Pictures of Lily

have a good time last night?’ I ask the three guys sitting around the table.
    ‘Yeah, it was cool,’ Alex replies.
    ‘How many girls did you snog?’
    Brian sniggers, but it is Alex who replies. ‘Brian got his tongue down three.’
    ‘I beat Josh for a change,’ Brian comments.
    ‘What was it, a competition?’ I ask sarcastically.
    ‘Yeah, it was actually,’ Shane replies. ‘They each bet a tenner.’
    ‘Weren’t you in on it?’ I ask him.
    ‘Nah,’ he replies, giving me a meaningful look. ‘I’m not into that sort of thing.’
    Oh, shit. Don’t fancy me. I’m not interested, I’m really not . Why do blokes have to complicate things?
    Josh returns with our drinks and takes a seat next to me. He seems to have perked up from his earlier mood.
    ‘I’m hearing about your snogging competition,’ I tell him, raising my eyebrows.
    He smirks. ‘Brian won. I wasn’t trying hard enough.’
    ‘What did you get up to last night?’ Shane asks me.
    I fill them in and they can’t quite believe it when I say I enjoyed myself.
    ‘Don’t worry, you can make up for it now,’ Alex says, flashing a look at Shane.
    Bollocks. How can I get out of this one?
    Half an hour later of feeling Shane’s thigh and arm pressing into me, I decide to extricate myself and take a trip to the ladies.
    The pub is heaving, full of people in high spirits, delighted that the world didn’t implode from the ludicrously over-hyped Millennium Bug. I almost feel a spring in my step as I weave through the crowds to the toilets at the back. It’s impossible not to soak up the positive energy of those around me. Above the racket I hear my name being shouted and I glance over my shoulder towards the bar.
    Who is that? It’s Dave the vet! I beam and wave – and then his companion spins around to see me and I realise that it’s Ben. My head goes fuzzy, my heart jumps, I almost trip over my own feet and then I’m turning in their direction, trying to keep the smile on my face and the confidence in my walk.
    ‘Hello,’ I beam.
    ‘Hi!’ Ben exclaims.
    ‘I thought it was you,’ Dave says.
    ‘You thought right.’ I keep my voice upbeat. ‘What are you guys doing here?’
    ‘Having a few drinks. Trying to make up for last night.’ Dave grins.
    ‘What happened last night?’ I ask.
    ‘Not a lot. This one spent it up at Mount Lofty all by himself.’ He indicates Ben. ‘And I spent it with the wifey in front of the telly.’
    ‘What a couple of losers,’ I joke.
    ‘We know,’ Dave replies. ‘What about you?’
    ‘I’m here with some friends,’ I say.
    ‘Josh?’ Ben asks.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘Josh,’ he says tellingly to Dave.
    ‘Yep, Josh,’ I confirm. ‘And some others.’
    ‘Sit down.’ Dave reaches for a recently-vacated stool. ‘Have a drink with us.’
    ‘I was on my way to the loo,’ I reveal.
    ‘We’ll keep your seat warm for you until you get back.’ He puts his hand on the stool.
    ‘Okay.’ I cast a hesitant look at Ben. His deep-blue eyes flicker towards mine and away again, but he doesn’t say anything. ‘Back in a tick.’ I walk off, thoughts ricocheting around my head. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
    Ben . . .
    Oh, I fancy him.
    No, you do not! I practically shout at myself. Enough! Move on! I sternly keep repeating this as I go to the toilet, but I reapply my lip-gloss before returning to the bar. I’m only human, right?
    ‘Here you go, nice and warm,’ Dave says, removing his large hand from the top of the padded stool.
    ‘Thanks.’ I sit down.
    ‘Can I get you a drink?’ he asks.
    I check Ben’s expression, wondering if he’s going to make some wisecrack about underage drinking, but he’s staring into his glass of – what is it?
    ‘Thanks,’ I tell Dave. ‘I’m on the cider.’
    He turns to get the barman’s attention.
    ‘What are you drinking?’ I ask Ben.
    ‘Whisky,’ he replies, swirling the ice around in his glass.
    ‘Straight?’ I check.
    ‘Yeah.’ His eyes meet mine and he grins cheekily.
    ‘Ooh, hardcore,’ I tease, as a flutter goes through me.
    ‘How was last night?’ he asks, staring at me directly.
    ‘It was strangely good fun. Much better than I thought it would be.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘They were all oldies.’
    He laughs and shakes his head.
    ‘I went to the lily pond this morning,’ I tell him. ‘Well, afternoon.’
    ‘Did you?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    Pause.
    ‘Here you go,’ Dave says, handing me my drink. ‘Cheers.’ He chinks my glass with