Then She Vanishes(51)

But it had been two days and Flora felt she was going to die of a broken heart if she didn’t see him soon. He might think she was going off him. He might meet someone else. She couldn’t bear it any longer: she had to see him.

She watched as Heather jumped to her feet, throwing her arms wide and spinning around, singing loudly while Jess looked on, giggling. Heather was wearing a lemon yellow sundress and looked beautiful and innocent as she twirled on the lawn. Flora felt an unexpected pang of tenderness towards her. She knew her sister was only looking out for her. But, still, it could be stifling. She was the eldest: she didn’t need her baby sister to protect her.

She pushed away the thought. This was her chance, while they were distracted. There was no point making excuses that she was going to the shops as they would just offer to go with her. No, she had to be sneaky.

Flora studied herself in the mirror, applying a little lip gloss, fluffing up her long hair, straightening her ankle-length tasselled skirt. Then she raced downstairs before anyone saw her. She inched open the front door. From where Heather and Jess sat they would see her if she walked down the driveway, so she crept around to the other side of the house, through the bottom section of the caravan park, crawling through the hole in the hedge into the field with the turnstile that led to Jess’s house and the high street. From there it was just a short walk across the next field to the fair. She couldn’t help but break into a run as soon as she’d left the grounds of Tilby Manor, just in case Heather or Jess appeared behind her, her heavy DM boots kicking up dust from the ground.

Even though it was only three o’clock the fair was already in full swing. The company would be moving on at the end of the summer and Dylan with it. She didn’t know how she was going to be able to say goodbye.

The sun was high in the cloudless sky, and along with the crowds and the music, she felt slightly disoriented as she walked through the fair, a shimmering heat haze floating in front of her. She was disappointed to see that Dylan wasn’t in his usual position on the Waltzers. Instead two other guys had taken his place, pushing shrieking girls around to the thump of ‘Pump Up The Jam’.

Her need to see him was so great she felt sick. Where was he? Maybe it was his day off. And then, through the crowds, she spotted him and her breath caught – like it always did on first sighting. He was standing at the candyfloss van talking to someone. Dylan was wearing a linen V-necked tunic top with jeans, a beaded necklace around his throat and leather wristbands decorating his tanned arms. His floppy dark hair fell into his eyes and she thought again – for the millionth time – how beautiful he was.

But then she noticed who he was with and her heart sank.

Speedy. Again. Why was his mother’s boyfriend always hanging around? And he dressed way too young for a man approaching forty.

They looked to be in deep conversation. Speedy was leaning towards Dylan, his narrow face creased in a frown. He was wearing an oversized T-shirt with a large strawberry on the front and Adidas trainers. Dylan nodded at something Speedy was saying, his expression serious, then reached around to a back pocket to retrieve an envelope. He handed it to Speedy, who almost snatched it, then shoved it into his tatty jeans and stalked off. Dylan stared after him, then ran his hand through his hair, looking exasperated.

Flora waited a few moments before heading over. Dylan was surprised, and pleased – she was thankful to note – to see her. ‘Gypsy Girl,’ he said, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her towards him. ‘Where have you been? I’ve missed you.’

‘I had to sneak out,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘My sister’s acting like my bodyguard.’

‘Can you stay out all day?’

She laughed, giddy to be in his company again. He was like her drug: she felt intoxicated just being near him. ‘Yep. Until nine thirty this evening.’ She didn’t tell him her mum only let her come to the fair if she stuck with Heather. But as long as she was back by dark her mum couldn’t really say anything. ‘What was your stepdad doing here?’

‘He’s not my stepdad.’ Then he grinned and raised an eyebrow. It was then she noticed he had something in his hand. A clear packet of what looked like white powder. Even she knew it was more than just a bit of weed. ‘Got us a little treat for later,’ he said, kissing her nose. ‘It’ll make you feel on top of the world.’

Heather had searched the house and grounds but Flora was nowhere to be seen.

‘She’s gone,’ she said to Jess, throwing her arms wide in despair. ‘I can’t believe she’s gone.’ So much for their plan to keep Flora away from Dylan.

Jess looked down at their sketch pads at her feet, as if the answers were among the graves they’d drawn. She sighed and bit her lip.

‘What?’ snapped Heather. She could see her best friend was fighting an opinion.

Jess glanced at her. ‘It’s just … she is sixteen.’

‘But Dylan’s no good for her.’

Jess crossed her arms and stuck out her chin defiantly. ‘That’s not your decision to make, though, is it?’

Heather stared at her, aghast. They usually agreed on everything.

‘Look, what have you got against Dylan anyway? He seems okay.’

‘Okay? He gave her drugs, Jess.’

‘She smoked a bit of weed. It’s no different from drinking alcohol.’