Fair-Weather Friend by Patricia Scanlan

Author:Patricia Scanlan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: GemmaMedia
Published: 2009-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

It was her fifth day alone. She might as well have come on a singles holiday after all. Sophie gave a deep sigh as she lay on the lounger in her favourite spot on the beach. She was annoyed with herself. Why, after all her good intentions, was she letting Melissa still get to her? She had to admit that even she had been surprised at how much of a user Melissa was.

Her ‘friend’ had spent two days with Paulo after the first big dinner-date.

‘You don’t mind, sweetie? He’s such a pet. You should hear the lovely things he says to me and he’s such a gentleman. He’s really smitten, Sophie,’ Melissa twittered as she changed into yet another outfit for a shopping trip to Palma. Her new boyfriend wanted to show her the sights. She was preening in front of the mirror in a vivid pink mini-dress. Sophie couldn’t help a pang of envy. Melissa looked a million dollars. Her tan was golden. Her skin was like satin. The dress clung to all the right curves. She looked like a model.

That night she arrived back at the apartment, eyes shining.

‘You’ll never guess, Sophie! Paulo has asked me to go to Marbella on the yacht. I’m so excited.’

‘How long are you going for?’ Sophie demanded. ‘You came on holidays with me, you know!’ She was furious. She just couldn’t help it. Melissa was rubbing her nose in it.

‘Don’t be like that, Sophie,’ Melissa muttered defensively. ‘This is the chance of a lifetime. Paulo is just what I need after The Rat.’

‘Look, Melissa, you asked me to come on holidays with you. So far we’ve had one breakfast together and I’ve been left on my own ever since. You’re being really selfish and I don’t think much of your behaviour,’ Sophie exploded.

‘No you’re being selfish!’ Melissa rounded on her. ‘This could be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. If you were truly my friend you wouldn’t be so mean.’ She took her case from the wardrobe and began to pack. Sophie felt like thumping her. How typical of Melissa to turn the argument to her advantage.

They didn’t speak for the rest of the night. The following morning Sophie kept her head under the pillow until she heard Melissa leave the apartment, dragging her case behind her.

So much for the gentleman. He didn’t even come to collect the cow, she thought grumpily as she heard the click-clack of Melissa’s white high heels fade away.

Surprisingly, once her anger and resentment had lessened, Sophie had actually enjoyed herself. She spent her days on the beach, reading and swimming. She liked watching the confident, noisy young Spaniards that gathered after school. It was an entertainment in itself just to watch them flirt. The girls were always dressed in fabulous bikinis that showed off their sallow, supple figures to perfection. Sophie promised herself that one day she too would be a beach princess. To start, she decided to walk for an hour every day.

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