“Violet?” I called. I’d searched through all the outbuildings but there was no sign of her. I was up the back of Pocket of Dreams now, still looking. “Violet?”
Zen was standing with a group of horses in the valley, in the shadow of a dappled tree next to the dam. But I couldn’t see Violet.
I was about to turn and head back to the main house when I heard a sound. A sniffling sound. It was coming from the old disused barn at the edge of the property.
I turned back, but instead of calling out, this time I decided to get closer before making my presence known. I stepped inside. It was musty in here, and silent. I shuffled forwards, my feet disturbing clouds of dust, and ducked to avoid the cobwebs. I picked my way around a falling-down wall and there, sitting on the ground, leaning against a bale of hay, was Violet. And right next to her, patting her shoulder and speaking softly, was Kai.
I backed away as quietly as I could, but just as I reached the door of the barn Violet looked up. I saw her eyes widen in surprise, then I turned away.
As soon as I got outside I took a great, shuddering breath, and then I walked as fast as possible back up to the house. My heart was pounding, and I had a kind of surging feeling that was half-panic and half-wanting to cry.
Kai and … Violet? He always defended her whenever he thought I was being critical, but I didn’t mind that because he was my friend, not hers. I thought when he stood up for her he was just trying to make sure I wasn’t overreacting, that I was considering the other side – Violet’s side. I had been so happy to have my best friend back, who was always on my side. At home with Viv and Mum and Eloise we’d all been hanging out and making things together, like a family, and at school he always seemed pleased to see me when we passed each other in the hallways, and we always ate together during recess and lunch. I knew he sat with Violet in maths, and I’d seen them chatting sometimes, but it hadn’t occurred to me they might be close. Maybe it wasn’t fair of me to say he couldn’t be friends with both of us, but somehow, I knew he couldn’t. Or at least, he shouldn’t.
When I got back to the house I went into the little bathroom near the entry and washed my face and smoothed my hair, holding my gaze in the mirror and making sure I looked the same, even though everything felt different. I took a deep breath and counted to five before breathing out again, the way Mum had taught me to when I was feeling upset. I drank some water and took some more deep breaths, this time counting to ten. Mum would be here to pick us up in a minute and I didn’t want her to know anything was wrong.
As I stepped out of the house I saw Violet and her mother leading Paris back into his float, Shannon watching on. Paris hesitated at the top of the ramp, and tried to turn back, but Violet was determined and Paris submitted. I chewed my lip as I watched them climb into their Range Rover and drive away. I didn’t want to comfort Violet anymore. That urge was gone. But what about Kai? I had to somehow get over this. After all, he couldn’t help it if I liked him more than he liked me. I mean, I couldn’t help it, so what was he supposed to do?
The clouds that had been threatening to burst all afternoon finally opened up, covering The Pocket with a curtain of rain. Kai’s schoolbooks and jacket were still under the oak tree and I ran over to rescue them before they got soaked. As I picked up Kai’s textbook to stuff it into his backpack, something fell out of it. I blinked the water out of my eyes and picked it up, staring, for a moment not recognising what it was I was looking at.