Fiction: Isla Is Not Her Real Name

By Rudy Civello

 

I told Isla she was beautiful. She told me to shut up. It was like she was getting into character for our upcoming performance of we're just friends. She insisted on it. I didn't know why. Especially since she was always the first to drop the act. It was different though, this last time. Every other time we tried to write this story it ended with her and I together, an image of two people lying in bed naked, laughing, kept far enough in the distance that neither could see it wasn’t real. This time it was just two lonely people who hadn't yet met who they were supposed to be with, settling for the person they felt most comfortable with. I guess people settle for a lot less.

My friends were happy to see Isla. They'd openly told me they preferred me when I was with her. If I were being cynical I'd suggest it was because they saw less of me.

When she went to the toilet Billy and Johnny decided to interrogate my appearance.

New threads Wacko?

Nah he's had that outfit for a while. He wears it for the ladies so it's been gatherin some dust lately.

Is that right? Wee hairdo as well is it?

He's lookin quite sexy int he?

He is actually. Aye, romance really suits ye baby.

Fuck off ya pair a dicks. We're just pals.

Isla came and sat on my lap. And started gently moving her hips, pretending not to notice people staring, which slightly undermined what I had just said.

I like to feel you get hard, she said.

Much've you had tae drink, I replied.

Isla forced me to get up and dance with her while an old woman sang To Know Him Is To Love Him by Amy Winehouse on karaoke. I held on to her waist while she swayed back and forth.

Kiss my neck, she whispered.

Isla told me she hadn't slept with anyone since me, then slapped me when I laughed at her.

You kiss different now, I told her.

I wiped away her tears.

Why the fuck dae yous two cunts no just go back oot wi each other, said Billy.

I shrugged.

She's a good cunt mate. Whitever she wants ye ae dae, just dae it fuck's sake. We'll always be here.

Are you takin drugs tonight, said Isla.

I pinky promised her I wasn’t.

Okay. I'll stay. Let's go in the room.

The next morning I waited at the bottom of the flat for Isla's taxi with her.

Know what I noticed?

What?

You're nicer to people now.

I laughed.

It's harder to be kind I think. But it feels better.

I know what you mean.

As Isla's taxi pulled up, I went to kiss her.

No, she said.

Why?

We're just friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Rudy Civello is a writer from Glasgow.