Things go wrong when Tony needs to pack and Effy borrows every cologne, deo, and aftershave he owns. "It's just Brighton," she huffs, like it's no big deal. "You can just borrow Sid's."
His eyebrows curve upwards dangerously. "Sid buys his personal hygiene products from the discount reject shelf at M&S."
Effy doesn't even look up. "I'm sure Michelle has loads to say about how wonderful Coolwater is on you, but aren't drug dealers supposed to smell like last night's vodka and vomit?"
He strategically retreats. She's obviously not to going to let any of them live down the PHD Story, and he really needs to be prepared. "Ready" means ensuring he has enough Proust and Trajan to keep him occupied with for a weekend full of Michelle.
Really, he knows Effy's being difficult because he won't take her along. "Yeah, she can come, it'll be fun," Maxxie had said with a face-splitting grin when it was first mentioned, but then he'd deflated, faced with her older brother's glare. "C'mon, it's just going to be beer-and-marshmallows roadtrip."
"And it's not like we're strangers," Anwar had added, glancing at Michelle. He still harbours the mystifyingly common misimpression that Effy gets along with any of her brother's girlfriends.
But Tony is firmly against it. Effy's never had any real interest in his friends, so yeah, he's definitely suspicious about what's Brighton has for her. There's no way he's going to enable it, whatever it is.
Cassie keeps giving him these sideways looks whenever she sees him, as though she knows what Effy's upto; they're probably in it together. It irritates the fuck out of Tony because she won't tell. He plies her with tequila and some really good hash, but she only accepts one, and shakes her head from side to side until her golden curls shimmer.
"You're a spoilsport, Tone," Chris tells him disapprovingly.
"Like you've ever exchanged more five words with my sister," Tony snorts, but Chris just wags his finger sagely, and lectures him on the importance of always saying "yes." Tony is hard-pressed to take him seriously, because Chris is lit up on exactly what Cassie had rejected earlier; and he's pretty sure Chris is also subtly working off his own feelings for his own brother through this exchange.
Jal, who's actually someone's sister, coincides as the voice of reason. Maybe she knows what Effy wants, but she also wants to keep this roadtrip stress-free and fun. Effy coming along means a strict warning from their parents about chaperoning and more tabs of E than they can resist. So, just, no. Tony agrees with Jal before she can even say a word.
Sid mostly looks scared whenever Effy's name crops in conversation, so Tony can count on his support.
It's not until Maxxie's pulled up outside his door and his calling his phone impatiently that Tony finally gives up on the elusive search for neat aftershave basic toiletries and just grabs his bags and throws himself shotgun. Maxxie's got hilariously floral Bermuda pants on, and he and Anwar are wearing matching sets of oversized sunglasses, and Tony feels really underdressed in comparison when they pick up Jal and Michelle, and the girls stroll out, wearing respectively a nearly invisible pair of shorts and a one-piece with sunhat.
Cassie has dibs on the music, and no one really wants to listen to six hours of Lily Allen, but Sid staunchly supports her on this. Tony begins to realise that Sid's support is really very cheap and too easily bought.
They stop for lunch at a wayside diner, even though they're not even halfway there. Chris and Tony share a plate of paella, and Chris warns him, "Your frown lines are back." Tony thinks it's because Michelle is sitting right opposite him, and the arch of her foot is sliding against his thigh. But something hits him then, and he doesn't stop frowning until he gets back to the car, and rips open his duffel bag.
Oh yeah, he'd guessed it. Effy's left him a note among his clothes: you're going to see colleges in brighton too, wanker. He's standing alone and frozen by the boot of the car, staring down at the note. Then, pissed off at himself for losing the silent game, he picks up his phone and calls Effy anyway.
His eyebrows curve upwards dangerously. "Sid buys his personal hygiene products from the discount reject shelf at M&S."
Effy doesn't even look up. "I'm sure Michelle has loads to say about how wonderful Coolwater is on you, but aren't drug dealers supposed to smell like last night's vodka and vomit?"
He strategically retreats. She's obviously not to going to let any of them live down the PHD Story, and he really needs to be prepared. "Ready" means ensuring he has enough Proust and Trajan to keep him occupied with for a weekend full of Michelle.
Really, he knows Effy's being difficult because he won't take her along. "Yeah, she can come, it'll be fun," Maxxie had said with a face-splitting grin when it was first mentioned, but then he'd deflated, faced with her older brother's glare. "C'mon, it's just going to be beer-and-marshmallows roadtrip."
"And it's not like we're strangers," Anwar had added, glancing at Michelle. He still harbours the mystifyingly common misimpression that Effy gets along with any of her brother's girlfriends.
But Tony is firmly against it. Effy's never had any real interest in his friends, so yeah, he's definitely suspicious about what's Brighton has for her. There's no way he's going to enable it, whatever it is.
Cassie keeps giving him these sideways looks whenever she sees him, as though she knows what Effy's upto; they're probably in it together. It irritates the fuck out of Tony because she won't tell. He plies her with tequila and some really good hash, but she only accepts one, and shakes her head from side to side until her golden curls shimmer.
"You're a spoilsport, Tone," Chris tells him disapprovingly.
"Like you've ever exchanged more five words with my sister," Tony snorts, but Chris just wags his finger sagely, and lectures him on the importance of always saying "yes." Tony is hard-pressed to take him seriously, because Chris is lit up on exactly what Cassie had rejected earlier; and he's pretty sure Chris is also subtly working off his own feelings for his own brother through this exchange.
Jal, who's actually someone's sister, coincides as the voice of reason. Maybe she knows what Effy wants, but she also wants to keep this roadtrip stress-free and fun. Effy coming along means a strict warning from their parents about chaperoning and more tabs of E than they can resist. So, just, no. Tony agrees with Jal before she can even say a word.
Sid mostly looks scared whenever Effy's name crops in conversation, so Tony can count on his support.
It's not until Maxxie's pulled up outside his door and his calling his phone impatiently that Tony finally gives up on the elusive search for neat aftershave basic toiletries and just grabs his bags and throws himself shotgun. Maxxie's got hilariously floral Bermuda pants on, and he and Anwar are wearing matching sets of oversized sunglasses, and Tony feels really underdressed in comparison when they pick up Jal and Michelle, and the girls stroll out, wearing respectively a nearly invisible pair of shorts and a one-piece with sunhat.
Cassie has dibs on the music, and no one really wants to listen to six hours of Lily Allen, but Sid staunchly supports her on this. Tony begins to realise that Sid's support is really very cheap and too easily bought.
They stop for lunch at a wayside diner, even though they're not even halfway there. Chris and Tony share a plate of paella, and Chris warns him, "Your frown lines are back." Tony thinks it's because Michelle is sitting right opposite him, and the arch of her foot is sliding against his thigh. But something hits him then, and he doesn't stop frowning until he gets back to the car, and rips open his duffel bag.
Oh yeah, he'd guessed it. Effy's left him a note among his clothes: you're going to see colleges in brighton too, wanker. He's standing alone and frozen by the boot of the car, staring down at the note. Then, pissed off at himself for losing the silent game, he picks up his phone and calls Effy anyway.
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