretend I didn’t remember.

Yesterday?

The sex thing...I...

Forget it.

No, no. Don’t get me wrong. That’s not...I just wanted to say...I meant it. It wasn’t a drunken thing...Of course, you don’t need to worry about anything; I wouldn’t tell anybody about it.

I was about to ask him if he was serious, but he was looking solemn and sympathetic. I couldn’t come up with anything to say, and he misinterpreted my silence.

You’re all right. No need to say anything. I’ll see you around, he said, patting me on the back. My only consolation was that he had not patted me on the head, like a good dog. It wasn’t much of a consolation, to be honest.

I could have screamed, and I actually did when I got into my house and locked myself in my bedroom. I wanted to kill him! Justified homicide, no doubt.

I was quite upset for a couple of weeks, trying to avoid Seth to little avail. He seemed completely unaware of my efforts or feelings.

I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer, and I finally told Lorna and Sylvia. We had also known each other for many years, and gone to the same school and class since we were little, even though Lorna and Sylvia lived in High Ridge, a neighbouring town. We had always had similar interests and hung out together, as we didn’t seem to easily fit in with any of the usual groups. Studious and bookish, but not repellent (none of us even wore glasses), plain but not awfully ugly, not particularly sporty but not clumsy enough to become the butt of all jokes. And yes, we weren’t in a group of fashionable in people, but we did not attract attention because of weird sense of dress, make-up or tattoos. If anything, we were grey and invisible. And so far that had been fine with us. It was also true that my friendship with Seth gave us some street-cred that probably avoided our fall into one of the officially despised groups.

I had been trying to exercise, eat healthily and lose weight, and I had succeeded somewhat, although I had enough insight to know I’d never be Barbie. Even if I were to starve to death, my body shape wouldn’t change to the point where I would have legs coming up to my armpits, and although I still had some hopes for my breasts, so far they had refused to become anything that guys would bother to look at.

Lorna had done better with growing up, and although she would not accept it when Sylvia and I told her, she had become an attractive girl. It was evident when the three of us were together that guys were now looking at her, whilst in the past they normally scanned over us to look at somebody else. Her newly straightened long dark-brown hair, hazel eyes, faultless olive complexion and heart shaped mouth made her quite pretty, even without make-up. And she was petite and well proportioned. She’d even gone out on a few dates, although so far she had not found her prince charming.

On the other hand, adolescence hadn’t been quite so kind to Sylvia, who had suddenly had a growth spurt that had made her taller than most of the boys of our age, was very skinny, and flat as an ironing board. Despite countless visits to orthodontists and a succession of devices worthy of listing in any Wikipedia article about torture, her smile wasn’t made for toothpaste ads and she had become even shyer than before. In my subjective and invaluable opinion, I must add, I found them both beautiful and the best friends a girl could wish for.

When I told them about Seth’s behaviour their reaction was as I expected.

Lorna was indignant. Who does he think he is, now, eh? Gee... How can you be friends with him? You don’t need that idiot, Pink, you definitely don’t.

Sylvia was always kind and forgiving. I also had my suspicions that she fancied Seth too...Well, OK, most girls did, but Sylvia was so shy she hardly ever allowed herself to think about boys, as it sent her into meltdown. But I’d seen her blush when Seth had looked in her direction or talked to her and if not love, infatuation at least.

He was probably just trying to be nice... He’s a bloke after all. He doesn’t understand how we feel about these things. I’m sure he didn’t intend to humiliate you.

Well, good job then, isn’t it? I don’t think he could have done it that much better if he had tried to humiliate you... A mercy fuck... Ughhhhh! It makes me sick! Lorna said, still angry.

Yes, I also felt very angry to begin with. But now...rather than just carrying on fuming, I think maybe I should be proactive and do something about it.

Yes, but what? Sylvia asked.

That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I have to get my own back on him.

How? Lorna asked, interested.

I have to prove him wrong.

You mean...finding a boyfriend? Isn’t that a bit too much? Sylvia said, evidently appalled by the suggestion.

I don’t think it needs to go quite as far as a boyfriend. I don’t really want a boyfriend. I’m far too young and have too many things to do... Anyway, you know what I think about all that.

In summary what I think about it is, nice in theory but in reality quite likely a big waste of time at an age when one doesn’t have that much time to waste. More important things to be getting on with. OK, I know you might think sour grapes and all that, but honestly...boys? Maybe when they grow up – if they ever do.

I see. You just want him to see you going out with somebody... Lorna said, appreciatively. I approve.

Yes, but who? I asked.

Let’s see.

As usual, when we had to take important decisions or discuss serious matters, we went to the library café. With the popularity of e-readers, netbooks and tablets, android mobile phones, and particularly Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, there was hardly anybody other than people of a certain age at the library. We always sat at the same table, at the back by the window. We considered it our table.

Once settled there, with our Diet Cokes, we started virtually looking around for candidates. Sylvia was very organised and stopped Lorna when she stated naming boys at random. It’s best if we look at the population of guys.

What? I asked.

Well, you know...Kind of an ethnographic/sociological-type study. What type of guy are you thinking about?

You want us to create a profile? Lorna asked.

Maybe. But I think that would be too ambitious, considering the raw material we have access to. It will be easier to look at what there is, in terms of groups of guys that might be available.

OK. A methodical and scientific approach. Why not? Yes, it made sense. No need to be overly emotional and girly about this thing. If we were going to do it, we might as well do it well. And as it was a matter of guys, thinking like a bloke might help.

Sylvia got her iPad out.

Really? Lorna asked. Isn’t that going a bit too far?

Why? What is technology for, if not these kinds of things?

Important things, maybe? How to solve the problem of providing energy and food to the population of the world, curing illnesses, educating the masses... I said.

Yes, OK. Maybe we’ll do that at some point, but what’s the harm in using a spreadsheet to make a sensible decision about guys?

I had to admit she had a point. Today, finding a possible candidate to boyfriend. Tomorrow, the Nobel Prize.

Lorna, who’d evidently been giving boys some thought, took charge of naming the diverse groups of candidates, whilst all of us considered their pros and cons. Well, we couldn’t always find pros. When looked at in such a systematic manner, it appeared surprising that anybody would actually dare to go out with anybody else. Dating agencies definitely deserved their money and more for even attempting such a task.

Let’s see, let’s see...What kind of guy would you want Seth to see you with, Pink? Sylvia asked me.

Well...evidently somebody reasonably attractive but with some brains...I mean, it would have to be somebody he’d believe I’d go out with. He knows me well enough to know I wouldn’t go out with just a pretty face...not that just a pretty face would probably go out with me, either.

Lorna looked at me seriously. Oh, Pink, don’t start like that. There’s nothing wrong with you. Any guy—

Let’s leave it. That’s not what this is about. Let’s be methodical, I said.

OK, attractive but reasonably intelligent...

We thought for a while. Not that many boys that would easily fit into such a category...

There’re always Seth’s friends...Adam isn’t bad looking... Lorna said.

No, he isn’t. Neither are Tony, or Chris, or Scott... Are you joking, Lorna? Haven’t you noticed the type of girls they go out with? Cheerleaders, trend setters...the beautiful or at least pretty girls. That would be mission impossible, and you know they are hardly discreet. When they go out with a girl, everybody knows all the details. Even we do! I replied.

Yes, Seth is the only one with a bit of class in his group of friends. Yep, Sylvia. Didn’t I tell you she fancies him?

I’m also not very convinced about any of them in the brains department. They are popular and good at sports, and that gives them a lot of leeway, but with regards to merits... I said.

Seth is quite clever...I think.

Lorna and I looked at Sylvia. I don’t know about me, but Lorna definitely rolled her eyes.

Yes, and he has lovely sandy-coloured and wavy hair, green eyes, cute dimples and the rest. Stop talking about Seth, Sylvia. He’s the cause of all this trouble, and evidently Pink isn’t going to go out with him. No, you’re right, Pink, none of his friends are of any use. He knows them too well; he’d know that you wouldn’t really go out with any of them... It wouldn’t work.

Most of the guys we considered clever were in one of two despised categories: either the brainy, studious group, mostly composed of extremely uncool characters, good for conversation and teaming up for school work but not datable material – or the geeks.

Theo, Paul, Mark and Luke... Sylvia said.

The brains? Sure, they are clever, but...attractive? Have you ever looked at them? I said.

Well...OK, but Mark...has nice eyes, Sylvia added.

Yes, and Theo is very tall, and Luke has lovely dark curly hair, but, Mark has horrendous acne and is very short, Theo is really big and always sweaty, Luke wears really old-fashioned glasses and is so skinny that you can hardly see him in profile and Paul... I added.