Johnny stood with Réiltín on the beach, looking around at the crowd.
‘Reasonably well behaved. Would you agree?’
Réiltín nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
‘But the night is middle-aged,’ said Johnny. ‘That’s when the crises happen. Ask Suze.’
Réiltín laughed. ‘I think it’s going to be fine.’
‘Really? Can I place my fortune on that? Can I go home and sleep this off?’
Réiltín looked around, fear flickering in her eyes. Johnny laughed. ‘Don’t worry, the responsibility is all mine. In my experience, it’s all fun and games and nobody loses anything.’ He looked at his watch, and then at Réiltín.
‘Is there something else?’ she said.
‘I was just wondering,’ said Johnny – ‘have you checked on our prisoner?’
Amber and LB were sitting by the bonfire using their hoodies as cushions. A guy with dreadlocks and a guitar sat down beside Amber, and she and LB looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Amber turned to the guitar guy. ‘Sorry – it’s not you.’ She turned back to LB. ‘Or maybe it is,’ she mouthed.
LB laughed.
‘I wouldn’t go there even if I wanted to,’ said Amber. ‘Just to spite her,’ and she made a Yikes! face. ‘Is that terrible?’
‘No,’ said LB. ‘No, it’s not.’
Amber looked around the beach. ‘Oh God. Look at Rupert.’
‘Oh no,’ said LB. ‘He’s like a lost dog.’
‘A giant, beautiful red setter,’ said Amber.
‘I swear to God…’ said LB.
‘If that guy breaks his heart—’ they both said at the same time.
‘He won’t,’ said Amber.
‘No,’ said LB. ‘No way.’
‘We would hunt him down and kill him,’ said Amber.
Kelly walked across the sand, knocking back vodka, scanning the party with angry eyes. Réiltín, Réiltín, Réiltín. What the hell is wrong with everyone? She spotted Rupert wandering around, and was about to head towards him, when she saw Amber and LB sitting at the bonfire. Beside a hippie tuning his guitar.
‘Told ya,’ said Kelly, leaning between the two of them. She turned to the guy. ‘Hello, hippie guitar man. Have you met my friend, Amber?’
Amber turned to him and gave him an apologetic smile. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She used LB’s shoulder to push herself up onto her feet, and turned to Kelly.
‘Well, that was rude,’ said Amber.
‘No, it wasn’t,’ said Kelly. ‘It was funny.’
‘We weren’t even talking to the poor guy,’ said Amber.
‘So, we don’t even know him, so it doesn’t matter,’ said Kelly. She shrugged, and leaned out. ‘Sorry, hippie guitar man, for any offence I may have caused. Or not, probably.’
Amber stared at her.
‘What is wrong with you guys tonight?’ said Kelly.
‘Oh my God,’ said Amber. ‘There’s nothing wrong with us. It’s you!’
LB jumped up from the sand and moved in beside Amber.
‘Fine, I get it,’ said Kelly. ‘Réiltín is amazing, Lockie’s amazing, you’re all amazing, and I’m a bitch.’
‘No,’ said Amber, ‘no one has said any of those things. It’s literally like Kelly Translate! You put the words in and whatever comes out is a foreign language. Or just lies.’
‘I’m not lying,’ said Kelly.
‘Distorting the truth?’ said Amber.
Kelly swayed in front of her.
‘Can you actually listen to what people are saying?’ said Amber. ‘It’s in English. And try not to process it through your messed-up translation software. Listen to the words I’m saying. But don’t expect me to respond to the words you’re hearing.’
Kelly snorted. ‘Why are you so angry?’
Amber let out a breath. She looked around at people smiling and laughing. Behind them, the guy with the guitar started to play. ‘It’s our last night,’ said Amber. ‘We shouldn’t be fighting—’
‘I wasn’t the one fighting!’ shouted Kelly. ‘You were the ones—’
‘Oh, just shut up, Kelly! Shut up!’ said LB. ‘Just shut up when someone’s trying to apologise—’
‘Whoa,’ said Amber. ‘I was not trying to apologise.’
‘I meant you were trying to calm things down,’ said LB.
‘Oh my God,’ said Kelly, ‘when you were the ones losing it!’
Amber and LB exchanged glances.
‘I can’t,’ said Amber, shaking her head. ‘I can’t.’
‘Do you know what?’ said Kelly. ‘Just go off, the two of you…’ She looked at Amber. ‘Go off, grab your crystals and your little tiny moon, and do your stupid—’
‘Things are not stupid,’ said Amber, ‘just because you don’t like them! Or get them! Or… or because they make you feel like you’re not the centre of the universe!’
‘Wow,’ said Kelly.
‘Wow,’ said Amber, imitating her. She turned to LB. ‘Have you ever noticed? Kelly says “wow” every time someone tells a truth about her that she doesn’t like. If they get angry enough, they’ll say it, but Kelly just gets to say “wow”, which is her smoke bomb. “Look over there at her anger! Don’t look at me and the truth she just told about me.” ’ Amber turned and walked away. ‘I’m not waiting for your “wow” this time,’ she called back.
Kelly could feel LB’s eyes on her, but stood, steely-eyed, staring ahead, until LB slipped from her side and ran across the beach after Amber.
Kelly stayed where she was, arms crossed, looking for something or someone or anything. She saw Rupert, head high, scanning the beach. She ran towards him.
‘So Amber just went nuts,’ said Kelly.
‘Amber?’ said Rupert.
‘I know,’ said Kelly. ‘She said all these horrible things.’
‘Amber?’ said Rupert. ‘Sorry – no.’
‘She did. It was insane. And LB ran after her. Like, Amber stormed off.’
‘Why did she storm off?’ said Rupert. ‘Is she OK?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Kelly. ‘Relax. She’s fine. LB ran after her.’
Rupert didn’t respond.
Kelly turned to him so suddenly he flinched. She laughed. ‘Walk me back to my room, Rupe? I’m done.’
‘What?’ said Rupert. ‘No. I’m meeting Tadhg.’
‘Ohhh,’ said Kelly. ‘Exciting.’
Rupert looked around, nervous.
‘Oh no – is he late? Do you think he’s not coming? OK, if he doesn’t show—’
‘Of course he’s going to show!’ said Rupert. ‘He’s the one who asked me—’
‘Mmm, OK, but if he doesn’t, you can come to my room. We’ll have drinks, yeah?’
Rupert turned to her. ‘He’s coming, Kelly. OK?’
‘No, I know,’ said Kelly. ‘I know.’ She started walking backwards. ‘I’m going to go now. I can walk back myself. Don’t forget, though… But he’ll come! I know he will! Like – look at you! Gorgeous!’
She took a few more steps backwards, then pirouetted around, tossed her hair, threw her arms up high, and walked away on tiptoes across the sand.
You little scorpion, thought Rupert. Always a sting in the tail.