Tigress

Tame The Tigress, was a tiny backwater rave club sitting at the end of a dingy dark alleyway. There, in a tiny bathroom stall, sat an intoxicated blonde woman, with mascara running down her face, and a little blue stick in her hands.

"I can't believe this is happening, it was one night, one night…" she muttered repeatedly to herself.

A woman with dreadlocks and a lip piercing banged angrily on the door. "Speed it up, you been in there for ages! There's a long queue behind you!"

Phoebe took a deep calming breath, dabbed her eyes with toilet paper, dumped the pregnancy test into the trash can, and stepped out of the bathroom stall.

"About time, bitch!" yelled the stranger, as she pushed past Phoebe. "Ohh a pregnancy test? Ohh ho ho! Now I see why you took so long in there!" the woman exclaimed gleefully. Embarrassed, Phoebe hurried out of the bathroom.

Oh God, I'm pregnant with my best friend's husband's child; Oh God, I'm pregnant with my best friend's husband's child; she chanted desperately in her head. She had to contact Frank, but she didn't know his number. The only person with his number was Lily. She had no choice, she had to call Lily.

Her heart drummed with anxiousness, as she dialled Lily's house phone. "Lily?"

"Oh God, not you again, how many times are you going to call? Why can't you accept that this friendship is over? It's about time you moved on," Lily grumbled angrily.

"Wait, don't hang up, Lil, please!" came Phoebe's desperate reply. Lily could tell Phoebe sounded extremely distressed. For the first time in weeks, Lily stayed on the line.

"What? What's the matter with you?" Lily demanded curtly, trying to mask her concern.

"I-I'm in trouble, Lil, I really… I'm in trouble, I need you…" Phoebe mumbled incoherently.

"Jesus, you sound really drunk and upset." Lily sighed exasperatedly. "Where are you, Phoebe?"

"I'm at Tame The Tigress," Phoebe slurred.

"Oh God, that God awful place again? When are you ever gonna grow up? You're well into your thirties, you're too old for that kind of crap," Lily exclaimed.

"Lil, I really need someone right now, I'm in a really tight spot," Phoebe pleaded.

"Alright, alright Phoebe, you stay put, okay? I'm coming to fetch you. You're clearly too drunk to get home on your own."

"Thanks Lil," Phoebe said gratefully.

Phoebe was relieved to see Lily pull up in front of the club, "Get in." she muttered curtly. "What's the matter with you? Why'd you sound all upset on the phone?" Lily demanded.

"I'm pregnant, and it's Frank's" Phoebe announced, in her drunken stupor. Immediately realising her mistake, she clapped her hand over her mouth, staring at Lily in shock, expecting Lily to throw her out of the car.

Instead, Lily burst into maniacal laughter, "Oh wow, God, wow, well, isn't this fantastic? I've tried for 6 years, 6 years to get pregnant by my husband, and you! You, my so-called best friend, screw him once, and suddenly, Fertile Myrtlethat you are, you're pregnant! Pregnant to a child that should be mine, if only fate had a single shred of decency in her!" Lily spluttered hysterically.

"It can be yours, if you want," Phoebe offered, earnestly. Lily laughed loudly and bitterly.

"Way to toy with a barren woman's heart," Lily quipped darkly. Phoebe watched Lily with silent serious eyes. Lily returned Phoebe's gazed, astonished as the realisation hit her.

"My God, you're serious, aren't you?" Lily whispered.