A Lone Wolf

messy

I wiggled my toes in the now lukewarm water, savouring the last moments of my hour long bath, enjoying the faint ripples of warmth across my skin. Leaving the tub, I roughly dried myself before slathering my shimmery rose oil moisturizer all over my skin, enjoying the light perfume before tying the towel in a fluffy turban and heading through to pour the first glass of wine for myself, noticing that the usual acidic tang seemed to smell rather strong but it was ice cold and delicious as it flooded my taste buds. I was unusual amongst my age group in preferring the complex flavours of dry wine and avoiding the sugar Laden alcopops so popular with my peers. I put it down to being introduced to a wider palate at a young age.

I wandered up the stairs and dried my long hair with as much volume as I could before laying out my makeup and brushes ready. I painted my nails and toes with care in a beautiful iridescent pink before setting to work on dramatic eyes and pink, glossy lips. I never really bothered with face makeup, having always had a smooth and creamy complexion.

I sat and sipped on the rest of my drink before sliding the blue dress over my body, adding jewelry and my lovely new heels and admiring my work.

I was never given to vanity but tonight, I had to admit I looked good.

I reached the bottom of the stairs just as mum was coming in and she whistled, smiling at the full effect of my outfit.

"Gorgeous" she said simply, kissing my cheek. I grinned, grabbed the rest of my bottle and turned to walk out, my dad frowning as he got the bags from the car to follow mum in.

"Put some clothes on, you'll catch your death" he grumbled.

I kissed him on the cheek and laughed before marching out of the drive on my way to Sabina's.

Nadine had already arrived when I got there, giving me a loud wolf whistle before I joined her in pouring myself another drink before settling into the end of Sabina's bed.

"Oh you're going to pull looking like that Della," she smiled at me in the mirror as she yanked a brush through her unruly hip length waves.

"I'm not looking to 'pull' as you put it Bini" I responded, taking another generous mouthful of wine, wincing at the strong smell of the vanilla perfume she was spraying. "Dear God woman, are you bathing in that?" I coughed, feeling my nose sting and my eyes water.

She grinned and shrugged, giving the bottle an enthusiastic last couple of pumps. Nadine rolled her eyes and flopped back theatrically on the bed, her long legs dangling over the side.

"So, what's the plan?" She asked, propping her head up on her hand.

"I thought the crown to start, move down to O'Reilly's and see if they have karaoke then head over to....."

"Gigi's!!" Sabina squealed, "I want at least one Cosmo!"

I rolled my eyes "..... Gigi's for blessed cosmos; then we hit notes."

"Oh you love it really Della; branch out, have a screaming orgasm" she waggled here eyebrows and Nadine snorted in the most unladylike way, making me dissolve into side splitting giggles; which made her snort again and Bini joined in with her braying laugh; I would miss these girls, I'd miss the random giggle fits over nothing much, I'd miss their kick arse attitude and the way they just 'got' me.... Once my sides hurt and we were gasping for air, I stared fixedly at the ceiling, blinking. " If I smudge my eyeliner, I will murder you two" I huffed; Nay bent down and peered at my wings.

"Nuh, it's perfect as always" she said with a smirk " how the hell do you do that?"

"Do what?"

" Get your makeup to just stay put like that?.... Hell, I've seen you hanging the morning after and it's like you just did it,"

" Dunno.... Get what you pay for I suppose" I shrugged. I didn't generally wear a great deal of makeup but mother had drummed it into me that a few really good pieces was far better than a case full. I frowned as I remembered how she gave me moisturizer and a small case of make-up when I was ten. "Everyone looks better with a bit of makeup darling and no daughter of mine is going to be a fanta orange tidemark teen. Oh, and take care of that skin of yours."

I know she meant well and I'd definitely not done the Crayola gang bang look and I guess she was right about the skincare but it still sat wrong that she saw to it that I was impeccably made up by eleven years old..... Not all the time, Dad would have a conniption, but when I was out; I never felt comfortable in my own skin; I always had to feel dressed; Nay and Bini would happily mump around in jogging bottoms but I couldn't, I didn't own a pair; not since she stared horror struck at the ones I bought years ago and told me to burn them. " You have your Nana's hips, you look like the back end of a bus" she'd cried, flinging up her hands in horror. Was she obsessive or did she do me a favour? I always got compliments on being elegant and well turned out for a youngster; maybe she had a point.

"Earth to Delphine Elisabeth" Bini waved her hand in front of my face and again, her perfume stung my nose. "Where'd you go Princess?"

I shook my head and took another swig of Sauvignon. "Just remembering when my mum gave me my first makeup." I frowned.

Nay stood up and theatrically threw her hands up in a caricature of my mother "Daaahling, you need to learn to use this so you don't look common" she drawled in an exaggerated impression. Despite myself I giggled into my glass.

"Girl, you know you don't have to be perfect all the time" Bini murmured. "She never did that with Ammie"

"I know Bee.... I just sometimes think she did me a favour you know? Spared me the awkward cake face phase?"

"Yes but you don't always need to be immaculate Hun, you could make a bin bag look elegant and she's way too harsh." I nodded and drained the rest of my glass.

"Anyhoo," I cried, drawing a line under it, "we have places to be ladies!"

They exchanged a glance and nodded. We picked our way down the crazy steep, narrow stairs into the dining room, Hung with pentagrams and prisms. The room smelled of Joss sticks and stale weed as it always did. Bini's mum grinned widely as we came in. "Well look at you three" she cried, clapping her hands excitedly and springing up to grab her Nikon. Bini's mum was an eccentric ageing beauty with short, blonde hair gelled into spikes, her MC leather waistcoat and leather arm thongs flying with the sheer energy of every movement. The Andersons were the polar opposite of my parents; unapologetic biker hippies with warm hearts, loose morals and open minds. I loved them to death, we all did.

We stood in a beaming row for her, our arms around one another as she snapped away before bounding to the fridge to retrieve a bottle of sparkling wine. I knew it would be dire and cheap but the thoughtful gesture made me tear up.... She slopped a generous amount into three glasses and two coffee mugs.

"Charlie, get your fat old arse in here and have some bubbles!" She shrieked. We heard the sizeable bulk of Bini's step dad grunting down the hall; he ducked slightly sideways to get through the door, his grubby white t shirt covered in oil where he'd been working on his Goldwing trike; he'd had a stroke that stopped him from riding his beloved bike a few years ago and since then, he'd been converting it into a trike that could fit the whole family of five with his enormous sidecar. The trike was a joke; covered in grubby teddies, the wing ding was shimmery gold like a fairground ride cart, had a musical horn and he used it to raise money for children's charities. These people were rough diamonds and these big bad bikers were some of the most accepting people I knew.

I cringed inwardly as he wiped his huge, grimy paws on the tea towel before grabbing one of the mugs.

"To little girls growing up" he bellowed, draining the sweet wine in a mouthful before cringing.

"Charlie you pig, you could be a little bit more genteel" his wife snickered as she raised her mug. "They're not so little anymore my love" she sighed regretfully "Delle, I remember you coming in here the first time like it was yesterday; all wide eyes, long legs and long hair; like some kind of pre Raphaelite painting" she smiled forlornly. "Now just look at you all; grown young women, ready to leave the nest." She sniffed and blinked rapidly before draining her mug and rinsing it out.

"Happy birthday sweet girl" she smiled over her shoulder, sniffing again.

"Thanks mama A" I said, raising my glass to her and taking a sip, carefully suppressing the shudder. "To old friends, new beginnings and a bloody awesome night" I grinned.

"Hear hear!" She cried, grabbing the bottle and clinking it against our glasses before chugging the rest straight from the bottle.

We downed our drinks after toasting and heard the ridiculous musical horn of the wing ding outside. Mrs A grinned. "I know I shouldn't encourage him but ladies, your carriage awaits and it's going to turn into a pumpkin soon!" She jostled us out of the door. Outside sat Charlie on his enormous trike grinning in his leather jerkin and a dicky bow and a steampunk top hat with a watch in it like Alice in Wonderland. He had decorated the ding with loads of twinkly fairy lights and we all laughed in absolute delight. We all climbed on... Bini behind him and Nay and I in the sidecar.

"Where to lovely ladies?" He boomed, letting the horn blare again, drawing the stern frown of the elderly neighbors.

"The crown" we squealed as he revved the 1800cc engine.

"Very good miss!" He yelled over the din as we took off, waving at Mama A who was bouncing up and down laughing till she was crying. We whizzed off, our hair streaming in the light breeze as we whooped and squealed down the road.

The stained glass windows of the crown came bobbing into view far too soon, another blast of the horn drawing a crowd to the door as we disembarked, laughing heartily. We all kissed Mr A on the cheek as we got out, thanking him for the dramatic entrance. As she turned, he shoved a small wad of notes into Bini's hand and she shook her head trying to give them back.

"No papi, I can't..." She began.

"Little girl, I put this aside knowing you were out tonight: you'll all be off out of here around the country by your birthday so I thought you could all celebrate tonight." She nodded tearfully as he pulled her in for a hug. We joined in, thanking him for his generosity. "Have a good night girls; be safe" he thundered as he revved up to the applause of the gathered crowd.

We grinned at each other and walked in to wolf whistles and cheers. The bar manager laughed as we headed his way, theatrically placing a bottle of cheap house wine in an ice bucket as we approached.

"My favourite ladies!" He cried, eyeing my glittery 18 badge, handing us each a glass " finally legal and not needing that awful fake ID!" He exclaimed with an ear splitting grin. I gave a nervous smile and mouthed 'sorry' at him.

"Yeah, I knew but you've all looked the same for the last 3 years you little shits" he snorted. " Yup cupcake, you caused no bother so I'll plead ignorant; now happy birthday!"

We thanked him with hugs and I took the bucket whilst Nay grabbed the glasses and we headed to the rotunda bar.

The rotunda was, as the name suggests, a round room with a bar along one section. The sticky, green, English pub carpet ran around the outside couple of meters which housed numerous booths separated by stained glass partitions. In each booth was a long, dark, refectory table with matching green tapestry benches along each side where 10-12 people could sit and drink and talk together with the stained glass partitions offering a bit of privacy.

At the entrance was an ageing cigarette machine and next to it, a flamboyant wurlitzer, flashing its lights enticingly.

The middle of the room was dominated by a round, polished dark wood dance floor, edged with thick metal poles holding drinks shelves. Those thick poles held a high domed stained glass ceiling, disco lights pulsing beneath and gently illuminated from inside by a soft, warm glow.

The overall effect was like a Library meets church with added American diner/speakeasy and wild west saloon but it worked. The Mish mash style blended perfectly.

We picked a booth in the bustling rotunda, dumped our jackets and

Bini went to the jukebox to pick some tunes whilst Nay and I went to undo the damage from the wing ding.

I grimaced in the mirror as I yanked the comb through my tangled locks in the disinfectant smelling loos. I thought I saw my eyes briefly glow as I turned to offer her the comb, which she took to swiftly smooth her sleek Bob.

"Wow, that's beautiful Del" she breathed, taking my hand to examine my charm bracelet. "Love that wolf!" I looked closely at the bracelet and smiled. Flawed my family may be but we loved each other dearly.

"Yeah, it was Nana's." I said quietly. She smiled and hugged me gently.

"She'll always be with you DeeDee." She held me at arms length and inspected me like a work of art. "Right, let's do this things!" She said with a smile and I nodded enthusiastically. We exited the loos and went back to the booth to find three glasses of wine poured and a grinning Bini.

"What did you do?" I asked warily, sniffing my drink.

"Nothing!"she indignantly squeaked, guiltily producing three pre sealed apple shots from under the table with a smirk.

"Oh God" I whined, shots?? Really??

"Oh you're such a wimp" she grumbled, "get it down you." Not to be a killjoy, I peeled the foil lid and necked the contents with a grimace.

"It's not my fault my taste buds haven't been killed stone dead" I wheezed, my eyes watering from the burning liquid. I was Pretty sure I just killed off some brain cells with that.

Having done my duty to being a teenager, I took a mouthful of wine to rid myself of the taste before our signature groove rang out over the speakers. There was a cheer from the booth behind us as Nay yanked me up from my seat.

"First on the floor, last off it" she grinned, sashaying towards the polished wood. We followed, twirling out onto the floor, feeling the bass rocking up through our legs as we danced, giggling, bouncing up and down as the tune changed to ' Mr Brightside' and we threw our arms out, shouting along with the words.

The song ended and we necked our drinks, gathering our jackets ready to move forward with the evening. Tonight was going to be a good night. We linked arms and descended the steps, striding along together in the cool evening air. Strains of music sounding from each bar we passed. Groups of girls giggling and on a high from the music, packs of lads in checked shirts and jeans, all crossing and filling the air with high spirits, shouting good naturedly at each other as we passed.

We bounced from bar to bar, drinking, dancing, singing, feeling ourselves getting closer to that sweet spot where there would be no cares, nothing but us and the music.

It didn't matter what we talked about, it was all funny, all brilliant and by the time we hit notes' we were pumped..... Not drunk but tipsy, high from the music and ready to cut loose.

We stood in the short queue outside, listening to the thud of the bass and the soft lapping of the waves under the pier as we waited, the cool sea breeze reviving us from the smoky bars as we filled our lungs with the salty air. I looked up at the moon, seeming so close and big, golden in the soft blue of the early summer sky. It was still too light for stars just yet but as I stood looking at the moon and listening to the excited chatter around me, I smiled, knowing that there was nowhere I'd rather be than with my girls under this moon, celebrating just being young.