**Female Friendship**
Me and Katie have been mates since schoolwell, since Year 7, when she moved to our neighbourhood. Back then, I didnt have any close girlfriends in class. Most of the girls orbited around Lucy Fairfax, the school beauty queenher dad was some big-shot professor. The rest of us, like me, just kept to ourselves.
I never bowed to Lucy, but I didnt pick fights eitherstayed neutral. While her gang sized up the new girl, checking who her parents were, I took Katie under my wing. Of course, I filled her in on Lucy and her little followers.
*”Why are you on your own? Rebelling or something?”* Katie asked me.
*”Nah, just doing my own thing. I like it this way. But hey, if you wanna hang with them, I wont hold it against you.”*
Katie chose me instead. They didnt bully usthey just ignored us. I showed her around school, clued her in on the teachers and classmatesbasically, gave her the lay of the land. Funny enough, Lucy, the professors daughter, didnt follow in her dads footsteps. Last I heard, she was working in some boutique. She pretended not to recognise me when we crossed paths.
Katie was smartsmarter than meand, honestly, prettier too. Or at least thats how I felt. Teenage years, right? Never happy with how you look. I thought I was too chubby, my chest too big, my legs too short. My hair was a wild messtotal ugly duckling. Meanwhile, Katie had sleek blonde hair, bright blue eyes, the *perfect* figure, and legs for days.
Years later, she admitted shed actually thought *I* was the pretty oneand that shed been wildly jealous of *me*.
We got so close we were practically inseparable. We even planned to go to the same uni after A-levelsuntil her mum pushed her towards an economics degree, while I was dead set on becoming a doctor. Not just any doctora surgeon.
We argued, didnt speak for three days, then made up because we couldnt stand being apart. In the end, we both went our separate waysme to med school, her to business. We saw less of each other, but when we did meet, wed talk for hours.
In her second year, Katie fell hard for some bloke on her course. She wouldnt shut up about him. Meanwhile, I was drowning in Latin and anatomyno time for romance.
Third year, she had an abortion. Her parents never knew. By fourth year, she was pregnant again. I didnt like the guytried to talk her out of keeping it, out of marrying him. She wouldnt listen. Told her parents, and they made sure she wouldnt end up a single mum.
By sixth year, I decided surgery wasnt for meswitched to gastroenterology. Less stress. Katie and I didnt see each other for two years until we bumped into each other in town. Shed put on weight, her face rounderI wondered if she was pregnant again but didnt ask. She was pushing a pram with a little girl dressed head-to-toe in pink. Katie caught me eyeing her belly and laughed. *”Yeah, another one on the way. Husband wants a boy.”*
She was shocked I was still single. Thats when she admitted shed envied me in schoolthought *she* was the plain one, rushed into marriage out of fear no one else would want her. *”Silly, wasnt I?”* We promised to stay in touch.
A year after her son was born, her husband left her.
*”Called me fat. A cow. Said I trapped him with kids. That hes repulsed by me…”* she sobbed.
*”You shouldve said something sooner. Id have helped you lose the weight,”* I scolded.
She looked roughsweats, hair in a messy ponytail, those blue eyes dull.
*”Divorce is hard, but you cant let yourself go like this,”* I said gently.
*”Easy for you to say. Youre still prettyand still alone,”* she snapped.
I didnt take it to heart.
Her kids grew upNick started school, and Lizzie was already eyeing boys. I had flings here and there, but nothing serious. Didnt bother me. If it was meant to be, itd happen. Katie and I met up occasionally, but life kept us busy.
Then I got sent to a three-day conference in Edinburgh.
Thats where I noticed *him*staying in the hotel room next to mine. Sometimes you just *know*. We even ended up at the same restaurant table. When he heard where I was from, he mentioned a new clinic opening therehis mate was running it, offering him a job.
*”Ive heard about that clinic. Your friends got a good rep,”* I said.
*”Think I should take it?”* he asked.
*”Your call,”* I shrugged.
On the last night, there was a concert and drinks. We talked, sipped wine. I checked my watchmy train was in two hours. Just as I was about to say goodbye, someone pulled him away. No time to wait, so I left without a word.
I thought he liked me too, but he never asked for my number. Maybe he assumed wed bump into each other again. Or maybe he had a wife. No ring doesnt mean anything. Still, men should make the first move.
*”Bet hell be surprised when Im not at breakfast tomorrow,”* I thought, half-smug, half-regretful. *”Shame it ended before it began.”* I sighed and forced myself to forget him. Not meant to be.
Two months later, Katie rang, giddy, inviting me over.
*”Whats happened? You sound thrilled,”* I said.
*”Come round and see,”* she teased.
That weekend, I brought sweets for the kids, a bottle of wine for us, and headed over. Katie looked *different*eyes sparkling, hair freshly cut, even a bit slimmer.
*”Youve met someone,”* I guessed.
*”Oh, hes *amazing*…”* She sighed dreamily.
As she described him, all I could picture was *him*Alexander.
*”Youd love him. Proper dream bloke.”*
Nick was at his grandmas, and Lizzie was out with friends. Time flies. Made me feel ancientmaybe I *shouldve* had kids young, like Katie. We drank wine, ate ice cream.
*”He just started at this new clinic…”* she prattled on.
*”Wait, I thought you worked at the bank?”*
*”Oh, ages ago! Switched to accounting at this private clinic. Better pay, less stress. Anyway, I was leaving with my laptop and filesmeant to finish reports at homeand he *offered me a lift*. Carried my bag upstairs, and I *mightve* invited him in for tea…”*
*”And?”* I pressed.
*”Nothing yet. But its only a matter of time.”*
*”So… nothings actually happened?”* I tried not to sound relieved. *”Whats his name?”* (I already knew.)
*”Alexander. Alexander James Whitmore.”*
Ice water down my spine. Coincidence? Or some cruel joke? Katie kept gushing*”Hes so kind, so *attentive*Im inviting him to my birthday, and then…”*
*”And hes single? Weird for a guy like that. Red flag, maybe?”* I couldnt help needling.
She rolled her eyes. *”Youre just jealous. WatchIll marry him.”*
Devastated doesnt cover it. But I held onto hope it was just a mix-up. I forced a smile, wished her luck, and left early, blaming work.
Two weeks later, at her birthday party, I saw him. Alexander recognised me instantly, beelined over. Katie hovered, shooting us dagger looks.
*”I took my mates offer,”* he said. *”How about you? Ever thought of joining the clinic? I heard theres an openingthought of you.”*
*”Ill think about it,”* I mumbled.
Then Katie dragged him off to help in the kitchen. I slipped out. What was I supposed to dofight my best friend over a man?
First time in my life Id met someone I *actually* wantedand of course, my *only* friend wanted him too. *”Wheres the fairness in that? Why couldnt he just *ask* for my number in Edinburgh?”* I fumed all the way home.
Then*”Emma!”* Hed followed me.
*”Whyd you leave?”*
*”You *know* Katies my best friend. And shes *into* you.”*
*”Theres *nothing* there. I just gave her a lift once, and she built up this whole fantasy. But Im glad she talked me into coming tonight. Because *youre* why I moved here…”*
He walked me home. Typical man*still* didnt ask for my number. Got back to ten missed calls from Katie. When I rang back, she screamed:
*”I *never* expected this from you! What kind of friend *steals* a man?”*
*”Katie, I *met* him at that conference! He saw me and”*
We rowed like teenagers over a crush.
*”Just *let me have him*,”* she begged suddenly. *”Youre gorgeous, youll find someone else. This might be my last chance. *Please*.”*
*”Kate… are you *sure* he even *wants* you? If hes chasing *me*”*
*”Not your business. Just *stay out of it*. Theres nothing between you, right?”*
*”No.”*
Truth was, I barely knew Alexander. And he wasnt the last man on earth. The whole mess felt toxic. If I saw him again, Id talk properly.
Two days later, he turned up at my clinic with flowers. I told him about Katie.
*”Youve put me in a tough spot, Emma. I dont know what to do,”* he sighed.
*”Shes my best friend. I wont ruin that over you. Sorry, Alexanderwe cant see each other.”*
A fortnight later, Katie showed up at mine. Braced for another fight, I was stunned when she said:
*”We talked. He likes *you*. I… wanted to hurt you at first. Then I realised thats pointless. Cant force feelings. Im sorry, Em. I wont get in your way. And *dont* you dare turn him down for *me*.”*
The weight lifted. We drank, cried over the mess of being women, and left as friends again.
Alexander and I started dating. It was… easy. Two months in, he proposed. Katie came to the weddingwith a *date*.
I got pregnant straight away. Why wait? Katie was my go-to for advice, calming my nerves.
We stayed friendsnot rivals, *certainly* not enemies. Both found happiness. Couldve ended in flames, but they say friendship between women only lasts until the first man. Ours survived.
