Free Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

perfume?”
    “ You know, the stuff you get in the Euro shop for 2.99. Completely awful.”
    I feel a little self-conscious at the knowledge that he notices how girls smell. Has he caught a whiff of my sweaty self yet tonight? God I hope not.
    “ It does sound awful. When I was a kid I had friend who would put rose petals in jars with water and sugar to make perfume. She'd get this rash on her neck because of it.”
    Nicholas laughs and shakes his head. “The ideas we come up with when we're young.”
    “ Don't even talk to me. One Halloween I was obsessed with John Travolta in Grease and made my mum make me a T Bird's jacket so I could dress up as him. She ended up getting a black bag, cutting two holes for arms and writing “T Birds” on the back with Tipp-Ex. Then she found me an old black wig that one of my uncles used to impersonate Elvis at a fancy dress party. I thought I looked the shit.”
    Nicholas is holding onto his stomach he's laughing so much. “Oh God, you're killing me. Please tell me you have pictures.”
    I grin. “I think Mum might have some in a family album somewhere.”
    “ I must see this evidence, it will make my life complete. You're the perfect friend for me Fred, you the drag king and me the drag queen.”
    “ Hey, I haven't been in drag since I was ten. It was a gruelling business. I decided to go for early retirement.”
    When my eyes flick to the side I catch sight of Harry and Sean's “deep conversation” which has now transformed into furious snogging against the wall. I give a wolf whistle and go over to pat Harry on the shoulder.
    “ Be sure to use protection,” I whisper loudly. He raises one hand to give me the finger, not once breaking the kiss.
    I step back and stand beside Nicholas, who's making a show of watching the two and stroking his chin ponderously. He makes his fingers into a square in front of him, creating a frame around Harry and Sean.
    “ I think I'll call this one “Love in the Modern Environment”, hand me my camera would you darling?” he puts on a false Spanish photographer's voice.
    “ Right away, Rodrigo,” I chirp.
    Nicholas peers over my shoulder. “Oh. Somebody looks pissed at you,” he whispers, just before Nora stomps up to me, dragging a recovering Anny along with her.
    “ Did you have to pull that stunt with the water?” she asks. “Look at my top, it's soaked through.”
    “ Sorry, I was caught up in the moment,” I explain, unable to hold in the touch of sarcasm.
    In the same way I don't think before I speak, sometimes I don't think before I do stupid things. It was only water, but as far as Nora's concerned her outfit is ruined for the night.
    “ Well whatever, I'm sick of this place and Anny's just plain sick, so I'm going to stick her in a taxi and then head home.”
    “ Yeah I think I'm ready for bed myself,” I reply with a big noisy yawn.
    Nicholas grins at me. “Can I join you?”
    “ To go back to the apartments yes, in bed no,” I say, pointing a firm finger at him. I keep getting these little shocks of nerves every time he says something flirtatious, and my immediate reaction is to shoot him down for fear of him finding out that I fancy the pants off him.
    He smirks. “That's what I meant,” he looks at Nora and jokes, “she thinks a lot of herself, doesn't she.”
    Nora suddenly seems like a deer caught in the headlights with Nicholas talking to her. “Um, yeah.” She pauses and a cruel gleam comes into her eyes. “Unfortunately, she's often misguided.”
    And with that slam dunk she turns around and pulls Anny along with her. She's really snippy with me tonight. She's also taking a lot of her disappointment that Nicholas isn't the dream guy she thought he was out on me. I tap Harry on the shoulder and tell him that we're leaving. He waves me away without a care.
    “ Well, that was a little bitchy,” says Nicholas, as we trail a couple of feet behind Nora and Anny.
    “ Nora can be harsh at times. I like to