and replaced by a development of luxury apartments, the sort that had been springing up all over the island in recent years. Imposing and impersonal, these developments had private driveways and large, electric gates to keep the hallowed gated communities within separate from the plebs without.
The nightclub we found ourselves in now – ‘Mizzi’s’- was a world away from L’Auberge du Port. There was nothing tacky here; the touch of serious money was apparent in the elegant subtlety of the professional interior design.
‘Hold this for me, Andy, please, I’m just going to dance.’ Anita passed me her glass of champagne as the pulse of dance music throbbed around us. She followed Brad onto the dance floor and started to gyrate her hips to the beat. It was hypnotic, Anita was a good dancer, and Brad looked clumsy and awkward as he tried to find the rhythm. He settled for a simple uncomfortable sway of his hips, whilst alternating his feet up and down.
Tom was standing next to me, clutching an overpriced bottle of trendy lager, but he wasn’t looking at me, he was waving to a young girl at the bar. I assumed it must have been someone he knew, because she spotted him and waved back. She had glossy hair and glossy teeth that shone under the neon lights, there was no contest.
‘Er, excuse me a moment, I’m just going to say hello to a friend,’ Tom said, and disappeared towards Miss Glossy.
I stood there at the edge of the dance floor, feeling awkward. I wanted to go home, I didn’t want to be standing on my own in a club, feeling like the lonely, fat girl without any friends. I waved my hand towards Anita, trying to catch her attention. She saw me, and cupped her hand, beckoning me onto the dance floor. I shook my head vigorously, no way was I joining her out there. I doubted I could move much in my dress, and besides, I didn’t much feel like dancing.
Two young lads were standing nearby and I could see them sniggering about something. I wondered if they were laughing at me – the fat girl in a dress that made her look like a jam blancmange – but perhaps I was just being paranoid. I walked to the bar and put down Anita’s glass, it was time to go, Anita would be fine.
Anita was suddenly at my side. ‘Andy, babes, where are you going? We’re having a great time, aren’t we? This club’s great, don’t you think?’
‘No, Anita, we’re not having a great time, you’re having a great time. And no, I don’t think this club is all that great, actually. I just want to go home.’ I was annoyed at Anita for dragging me to the club, and I tried in vain to keep the anger out of my voice.
‘Well, thanks a lot, Andy, just because you’re a bit grumpy, you’re just going to go off and leave me on my own.’
I felt my blood rise. ‘Leave you on your own! That’s a bloody cheek, Anita, considering I’ve just been standing on my own for twenty minutes, like some fat gooseberry, while you...while you get all cosy with bloody Biggles over there.’
‘We were just dancing, Andy, it’s hardly like...’
‘Oh, whatever, Anita, whatever. I’m going home. You’re a big girl, you’ll be fine,’ I hissed, and turned away, heading for the exit. From the corner of my eye, I saw Anita give a nonchalant shrug and walk back towards Brad. I felt a rage inside me, Anita didn’t even bloody care.
At the exit, I looked back and saw Anita dancing with Brad, closer now, her hands were on his shoulders, his hands were on her hips. I barged past the doormen. ‘Alright, love, calm down, bit of common courtesy don’t cost nothing,’ I heard one of them say but I kept on walking, I didn’t turn around again.
Outside, away from the serpent queue that slid towards the club, it was quiet. The club was situated on the outskirts of town, and the taxis hadn’t yet begun to gather. I pulled out my mobile phone, thought about phoning a cab, but I decided to walk for a while. There was another taxi rank about half a mile away, the walk would do me good. I needed to calm down, I could feel my breath puffing through my nostrils, I felt like a raging bull. I needed to breathe slowly, needed to order my thoughts. I hated