Fristers Forever

By Allison Hay

Allison Hay © Two girls taking a selfie on holiday Pic: Shutterstock

Pic: Shutterstock

WRITTEN BY TESS NILAND KIMBER

Friends as close as sisters? You bet! But Jack had come between them. How would Mia cope at a new uni alone?

“Do you love me, Jack?” Ellie sighed into her mobile. “Really?” Cringing, Mia bit her tongue and rubbed sun cream into her bronzed limbs. She tried to concentrate on the fab view from their villa over sparkling Mirabello Bay and drown out her best friend’s incessant giggling.

This should be the holiday of a lifetime, Mia thought. They were in Crete with Ellie’s parents – a last treat before setting off to Portsmouth uni in September where Ellie was to study maths and Mia would start her IT degree.

“I knew you two couldn’t bear to be apart,” her mum had said when they’d applied for their places.

“What could be better?” Ellie had smiled, “Studying with my best mate.”

However, before uni there was Crete. With perfect weather, even more perfect food – the hotel’s souvlaki was to die for – and buzzing night life, Mia should have been in heaven, spending time with her best friend who she’d known since primary school.

“They’re Fristers,” her dad had described them, “A perfect mix of sisters and friends.”

The name had stuck. But if Mia was honest her “frister” was spoiling this holiday. Or rather, Ellie’s new relationship with Jack Myerson was spoiling it. She’d fallen in love with him the minute he’d joined their sixth form.

For months revision sessions had been interrupted by Ellie constantly asking Mia if she’d a chance with him.

“Of course, you do – once he notices you,” she’d reassured her friend.

Mia was right. When Ellie had highlights put through her Titian hair, not only did Jack notice her but so did half the single – and not so single – lads in sixth form, too.

At Easter Jack asked Ellie out, and they’d been inseparable ever since. The days of Mia popping round to Ellie’s for a Netflix and curry were soon replaced with, “Sorry, I’m seeing Jack tonight. Maybe next Wednesday?”

Somehow next Wednesday was always filled with “Jack” dates, too.

She consoled herself that they’d get their friendship back on track once Ellie and Jack passed the initial buzz of their relationship, and once they were on this holiday. Jack was working as a fruit picker over the summer to fund his own uni place so there was no way he’d come.

She was wrong.

Although the holiday had been great with trips to an olive farm and scuba diving where they’d come up close and personal with octopus, scorpionfish and moray eels, if anything it was worse as Ellie spent any spare moment glued to her mobile. Mia had seen more of Gary and Sandra, Ellie’s mum and dad, than she had her best friend. Of course, she enjoyed being with them – they were like second parents to her – but it was Ellie’s company she craved.

Chania’s indoor market was well worth the drive. Under cover from the scorching heat, Mia gazed at stalls filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, honey, leather goods and souvenirs piled twice her height. Most stalls even sold stamps for their postcards.

“I must buy something special for Jack,” Ellie had said, linking her arm through Mia’s.

“Come on – let’s see what we can find,” Mia smiled back, only slightly miffed that Jack had made yet another “appearance” on their holiday.

She reminded herself that she was here with Ellie. If she complained, she might drive her friend away for good. Better to help her find something amazing to take home for Jack.

Yet as they poured over the jewellery, then the leather goods and even checked out the T-shirts, Ellie couldn’t decide.

“Nothing’s special enough. It’s stuff I’d buy Mum.”

Mia bit her lip. She was losing patience with both Ellie’s constant mention-itis and the time wasted looking for Jack’s present.

“What about that necklace? Jewellery shows you care, and it will be light in your baggage for flying home.”

Ellie dithered and then did as Mia suggested buying a silver seahorse on a black cord.

“Do you think he’ll like it?”

“He’ll love it,” Mia said automatically, longing for something stronger than the coffee they were going to have in the taverna.

“This scarf is gorgeous, Mia, thank you,” her mum said, hugging her as if she’d been away for a year rather than ten days. “Did you have a great holiday?”

“Ye-es,” she said, handing over her dirty washing.

Her mum frowned. “You don’t sound too sure.”

Mia sighed before telling her all about Ellie and her obsession with her boyfriend.

All she does is talk about Jack. She’s no fun any more.

“Ellie’s bound to be. We all are.”

“Were you, over Dad?”

Mum smiled, as she opened the washing machine door. “Yes – especially over Dad – but after a while that first mad stage calms down and life returns to normal. Wait until uni. Things’ll change then. You’ll be together and Jack will be miles away studying in Bath.”

“I guess.”

“But if you’re upset, have a word. You’ve been friends for years. You can talk to her about anything.”

Mia nodded.

“Right, come on then, show me all your photos!”

“And Jack said he’s missed me sooo much and that he loves the necklace I got him, and…”

“Ellie…” Mia took a deep breath. She’d gone round to her friend’s house with a T-shirt that had somehow strayed into her own luggage. “I’m not being mean but since you and Jack got together – and I’m really pleased for you both, really – but I feel… pushed out.”

Ellie frowned. “Pushed out? But you’re my frister. You’ll always be my frister.”

“Yes – but I hardly see you.”

“Er – we just spent ten days in Crete together.”

“During which time you talked about no one and nothing but Jack and spent so much time on your phone, staring at your screen, I’m surprised your parting isn’t sunburned.”

Mia was scared she’d upset her, that her words might lead to a row, but she was relieved when she said, “I’m sorry. I do see a lot of Jack, but that’s ’cos I’m mad about him.”

“You certainly are,” she grinned. “Look why don’t we go out tomorrow? Shopping or to the nail bar.”

Ellie’s smile faded. “Sorry, Mia, I’m meeting Jack in the park.”

“OK,” she sighed. Her disappointment must have showed on her face.

“Look,” Ellie said, catching hold of her hand. “Why don’t you come too?”

“You sure?”

“Yes – then I can be with the two people who mean everything to me.”

Mia hesitated. Wouldn’t she feel horribly uncomfortable? But when Ellie pleaded, she said, “Well… OK…”

As Mia jumped off the bus, she still wondered if meeting up with Ellie and Jack on a date was a good idea.

Walking into Willow Park, she soon spotted them, locked in a kiss on the bench by the pond. She groaned. This would be super cringey.

“Hi…” she said, as she approached.

Ellie and Jack stopped kissing, but still sat with their arms round each other as they greeted her.

“So, what are we doing?” Mia asked.

“I thought we’d hang here for a bit,” Jack said, stroking Ellie’s hair and staring into her eyes.

He was more tanned from fruit picking than they were from ten days in Crete.

“Right…” Mia said, longing for a distraction. “Let’s walk round the park. I could do with the exercise after all that souvlaki we had in Crete.”

Ellie and Jack stood up, still with their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. Mia couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable if she had sat on a huge ant’s nest.

“So, what you been doing, Jack, other than working?” she asked, trying to be friendly.

“Missing this one, mainly,” he grinned.

Hearing his comment, Ellie kissed him yet again.

“And,” he added, when they finally unlocked lips, “getting ready for Bath.”

His words were a reminder that next week they’d receive their all-important A-level results. Ellie had an unconditional offer from Portsmouth uni, but Mia was sweating over her grades. She only hoped she’d revised enough to pass.

I can’t bear to think of it, Jack. I’ll be miles away from you in Portsmouth.

Mia couldn’t believe it. For months, Ellie had talked excitedly about moving to uni, staying in the Halls of Residence, making new friends, checking out a totally new area – and the best bit, being independent for the first time.

Now it sounded like she dreaded it!

Mia couldn’t help feeling hurt.

Results day was as nerve-wracking as a ride on Thorpe Park’s Stealth.

“Go on, love,” Mia’s parents urged as they stood in the common room.

Her fingers shook as she opened her envelope.

“Wow! Two B’s and a C – I’m in!” she laughed.

As her parents hugged her, she could see Ellie in the distance. Holding hands with Jack, they were deep in conversation with Mr Downs, the head of sixth form.

Mia frowned. Although Ellie still wanted good grades, she had an unconditional offer so her place was unaffected by her results.

Whatever could she be discussing so seriously with Mr Downs?

Mia was drinking a celebratory glass of champagne with her family when her mobile buzzed.

“Hi Ellie…”

“Hey – what did you get? Sorry I didn’t catch you at school.”

Mia told her her results, and Ellie congratulated her.

“That means we’ll definitely be at Portsmouth together,” she laughed.

There was a pause.

Well, actually that’s what I’m calling you about…

How she kept it together, Mia didn’t know. Celebrating with her family on what should have been the best day of her life so far was hard after Ellie’s call. Now alone in her bedroom, tears slipped down her face.

“I’m sorry, Mia… I just can’t face being apart from Jack… I’m accepting my second offer.”

The words swum around Mia’s head. Ellie said she wouldn’t be going to Portsmouth with her after all, that instead, she’d take up an offer at Bath uni to be with Jack.

All her dreams, of sharing an exciting new experience with her best friend ended with that call. For months she’d stressed she wouldn’t achieve her grades and might fail to get in, worrying that she’d let Ellie down if she couldn’t go. Now her friend was choosing to step away from their plans – and for a guy she’d known less than a year.

She’d never felt more hurt or alone in her whole life.

The next few weeks were a blur of buying household goods her mum insisted she “couldn’t live without,” and saying cheerio to her other school mates.

Since the call from Ellie, she’d kept her distance. They were still in touch, but Mia was too upset to meet up. She didn’t want to ruin Ellie’s experience of leaving for uni with Jack.

Of course, she knew she’d every right to choose where she’d be happiest, but if she was honest, Mia couldn’t help felt a little betrayed. Why hadn’t Ellie warned her she was thinking of changing uni?

The day Mia arrived in Portsmouth, Mum was teary, and Dad was pretending to be jovial, telling her, “Now try to do some studying among all the partying.”

“I’ll try,” she grinned, dreading the moment they’d leave her in the tiny bedroom cum lounge cum study in the modern Halls.

“And remember you’ll be home in a few weeks. Once you start it’ll… fly… by,” her mum gulped before bursting into tears.

Oh Mia, I’ll miss you so much. If only Ellie was here. I’d know you’d look out for each other.

“Well, she isn’t, but I’ll be fine. I’ll miss you all, too, but I promise I’ll Facetime every night and we can text and phone, and in no time I’ll be back. And don’t let Tom use my room while I’m away. I don’t want to find grungy mugs under my bed when I come home.”

Mum smiled then through her tears. Her brother was notorious for leaving dirty plates and cups in his room.

There was one last group hug and then they were gone, and she had never felt so alone.

As she waved to them from her fifth storey window at the Halls, it felt like a plaster being ripped off.

Mum was right. How much easier it would’ve been having Ellie here now, she thought, feeling horribly lost.

“Ah, I wouldn’t put anything in that cupboard,” a voice said behind her.

Mia was in the kitchen at the Halls, putting away her shopping. It had felt weird buying stuff for herself. Normally what she wanted to eat was always magically in the fridge at home.

“That cupboard’s Annabelle’s. She’s in room 17,” the tall, thin girl with a nose piercing and streaked blue hair said.

“Oh sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m Freya, by the way,” she said. “I’m in the flat opposite you. It’s OK here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I think so, although I haven’t had a chance to check out anywhere other than the supermarket… I’m Mia.”

“Freshers’ Week’s perfect for getting to know the area. It’s great here. Plenty of night life, if you want it. Walks by the sea. Good shops. Friendly people like me. What’s not to like?” she grinned.

Mia laughed. As they chatted, she discovered Freya was from Colchester in Essex, was studying art and had a cousin who lived in Waterlooville which meant she knew the area well.

“Best of all Pompey has a great football team. You like footie, don’t you?”

Mia admitted she didn’t, but Freya was so enthusiastic she couldn’t help taking an interest.

“You’ll have to come to Fratton Park with me. Watch a match. I’ll soon convert you.”

Mia laughed. Maybe she’d go with Freya. New friends, new interests. She was beginning to see the benefits of being here on her own after all.

Mia was amazed how quickly she settled into uni life. The course was demanding but fascinating and her social life rocketed. One evening she was in the Union with Freya and a couple of others from her course when she literally bumped into a tall man with floppy brown hair and a close-cropped beard.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, as some of his beer splashed onto the floor.

“Don’t worry about it. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Name’s Reece.”

“Mia,” she smiled. “Let me buy you another pint.”

Reece wouldn’t hear of it. Instead, he bought her a drink, and they were soon chatting. He told her he’d been to Crete too, where he’d had a working holiday the year before.

“Don’t suppose you fancy checking out the new Greek café with me?” he asked. “Saturday lunchtime, maybe?”

She’d love to but…

“Sorry, Reece, I can’t…”

His smiled slipped. “Oh, OK. Sorry I asked. Bit early, I suppose.”

“No, it’s not that. I’d love to go… but I’m already going out on Saturday. To a football match.”

“Do you like football?”

“I don’t…”

“Now I am puzzled,” Reece said.

Mia quickly explained that Freya had invited her to Fratton Park and while she wasn’t keen on football, she didn’t want to be guilty of dropping her new friend to go on a date, remembering how often Ellie let her down to see Jack.

“Sorry,” she finished.

I know most girls would ditch their friends to date you, but I can’t.

She expected Reece to be put off, that he’d make his excuses and the beginning of what could be a lovely friendship would be in tatters, but she was shocked when he smiled into her eyes.

“You know I like that,” he said. “My friends mean a lot to me, too.”

Relieved she smiled back. “Tell you what, I’m free on Monday.”

“Well, I’ve no lectures then either. Do you like souvlaki?”

“Do I!” she smiled.

Suddenly she felt as warm as if the Crete sunshine had somehow followed her to Portsmouth…