24th October

Getting closer to the Nano now! I'm really excited. AND we're getting near halloween. I love halloween, it's my favourite holiday. Even though it's not actually a "holiday" as such.

I'm quite chuffed with myself an' all. I've managed to write 4k over the past two days, practising for next month. I decided that because I can't actually write my story now, I'd go back a year, and write in the PoV of some of the other characters.

This is what I came up with:

Cadence.

“People always see what they want to see. It is very rare that they see what is there.”

I was tired. I could feel my eyelids drooping as my head rolled slightly to the side, resting on my shoulder. I was getting ready to sleep, just as the rest of Portellan was coming alive. The windows of our dorm had fogged against the cold night air, clouded around the edges, leaving a rough, transparent circle at the centre. I could see the people staggering down the icy roads, downing cans of beers, or having just come from drinking too much round the corner. They were framed by the icy mist, discoloured- like an old photograph- and distant.

Inside the air was warm, smelling vaguely of cigarette smoke and spiced mulled wine. The dorm girls; Kaitlyn, Saige and Lacy had gone out, leaving me with the room to myself. I could do anything. But I didn’t really feel up to much. Responsibility stopped me from reading Lacy’s diary, or flipping through Kaitlyn’s mail. And I didn’t really cherish the thought of leaving the warmth to go and visit my sister’s room either.

I’d been working hard all day, washing and making sure everything was in order in our dorm, in preparation for the new girl who was meant to be arriving that evening. Currently I was sprawled across one of the three sofas which resided in our dorm, reminiscing how I was stuck inside while the others were out with the lads. I wanted to go the cinema too. I wanted to go and drink alcohol, throw up in bushes. But no. I was waiting for the new girl. I didn’t mind as such, it just sucked that it was Warren’s birthday, and I couldn’t be there to celebrate it with him.

The fire in the grate burned brightly, casting shadows about the room. The red wallpaper glinted fashionably with shades of terracotta and crimson. I grimaced internally. Licking my lips and reaching for the glass of wine on the floor, I yawned. It was barely ten and already I was shattered. This girl had better understand if I was angry with her.

Not long after I heard “last serves” from a bar across the street, a clattering of hooves on the cobbles outside of my window alerted me to the new girl’s arrival. Normally they came in groups of five, or six, filling the dorms when older girls left to start families. There hadn’t been many girls leave recently. This kid was sure as hell going to get a shock to find she was the only new one.

Begrudgingly I slipped off the sofa and shuffled over to the door of my dorm, waiting to be called by one of the door girls. I wrapped my dressing gown tighter around my chest and ran my hand through my hair, slipping that stray strand behind my ear. Not long after, as I had predicted, I heard a yell from downstairs.

“Oi! Cay! Get your arse down here, you’ve got a visitor!” Not a particularly great way to welcome a new employee, but Jack was known for his coarse language, and terrible manners.

“Yeah, shurrup!” I shouted back. “Bring her up! I’ll meet you half way down!”

“Arh, ya lazy sod...” Jack grumbled loudly, hoping I would hear, and hoping I would retaliate. I didn’t however. I never had done, and I’d been working here for six years.

I closed the door behind me softly as I started down the hall. Knocking on two doors as I walked past. Two tired looking girls answered almost immediately.

“Tiffany, Melissa, I want you to pop down here with me- actually no. Come to my room in about ten minutes. I jus’ need you to give the new girl the speech.” Both girls nodded, almost instantly awake, and closed their doors quietly.

Downstairs the front door was wide open, and I shook my head in annoyance as Jack appeared from his look out post. He’d not bothered to come up, and I knew he wouldn’t. But now I was cold, and a little pissed off.

“Jack.” I berated him. “You said half way was okay. Half way is up there.” I made a pointing gesture up the three flights of stairs and folded both hands on my hips.

“Naw.” He replied sullenly. “Actually, if me memory serves, I didn’t agree to nothin’.”

I pouted and he grinned, showing off his severe lack of front teeth- or of any teeth at all, for that matter.

“Alright. Whatever.” I sighed and wrapped my arms across my front, hoping to hide the gooseflesh that had crept along my arms. “Where is she then?”

“Put her in the spare watch room. No point takin’ her all that way to the meeting room.”

“No, you’re right. I don’t suppose there is.” We lapsed into silence, and before long Jack felt my finger connect with his chest.

“What was that for?”

“Go and get her then.”

I stood in the lobby for a minute, the private end for the dancers, and tapped my foot softly against the wooden boards, wishing I could go straight back upstairs and set fire to my clothes. Extreme cold. It wasn’t nice. Soon my fingers were numb, and I was craving a cigarette, if only to heat them up again.

When Jack strolled back into the lobby, at his leisure may I add, the young girl behind him looked about as cold as I did.

“This is Cay.”

“Hi. I’m Cadence Waterfields, and I’ll be your guide this evening.” I gave a wry smile. The new girl laughed a little- heartily. Like them from the country. I laughed too then, to see that my sense of humor had not dissipated like I’d imagined.

“Hullo, I’m Cordelia.” She said shortly.

“Right. Now that’s all sorted, I suppose we’d better get you settled in, eah?”

She nodded and followed me as I began to lead the way back up the long three story climb.

“Oh, by the way, Jack. You can bring those bags up.”

“Oh stuff yer.” Jack grumbled. Cordelia smirked, then stifled a yawn.

“Don’t mind him,” I added, “he’s always been like that. I’ve known him for six years and he hasn’t changed a bit. The rooms up here aren’t fantastic, but they’re not bad. I mean, I’ve stayed in much worse.” Cordelia nodded again, and folded her arms across her chest, mimicking my earlier stance. “It’s much warmer up here too.”

I swung the door open, and pushed Cordelia through it gently, hoping she didn’t mind being manhandled. The room inside was warmer than it had been a few minutes ago, and I shivered with a kind of delight. We actually had one of the warmest rooms in the house.

“Home sweet home.”

Cordelia stepped around one of the rugs on the floor, as if she didn’t want to dirty it. She eyed the six beds along the far wall warily. Then went to the fire, standing with her hands to it, probably hoping to bring back some life to the frozen flesh.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to share the room. It’s not all bad though. The girls are really quite nice. Sarah, I mean, Madam Whittle used to have separate rooms. But we used to end up with all sorts going off. Drugs, fires, the lot. So she thought it’d be better to get the rooms divided, and have six to a room.”

“Yeah. I can see her point. If you don’t mind me asking,” she paused to brush her hair from her face, exposing a high forehead and bright, cat-like green eyes. “Who do we share the room with?” She didn’t look very old, maybe only ten or eleven, but I knew from the letter that she had sent me that she was actually fifteen. Only two years younger than me.

“Well, you’d probably be best meeting them. They should be back soon, out celebrating a birthday tonight. Kaitlyn and Saige are about your age, and then we’ve got Lacy. She’s closer to my age.” I saw her flash me a questioning glance and then added, “I’m seventeen. Been working here since I was eleven.”

“Ah. Which bed’s mine?”

“The one on the far left.”

“Thanks.” Cordelia turned away from the fire, and scurried over to test out the bed, giving me a chance to look her over. She was tall, probably about three inches taller than my 5’1”, with a mane of bright red hair. Her dress was dirty, navy blue and short in length. I guessed it belonged to a sister before. I didn’t judge her though, I’d arrived in my mother’s clothes when I got here. They were miles too big and had dirty great big holes in them..

“I-” I was about to ask Cordelia if she’d like a glass of wine when there was a loud bump at the door.

I rushed across and opened it, hoping it might be the Lacy and the girls, but it was Jack. He was stood there looking slightly annoyed, carrying a trunk and a thick winter coat.

“’Ere.” He shoved them in my direction before thumping off down the hallway.

“Sorry Jack. Next time I’ll get somebody younger to do it.” I dragged the wooden box into our room, and Cordelia jumped up to help me. We pulled it over to her bed and dumped it by the side, leaving it slightly uneven, but not really caring.

“Thanks.”

“As I was about to say, before Jack reared his ugly head, would you like something to drink, Cordelia? Wine maybe, or water?” Cordelia wiped her hands on her apron and smiled.

“Please, call me Delia, do. And yes please, some wine will do very nicely.” I laughed.

“Alright Delia, wine it is them. Hold on while I pour it.” Delia settled herself onto the bed again, then stood up to receive the glass which I handed her. Then, we both sat on the sofas in front of the fire. “We get from nine until twelve every morning to practice the dance for the following night. Twelve until one is lunch, then from one until four is free time. Food is whenever cook can be bothered, and then we open at eight. Any other time is either practice, or free. Mostly though? We get roped into doing other crap. It’s not so bad though, just make sure you ask about money before doing anything for kids around here. They’re a tight bunch alright.”

“Okay, what about at night?”

“What d’you mean?” I picked up my half full wine glass and took a sip.

“Well, you said the girls are out, celebrating, but you’re not. And, how can they be out this late if they should be dancing?”

“I see. We work on shifts, a sort of rotor. One day you’ll work from eight till ten, another day you’ll go from twelve till two. It depends. Mostly though you get thrown in at the same time each day of the week. I’ll give you your rotor later. I’m only hear tonight because I can’t be bothered to go out” That last bit wasn’t true, but Delia was nice, and I didn’t want to make her feel unwelcome.

“Cool. I can’t wait to get started.” Delia clapped her hands in mock delight then snorted.

“Don’t get me wrong!” I laughed, “It really is good fun! Just, it’s more fun when you’re out. You don’t get paid much, but it’s all the extra jobs what’ll make you your fortune, sweetie.”

Another knock at the door made me start, and place my drink on the floor again. This time the knock was softer. “That’ll be the girls from down the hall. I asked them to pop in and talk to you about life in a burlesque house.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’d better let them in, or they’ll freeze.”

Tiffany and Melissa were stood on the other side of the door, hugging their great thick sweaters about them, and sucking on their knuckles.

“It’s cold.” Tiffany shivered, then they both rushed in and jumped onto the sofa in my place.

“This, is Delia. Delia, this is Tiffany, and Melissa. They live next door, and the door after.” Tiffany made a mock bow, and Melissa waved shyly.

“Right. Well girls, I hate to skip out on you, but I’d better go pop Jack a little cash, or he’ll not be speaking to me tomorrow. I’ll be back in five. Lissa? Help Delia unpack.”

I stepped through to the bathroom, pulled off my dressing gown then quickly threw myself into a thick fuzzy, wool sweater and grabbed a pair of mittens. I took the dressing gown back out and laid it in front of the fire for when I got back.

Delia was reclining across the sofa, well at home, and if she was the slightest bit uncomfortable she didn’t show it.

“I won’t be long. Have fun guys, don’t be too long though. We’ve got a full day tomorrow.”



Lacy.

“When the moonlight shines, think love. When the stars are bright, think sweet heavens above, is it really that late?”

The night air was cold about my face as we stepped out from the warmth of the bar. Kaitlyn squeaked and clung to Saige’s arm in a bad attempt at keeping warm. I shook my head, only pulling my coat closer about my body and wishing I’d brought a scarf. Raising my face to the inky blackness of the sky, I saw the pinpricks of stars scattered across the velvet, like glitter pieces.

“It’s cold.” Damon came over to me and linked his arm through mine.

“Umm. Yeah. I wouldn’t have guessed.” I winked at him and moved closer.

“Good party?” Damon’s oval face was bright, illuminated against the inky backdrop. He was grinning, and I returned the smile.

“Would’ve been better if there was alcohol.”

“Agreed.”

Warren came out of the bar at last, staggering slightly, and almost falling on his face. Saige rushed over and grabbed his arm roughly. Despite the lack of alcohol for the rest of us, Warren had still managed to get drunk on one shot.

“Warren, you arse. You didn’t have that much to drink. Stop pissing around.” I walked over and slapped him lightly around the head, before turning and beginning to walk swiftly back home. Behind me I heard a muffled curse from Warren, and then the patter of feet over frozen cobbles as the others tried to catch up. Normally, it would have been me lingering in the rear. Normally Cadence would be the one to pull everybody back to reality, but tonight I was cold. Lack of alcohol, cigarettes, and a scarf made me feel annoyed, and I wanted to go home.

A five minute walk along the frozen streets of Portellan soon had me grimacing. Winters here weren’t ever just cold. They were freezing. Looking around me, I took a deep breath. The streets were almost empty now, everybody had gone inside; they were either drinking at the local pub or tavern, or they were doing exactly the same thing at home. Nobody these days was alcohol free, especially not the young ones.

Bright street lamps lit the corner of each street, and were dotted about randomly on the paving stones. Cobbles glimmered in the half light, flickering with and orange-yellow glow of electric light. Each house had their own porch light, but there weren’t many houses down this end. This side of Portellan was mostly industrial; shops, pubs, clubs. They were all down this side. The odd exception was where people worked at home. Then, like our home at the burlesque house, people were always there. Even at the most obscure hours of the day and night.

I approached the burlesque house just as the group caught up with me. Damon, Gunner and Silvester were having a nice chat about beer prices, while Warren, Kaitlyn and Saige were having a heated debate over how cold it was- that is to say, Kaitlyn and Saige were busy trying to slap Warren, as he claimed that it wasn’t cold at all, and they were just a bunch of pansies.

“Kaitlyn, Saige, are you two coming, or what?” I turned to face them, preparing to drag them away from their beloved lads if they refused to come home. Damon folded his hands into his pockets, and Warren went over to join the other lads.

“Alright.” Saige pulled Kaitlyn away from Silvester’s clutch and roped her arm around her neck. “Com’on Kai, we’d best be off. It’s getting late, and we’ve got to meet that new girl, ain’t we?”

“I guess.” Kaitlyn pouted, and had to be dragged away.

Damon kissed my cheek softly, before heading away. “See you tomorrow sweetheart.”


Inside, the house was just as cold. Jack must have left the door open again. We were about to head upstairs when I nearly collided head-on with Cadence.

“Hey sweetie, s’up?”

“Heya.” She wrapped her arms together, and looked me over. “I’m good. The new girl’s here, and you... You look sober. What happened?”

I laughed and all four of us started up the stairs, Cadence pulling at her mittens.

“Nothing happened.”

“Nothing?”

“Absolutely nothing.”

“Yeah, it was crap.” Saige giggled and began to relate to Cadence how Warren had drunk himself into a stupor with only one shot. Cadence couldn’t believe it.

“The new girl, Cordelia, is inside. I gave her Samantha’s old bed.”

“Ah. Okay then. What’s she like?” It had been a while since we’d had a new girl in our dorm. The last girl to join us had been Kaitlyn, and that was two years ago. Most of the new girls were young, but I’d heard that this one was already fifteen. I wasn’t so sure she’d be able to pull any of it off without the practice.

“She’s nice. Ever so polite, and I think she’s a country girl. You ought to hear her laugh! I think that we’ve no need to worry- it seems like she’ll fit in perfectly. She’s a bright one, that’s for sure.”

“What’s her name again?” Kaitlyn, as usual, had only just tuned in to the conversation.

“Cordelia. Delia for short, actually, I think she prefers Delia.”

Inside our room was lovely and heated. A fire was burning in the grate, and cigarette smoke hung about the ceiling. The new girl, Delia, was sat by the fire blowing smoke rings out of the window. When we entered she stood up, and threw her cigarette into the street guiltily.

“Oh dear. You don’t mind if I smoke do you?”

All at once we burst into laughter. Delia looked a little bewildered, and then she started laughing too. And Cadence was right; she laughed like a country girl without a care in the world.

“Mind? Hell no! If we minded, then we’d all a bit screwed, wouldn’t we?” I closed the door behind us. “I’m Lacy; this is Saige, and Kaitlyn. We live here.”

“Dur. And hey, why does my name always come last?” Kaitlyn was pouting again. She went over to Delia, took the glass from her hand and took a swig of the red liquid.

“It just does Kai. It’s always been like that, and leave that poor girl’s drink alone! I’m not sure she appreciates having a lovely copy of your cold.”

“I don’t mind, honestly.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake, don’t tell her that. You’ll never get a drink in peace like that.” Cadence took the glass from Kaitlyn and handed it back to Delia. “Here, drink it quick and I’ll get you another one.”

“Oh good, do pour us one. I haven’t had any alcohol today!” Kaitlyn flopped onto the sofa, and laid a hand over her eyes, like a damsel in distress.

“You have. You drank my mug of ale this morning.” I went over to the same sofa, lifted her legs up and slipped underneath them, propping her legs over mine.

“Ouch, move over Lacy. You’re arse is huge!”

“Not as big as yours.” I replied, taking the glass of wine from Cadence. “Sit up them, or I’ll pour it on you.”

“Dreadful waste of juice.”

“I don’t care.”

Kaitlyn sat up slowly, and snatched the glass from me, taking a big gulp then putting the glass on the floor. “I needed that.”

Delia had sat back on the sofa, the free one, and was watching with a kind of incredulous look on her face that we could behave so childishly. Cadence wandered over and handed her another glass of wine, then patted her shoulder softly. Delia smiled.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to us quickly. We’re not that bad really. Just keep your drink and your fags to yourself and you’ll be fine.”

“I heard that.” Saige came out from the bathroom in a cream dressing gown. “I won’t steal your fags.” She added as an after thought. “I don’t smoke.”

“Okay.” Delia laughed again and stood up. “You don’t by any chance have another one of those dressers anywhere do you? This dress is mighty uncomfortable.”

I nodded. “Yeah, lemme go get you one. I won’t be a minute.” I put my glass down, then picked it up on second thought and drained it, before putting it back down again. Kaitlyn scowled at me, but I just stuck my tongue out.

Walking out of the room was like walking into a freezer. Cold air whipped at me from the hallway, and I shivered involuntarily. I rushed down to the store cupboard, grabbed the first one I could, a light orange silk one, and headed straight back to our room.

I handed Delia her robe swiftly then ran into the bathroom to change into mine. Purple cotton against my skin made me smile, and sleepiness overcame me. When I walked back in, everybody but Kaitlyn was in their dressing gown. Delia had slipped hers over her dress, so it looked bulky and strange, but when Cadence offered her a night gown she placed it by her side. She was comfy as she was, apparently.

We stayed up late into the night, chatting about life in Portellan and drinking wine. I think after all, it was probably Cordelia who drank the most. I found out that her parents owned a little farm in the country, and that she’d never actually seen a proper city before. We vowed that tomorrow during free time we’d show her around.

“You can’t live somewhere and never see it, after all.” I said. “It’s just not right.” Delia agreed then yawned.

“Oh dear, I think I’m going to bed. Sorry to skip on you, but I’m shattered.”

Cadence nodded. “You’re right. I think bed sounds like a great idea. I’ll go change first, then you can use the bathroom.” She went over to her bed and pulled her night dress out from under the pillow.

Kaitlyn lit a cigarette and puffed on that for a while, and Saige pulled a book off the shelf and read to herself. I sat back on the sofa, leaning on Kaitlyn’s arm and breathing in her smoke. It was nice really. There was a feeling of such peace in the air, unlike the chaos of the previous nights. I smiled, then yawned myself.

After around five minutes, Cadence reappeared and came to sit at my feet. “Fag?” She asked, handing me the packet. I drew a cigarette out and lit it from the match that Cadence held up to me. She lit her own and leaned against my legs.

“She’s nice, ain’t she?”

“Yeah. I told you she was.” I flicked off my slippers, and slid onto the floor to sit by Cay. Silence enveloped us as we smoked, and the room soon filled with smoke.

“I think we should put some screens up. I don’t like sleeping in smoke.”

“Me either.” I shook my head. “Maybe we should put some up tomorrow.”

“Umm, I’ll see if we can get Jack to help. I’m sure he won’t mind.” She grinned at me. “Might be a good idea to open the window, let the smoke out.”

“I’m not that desperate, yet.” We laughed, climbed off the floor, and chucked our fag ends out of the window, then closed it.

“Bed.” I said simply.

“Yes.”

Soon four out of five of us were in bed. Saige was still reading, but the light was only small, so the rest of us clambered into bed quietly. Cadence has given Delia the bed next to mine. It was strange, after all these months to have somebody lying next to me on that side again. Ever since Sam left, it had been different. But now, it was back to normal. The soft breathing by my ear lulled my slowly to sleep, and the last thing I remember thinking, was weird.

I hope nothing happens to her. I thought. She’s a nice kid. Don’t let her go, please. It’s nice to have somebody else around, nice to hear them sleep. Don’t let her go...