The Better Woman Read Online Free PDF

commiserate.
    â€˜There’s Nuala,’ she said, seeing her friend. ‘See ya.’
    â€˜Ah, there you go again,’ he called after her. ‘Snobby Sarah Ryan – too good to talk to someone like me.’
    Sarah ignored him and pushed her way through the crowd.
    â€˜What were you talking to Daniel about?’ Nuala whispered urgently. She’d had a crush on Daniel for months now but couldn’t get him to notice her.
    â€˜He failed Maths and Irish,’ Sarah replied matter-of-factly. ‘I’m getting a drink. Do you want anything?’
    It took ages to get served at the bar and Sarah spilt half the drinks on the way back. She stood next to Nuala. Waves of conversation and laughter rose and fell around her. The cigarette smoke cast a haze over the talking, laughing faces. She felt strangely detached. Like she didn’t really belong. Like she shouldbe somewhere else. With John. Then she became annoyed with herself. Why couldn’t she have a good time without him?
    The dance hall was a basketball court by day. Rotating lights, extra seating and a cocky DJ were all that was needed to convert it into quite a convincing discotheque: you just had to remember not to look at the blue and yellow lines on the floor. Alcohol was not allowed, the admission fee was five pounds, and it cost ten pence to put your coat in the cloakroom.
    Nuala was determined to hang on in the pub for as long as possible, though. ‘There’ll be nobody on the dance floor yet,’ she declared. ‘Better to arrive when it’s really going. Make an entrance.’
    The bar staff eventually rang the bell for last orders and Nuala decided it was time to make their ‘entrance’. They left the pub and walked uphill to the hall. A breeze blew against them, soft and pure after the heavy smoke in the pub. The sky was a canvas of stars. Nuala was mildly drunk, Sarah cold sober.
    In the foyer of the hall, they were passed by Mr Fahey, a determined look on his face, a head of dark hair locked under his arm. Sarah said hello before dropping her eyes to see who he was removing from the premises.
    â€˜Daniel?’
    Daniel, through no will of his own, disappeared outside. Nuala spun on her heel and ran after him. Sarah felt obliged to go too.
    â€˜Daniel! Are you all right?’
    Freed from Mr Fahey’s grip and bent over at the waist, Daniel didn’t respond.
    Nuala glared at the bouncer responsible for removing the one boy she had wanted to impress that night.
    â€˜You’ve no right to throw him out, none at all!’
    Daniel started to retch and Nuala quickly changed her mind.
    â€˜God, that’s disgusting,’ she said, her face screwed up with distaste as she stepped out of the way. ‘Let’s get inside, Sarah,’ she ordered, as if it had been all Sarah’s idea to go rushing to Daniel’s aid.
    Nuala’s good spirits were restored when she saw that the dance floor was full to capacity. Hands raised above her head, she danced her way through the crowd. Sarah followed. She tried her best to enjoy herself. She danced under the spinning orbs, sang along with some of the songs, and smiled on cue. But her heart wasn’t in it. She didn’t want any of the immature boys who asked her to dance. She wanted John.
    The last set of slow dances came on. The lights dimmed. Sarah was asked to dance: once, twice, three times. Mr Fahey was leaving at two-thirty: only forty more minutes to endure. Another boy sidled up and she turned him down with a shake of her head.
    â€˜Crazy for You’ sounded out over the speakers. Sarah’s eyes were inexplicably drawn to the doorway. Her heart somersaulted at the sight of the tall, achingly-familiar figure standing there. John had come after all.
    She was instantly scared that he wouldn’t see her.
    â€˜John! John!’ She pushed her way through the crowd.
    Finally they found each other and she was in his