"Don’t expect me to get that you lazy bloody arse" Her blonde friend giggled
"I’m not getting" Gabrielle snorted "I have very important things to do"
"You’re reading mail" Cyn pointed out
"So what. It’s very hard work for illiterate people"
"You aren’t illiterate Gabby"
"Yes I am, I just never told you." She pretended to sigh heavily and Cyn giggled "Does this mean you aren’t my second best friend anymore?" Gabrielle asked
"I’ll always be your second best friend" Cyn grinned. They had adopted this title seen as George was obviously her first best friend. Childish, yes, but also very effective and giggle inducing when you introduced people.
The phone stopped ringing.
"Opps"
"What if it was something important?" Cyn asked
"Um… opps" Gabrielle nodded and shifted through the stacks of paper. Something odd caught her eye then. The Hadburey’s lady’s college seal. Why. Why on earth would the send her something.
"What’s that" Cyn asked, pointing to the letter Gabrielle was holding.
"Er... my old school. Why the fuck would they be sending me stuff"
"Dunno" shrugged Cyn "Open it"
Gabrielle nodded deftly and tore open the envelope.
Dear Ms. Gabrielle Gallagher,
Per your request, we are sending you your final grades and test scores. Good luck at your school of choice. The Hadburey’s lady’s college takes pride in it’s students excelling in their field of choice…
"Field of choice?" Gabrielle repeated. Cyn held her hand out and Gabrielle handed her the letter letting her read the rest out loud while Gabrielle skimmed through the papers. Ooh… Grade reports for all five years. Her A-levels. And of course, a little pink piece of paper that had all of her ‘demerits’ on it. One of which included being stupid enough to allow Lucy- known to liverpudlian as Diseased yet well endowed roommate- too convince Gabby to sneak out one Friday and go down to the pub where they were promptly chatted up like tarts by a bunch of pedophiles. Gabrielle found getting drunk with male best friends in public to be much more enjoyable then with girls.
"I didn’t send for all this" Gabrielle murmured
The phone rang again.
And then it hit her. And she wanted to smack herself.
"Oh my god." She sighed "It’s me fucking Aunt again’
"The mad one?" asked Cyn
"Yeah…" Gabrielle started to say, but then "Wait, they’re all Mad, Cyn"
"Oh" Cyn nodded "Well the mad one from Windsor?"
"Yeah"
"You should answer it"
Gabrielle rolled her eyes and picked up the phone. It was of course, no other then Auntie Irene.
"Darling!"
"Auntie Irene" she said substantially less enthusiastically
"Sweetie did you get the paper work I sent you?"
"Yes"
"Oh good" she enthused "I tell you what sweetie, I as awfully shocked to find out how you did at school. You’re so smart! Why didn’t it translate across into your studies. Honestly, my girl, you need to apply yourself if you want to get on in the world"
"Ok"
"Good! Now, I’ve pulled some stings, you seem to have an average grade of D’s… so I bought a wing for the University"
"You bought a what?" Gabrielle repeated incredulously
"A wing, part of their new science labs. Anyway, darling you must come down to London, my solicitor needs you to sign some things and we’ve been deciding on your-"
"I can’t come"
"What?"
"I’m not coming down" Gabrielle repeated "My father… I’m not going to leave right now when I’ll be gone permanently in a few months"
"Oh, sweetie, you’re so sweet. That’s so wonderful darling. Really. But no, you must come down"
"I can’t"
"You must. We’re deciding on your classes and you need to be here"
Gabrielle felt her stomach turn over. Half at the prospect of having classes at a prestigious university where she would be able to do and think what she wanted, and half at the idea of leaving the safe haven of home, Art college, Cavern, Paul, and George’s House, she seemed to have created. In fact… there had been several more rendezvous with Paul in the month that followed. It was the middle of March now. She had two more months before she as leaving. That was a half-good half-bad idea.
"Ok" she consented finally
"Lovely, I’ll just put you up in a hotel for a few weeks"
"A few days, you mean"
"Oh, but darling" she could here her old Aunt pouting "I wanted to take you to Oxford Street, and Harrods, and buy you some lovely things. You know, go have some lunch, buy some lovely things, have some tea and buy some more lovely things"
"I don’t need lovely things" Gabrielle sighed
"I do" Cyn nodded. Gabrielle shot her a look and she closed her mouth firmly
"A week, darling"
"Five days" Gabrielle said stonily "I’m not leaving for very long only to come back and pack"
"Fine. Darling, I’ll set you up with a train-"
"My friend… er… Cynthia. She’s coming too" Gabrielle looked quickly at Cyn and mouthed "London?"
Cyn pointed to herself "me?" she squeaked and then nodded furiously "Lovely things in London!"
"Cynthia?" her aunt repeated "What a lovely name. Of course, darling, anything to keep you happy"
"Ta"
"Ta? Sweetie Darling what on earth does that mean?"
"Er… thanks..."
"Not at all darling" Irene gushed
"I’ll set you up for a train ticket next Saturday, Byyyyyyeeeee"
And then she hung up. Gabrielle set the receiver down and looked at Cyn, "Guess we’re going to London in a few days"
"I like lovely things" Cyn enthused.
"Yeah" Gabrielle shrugged "Ever been to Capitol City before, then?"
Cyn shrugged "Once or twice." She grinned "Never been shopping in Harrods though. How loaded is yer aunt by the way?"
Gabrielle rolled her eyes "I have no fucking idea probably near a million pounds… maybe a bit less. I’ve never seen the ‘estate’ so I can’t really say. She blows through money like it’s fucking water"
"I don’t mind" Cyn grinned
Gabby laughed