Jaddi
The humming had started again. Outrage, hurt and fury rooted Jaddi to the spot. After everything she’d done for Lizzie and Samantha, after everything she’d done to get them here, did her friends not know her at all?
‘Noooo.’ Samantha shook her head again and covered her mouth with her hands. ‘You wouldn’t.’ Despite the words, there was doubt in Samantha’s tone.
Jaddi felt like she was going to explode – something tight within her finally snapped. ‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ she half shouted, glaring at Harrison, ‘and beside from the fact that Lizzie is one of my best friends, I’m in a committed relationship. Actually, do you know what, I’m in love, and I have been for years, and there’s no way I’d risk losing that for someone like you.’
‘What?’ Samantha dropped her hands. Confusion crossed her face. ‘No, you’re not.’
‘Yes, I am,’ Jaddi said.
The creaking of insects and the hooting call of a nearby animal filled the silence.
‘How can you be?’ Samantha’s tone softened. ‘Why have you never said anything before?’
‘I’m saying something now,’ Jaddi said, wishing already that she hadn’t. At least the camera was off, she conceded.
Jaddi didn’t reply.
‘Ja—’
‘Suk,’ Jaddi cut in.
‘I … I can’t believe you’ve never said anything.’
Samantha threw up her arms and dropped down next to Jaddi on the log. ‘We just assumed you were off with other guys. You let us assume.’
‘It’s difficult with … our parents,’ Jaddi replied, her stomach turning a little at Samantha’s comment and choosing her own words carefully. ‘We thought it would be better to keep it quiet until we were sure.’
‘But …’ Samantha shook her head. ‘How long have you been seeing each other? I still can’t believe I didn’t know.’
Jaddi dropped her gaze to her hands and felt the hole she’d dug for herself deepen. ‘Quite a while.’
‘You’re not going to believe her, are ya?’ Harrison said. ‘She’s lying. She’s making up some mystery guy to disguise the fact that she made a pass at me.’
Ben cleared his throat. He twisted the camera towards them and unplugged the headphone cable. A second later, Harrison’s muffled voice carried in the air.
‘You can stop pretending. I’m not going to tell Lizzie.’
‘Harrison, GET OFF ME.’
‘This is my favourite bit,’ Ben said, skipping the footage forward.
‘Is that all it means to you – fame? So that’s it then.’
‘And, so what if it is? Lizzie’s happy. She’s in love with me. So what if at the end of all this I make a name for myself? I’m not cut out for office work. Just look at me. I’m meant for greatness. What’s so wrong with that? Lizzie won’t care, she’ll be dead.’
Harrison jumped up. ‘What the …? Mate?’ Harrison’s eyes widened as his gaze moved from the camera to Ben. ‘I’ll tell Lizzie you cut it to sound different. She’ll still believe me.’
Just then a torch flicked on and a figure stepped out of the darkness. ‘Are you sure about that?’ Lizzie asked.
‘Lizzie! I … I can explain,’ Harrison spluttered, dropping his plate to the ground.
‘Go on then,’ she replied, stepping over to Jaddi and sitting next to her. ‘I’m glad you’re OK, but why on earth didn’t you tell us about your boyfriend?’
‘Sorry,’ Jaddi said, guilt and relief curdling together inside her. ‘It’s difficult to talk about. It’s not something we’ve shared with our families.’
‘Lizzie.’ Harrison limped towards her.
‘I thought you wanted to explain,’ Lizzie said, putting an arm around Jaddi. ‘We’re waiting.’
‘Can we go somewhere private?’ He mumbled, glancing between them.
Lizzie sighed and stood up. She turned back to Jaddi. ‘Have something to eat, OK?’
Jaddi nodded.
Lizzie strode away to a nearby clearing, with Harrison limping after her.
Ben waited a moment before standing up. He nodded towards the darkness. ‘I’d better go and film this.’
‘Thank you, Ben,’ Jaddi said.
‘Any time,’ he said with a shrug.
‘Will you get in trouble for letting us hear it?’ she asked.
‘If someone feels the need to tell Caroline, then, yes, I probably will get in trouble. Anyone feel that need?’ He looked between Samantha and Jaddi and waited a beat before he spoke again. ‘Didn’t think so.’
‘Because I didn’t want there to be a rift between you three over someone like him.’
Jaddi smiled. ‘And you like Lizzie.’
‘Er …’ Ben’s gaze flicked to Samantha and back to Jaddi. ‘I like all of you. And, more importantly, we’ve still got another six weeks together, and I don’t want to be filming a load of stony silences. I need to film this though –’ he nodded his head in the direction of Lizzie and Harrison again ‘– or I will be in trouble.’
Ben tucked the camera under his arm and stepped into the darkness.
‘He totally likes her,’ Jaddi said, hoping to smooth over the awkwardness hovering between her and Samantha.
‘Jaddi, I’m—’
‘It’s fine.’ Jaddi stepped over to the hamper. Hunger was the last thing on her mind, but she knew she had to eat.
‘I’m sorry,’ Samantha said, touching Jaddi’s arm and stopping her in her tracks. ‘I shouldn’t have doubted you.’
‘You didn’t.’
Samantha nodded and scrunched up her face. ‘I did a bit.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine.’ Jaddi shrugged, pushing away the sting of Samantha’s doubt. After everything Jaddi had done what right did she have to feel hurt? Jaddi pulled Samantha close and hugged her tight. ‘I know how I come across. I know I’m a massive flirt. It doesn’t mean anything though.’
‘I’m still sorry.’
‘In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. You were worried about Lizzie, I understand that.’ Jaddi sighed, reaching for her plate of food.
They huddled in silence by the dying fire watching the glow of Lizzie’s torch across the campsite. ‘Should we go and make sure Lizzie is all right?’
‘No.’ Jaddi shook her head and swallowed a mouthful of warm potato. ‘Lizzie didn’t exactly look cut up, did she? She’ll give us a shout if she needs us.’