Chapter 1

"Let me see the ring. Oh, Lynda, it's beautiful. Did Spike really pick it out himself?" asked Sarah, admiring the sparkling solitaire on her friend's left hand. They had both managed to get an hour spare and were taking the rare opportunity to catch up for lunch in a bustling café.

"He did," replied the engaged Lynda. "Of course, it could be cut glass and polished tin for all I know about jewellery but I trust his judgement about style over mine!"

Sarah sat back and sighed. "Well, you'll be pleased to know, I'm green with envy."

"Good," replied Lynda smugly. "Consider us even for snogging Spike in the newsroom before he went back to America the first time."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Come on, Lynda, you're not still sore about that, are you? You know damn well he was only using me to get at you."

"You certainly seemed to enjoy it," replied Lynda, archly.

Sarah laughed guiltily. "Well . . . I must admit, even though I knew at the time he was using me, I thought I might as well enjoy the moment!"

"Right," said Lynda. "So what about now? Snogging anyone else's boyfriends?"

Sarah blushed again. "Err, not exactly."

"What do you mean, not exactly?" Lynda stared hard at her friend. "Come on, Sarah. Tell me. What's his name?"

Sarah sighed. "Mandy."

"Mandy?" repeated Lynda, confused. "Bit of a girly name, isn't it?"

"It is a girl," replied Sarah, blushing furiously and looking intently down into her cup of coffee.

Lynda banged her spoon down.

"Sarah Jackson, are you trying to tell me you're a lesbian?"

"Not really. Well, I'm not sure. I still like men, although God knows why. But Mandy . . . well, she was in my study group and, I don't know, we went out for a drink, we talked, we . . . clicked!"

"I see!" Lynda raised her eyebrows.

"Lynda, I hope this doesn't change anything between us as friends," said Sarah anxiously.

"Why on earth would it?" replied Lynda. "I am many things, Sarah, some of them bad, but homophobic is not one of them. In fact, I'm happy for you. At least you don't have to worry about stupid men anymore!"

"Well, I'm not writing them off entirely," admitted Sarah.

"I bet your parents were thrilled to hear that!" said Lynda. Sarah hung her head again. "You have told them, haven't you?"

"Not exactly," replied Sarah, again. They looked at each other and laughed.

"Anyway, Sarah, I was thinking, there's something different about you. Something else, I mean! I just can't place it. Have you changed your hair?"

Sarah looked puzzled for a second. "Oh! I got the wart removed."

"Wart?"

"You know. The wart I had. On my nose," Sarah pointed to a small scar near her nostril.

"You had a wart?" asked Lynda.

"I don't know if I should feel insulted or grateful that you never noticed. Barry Crowther and his friends called me Wartnose for two years! Don't you remember?"

"I'm sorry. I can honestly say I don't," replied Lynda.

"I shouldn't be surprised," continued Sarah. "After all, it took you six months to notice my hair when I cut it all off!"

"I'll make it my New Year's resolution to be more observant," promised Lynda.

There was a pause in conversation before Lynda spoke again. "Did you ever fancy me?"

"Lynda!"

"What? It's a fair enough question, isn't it? Come on, Sarah. Did you ever fancy me?"

"Definitely not," replied Sarah emphatically. Lynda looked hurt.

"Really? Why not?"