Oxford Blood (4 page)

“Looks like it’s club time,” said Caroline with a grin.
“Let’s get rid of these gowns. I’ll meet you by the porters lodge in ten. Olamide?
Callum? Are you guys coming?”

Callum shook his head. Olamide hesitated. “Well, maybe as
it’s a special occasion.”

Caroline grinned. “Guys, it’s freshers’ week and believe me,
I’m not taking no for an answer.”

***

They left via a large decorative stone archway known as the
Porters’ Lodge. The Porters were responsible for both guarding the college and
dealing with the day-to-day running of it. She’d already heard the rumours that
they were all ex-army, perhaps even ex-SAS and wasn’t sure whether to believe
it. As she walked past, one of them caught her eye.

“It’s Harriet isn’t it? I remember your mother and father
when they were at the college. I never forget a student. None of us do. Don’t
worry about anything. We’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Harriet smiled, but before she could reply, she was swept
away by the crowd of students and found herself out on the street.

As they walked, she told Caroline and Olamide about Tom.

“Oh, I think I know who you mean,” mused Caroline. “I’m sure
I talked to him just before dinner. Bloody gorgeous. If you think you’re in
there you’d better get together with him quickly before someone else does.”

Harriet tried not to think about the numerous glamorous
girls milling around. After a long queue outside the club, they finally made it
inside. Every fresher in the University, and many older students had had the
same idea – she’d never seen a club so full. She was sure dancing would be
impossible and began to worry about whether she’d be able to find Tom at all.

The college rep however announced that they had a VIP area
booked. “Follow me,” he shouted, struggling to make himself heard over the
music and the crowds.

Working their way through the swarms of students, they made
it to a door. Going through, they found themselves on a large balcony
overlooking the main dance floor, decorated with an Arabian theme. As far as
Harriet could tell, everyone in the room was from her college. It was full
enough to make for a great atmosphere, but unlike downstairs, there was room to
dance and even some space on large sofas to sit and have a drink.

The music was fun, being a mixture of the latest tracks,
lots of cheesy stuff and a bit of RnB. In other words, if not the classiest
combination, it was guaranteed to get a room full of slightly drunk students
dancing like idiots. As Harriet gyrated, it struck her that she’d never really
come across drunken posh people before. It was a slightly surreal experience.
Nonetheless, she was appreciating the number of both athletic rowing and rugby
types and floppy haired pretty boys. She felt on rather safer ground her than
she had at the meal, having been a fixture of the clubs in her hometown since
she’d turned seventeen.

Suddenly, in the middle of “I Am the One and Only”, Caroline
grabbed her hand again and dragged her over the a corner of the room.

“Over there, that’s Ben. Finally. He must have come in late,
or been lost in the big room.” Having spent most of the evening talking about
him, Caroline now seemed reluctant to approach.

“Okay,” said Harriet, taking charge. “I’m going to buy you
one more shot, and then we’re both going over there whether you like it or
not.”

Caroline nodded and downed the proffered Sambuca. Before she
could change her mind, both girls marched over to the sofa where Ben was sprawled.

“So I’m definitely thinking of doing a bit of rowing,” he
was saying to the guys sat around him as they approached.

With a feeling of shock, Harriet realised that one of his
companions was Tom. He’d had his back to her, so despite the distinctive dark
curly hair, she hadn’t noticed from across the room, but close up, his
hypnotically good looks were unmistakable.

“Caroline!” Ben shouted excitedly.”Amazing to see you again.
You totally disappeared earlier.” He grabbed her and kissed her on each cheek
before picking her up and spinning her around.

Caroline laughed as he placed her back on the ground.

Ben shuffled to the edge of the seat to make room for them
both.

Harriet was pleased by Ben’s reaction. It seemed that
Caroline wasn’t going to be disappointed. Tom on the other hand barely appeared
to have registered her presence.

“Hi Tom. Good to see you again,” she finally managed.

“Harriet. Hello. I’m glad you made it here and I hope you’ve
been having a pleasant time so far.”

His oddly formal and distant tone confused her. “Yes it’s
been great. The college is amazing and the people are lovely and tonight’s been
really fun. Ready for some dancing?”

“I’m pleased to hear you’re enjoying yourself,” Tom replied.
“Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go and speak to someone.”

He gave Harriet one long look that made her shiver, deep
blue eyes staring out from under his dark fringe. Then he disappeared into the
main room.

“Wow, sorry about that,” said Ben, breaking off from a
conversation with Caroline that had been causing her to laugh hysterically
(whilst carefully tossing her hair and fluttering her eyelashes). “I don’t know
what all that was about, he was the year above me at school and he’s got lots
of chat usually. Must be having a bad night.”

He smiled broadly, a man who never lacked confidence and was
exactly where he wanted to be. “Now, let me get you both a drink.”

Whilst he was at the bar, Harriet and Caroline turned to
each other. “Oh my God, he’s even lovelier than I remembered,” Caroline
giggled. “What do you think? Do you like him? Do you think he’s into me?”

“He seems nice,” she replied half-heartedly. “And of course
he’s into you. His eyes lit up when you came over and he hasn’t stopped staring
at you since. Unlike Tom.”

“Oh no, sweetie, what a dick. I can’t believe he basically
blanked you.”

“So you don’t think I’m just being oversensitive?”

“Of course not, but it’s like Ben said, he’s probably just
having a bad night. I’m sure if you talk to him tomorrow he’ll be much
friendlier.”

Ben quickly came back, beaming and carrying drinks. Harriet
took her vodka Red Bull gratefully. Ben and Caroline tried to include her in
their conversation, but through their politeness, they clearly only had eyes
for each other. After a while, she got up to dance.

“Just give me shout if you want me or you’re ready to
leave,” she said to Caroline. “Otherwise I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Great
to meet you Ben.”

Harriet danced with lots of people she barely knew, all of
whom seemed fun and in the mood for making friends. The atmosphere in the room
was still electric but she felt deflated. She glimpsed Tom briefly across the
room at one point, but decided not to risk humiliating herself further by
speaking to him again. She forced herself to keep dancing, to have some more
drinks, to look like she was having fun and not to leave before the lights came
on.

Chapter Three

H
arriet
woke the next morning with a banging headache, and for a few moments at least,
no recollection of where she was. Looking around and remembering that she was
finally in Oxford cheered her enough to get up and take some Paracetamol.
Looking at her schedule, she realised she’d have to get ready fast to make the
meeting with the history tutors. Trying to convince herself that she wasn’t
about to be sick she showered and pulled on jeans and an embroidered green top.
Taking deep breaths, she walked to the head tutor’s room.

There was no sign of Caroline, but she slipped into a seat
next to Olamide. The meeting passed in a daze whilst she tried her best not to
meet the tutors’ eyes. Luckily, the only question they asked her was a simple
enquiry into what options she’d chosen, which she managed to answer calmly. The
tutors gave a talk about how the History course worked and what they expected
of their students – at least one, sometimes two 2000 word essays each week
followed by an hour-long tutorial to discuss what they’d written. Lectures were
optional though encouraged, but students were meant to do the bulk of their
learning by reading. Lots and lots of reading.

Once the meeting over, they were free from scheduled
activities for the day. In need of fresh air, Harriet decided to take the
opportunity to explore the town properly. It was even more magical on foot. She
looked around some of the other colleges (this didn’t dint her initial
conviction that hers was the most beautiful), took photos of the nicest
buildings and finished by buying herself home baked cookies at a little shop in
the Covered Market. It was surprisingly easy to navigate, and when she decided
it was time to head back she managed to find her college again quickly.

***

“So no, we didn’t actually hook up,” Caroline explained,
sprawled on Harriet’s bed later in the day. “We were flirting like crazy and
dancing loads. I kept thinking he was going to pull me on the dance floor but
he never quite went for it.” She took a sip of the coffee that Harriet had made
her and gave a dramatic, exaggerated sigh.

“But when the club was closing, he suggested we should walk
back to college together. It’s a fairly long walk, so I was sure he was trying
to get me on my own. We were leaving, I took his hand, it was all amazing, and
then some of his idiot friends decided to join us. I’m not sure whether they
were clueless or trying to ruin things but I was furious.”

“So you just went back to your own room?” The force of her
friend’s emotions amused Harriet.

“Pretty much. He walked me back there and we had this
awkward goodnight. He’d better not be one of those public school boys who are
secretly terrified of girls.”

“He seemed very confident and very into you,” Harriet
soothed. “I guess you’ve just got to give him time. You did better than me
anyway.”

At this, Caroline smiled and jumped to her feet. “Well, my
plan is to strike at the bop on Friday.”

Harriet racked her brains trying to think over the fresher’s
guide she’d read. “Sorry, what’s happening on Friday?”

“The bop. They’re sort of fancy dress parties held in the
bar, just for people at the college. A sound system is set up, the
entertainment reps DJ, everyone gets drunk and silly and dances about.”

Harriet thought that sounded perfect. “So what’s the theme?”

“Animals apparently. So I’m thinking lets grab lunch in the
bar, and afterwards the two of us can head into town and get some clothes.

Harriet agreed. She liked dressing up and loved shopping.

“We’ve got to make sure we look super cute and sexy,”
Caroline said. “I’m going to sweep Ben off his feet, and you are going to have
that Tom guy throwing himself at you.”

The two of them headed to the college bar for a late lunch.
Ben was sat with Josh and the two boys waved them over.

“Hey, what are you two up to tonight?” Ben asked.

“Nothing in particular, why?” replied Caroline, playing with
her hair flirtatiously.

“Oh, after you went to bed I bumped into Tom Flyte again.
Apparently he’s planning a massive party in his room tonight. I wondered if the
two of you fancied going.”

“Sound good to me,” Caroline said. “Are you in Harriet?”

Harriet could feel her heart pounding. There was nothing
she’d like more than to go to a party hosted by Tom but she wasn’t sure she
could bear him ignoring her in a situation where it would be obvious to
everyone.

“Actually I already have plans tonight. I’m going to the
Union with Ola. It’s the first debate of the year:
This House Has No Faith
in Her Majesty’s Government
. It’s free and there are drinks before and
after. I’m thinking of joining and it’d be a shame to miss it.”

She was intrigued about the Union, having been reading up on
it. It had been founded as a debating society in Victorian times, and still
prided itself on having influential or controversial speakers and well argued
debates. It was also meant to have a strong social side and places on its
various organising committees were viciously fought for.

Caroline looked aghast. “Well, if everyone’s finished eating
we should be off. Shopping to do. Ben, I guess I’ll see you at Tom’s.”

She led Harriet out of the bar and walked hurriedly towards
the college gates. “Are you mad?” she asked. “Didn’t you hear what Ben said?
Tom is holding a party. Tom who you are obsessed with. Why on earth aren’t you
going to go?”

Harriet shook her head. “Well partly what I just said –I
want to go to this Union thing. And partly, he was so weird with me last night.
I can’t face that happening again. Let’s stick with plan A of trying to wow him
at the bop with my sexy animal outfit. In the meantime, I need you to
interrogate him.”

***

Harriet met Olamide at half seven in the porter’s lodge.
She’d had a fun afternoon shopping with Caroline and was now the proud owner of
a cat outfit comprised of tight black leather trousers, a black corset style
top, a little satin collar and a set of cat ears and a long tail. She couldn’t
wait for Friday night.

The Union was a large Victorian building set back from the
road in the centre of town. A little passageway off the pavement led to a
garden with buildings on either side.

“Any idea where we’re meant to go?” she asked Olamide.

The other girl shook her head. “We’d better ask someone.”

Harriet glanced around, wondering who to ask. Most people
looked as lost as she felt. Then she saw a figure lounging against a pillar. He
seemed supremely confident and at home there, and she felt sure he would be
able to explain where the debate was. The only problem was how nervous she felt
about approaching him. He gave off an air of being untouchable. She walked over
and felt her nerves turn to shock. The lounging boy was utterly beautiful. He
was tall and slender, with hair that was so blond it was nearly white falling
to his neck. His face was delicate, almost feminine, but somehow Harriet was
sure that he wasn’t to be messed with. His eyes were piercing green, similar to
hers but even more dramatic. He was wearing an expensive looking suit, which
couldn’t quite hide the contours of his sleek, toned body.