She watched them from across the club, making them out through churning bodies. She almost left as soon as she'd seen Katie there. She didn't want to run the risk of Katie seeing her and thereby ruining the girl's night. She'd grown curious, though, when Cook had approached her. Effy'd watched as the two of them downed drink after drink, then watched as Cook lead Katie out onto the dance floor. She watched them moving together and was struck momentarily by the thought that they seemed to fit together despite the height difference. Effy wondered briefly if she'd ever fit well with Cook before she remembered that it was stupid to care. Katie though...If Cook was working his way up to getting in her pants...That wasn't right. Freddie had already fucked Katie, taken advantage of her, used her, when he'd really wanted Effy. Cook had no right to do that to her as well. On the other hand, Effy knew it sure as hell wasn't her place to intervene. Katie had made that completely clear during their last encounter, and even if she'd looked at her with something besides pure hatred earlier, it still didn't give Effy an invitation to interfere in the girl's life anymore than she already had. So instead she watched, mask securely in place. When a guy began to grind against her from behind, she went with it, because she didn't care. She didn't even bother to turn around to see what the guy looked like, even when she felt a bulge in his pants rubbing against her ass. She didn't give a fuck. Not about herself at least. She was disposable, and whoever was behind her thought she was beautiful, so she'd probably just let him use her, meanwhile using him to reinforce her facade.
She stopped swaying when she saw Katie take a step back away from Cook. Effy found herself almost relieved, thinking that Katie had realised that Cook was going to be using her the same way that Freddie had. Then she saw it. The expression on Katie's face. It was the same one she'd caught on the brunette's face on the first day of school when she'd ditched her first class. It was panic, Effy recognised this time. Pure panic. Effy knew what that felt like. She saw Katie gasp for breath and before she realised what she was doing, she was striding across the club, dodging dancing wankers as they swayed around her. Katie's arm felt like fire in her hand, and she couldn't wait to not be holding it anymore, so she pushed on towards the exit, knowing that that was where Katie needed to be anyway. For once, Effy didn't care if she was keeping up her facade, she didn't notice that her safe mask had fallen from her face. She just needed to get Katie out of there so that Katie would be ok. Effy owed her after all.
As soon as they were outside, Effy dropped Katie's arm and pulled away. She wanted to run, but she wanted to make sure that Katie was ok as well. She heard the girl's breathing calm, and then Katie murmured "Thanks" and it was just too much. Katie hadn't even realised it was her yet, that much was certain. Katie wouldn't thank her. Katie didn't owe her any thank yous.
"Don't thank me Katie," Effy replied, voice shaky and barely above a whisper. She felt exposed, maskless, vulnerable, and she hated it. What was the point of being exposed like this? What was the point of being so fucking human? But Katie was stammering away in front of her, clearly having trouble forming a coherent thought, and Effy couldn't force her mask back into place. She couldn't even meet Katie's gaze. It was almost painful just standing there. If she could feel pain anymore.
Another second and Cook was there, snarling at her. Effy's mask bounced back into place easily. She knew Cook. She could handle Cook. She didn't have to try to keep her facade up with him. Especially when he was being a wanker. She accused him of fucking Katie, offered to fuck him herself in a cold, uncaring manner. She knew her words were harsh, but she didn't feel bad. She didn't feel anything.
Cook surprised her then. He didn't back down. He didn't even seem hurt. He was fierce, and Effy considered briefly, that he seemed stronger than when she'd been with him. It only startled her for a split second though. Her mask was more firmly in place. It was easy when she didn't focus on Katie. It was easy when she could focus on Cook. She'd fucked with him more because he'd been able to handle it and he'd fucked with her right back. He wasn't playing tonight though. Then Effy made the mistake of glancing back at Katie who was simply staring back at her. No hatred there to make Effy want to run, and yet she did because Katie looking at her without hatred was worse than her looking at her full of malice. Effy deserved the hatred, she knew. In the blink of an eye Effy forced her best imitation of her mask onto her face and walked away. It wasn't until she was a block away that she felt herself able to breathe normally again. She chanced a glance over her shoulder. Neither of them was looking at her anymore. They were looking at each other. Maybe that was fitting then. Cook didn't want Effy anymore. Maybe Katie could make him happy. Maybe they could heal each other from the wounds that Effy knew she'd inflicted on them. Effy wished only for a second that she had somebody to heal the wounds she'd inflicted on herself. She didn't deserve it though. Wishes and hopes weren't for people like her. The only thing she was good at was fucking up. She knew she should give up, but she didn't.
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The first thing that Katie felt was the pain in her head. The second thing was panic as an image of Effy Stonem from the night before flashed across her brain. She opened her eyes and looked at the bed she was lying in. It wasn't her bed. She wasn't in her room. She let her mind replay more of the night. After her encounter with Effy she'd let Cook lead her back into the club. He'd slipped her a pill and she hadn't asked what it was. There was no need to. It would get the job done. He'd bought her a few more shots as well and then they'd danced. They had danced for hours, feeling the music pulsing through their bodies as they rubbed against each other, and Katie actually felt herself relax as Cook had wrapped his strong arms around her waist pulling her close.
Katie looked down at her body and realised she was still fully clothed. They hadn't slept together then, she concluded. Cook's words from the night before popped into her brain. "I'm not shagging her, because I think more of her than to just fuck her quick somewhere while she's drunk." She smiled at that. She looked up and saw Cook with his back turned, standing over the small stove. She sniffed the air and smelled coffee and bacon, and her stomach growled in response. It was strange waking up to this, but it wasn't bad. In fact it was the most pleasant wake up she'd had in ages, despite the pounding in her head.
"Hey," she murmured tentatively.
Cook turned around and beamed at her. "Katiekins! Glad you're awake! Who knew you snored!"
Katie opened her mouth in shock. "I don't!"
Cook laughed then. "Just teasing Katiekins. Hope you're hungry. I made sausage and bacon because I didn't know which you prefer and there's eggs as well. And toast of course."
"Wow, Cookie. Who knew you were so domestic?" she teased, her voice coming out hoarse and she realised that her throat was quite dry.
"Fuck off," he replied, but Katie could tell that his tone was playful and she caught a grin on his face as he turned back to what he was cooking.
Katie smiled, enjoying the feeling of almost comfort that she was experiencing.
"Oh, here, by the way," Cook muttered as he wandered over to Katie and handed her two paracetemol. "Thought you might need these," he explained as he handed over a glass of water as well.
"Thanks, Cook," Katie found herself smiling again. It was strange, smiling this much. Her cheek muscles felt almost sore at being used so much after a long break.
Cook beamed down at her for a second before returning back to the stove. Katie took the pills and laid back and closed her eyes, just listening to Cook work in the kitchen. A few minutes later, Katie opened her eyes as she heard Cook approach. He had two plates full of food in hand and he handed her one of them along with a knife and fork. "Here you go, Katie," he offered her.
She sat up in bed before taking the plate and silverware from him and he took a seat further down the bed. She smiled at him in thanks then tucked in, her mouth watering when she realised that she was rather famished as her eyes raked over the plate. "Wow, Cook. This is pretty good! What's in these eggs?" she inquired mouth partially full, and she realised that she never normally let anyone besides Emily, and more recently Naomi, see her behave anything but polished. For some reason, she was letting Cook see her unmasked and unpolished. It was strange, and she found herself suddenly a bit wary of the situation.
"Just some stuff. Herbs and stuff."
Katie's head shot up and she eyed Cook suspiciously. "Cook, you're not feeding me marijuana eggs, are you?"
Cook burst out laughing. "Babe, I mean I used thyme in it. Thyme, like T-H-Y-M-E like the herb, thyme."
"Fuck you. I know what thyme is," Katie pouted, feeling a bit stupid at her previous assumption.
Cook had another quick fit of manic laughter. "It's just thyme, a bit of cheese, a little milk, and some salt and pepper, mixed all up, and there you are with scrambled eggs."
"I can't believe you keep herbs around here. Like real ones," Katie mumbled.
"Oi! Why not? I've got to eat, don't I? Can't eat out all the time. Got to take care of the Cookie Monster, you know!" Cook replied defensively.
Katie shrugged. "Yeah. I guess so. I never thought about that before."
"Yeah, well don't spread this knowledge around, yeah? I've got a reputation to protect! I don't normally cook for girls. Especially ones I haven't shagged." Cook winked at her.
Katie felt her cheeks flush. More memories from the night before flashed across her brain. She'd kissed him, she remembered that much. She'd kissed him at the club and he'd decided they should leave. She'd kissed him at the door to his flat and then...
"You were pretty far gone last night. You remember that?" Cook inquired, mouth half full of sausage.
Katie nodded. "You meant what you said, didn't you? To Effy, I mean." She suppressed the chill that threatened to run down her spine at the thought of the brunette.
Cook looked at her, puzzlement evident on his face.
"That you think more of me than to fuck me quick while I'm drunk," Katie elaborated.
Cook's expression turned sheepish. "Well, yeah. I mean it's not right to take advantage just because you're drunk, you know? I mean we're friends or something, right?"
Katie nodded. "Right." She hadn't really considered Cook a true friend before that moment, but since he'd said it and he'd been nothing but good to her and since she really wasn't in a position where she could turn down offers of friendship, she decided to go with it. Cook certainly wasn't the worst friend she'd ever had, even when he was being a boisterous arsehole.
"Oh, your purse has been vibrating for a while. Thought you should know," Cook informed her before shovelling a bite full of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
"Shit!" Katie murmured, as she put her plate down and scrambled for her purse. She had eight messages from her sister and ten missed calls. She sighed and pressed call.
"Katie?" Emily's anxious voice inquired at the end of the line.
"Who else would be calling from my phone?" Katie sighed.
"Where the fuck have you been all night? I've been worried sick!" Emily's voice turned hostile.
"I'm fine. Sorry I didn't call," Katie replied, and she was surprised to find that her words were true for the first time in months. She'd claimed she was fine for weeks, when it had been obvious that it was a lie, and after a while most people had gotten the hint and stopped asking. Most people, but not Emily, and she'd kept up the "I'm fine" response with her just so that she wouldn't worry. This time she really was fine though. She was the most fine she'd felt in ages.
"Well where are you?" Emily demanded, though she sounded a bit more relaxed.
"I'm…" Katie hesitated. She knew that her answer probably wouldn't go over well. Still, she did enough lying, it was kind of pointless to lie about this. "I'm at Cook's." Katie glanced up at Cook and saw that her hesitation had not gone unnoticed by the frown on his face.
"You're where?" her sister guffawed.
"I'm at Cook's," Katie repeated, sounding more sure of herself this time.
"Have you really fallen so far that you're fucking that arsehole now, Katie?"
"He's not! And I'm not fucking him! So lay the fuck off!" Katie shouted back.
"Like anyone stays at Cook's and doesn't fuck him," Emily shot back sarcastically.
"Just shut up, Ems! I'll be home soon, ok?" Katie replied, and hung up, not bothering to wait for an answer.
Cook seemed quite willing to let her stew for a bit and they finished eating in silence. Katie liked that he didn't pry. It was a nice change from Emily.
Katie looked around unsurely when she finished her food, not certain if Cook was expecting her to wash her plate, or do the dishes in general as he'd cooked.
Cook just smiled at her and took her plate from her. "You like it then?"
"Yeah, thanks. It was delicious," she replied with a small smile of her own.
"Good. So you heading out now?"
Katie nodded. "I told Emily..."
"Yeah. Sure," Cook stood and placed both plates on the counter. "There's a party tonight. You should come. It'll be fun."
Katie stood as well and gathered her belongings. "Yeah, maybe." One glance at Cook and she knew that he'd taken it as the blow off that it was. She felt bad. Cook didn't deserve that. "What time?" she inquired.
Cook grinned. "I'll text you, babe. Let you know the details. Everyone will be there and it'll be good to see you out and about."
"Everyone?" Katie felt the dread returning.
"Well...I dunno if Effy...Anyway, not to worry. You've got the Cookie Monster to protect you now," Cook reassured her.
Katie smiled despite herself. "Thanks, Cook. See you." She headed for the door, but Cook caught her by the wrist. In a flash she was pressed up against his front door as his tongue danced past her lips. It was pleasant and warm, and Cook certainly knew how to use his tongue. She felt her stomach flutter ever so slightly. It was the first sober kiss she'd had since Freddie. It felt nice.
He pulled away and shot her a sheepish smile. "In case you don't come tonight," he explained. "Bye, Katie."
She knew she was blushing as she waved goodbye and exited the flat. Get a grip, Katie. It's just Cook for fuck's sake! Still, maybe Cook wasn't all that bad. Maybe he was rather nice. Then she remembered the word "everyone." She'd done her best to avoid everyone all summer. Was she really ready to face them again? The thought made her stomach twist in knots. She heard her phone vibrate and pulled it out to see that she had another text from Emily waiting. She sighed. "One problem at a time," she muttered under her breath as she walked away.
