November 13, 2004
12: Lucy
Lucy strode across Hungerford Bridge -- the real one, not that Johnny-come-lately pretender on the West side -- and there, on the South Bank, Zoe was waiting for her."Hey baby, it's been too long."
"Damn right. Jesus, is that a wedding gown? Please don't tell me..."
"Just a fashion faux pas. You know you can rely on me to be perpetually single."
"Thank God for that. Are you drinking?"
"Was there ever any doubt?"
"I need alcohol in my body right now and I'm not bothered how it gets there."
"Enema?"
"The Archduke."
"Spot the difference?"
"Ha ha!"
The Archduke was noisy, but there were tables. Zoe and Lucy adopted one.
"What's with the get up? Are you becoming Miss Havisham?"
"An idle whim. A Billy Idol whim."
"It's a nice day to start again."
"It always is."
"Did you hear about Adam?"
"I've heard about little else all week."
"It's fucked up."
"In every way."
"I hate that there are people out there who would do that. For fun or whatever. Like it's a normal activity?"
"It is a normal activity."
"Hanging around, waiting to beat people up?"
"Yes. Have a few drinks, kick a few heads in, it's the human condition."
"You don't mean that."
"I do. Some people exist to hurt other people, it's their purpose in life."
"Bad day at the office?"
"Don't even ask."
"Okay. Who do you fancy for the Premiership, then?"
"Very funny. You know I despise that shit."
"I do."
"If I never hear the name of another footballer it will be too fucking soon."
"I'm beginning to agree. Even Becky seems to be succumbing to the lure lately. What's that about?"
"I don't know. Is David Beckham some kind of dyke icon?"
"Don't look at me. I don't pay attention to that stuff."
"Does Becky?"
"Fuck off."
"Don't you love how it's getting dark so early?"
"What? No. Are you insane? Nobody loves that. This is the most depressing time of the year."
"I do. The whole wintery feel, the nights drawing in. It's wonderful."
"You are out of your mind, Luce. It's horrible. It's, like, dark all the time!"
"Exactly. Everything's better that way."
"In the dark?"
"You don't see all the wear and tear and grime and dirt. Everything seems much sharper and stronger in the dark, much clearer. It's glamourous."
"Just because you can't see it, that doesn't mean it isn't there."
"Seeing is believing, Zoe."
"Who are you? What have you done with the real Lucy?"
"I just like the winter, that's all."
"Right. You're the Princess of Darkness."
