Essex Girls. Laura Ziepe
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She nodded and exhaled another puff of smoke. ‘He’s my ex.’
Jade felt her heart sink. How embarrassing. She felt extremely uncomfortable and unsure what to say. Adele, obviously knowing that she felt awkward, added, ‘We went out for a year, ages ago, babe. He’s a nice boy, but we just used to argue about anything and everything.’
Jade smiled and began to backtrack instantly. ‘I just thought he looked nice, that’s all. I only saw him for a second.’
‘We’re still mates,’ Adele continued, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. ‘I’ll put in a good word for you, if you like?’
‘No, don’t be silly, that’s fine.’ Jade flushed beetroot, feeling completely weird about the whole situation.
‘Oh babe, that’s so nice of you, definitely put in a good word for her,’ Kelly said. ‘And while you’re at it, set me up with him,’ Kelly said, pointing at a man with the biggest muscles Jade had ever seen. They all giggled.
‘Flipping hell,’ Adele said as she stubbed out her cigarette with her white Havaianas flip-flop, covered in purple Swarovski crystals to match her bikini. ‘He’d eat you for breakfast!’
He looked over and Adele waved at him as if she knew him. He waved back, baffled, and the girls sat there laughing. She is so confident, Jade thought, enviously.
Adele looked at Jade’s bikini and she wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but it looked like she was smirking. She then turned to Kelly.
‘Lovely bikini, babe. Where’s it from?’
‘Thanks hun,’ Kelly replied adjusting the straps. ‘It’s from this online boutique in the States. They had amazing ones on there.’
Adele grinned and raised her eyebrows. ‘Did you know that there’s another girl wearing the exact same one over there?’
Kelly’s jaw dropped. ‘Shut up! Please tell me you’re joking?’
Jade turned to look and then tried to make her feel better. ‘She’s sitting really far away, don’t worry. Plus, you look so much better in it.’
‘Anyway girls, I’m going to head back to my sunbed and soak up the sunshine,’ Adele interjected, looking pleased with her work and standing up.
‘Like you need it, Del, you’ve got the best tan ever,’ Kelly complimented her.
‘You can never be too tanned,’ Adele pointed out. She paused before she left and turned to Jade. ‘Seriously babe, I’ll put in a good word for you. It’s been ages since I was with Sam and I’d love to see him happy with a nice girl. I’m happy with Lee, so trust me; you’ve nothing to worry about.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine,’ Jade protested shaking her head.
‘Okay hun. Well if you want me to, let me know. See you tonight girls,’ she said walking away.
‘Bye,’ they chorused.
‘Right quick, we need to go somewhere else,’ Kelly said hastily, as soon as Adele was out of earshot.
‘What? Why?’
Kelly’s voice shrilled as she jumped up, stuffing the sun lotions in her bag. ‘Babe, did you not just hear that there is another girl wearing this bikini? We can’t stay here now! People will see!’
‘Don’t be so silly. Just forget about it,’ Jade replied as she stretched lazily, too relaxed to want to move again.
Kelly looked down at her, her head blocking the sun much to Jade’s irritation. ‘Come on, we have to go. I searched far and wide for the most amazing, unique bikinis and now someone has the same one. I can’t believe it! It’s sooo embarrassing!’
Knowing her friend wasn’t going to give up, Jade exhaled loudly, stood up and put her shorts on reluctantly. ‘Come on then, let’s go.’
*
Adele walked back to her sunbed and glanced at Sam, who was sitting by the bar. She could see why Jade fancied him; he was exceptionally good looking and she couldn’t believe her luck when she’d managed to get with him a few years back. When Adele wanted something, she always got it, and Sam had been no exception. If she was honest, when they had first met she knew he wasn’t overly keen on her. She was the one that always had to text and call him first, otherwise she doubted their relationship would have ever happened. Secretly she guessed it was because at the time, every one of his friends had girlfriends and the lads’ nights out had stopped, so Sam just thought he’d do what everyone else was doing, which was get a girlfriend and have quiet nights in. Adele didn’t care though; she’d had exactly what she wanted. Their relationship had lasted a year in the end, longer than she’d even expected. Eventually, they’d both decided to end things. They were too young for anything serious, and Adele had guessed that Sam had wanted to be single. Adele had never felt completely secure in their relationship and had often snogged other men behind his back. He’d never found out, he would have hated her for it. Not that she ever would have been stupid enough to get caught, she mused, she was an excellent liar and always managed to twist things round with ease. The closest he’d ever come to finding out was when someone had uploaded a photo onto her Facebook page of her with her arms around a guy she’d met at a club. She made the person delete it immediately and luckily Sam had never seen it.
She saw Jade walk past with Kelly. She was prettier than she even realised. One of those annoying girls who didn’t have to try too hard to look fantastic. So she liked Sam did she? Adele had a niggling feeling, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. She didn’t like the idea of Sam and Jade together. Jade was really nice and she’d bet that Sam would like her too. Well, not if she had anything to do with it. She didn’t want to be with Sam herself, as she really liked Lee, but she definitely didn’t want Jade with him either. She had no choice but to put a stop to it.
*
After they left Plaza Beach, Jade stopped and bought a bikini from the store they’d been in earlier that day. She’d realised that she kind of needed it, and if she missed the chance then someone else might buy it and she’d be left with her rubbish cheap bikinis. Plus, they’d saved money on their cheap flight, so it was fine. She’d wear it all the time, on every holiday she had until she was thirty-five. Plus, two hundred euro spent on a bikini wasn’t that bad, was it? She decided on a pretty lemon embellished one. Definitely Marbella swimwear Jade thought happily, as they walked back to the hotel. How annoying that she could only afford one though, after all, she couldn’t wear it every day because people would notice. It was amazing how expensive they were, especially when it didn’t even look that hard to make. The thought struck her like lightning.
‘Oh my God. I have, like, the best idea ever.’
‘What?’ Kelly peered at Jade excitedly.
Jade was so enthusiastic that she couldn’t get the words out quick enough. ‘We could make our own swimwear! Customise them so they’re different to everyone else’s. Design our own patterns! Create our own styles! There must be a market or shop around here somewhere where they sell cheap crystals and sequins or something? Then we can sew them on. It’ll be fun!’
‘That’s such a good idea, babe! We’ll have the most reem swimwear in the whole of Marbs!’ Kelly agreed animatedly.
‘Exactly! We just need to know when the market is on and head down there.’
‘Let’s ask at the hotel,’ Kelly said, walking faster.
‘What are you wearing tonight?’ she asked Kelly.
‘Dunno, babe. Maybe my white strapless dress with nude Gina heels.’ She thought for a second. ‘Actually, no, I’ll save white for when I’m more tanned. I might wear my black lace Alexander Wang dress, you know, the one which makes my boobs look massive.’
‘Kelly,’ Jade giggled, glancing