**Female Friendship**
Katie 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 orbited around the schools resident beauty, Lucy Mallory, whose dad was a professor. The rest of us, like me, remained happily independent.
I never bowed down to Lucy, but I didnt pick fights eitherneutrality was my policy. While Lucys entourage sized up the new girl, interrogating her about her parents, I took Katie under my wing. Naturally, I filled her in on Lucy and her minions.
*»Why are you always alone? Protesting something?»* Katie asked.
*»Nah, just doing my own thing. I like it this way. But you do you. If you want to be friends with them, I wont hold it against you.»*
Katie chose me. We werent bulliedwe were just invisible. I showed her around school, gave her the lowdown on teachers and classmates, basically handed her the unofficial survival guide. Incidentally, Lucy, the professors daughter, didnt follow in her fathers footsteps. Last I saw, she was working in a boutique and pretended not to recognise me.
Katie was cleversmarter than meand, to my teenage self, prettier too. At that age, were all convinced we look awful. I thought I was chubby, too busty, with stubby legs and frizzy hair sticking out every which waya proper ugly duckling. Katie, meanwhile, had sleek blonde hair, bright blue eyes, a perfectly proportioned figure, and legs that went on for days.
Years later, she confessed shed thought *I* was the pretty one and had been secretly jealous.
We became inseparable, even planned to go to the same uniuntil her mum pushed her towards an economics degree, while I was dead set on becoming a doctor. Not just any doctora *surgeon* (anything less was boring). We argued, didnt speak for three days, then made up because life without each other was unbearable. In the end, we both got our wayjust at different universities. Visits became rare, but when we met, wed chatter for hours.
In her second year, Katie fell hard for a guy on her course and wouldnt stop gushing about him. Meanwhile, I was drowning in Latin and anatomy, with no time for romance. By third year, she had an abortion (her parents never knew). By fourth year, she was pregnant again. I didnt like the bloke and begged her not to marry him, but she wouldnt listen. Her parents made sure she wouldnt be a single mum.
By my sixth year, Id decided surgery wasnt for megastroenterology was calmer, less life-or-death. Katie and I lost touch for a couple of years until we bumped into each other one day. Shed put on weight, her face rounder, and I 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 stomach and confirmedanother baby on the way.
*»Husband wants a boy,»* she said.
She was shocked I was still single, then admitted shed envied me at school, thought *she* was the plain one, and rushed into marriage out of fear no one else would want her. *Silly girl.* We promised to stay in touch.
A year after her son was born, her husband left.
*»He called me fat. A cow. Said I trapped him with kids, that I repulse him»* she sobbed.
*»Why didnt you say something sooner? Id have helped you lose weight,»* I scolded.
She looked roughsweats, hair scraped back, dull eyes. I told her, gently, that divorce wasnt an excuse to let herself go.
*»Youre still pretty, and *youre* alone,»* she shot back. I didnt take offence.
Years passed. Her son, Nicky, started school; her daughter, Lizzie, discovered boys. I had flings but nothing seriousno great tragedy. Katie and I drifted, busy with our own lives.
Then, on a work trip to London for a conference, I spotted *him*Alexanderstaying next door. Sometimes you just *know*. We even ended up sharing a restaurant table. He mentioned a new clinic opening in our city, run by a friend.
*»Ive heard of it. And your friend,»* I said.
*»Would you recommend I take the job?»* he asked.
*»Your call,»* I replied, playing it cool.
On the last night, there was wine and mingling. I checked my watchmy train home left in two hours. Just as I was about to say goodbye, someone pulled him away. No time to wait, so I slipped out.
I *thought* he liked me, but he hadnt asked for my number. Maybe he assumed wed meet at breakfast. Maybe he had a wife. No ring doesnt mean anything. *Men should make the first move.*
*»Serves him right when Im gone tomorrow,»* I thought, equal parts smug and disappointed. *Ah well. Not meant to be.*
Two months later, Katie phoned, giddy, insisting I visit.
*»Whats happened? You sound thrilled,»* I said.
*»Come and see,»* she teased.
I brought sweets for the kids, ice cream, and a bottle of wine. Katie was glowinghair freshly cut, a bit slimmer, eyes sparkling.
*»Youve met someone,»* I guessed.
*»Oh, hes *wonderful*»* she sighed.
As she described him, all I saw was Alexander.
*»Youd adore him. Absolute dream.»*
Shed sent Nicky to his grandmas; Lizzie was out with friends. Time fliesI suddenly felt ancient. *Should I have had kids by now?* We drank, ate ice cream.
*»He just started at the new clinic»*
*»Wait, you work at a *bank*.»*
*»Not anymore. Switched to the clinics finance team. Less stress. Anyway, I was leaving with my laptop, and he offered me a lift. Carried my bag upstairs, and Iwell, I invited him in for tea»*
*»And?»* I pressed.
*»Nothing yet. But its only a matter of time.»*
*»So youre not together? Whats his name?»* (I already knew.)
*»Alexander. Alexander Oliver.»*
Ice water couldnt have shocked me more. *Fates idea of a joke?* Katie babbled on about how kind he was, how shed invite him to her birthday, and
*»And hes *not* married? Odd for a catch like that. Somethings off,»* I added, souring her honey.
*»Youre just jealous. WatchIll marry him.»*
Devastated, I still hoped it was a coincidence. I faked a smile, wished her luck, and left.
At her birthday party, I saw him. Alexander recognised me instantly and rushed over. Katie glared.
Hed taken the clinic job. *»Ever thought of working there? Theres an openingI thought of you,»* he said.
*»Ill think about it,»* I muttered.
Katie whisked him away. Seizing the moment, I left. *Not fighting over a man with my best friend.*
But he followed me outside. *»Whyd you leave?»*
*»You *know* Katies my friend. And shes *into* you.»*
*»Theres nothing there. Shes imagining things. But Im glad I came tonightI moved here for *you*.»*
He walked me home. *Still didnt ask for my number.* At home, I found a dozen missed calls from Katie.
*»Some friend you are! Snatching him right under my nose!»* she screamed when I called back.
We bickered like schoolgirls over a crush.
*»Let me have him,»* she begged. *»Youre gorgeousyoull find someone. This might be my last chance.»*
*»Katie, if hes chasing *me*, does he even *want* you?»*
*»Not your problem. Just *back off*. Theres nothing between you, right?»*
*»No.»*
I barely knew Alexander. He wasnt the last man on earth. The whole mess felt tawdry. If I saw him again, Id talk to him.
Two days later, he turned up at my clinic with flowers. I told him about Katie.
*»Youve put me in a tough spot, Vera,»* he sighed.
*»Shes my friend. I wont ruin that for you. Sorry, Alexanderwe shouldnt see each other.»*
A week later, Katie visited. Braced for another row, I was stunned when she said:
*»We talked. He likes *you*. I wanted to hate you, but well, you cant force these things. Forgive me? I wont interfere. And *dont* you dare turn him down for my sake.»*
The weight lifted. We drank, cried over the chaos of being women, and left as friends.
Alexander and I started dating. Two months later, he proposed. Katie came to the weddingwith a date of her own.
I got pregnant straight away. *No time to waste.* Katie was my go-to for advice, calming my nerves.
We stayed friendsnot rivals, *certainly* not enemies. Funny, isnt it? They say female friendship dies at the first man. Ours survived.
