Kate and I have been friends since schoolwell, since Year 7, when she moved into our neighbourhood. Back then, I didnt have any close girlfriends. Most of the girls flocked around Lucy Mayfield, the schools golden girlher dad was a university professor. The rest of us, me included, just did our own thing.
I never bowed down to Lucy, but I didnt pick fights eitherjust stayed neutral. While her little crew sized up the new girl, checking out her family background, I took Kate under my wing. Of course, I filled her in on Lucy and her minions.
“Are you alone on purpose? Some kind of rebel?” Kate asked me.
“Nah, just doing my own thing. I like my own company. Up to you, though. If youd rather hang with them, I wont hold it against you.”
Kate chose me. We werent bulliedjust ignored. I showed her around school, gave her the lowdown on teachers and classmates, basically schooled her on the social scene. Funny enough, Lucy, the professors daughter, didnt follow in her dads footstepslast I heard, she was working retail. She pretended not to recognise me when I saw her.
Kate was cleverer than me, even prettieror so I thought. Teenage years, right? Never happy with how you look. I felt chubby, with too much up top and short legs. My hair curled wildly, sticking out in every directiona proper ugly duckling. Kate? Smooth blonde hair, bright blue eyes, perfect proportions, legs for days.
Years later, she admitted shed actually thought *I* was the pretty one and had been secretly jealous.
We became inseparable. We even planned to go to the same uni after sixth form. Problem was, Kates mum pushed her toward a business degree, while I was dead set on medicinenot just any doctor, either. I wanted to be a surgeon.
We argued, didnt speak for three days. Then we made up because, honestly, life without each other was rubbish. In the end, we went our separate waysjust saw each other less. But when we *did* meet up, wed talk for hours.
In second year, Kate fell hard for a guy 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 bloke. Tried to talk her out of keeping it, let alone marrying him. No luck. She told her parents, and they made sure she wouldnt be a single mum.
By sixth year, I decided surgery wasnt for meswitched to gastroenterology. Less stress. Kate and I lost touch for a couple of years until we bumped into each other in town. Shed put on weight, rounded outI wondered if she was pregnant again but didnt ask. She was pushing a pram with a little girl dressed head-to-toe in pink. Kate caught me eyeing her belly and confirmedanother on the way.
“Rob wants a boy,” she said.
She was shocked I was still single. Thats when she admitted shed envied me at school, thought *she* was the plain one, rushed into marriage out of fear no one else would want her. Silly, really. We promised to stay in touch.
A year after the baby was born, Rob left her.
“Called me fat. A cow. Said I trapped him with kids, that I disgust him,” she sobbed.
“You shouldve told me sooner. Id have helped you lose weight,” I scolded.
She looked roughtrackies, hair scraped back, those blue eyes dull.
I get itdivorce is hardbut letting yourself go? I told her as much, gently.
“Well, *youre* still pretty, and *youre* still alone,” she shot back. Didnt even sting.
Her kids grew upNicholas started school, and little Beth was already eyeing boys. I had flings here and there, but nothing serious. No big dealjust how things worked out. Kate and I saw each other, but life got in the way.
Then I got sent to a three-day conference in Manchester.
One man stood outstayed in the hotel room next to mine. Ever meet someone and just *know*? We even ended up sharing a table at dinner. When he heard where I was from, he mentioned a new clinic opening therehis mate was heading it up, had offered him a job.
“Ive heard of it. And your friend,” I said.
“Think I should take it?” he asked.
“Your call,” I replied, neutral.
On the last night, there was a reception. We talked, drank wine. I kept checking my watchhad a train home 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.
Pretty sure he liked me too, but he never asked for my number. Maybe he thought wed bump into each other at breakfast. Or maybe he had a wife. No ring doesnt mean a thing. Still, men should make the first move.
*Bet hell be surprised when Im not at breakfast,* I thought, half smug, half disappointed. *Oh well. Not meant to be.*
Two months later, Kate called, buzzing, and invited me over.
“Something happen? You sound thrilled,” I said.
“Come and find out,” she teased.
That weekend, I brought sweets for the kids, a bottle of wine for us, and headed over. Kate looked *different*eyes bright again, fresh haircut, even lost a bit of weight.
“Youve met someone,” I guessed.
“Oh, this man” She sighed dreamily.
As she described him, all I could picture was *him*Alexander.
“You should see him. Absolute dream.”
Nicholas was at his nans, and Beth was out with friends. Time fliessuddenly I felt ancient. Maybe I *should* have had kids young, like Kate. We drank, ate the ice cream Id brought.
“He just started at our clinic” she carried on.
“Wait, I thought you worked at the bank?”
“Changed jobs ages ago. Better pay, less stress. Anyway, I was leaving the office with my laptop when he offered me a lift. Carried my bags upstairs, andwell, I invited him in for tea…”
“And?” I pressed.
“Nothing *yet*. But its only a matter of time.”
“So theres *nothing* between you?” I barely hid my relief. “Whats his name?” I asked, already knowing.
“Alexander. Alexander Oliver.”
Ice-cold dread. I dont believe in coincidencesthis was fate messing with me. Kate kept gushing about how kind he was, how she wanted to invite him to her birthday, and
“And hes *not* married? Weird, a guy like that still single. Red flag, maybe?” I couldnt resist nudging.
Kate shrugged. “Youre just jealous. WatchIll marry him.”
Devastated doesnt cover it. Still, I hoped it was just a mix-up. Told her I was happy for her, made an excuse, and left.
Two weeks later, at her birthday party, I saw him. Alexander recognised me instantly, rushed over. Kate kept shooting us dagger looks.
He said hed taken his mates job offer. I asked if he liked the city, the clinicany regrets.
“Want to work with us? Heard theres an openingthought of you straight away,” he said.
“Ill think about it,” I dodged.
Then Kate dragged him off to the kitchen. I seized the moment and left. Not about to scrap over a bloke with my best mate, am I?
First time in my life I meet a man Id actually marry, and my *only* friend wants him too. *Wheres the fairness? Whys he so indecisive? Shouldve asked for my number in Manchester*
Then he called my name. Had followed me out.
“Whyd you leave?” he asked.
“You *know* Kates my friend, right? And shes mad about you.”
“Theres nothing therenever could be. Just gave her a lift once, and she spun it into something. But Im glad she talked me into coming tonight. I moved here for you.”
He walked me home. Still didnt ask for my number. Got back to a dozen missed calls from KateId left my phone behind.
“Didnt think youd *steal* him. Some friend,” she yelled when I called back.
“Kate, I met him at the conference! He recognised mehes new here”
We argued like Year 8 kids 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 wants you? If hes chasing me, doesnt that mean?”
“Not your problem. Just *stay out of it*. Theres nothing between you, right?”
“…No.”
Truth was, I barely knew Alexander. Plenty of fish in the sea. The whole mess felt wrong. Decided to talk to him if I saw him again. Two days later, he turned up at my clinic with flowers. I told him about Kate.
“Youve put me in a right spot, Emily. Dont know what to do,” he sighed.
“Shes my best friend. I wont fight over you. Sorry, Alexanderwe cant see each other.”
A fortnight later, Kate showed up. Braced for another row, but
“We talked. He likes *you*. I wanted revenge at firstthen realised its pointless. Cant force these things. Forgive me, Em. I wont interfere. And dont *you* dare turn him down for me.”
Massive relief. We drank, cried over the messiness of being women, left as friends again.
Alexander and I started dating. It was easy. Two months in, he proposed. Kate came to the weddingwith a date of her own.
I got pregnant straight away. Why wait? Long overdue. Called Kate constantly for advice, panicking over everything. She calmed me down.
We stayed friendsno rivalry, no bitterness. Both found happiness. Couldve torn each other apart. People say female friendships never survive a man. Ours did.
