cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. ‘That’s understandable. You know you did the right thing, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Lisa said, ‘I know I wouldn’t have been happy to stay with him forever and that wouldn’t be fair on me or him. I always knew he’d meet someone else and I thought I’d feel fine about it, but I’m so shocked. The thought of him being with someone else just seems so strange. This time last year, he was with me and we were happy. Well, I thought I was, anyway. He’s moved on so quickly and is settled again. Then there’s me going on loads of dates and just being the fussiest person in the world.’
‘We’re too young to meet Mr Right,’ Nicola said.
Lisa thought for a moment. ‘You’re right. Let’s just have fun meeting Mr Wrongs!’
‘That’s the spirit,’ Nicola said getting up, ‘now come with me to the kitchen.’
Lisa followed as Nicola pulled out a bottle of Moët from the fridge and got two glasses out of one of the cupboards. She squealed as she pulled the cork out and it made a loud popping sound.
‘Scares me every time it does that, honey!’ she explained, her hand on her chest. She filled their glasses. ‘A toast. To being single, having fun and to not being engaged at twenty-two!’
‘I’ll cheers to that,’ Lisa smiled. ‘Also, to having the most fun ever in our new flat. Cheers!’
‘Cheers,’ Nicola grinned, taking a sip of the bubbly liquid.
They both jumped when they heard dogs barking.
Lisa put her glass on the glass table. ‘Oh my God, Cupcake!’
‘Oh shit,’ Nicola muttered under her breath, worrying when they saw the flat door ajar.
Luckily the dog sounded close by, and Lisa sighed in relief when they opened the flat door and found Cupcake barking at a miniature Yorkshire Terrier dog sitting at the door of the flat opposite.
‘Cupcake, that’s enough!’ Lisa said loudly, trying to capture the dog’s attention, which didn’t work. The other dog started to bark back even louder and Cupcake made a growling sound.
‘Cupcake, honey,’ Nicola chipped in. ‘Be nice.’
‘Yes Cupcake, stop that. Come inside, that’s enough,’ Lisa said sternly, wagging her finger at the dog.
They heard a girl shouting in the flat opposite and when she appeared Lisa stood there with her mouth wide open, agog.
‘Oh hi, it’s Lisa, isn’t it? What are you doing here? Is that your flat? Buddy, stop that yapping!’ she yelled at her dog, brazenly.
‘Adele? You live here?’ Lisa asked, her voice almost a whisper, hoping she was just visiting a friend. This couldn’t be happening!
‘Babe, these flats are like the nicest round here for miles. Of course I live here!’ Adele cackled, reminding Lisa of a witch.
‘Oh …’ Lisa said feebly, her earlier excitement bursting like a bubble.
‘So is this your flat or your friend’s?’ Adele asked, eyeing them one at a time quizzically.
‘It’s mine,’ Nicola informed her politely, ‘and Lisa is going to be renting a room as from tomorrow.’
‘Oh amazing!’ Adele smiled, ‘we can do dinner and have girly nights in. How great is it we live opposite?’
Lisa nodded unenthusiastically, ‘Yeah, really great.’
‘Excuse the state of me, girls, I’ve only just got back from last night, if you know what I mean,’ Adele grinned, pulling her dressing gown round her tighter.
‘What’s his name?’ Nicola asked with a wry smile.
Adele held her hands up with a mock-offended look. ‘Now come on. Do I look like the kind of girl that would kiss and tell? Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?’
‘It’s Nicola.’
‘I’m Adele.’ She picked up Buddy who was still barking at Cupcake and shut him in her flat. ‘Give them time and they’ll be best friends,’ she gave a short, gravelly laugh, which sounded like she smoked too many cigarettes. ‘Do you mind if I take a look at your flat?’
Lisa looked at Nicola, willing her to say no. She wanted to get away from Adele and pretend this wasn’t happening. How could she live in the flat opposite? Out of the whole of Essex, what were the chances of them both being in the same building? It wasn’t fair! This was supposed to be their dream flat. A chance to finally taste freedom. This wasn’t freedom – what with Adele living dead opposite, showing up at their door every night, like Lisa bet she would. Girly nights in? This was a complete nightmare!
‘Of course you can,’ Nicola said, scooping up Cupcake and walking inside.
Lisa followed reluctantly.
‘Oh, it’s so tiny compared to my one!’ Adele exclaimed, looking delighted as she nosed around in every room. She noticed Nicola’s frown as she made her way out of the bathroom. ‘Of course, it’s more homely or whatever this way though.’
She clearly doesn’t want to get on the wrong side of Nicola, Lisa thought resentfully.
‘How big is your one then?’ Nicola enquired.
‘It’s got a much bigger lounge and the rooms are double the size,’ Adele boasted smugly. ‘Your one is really cute and small, though I could never live somewhere as little as this myself.’
‘Well I like it,’ Lisa retorted.
‘Oh great, champagne!’ Adele squeaked, walking to the kitchen and looking through the cupboards for a glass.
Nicola looked at Lisa questioningly and Lisa gave her a furious expression to show how annoyed she was with Adele for just inviting herself in for a drink. What a nerve she had! Helping herself to their champagne! Who did she think she was?
‘We can’t stay for long,’ Lisa lied, frustrated that Adele had ruined her morning. First she found out Jake was engaged, now this.
‘Oh I’ll just have a quick glass to celebrate us being neighbours. Oh, it’s Moët,’ Adele said disparagingly, trying to disguise her grimace as she tasted it. ‘I haven’t had this since I was a teenager.’
‘What’s wrong with Moët?’ Nicola asked, puzzled.
‘Nothing, hun. It’s nice. I think I’ve just been spoilt with expensive champers in my time and it’s hard to go back to the cheap stuff. I’m a Cristal girl myself. Ignore me,’ Adele said, flapping her hand.
‘We will,’ Lisa said under her breath, making Nicola snort with laughter. ‘Anyway Adele, I hope you don’t mind, but we really must be going soon.’
Adele looked disappointed. ‘Oh right. Where are you going?’
Lisa was
