However, before Sticks could reach her, he was bumping into someone else. She gasped as the drink spilt across her top.
“Oh god, I’m so sorry!” Sticks said, reaching for the pile of discarded clean napkins on the table in front of the sofas. He’d been about to dab the spilt drink when the girl snatched the napkins from him and did it herself. Sticks stood awkwardly watching her, trying to work out what to say when he suddenly realised who she was and what she was dressed as.
Kayla Haywood was a quiet girl he often saw hanging out with Jocelyn, Zara and Hayley. He’d always thought she was attractive but knew there was no chance as she always seemed disinterested in him and every other guy at their school for that matter. He’d heard from Zara she only dated older townie guys.
He searched her up and down and grinned at her costume. It was ingenious.
“Rachel,” he beamed, impressed at the girl’s originality.
“No, it’s Kayla. But I’m sure you know so many girls’ names, you’re bound to get them confused sometimes,” Kayla spat back, dabbing hastily at her black high collared shirt. She also wore a black blazer with pointed shoulder pads, a black pencil skirt and high heels. She was formal and people who hadn’t seen the film wouldn’t have known who she was. But Sticks recognised her straight away, if only because of her uniquely curled full fringe.
“No, I mean, you’re Rachel from Blade Runner,” he grinned.
Kayla opened her mouth to retort when she paused, obviously shocked he knew who she was. “Yeah, how did you –?”
“I love that film,” Sticks continued to grin, amazed she’d even seen it. Sure, his male friends loved Blade Runner but his girl mates hated it.
“Me too,” Kayla said, a smile creeping onto her lips. “I’ve had so many douche bags calling me all sorts tonight. Most of them think I just came as a lesbian,” she scoffed a laugh.
“Ignore them, you look awesome,” Sticks said, admiring her.
“Let me guess, 118 Team?” She pointed to Bender who was doing the ‘Running Man’ dance.
“Wasn’t my first choice, trust me. My mate wanted to come as something original,” Sticks snorted.
She laughed. “It’s pretty original. At least you didn’t come dressed as a Johnny Depp character.” Kayla glanced over to where Kaleb had moved on from Rebecca and was flirting with Zara. It was odd watching Sweeney Todd and Edward Scissorhands flirt with each other.
“Which one? The black one?” Sticks joked.
Kayla blushed and covered her mouth. “Oh god, I’m sorry,” she said bashfully.
“It’s okay,” Sticks said.
It was then his eye caught sight of Erika over Kayla’s shoulder.
He barely listened as Kayla continued talking, watching Erika as she leant against the wall drinking solemnly from her drink.
“– and you’re not listening. Okay, I’m gonna go.” Kayla glanced over to see Erika who’d noticed Sticks staring at her. Kayla rolled her eyes and sighed, shifting around Sticks and heading off.
“Wait, no,” he called after her but she didn’t stop and was soon disappearing into the hordes of people.
Sticks groaned, raising his eyes to look at Erika. She continued to stare back at him blankly, sipping from her drink. He was no longer in the mood to comfort or even talk to her. He turned his back on her and headed for the drinks table, leaving Erika to gaze after him curiously.
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