The Leaving Party: An absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller by Lesley Sanderson

Author:Lesley Sanderson [Sanderson, Lesley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838881375
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

2005

‘What were you talking to her for?’ Lena asked Ava. ‘She’s one of your sister’s stuck-up friends.’

‘She’s not stuck-up, she’s really nice.’

‘Aren’t you worried she’ll go running to Martha?’

‘No, she won’t.’

‘That’s what you think.’ Lena had been brought up not to trust anyone outside of her family, and those inside it – well they were even worse.

‘Don’t, Lena.’

‘Don’t what?’

‘Push everyone away. Tess is really friendly. I’ve just had a nice conversation with her; she was telling me about her driving test and everything. She’s got a car, that’s why she’s not drinking. That doesn’t make her boring. She knows what she wants in life. She’s got a place at Cambridge. That’s where I want to go.’

‘Don’t you have to be really clever to get in there?’

‘Hmm.’ Ava nodded.

‘You’ll get in, Ava, no problem. You don’t have to do any work and you still get good grades. Unlike me.’

‘You could do better if you put your mind to it. You’re smart, you just can’t be bothered. Tess likes you too, she told me.’

Lena shrugged; compliments were missiles to be lobbed away. ‘Anyway, this is a party, Ava. Why are we talking about school grades and all that boring stuff? The music is great and we can drink whatever we like, go home whenever we want. And most importantly of all, there’s a roomful of hot boys next door.’

‘Yes, and Gareth.’ Ava’s shoulders slumped as if she was carrying a huge rucksack, weighing her down. Then she straightened. ‘I’ve done it,’ she said, smiling. ‘We’re over. I told Tess about him, and she was really understanding.’

Lena was sick of hearing about Miss Goody-Two-Shoes Tess.

‘Gareth isn’t happy, but I don’t care,’ said Ava. ‘Let’s go and get some more drinks, then come back in here and have some fun.’

‘That’s more like it,’ Lena said. ‘Let’s try a drink we haven’t had before. Have you ever tasted gin?’

Ava giggled. ‘You know I haven’t. I’ve only ever drunk with you. I’ve had Cinzano and martini and vodka. Oh, and wine, but that was at a dinner party my parents held when I was about ten.’

She remembered the leftover red liquid glimmering in the adults’ discarded glasses. Drinking it had made them laugh like she’d never seen them laugh before, throwing their heads back, real belly laughs. When they were all off enjoying themselves doing a silly dance to some old records, she’d picked up a glass and taken a large sip. She’d almost choked, putting it back down quickly on the table. The liquid had tingled all the way down to her tummy, followed by a warm glow. She’d drunk the whole thing and spent the rest of the evening secretly giggling to herself under the table.

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