“Oh, so he took you there,” is all she says eventually. I have a strange feeling that she would rather have said a lot more, but I’m grateful when she lets it go.
“You wanted to tell me all about you and Will?” I try to divert her. That’s why we came here after all before the evening took such a weird turn, to moan about our unhappy love lives. Natalie polishes her plate with some white bread and takes a sip of the red wine she has unearthed from my cupboard. Suddenly she looks very young and vulnerable, a strange contrast to her sexy dress.
“I’ve known Will for quite a few years, he’s been my brother’s best friend, besides Cassius, for ages and I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. Rupert made it clear to me that Will is not interested in girls but what can you do if lightning strikes?” She shrugs resignedly. “I don’t know how to end this infatuation, I’m sure it will last forever.”
“You mean, you don’t even want to meet anyone else?” I ask, totally astonished by her commitment. But then she laughs and shakes her curls.
“Well, I don’t pine for him all the time, if that’s what you mean. I do have boyfriends at times, but I don’t want it to last because my heart belongs to Will. I never take these passing acquaintances with me when the family gets together. None of us do.” The family? What a strange expression, she surely means her friends.
“Why not?” I ask curiously. “You introduced me to your friends very soon, well, most of them.” She certainly took her time with Ruth. Natalie looks dreamily into the candle flame as she answers.
“These acquaintances are very short-lived and they’re meant to be, like a pastime. With you it’s different, you belong.” Huh? I belong? Where? I blink at her, she really is in a strange mood tonight. I open my mouth but she turns away, drinking her wine. “Now you tell me about this nonsense with Rupert,” she grins at me, using my diversion technique. Of course it works because I’m so keen to know more about him.
“I think it started the first time I saw him, the same as with you and Will. Your brother was so incredibly nice to me at the Nobu. On top of that he’s hugely talented and very good-looking,” I can’t help enthusing. I shut up when she starts to laugh.
“Stop, I’m going to throw up!” she teases me. “Love really does make you blind, doesn’t it? Rupert is not good-looking, his nose is way too big and he’s too tall. His arms and legs are too long and consequently his movements are uncoordinated and clumsy. And he can be so annoying!” she concludes her unkind description. I can’t help laughing but contradict her all the same.
“Rubbish! You're just saying that because he’s your brother. I see him totally differently. You as his sister obviously can’t realise just how hot he is.” Natalie erupts in a fit of giggles but then her laughter dies.
“You really do like him, don’t you?” I nod and stare down at my hands. I know I got it bad.
Suddenly Natalie dips her finger in her glass and splashes six dots on the table, in two perfect rows. “Listen, Livia, it’s time you understood the situation. I’ll show you.” I watch her expectantly as she points to the first of the stains which are shimmering in the candle light. “This is Cassius. We can all rely on him, he would never leave any of us in the lurch. But that applies only to us and he undoubtedly has his dark sides. He’s a daredevil who loves to take risks and the heartthrob of most girls. He doesn’t miss out on anything but has never been in love, as far as I know. He’s dangerous.” I look up at Natalie. Her words sound like a warning, but she needn’t worry just because I had a glass of wine with him once. I know well enough that this kind of man is not for me. But Natalie doesn’t look at me as she continues and points to the next stain underneath. Her silver-green nail varnish glitters as she draws a heart around it. “This one is my sweet, gay Will. He’s very bright, you won’t find anyone as knowledgeable in astronomy and archaeology as him. He’s sensitive, cute and loyal – but I don’t want to bore you rigid with his qualities.” Embarrassed she clears her throat and points at the next stain. “Beneath Will is Rupert, the artist, the dreamer. These three,” she dips her finger in the wine again and links the dots, “have been best friends forever. I think it works out so well because they’re completely different. But there’s a snag to it,” she whispers in a low voice. “It’s a big secret and you must swear not to tell anybody because Will would kill me.” I’ve never seen Natalie so serious before and I’m tempted to spit on the ground and swear, as I had done as a child.
“Of course I won’t tell,” I promise.
“I suspect that Will is secretly in love with Rupert,” Natalie breathes and her brown eyes are full of hurt. I nearly drop my glass.
“What? Him too?” I exclaim and Natalie giggles. She sighs theatrically and slumps back into the pillows.
“What on earth does Rupert have that I don’t? You’re in love with him, Will is in love with him, hell, everybody loves him!” I’m not quite sure if she’s joking or not but I’m glad that her black mood is broken. And one name is missing from her list.
“Are Will and I the only ones or is there somebody else?” I simply have to ask. I refuse to say Ruth’s name aloud in case this is unlucky. Natalie sits up again.
“No, just the two of you, very much to his regret.” I arch my eyebrows in anticipation.
“What do you mean?” But Natalie holds up her hand and points to the fourth stain.
“That’s me, everyone’s little sister.” She rolls her eyes and draws a line from her stain to Will’s and from Will’s to Rupert’s. “Look at this chaos!” she whispers as if to herself. “Small wonder that we need a change.” She turns to me again. “The fifth one is Ruth, the ice queen. And back to Rupert: I have to tell you the truth, he’s in love with her and always has been.” Her words don’t come as a surprise after the scene I witnessed in the gallery but they still hit me like a train.
“Fuck,” I murmur and drain my glass. I’d never have a chance against this perfect beauty, it’s like comparing my Fiat Panda to Cassius’ Bentley. Natalie eyes me thoughtfully.
“Don’t be too sad, there might be a small chance after all, because Ruth is in love with someone else.” I stare at her, enraged. How could this stupid cow reject Rupert and prefer someone else? Before I can ask who it is, Natalie draws a line from Rupert to Ruth and then on to Cassius.
“Ruth is in love with Cassius?” I ask doubtfully. First I can’t believe it but then I remember her searching looks when she entered the gallery and the possessive way she grabbed him and dragged him to the bar.
“Well, maybe not in love,” Natalie relents now. “But she definitely wants him.” I pull a face.
“Those two would suit each other really well,” I agree. Beautiful, arrogant and spoiled. But I don’t say it out loud, they’re Natalie’s friends after all. Natalie shakes her head though.
“He doesn’t seem to think so. So far he’s never reciprocated her advances.”
“Serves her right!” I mutter, thinking about poor Rupert. Natalie bites her lip and stares into the candle flame.