Undone(79)

The bonfire is smaller than the one at Max’s house last year. I guess someone doesn’t want to risk a full-on forest fire breaking out. There are loads of people here already; I recognize some of the faces from last year. That ramps up the anxiety levels a little. Some older boys sitting around the fire don’t even try to hide the fact that they’re blatantly ogling us the minute we enter the clearing. One of them looks so much like Max that they could be twins. He jumps up and says, ‘Welcome, ladies! Grab a blanket and make yourselves comfortable.’ He wraps Louise in a big bear hug. ‘Hello, dear almost-sister-in-law … always a pleasure.’ They hug for slightly too long and Sasha and I exchange A Look. Once the too-long hugging is over, Louise introduces me to Max the Elder (Sebastian, which is the perfect name for a sleazy wanker if ever there was one). The other girls must have met him last year. Another reminder that things were very, very different back then.

Max and his brother might look the same, but Sebastian makes Max look like a Jane Austen hero (not that I’ve read any Jane Austen novels, but I’ve seen enough TV adaptations to give me a fair idea). He hugs each one of us and spends an unnecessary amount of time stroking Amber’s fur coat. Amber loves it, obviously.

I look around while Sebastian introduces his equally sleazy mates to Amber and Sasha, who are in full-on girly giggle mode. I’m embarrassed for them. The boys – our boys – are milling around near the ‘bar’. This consists of three cool boxes and a few random bottles sitting on a tree stump.

I wander over and snake my hands around Lucas’s waist; he doesn’t even flinch. He must be used to girls molesting him in public. He slips his hands over mine and I rest my head on his shoulder. I like having my body pressed up against his like this. He feels solid and strong. But he’ll be broken soon enough.

Bugs rummages in a cool box, cracks open a can of beer and hands it to me. He looks me up and down and says, ‘Nice pins, Halliday. Not sure about the hair though … !’

So obviously Lucas has to turn around to check me out. ‘Whoa.’ Long pause. ‘You look so … different! Good different, I mean. Not that I didn’t like the way you looked before of course … I should probably stop talking now, right?’

‘That would probably be a good idea.’ I’m grinning like a fool, I can’t help it. I like it when Lucas acts like one of us normal people.

His eyes flicker down to look at my legs. ‘You look awesome, babe. Cold, but awesome.’ His kiss tastes like beer.

I smile my most un-Jemlike smile. The one Lucas seems to find irresistible. ‘Well, you’ll just have to think of a way to warm me up, won’t you?’

His eyes light up. ‘I’m sure I can come up with something.’

Bugs starts making alarmingly realistic vomiting sounds. ‘Jesus, aren’t you two over that annoying honeymoon period yet? You’re making the rest of us feel bad … ain’t that right, Stu?’ He elbows Stu in the ribs and Stu winces. He tries to laugh to cover it up, but we all noticed. ‘Dude, I hardly touched you! I appreciate you playing along to make me look all strong and manly in front of Halliday here, but it’s really not necessary. Anyone can see she wants a piece of the Bugsmeister … as soon as she’s got over this ridiculous infatuation with Mr Perfect here.’

Lucas pretends to be affronted at the slur on my name, and he and Bugs start a sword fight (with invisible swords, of course). Stu and I stand back and watch. He’s uncharacteristically silent.

One of us has to say something, and it looks like it’s going to be me. ‘Are you OK?’ He looks confused until I indicate the fact that he’s still clutching his ribs with one hand.

His hand drops to his side and he takes a massive swig of beer. ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just got the shit kicked out of me at tae kwon do last night.’

I nod and take a sip of beer just for something to do. One measly beer isn’t going to hurt. I can probably have two or three and still be totally fine. It might help warm me up a bit. My teeth start chattering and Stu gives me an amused look. ‘You’re not exactly dressed for the weather, are you?’

I shake my head, still shivering.

Stu laughs. ‘Girls are weird. Do you want, like, a blanket or something? I think Seb must have raided the local homeless shelter. Here.’ He reaches into a bulging black bin bag and hands me a bundle of tartan. I sniff it dubiously just in case he’s not kidding about the homeless shelter. It smells fine so I put it over my shoulders.

The shivering starts to abate just as Bugs dies a protracted mock death and Lucas wipes the mock blood from his mock sword on his real jeans. He does this ridiculous sweeping bow in front of me. ‘May I claim a kiss, my lady? I have vanquished the evil Count Numbnuts, and your reputation as a lady of impeccable taste and virtue has been restored.’

I pretend to swoon into his arms. ‘My hero!’ Then we kiss for a bit until I feel a tap on the shoulder. ‘Sorry, Luke, urgent girl talk is required.’ Sasha drags me away from Lucas and behind a tree.

‘Nice blanket you’ve got there, by the way. Refugee is a really good look for you! Right. Here’s the deal. One of Sebastian’s friends is super-hot and clearly into me. I think his name’s Rory … or maybe Corey … it’s definitely something with a ‘y’ on the end anyway. So … what do you reckon? Should I shag him?’ She talks fast and keeps on peeking round the tree as if her prey might make a run for it any minute.