Essex Girls. Laura Ziepe

underwear set I love. See you at six then xx

      Jade felt sick when she read his reply, hands shaking with adrenaline and anger. Her sexy black underwear? Did she ever actually know Tom at all? Right now, it didn’t seem like it. He’d been with her last night in his bed and now he was happily meeting up with some slag offering herself on a plate to him! It had been so easy getting him to meet too; he didn’t seem to hesitate for a moment. At least her plan was working, she told herself, looking for the handcuffs he’d bought her last Valentine’s day and placing them in her bag. The fact that he’d agreed to meet Louisa without a second thought made Jade certain that he was about to get what he deserved.

      At five thirty that evening she made her way to the university theatre. Luckily there was no one around. The performers and staff wouldn’t be there for about another hour or so, so she had plenty of time to make sure her plan ran smoothly.

      The stage was already filled with props, which included a single bed for Sleeping Beauty, made from wrought iron. She tested the handcuffs, satisfied that they would go round the posts of the bed. Now all she had to do was sit in the darkened wings at the side of the stage and wait for him. She switched the lights off and waited.

      Twenty minutes later she heard the door open, and Jade’s heart was thumping so loudly in her chest that she couldn’t breathe. What if it wasn’t him? What if someone had arrived early for the performance tonight? She heard the footsteps coming closer to the stage.

      ‘Louisa?’

      It was Tom.

      ‘Yes,’ she whispered, trying to disguise her voice. It was pitch black in the room and she could roughly make out the outline of his body.

      ‘Come here then,’ he said, his voice thick with lust as he removed his belt, the buckle making a loud bang as it hit the floor. She could hear him removing his t-shirt and then his jeans. Then she knew he was silently peeling off his boxer shorts. She peeked carefully, and saw Tom lying on the bed.

      Jade felt a mixture of emotions. She was angrier than she’d ever been in her life, but nervous at the same time. She knew any feelings she had ever held for him had gone. Here was her long-term boyfriend, who she was planning on moving in with, stripping off naked for another girl. She made her way over to the bed, terrified that he would know immediately it was her and not Louisa. She was almost there; her plan couldn’t go wrong now.

      ‘Come here, sexy,’ he pleaded as she approached the bed, concealed by shadows.

      ‘Close your eyes,’ she whispered. ‘I have a surprise for you.’

      ‘Mmm … I like surprises,’ he said in a husky voice. ‘They’re closed.’

      She walked over to him, took his arms and handcuffed each one to the posts of the bed.

      ‘Kinky,’ he said. ‘I like it.’

      She stifled a giggle and began to pick his clothes up off the floor.

      ‘Come here, babe. What are you doing? Where are you going?’

      Jade spoke loud and clear in her own voice. ‘I thought you liked surprises?’

      ‘Who is that?’ Tom asked in a panicky voice, trying to get up and yanking his arms, frustrated that he couldn’t move.

      ‘Oh, it’s only your girlfriend. Remember me? Mind you, you’re probably too busy shagging other girls to actually give a shit.’

      ‘Jade?’

      ‘Well at least you haven’t forgotten my name,’ she said sarcastically.

      ‘What the hell are you doing here? Take these handcuffs off me now. Let me explain! Just let me out!’

      He sounded terrified now and Jade was ashamed to admit she was enjoying it.

      ‘Why should I do anything you ask me to? You’re a lying, cheating arsehole and I never have to do anything you say again.’

      ‘What are you talking about? I’ve never cheated on you, I swear. Please Jade, listen to me. Let me go and I’ll explain everything.’

      ‘Are you kidding me? You’re still going to deny it? I saw your phone you idiot – and all your messages to Louisa. I changed her number to mine and you’ve been texting me all day. You’re here to have sex with her so don’t even bother trying to lie!’

      His voice was shaky. ‘Jade, I know this looks bad. W … worse than bad, it looks bloody terrible. Please,’ he sounded almost close to tears, ‘I love you.’

      ‘You don’t love me, Tom. You wouldn’t do this to someone you love. I would never, ever do this to you. I’ve done nothing but love you. I’ve had other men come on to me, you know, but I’d never go behind your back. I’ve never wanted to. You’re enough for me but I’m obviously not enough for you. Who is she? How long have you been seeing her for?’

      His voice still sounded utterly panicked. ‘She’s just some girl that practically stalks me. I don’t like her and I’ve never met up with her before. I was just drunk once and stupidly gave her my number. She means nothing to me, I promise. This would have been the first time I met her and I wouldn’t have gone through with it. I was just messing around! You’re the one I love. I’ve never cheated on you. You have to believe what I’m saying.’

      His pathetic lies almost made her laugh. ‘Stop lying to me. I’m not stupid!’

      ‘You can’t leave me here like this. I know you’re not that out of order.’

      ‘You’ve been sleeping with another girl, Tom! Do you want to bet that I won’t leave you here?’

      ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ Tom’s voice was small as the reality hit him that she wasn’t going to let him free.

      ‘Well, believe it,’ she said, walking away with his clothes.

      ‘Jade! Please! You can’t do this to me! Just let me go and we’ll talk about it! You can’t leave me like this!’

      It was hard not to enjoy how distraught he sounded. He deserved everything he got. What they had had was special, but now he’d gone and spoilt everything. She would never and could never forgive him. Now she knew everything had been a lie, and no longer thought of him as the same amazing boyfriend who she could trust with her heart. She was so angry she could scream.

      ‘Goodbye Tom,’ she said, drawing the curtains on the stage.

      She could hear him violently trying to pull the handcuffs off the bed and break them. The metal rattled but didn’t give way.

      ‘Jade! Let me go! Let me explain! Please, it’s really cold! You can’t do this!’

      She opened the doors to the theatre and walked out, leaving them wide open. She threw his clothes in a dustbin in the car park, satisfied he wouldn’t find them there. It was over. Now he too would feel as humiliated as she had. The feeling of guilt was gnawing away at her, so she forced herself to think of why she’d done it, and started to smirk as she imagined how people were going to find him in his sorry naked state. Tom certainly wouldn’t be pulling off the role of Sleeping Beauty anytime soon.

      All her plans were over, finished. There was no way she would stay in Bath now. There were too many memories and besides, who would she even live with? Her closest friends had all moved out of their shared house and gone back home a month ago, straight after their last exam, which is why she had moved in two sociology students who had just left halls and were going into their second year. She hardly even knew them and hadn’t bothered making much conversation because she thought she’d be moving in with Tom soon. Jade’s lease was up soon so the best option was to move back home. But Jade felt as though Bath was her home now – that was the problem. Bath, with its beautiful countryside and stunning architecture. Jade never would have even thought about things like that when she lived in Essex. She’d changed; could she really go back? Being in Essex was like her part-time life now, and