Ex

“Oh my God, Em, look.”

Stacey elbows me. I look and there’s Mark. He sees us, waves and crosses the road. There’s a girl with him. They’re holding hands.

“Oh hey, Emma, how are you?” He’s wearing that shirt I got him. It still looks good on him. I got taste.

“Yeah, fine, thanks.” I nod. “You?”

“Yeah, good, I’m good. This is Alice. Alice, this is Emma, and Stacey.”

“Hi,” she squeaks. Check out those teeth. What’s up, doc? Stacey catches my eye and smirks.

“So, how have you been?” Mark is asking. He squeezes Alice’s hand. She looks up at him – her eyes are tiny, like a little piggy. Oink oink, ickle piglet.

“Yeah, not bad, you know. Working. Playing. You know.”

“Great, you having fun then?” He strokes Alice’s hair. Careful, Mark, you get your hand stuck in that greasy bird’s nest, might never get it out.

“Always, Marky, you know me.” I can’t stop staring at her face. She must have been at the back of the queue when they were handing out noses cos they just lobbed any old blob on her face.

“How’s work? You still at the same place.”

“Yeah, but, you know, could be moving on soon.” What is she wearing? Get dressed in the dark this morning, did we? Try wearing black, love, it’s more slimming.

“Oh, you found a new job? Congratulations.”

“Yeah, well, not yet. But looking, you know.” I glance at her feet. Double-u, tee, eff? Time to stop borrowing your granny’s shoes, frumpo. Get yourself some nice Jimmy Choos, or maybe Clarks is more your style.

“Well, good luck. We should be going, shouldn’t we?” He smiles at Alice. She gurns back at him.

“Yeah, cool, see you later.” Bye, Alice, you big mess. Stacey rolls her eyes at me and I fight the urge to giggle. We walk quickly round the corner then collapse into each other.

“Oh my God, did you see her?” Stacey screeches.

“Jesus Christ. I don’t mean to be mean, Stace, but what is he doing with her?”

“I know, I know. I mean, she looks just like you. Clothes and everything. You could be twins. Em, what’s wrong? Em? Where you going? Em? Em?”