The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Introduction to Caitlin Price


Caitlin sat at her dressing table, every inch of her skin tingling with excitement. It was almost four months since she’d seen the girls. Now, for one night, they would be the Three Musketeers once again. Caitlin smiled as she remembered the dreadful fancy dress party where they dressed as their heroes. She scratched her top lip at the memory of her plastic moustache.

Right, hair, Caitlin thought, what am I gonna do with my hair? For a moment, she sagged in her chair. Pursing her lips, she sulked at the unfairness of her fine, fly away locks. She ran her fingers through, pulling it back into a ponytail. Instantly, it escaped and fell back to rest on her shoulders. Rolling her eyes, she said, “Oh well, I guess I’ll wear it down,” and chuckled at her own vanity.

Caitlin’s thoughts returned to her best friends, Hannah and Freya. It had been the three of them for as long as she could remember. Throughout school, they were inseparable. Except, they constantly found themselves being separated by teachers who had this weird ‘thing’ about pupils not spending the lesson chatting with mates.

Caitlin was always the most academic of the three. Freya hated school and couldn’t wait to leave and start earning money. Hannah was incredibly intelligent but had serious issues with authority figures. Caitlin, though. She was intelligent and hard working. It was always her plan to go to university. Anything to get away from home.

Applying her lipstick, Caitlin found herself humming their signature song. Her eyes sparkled as she recalled the feeling of the drums beating hypnotically, inside and out of her body. Using the only drum sticks she had to hand (an eye liner pencil and a lip gloss), she began playing her special drum solo. She closed her eyes and, for a few moments, she was in the concert hall at school.

Hannah and Freya were with her. Hannah, dressed head to toe in black, and Freya, small, scrappy and tomboyish. Caitlin closed her eyes and watched herself enter the picture. Sat behind her beloved drums, long black skirt and Doctor Marten boots. We thought we were so cool, Caitlin thought.

The sound of the doorbell pierced Caitlin’s memories. She ran to answer the door. When she found Freya on the other side, she squealed with delight and pulled her close for a hug. “I’m guessing Hannah’s not here yet?” said Freya.

“No. I’m sure she’ll be at least ten minutes late,” Caitlin said, with a laugh. “Now, to the serious business. What would you like to drink while we wait?”

“Have you got any cider?” asked Freya.

“Frey, I have everything.”

Just as Freya opened her can, the doorbell rang again. “I’ll get it!” yelled Caitlin, her voice higher and more frenzied than before. “Hannah,” Caitlin said, as soon as the door was open. “You’re wearing colours.”

“Oh my God, so are you!” said Hannah. Then at the same time, both said, “We’re not goths any more.”

Linking arms with Hannah, they joined Freya in the living room. Caitlin looked from friend to friend and smiled. She had missed this. Sure, she had friends at uni. She had Carl, for goodness sake. But it wasn’t the same. These beautiful people knew her better than anyone. They had been there through so much heartache They never judged her, they gave her unconditional love.

Swallowing the tears she could feel rising to her throat, Caitlin smiled and forced her mind back to happiness. Ensuring they all had drinks, Caitlin sat back on the sofa, smiled and exhaled all her worries in one long breath.

Hannah took the lead, as always. “So, Cait, tell us all about uni. Come on, it’s been four months!”

“Okay,” said Cait, her cheeks flushing at the attention. “It’s really good. I’m in the middle of a ‘Romanticism and Revolution’ module at the moment. It’s all about the Romantic poets, you know, Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge. It’s interesting. Yeah, I like it.”

“Oh wow, Cait. Say it like you mean it,” said Hannah.

Caitlin felt her heart drumming faster and heat spread, like a rash, from her chest to the top of her head. “W - well. I am loving the course, really I am. It’s exactly what I wanted.” Caitlin paused, trying to find the right words to explain herself.

“Have you made friends? Are you feeling homesick?” said Hannah, a bloodhound for information.

“Yes, a few. Actually, I - I have a boyfriend.”

“No way!” Hannah’s incredulity hurt Caitlin. Why was it so implausible?

Freya, on the other hand, said, “Good on you, Cait. It’ll do you good.”

Caitlin watched Hannah’s head snap around to face Freya. Eyebrows arched, mouth tight, Hannah said, “Yes, of course.” Then, turning back to Caitlin, “How long have you known him?” Her voice was clipped with irritation and Caitlin found she no longer wanted to talk about it. “Well?” Hannah insisted.

“Actually, we met at a party in Fresher’s week. We were bo - “

“Fresher’s week? Wait a minute. That’s, like, the first week of term. You’ve been seeing him for four months?” Hannah’s tone was one of hurt, annoyance and superiority and Caitlin felt herself sinking deeper and deeper into the chair. She wondered if she could possibly be swallowed by the oversized cushion.

“Yes,” Caitlin said, her voice sounding muffled, “I have. We’re in love, if you must know. He treats me like a princess. He’s so good to me.” The more Caitlin spoke of her boyfriend, the stronger her voice became.

“He says he has never loved anyone like he loves me, and I feel the same way.” Caitlin paused to catch her breath. “We’re thinking of moving in together. He has his own house, his parents are rich, or something.”

“Cait,” said Hannah, “be careful. I’m not trying to be mean, but you hardly know this guy.” Taking her friend’s hand, Hannah said, “You’re too good natured, people take advantage of that. Please don’t let him hurt you, you’ve been through so much.”

Caitlin felt her body freeze. Her breath was disappearing and she felt dizzy. No, not now, she thought, No panic attack, please! Counting her breaths in and out, she managed to regain control.

“Hannah. Freya,” she said. "I love you guys. You’re my BFFs, you know that. But Carl is lovely, really he is. Why don’t we all meet up next week? Freya, you could bring Daniel. It could all be relaxed and fun. What d’you say?”

Hannah and Freya exchanged glances then nodded in agreement. “But if we don't like him, Cait, you have to listen to us.” Caitlin watched Freya nod in agreement with Hannah.

By the end of the evening, much alcohol had been consumed. Hannah and Freya stumbled out of the door when Freya’s boyfriend arrived to pick them up. “Next week,” said Hannah. Then, as an afterthought, “I love you, Cait.”

Caitlin smiled and waved them goodbye. She had drunk more than normal tonight, she needed it to help her feel comfortable. It worked, she was left with a warm glow inside of her. Her past was forgotten, her future was golden. Her smile was open and reached all the way to her eyes.

She had to speak to Carl, to tell him about next week. She found her phone at the back of the sofa and felt a flutter in her stomach as she noticed nine missed calls. All from Carl.

Taking a deep breath, Caitlin dialled Carl’s number with shaky fingers. He answered immediately. “Where have you been?” Caitlin gulped air as her chest constricted.

“I’ve just been at home. With Hannah and Freya. You know that.”

“I know that’s where you said you’d be. Why didn’t you answer your phone? Are you trying to avoid me?” His voice was hostile, loud, frightening.

“N - no. Of course not. My phone fell down the back of the sofa. I did’t hear it. I’m sorry, Carl.”

“That had better be the truth. I’ll find out if it isn’t.”

Seizing the moment, Caitlin said, “Well, actually, you can hear the truth for yourself. I told the girls all about you and they want to meet you. I said next Friday. Is that okay?”

“I assume you have agreed to this, without consulting me?”

“Well, yes, I - “

“Then I will be there. Don’t do this again, Caitlin. Never agree to things on my behalf. And never hide from my phone calls.”

With that, he was gone, and Caitlin’s night with her best friends was wiped out. She tried to fight the sobs, but it wasn’t long before her whole body was shaking with sadness. Fear, also. Carl was a different man tonight. She had never heard that voice before. Or had she?

Still crying, she climbed into bed without undressing. She curled into a tight ball and sobbed, full of pain from the past and fear for the future. She had a bad feeling about this.