by C. J. Duggan
I sighed, my gaze narrowing in a mock fury as I shook my head. “And to think I tell you everything.”
Except that I am madly in love with you.
Adam’s mood shifted, and I was worried that maybe he could freakishly read my mind. But his mood was different somehow; he looked pained, blinking and looking out toward where the lake shimmered under the summer sun.
“Yeah, that’s what friends do, yeah?”
But it was a question he voiced almost to himself; I didn’t feel like I had the right to press him further. The mood had definitely shifted, to something awkward, and the Adam next to me seemed reminiscent of a stranger once more. I felt the old panic rise in me again. What was going on? What was causing Adam to shut down into this unrecognisable being? It pained me, more to the point that he wasn’t telling me something, and worst of all he knew it. The mere mention of honesty and I could hear the cogs of deep thought turning in his head, and it frightened me, beyond belief.
Adam kept his eyes affixed in the opposite direction. He sat slightly away from me now, and that left me feeling cold and distant just in the sudden change of his body language.
I had had enough. I didn’t need to have girl-only lunches with Tammy or interrogate Toby to find out what was happening with my best friend: I would simply ask him myself.
“A-Adam I—”
But before I could finish, Adam shouted, “Look out, here’s trouble.” My eyes followed to where he was waving to an approaching figure, stepping across the grass toward us. I flicked my sunglasses down to disguise the uncontrollable scowl I had that was burning in the direction of Megsy closing the distance before us. I don’t know what I hated more: her unexpected appearance or the clear change in Adam’s demeanour in her presence.
If we were in a movie she would be making her way over in slow motion, flicking her hair over her shoulder as a Whitesnake song played in the background. I thought I was going to be ill.
Cutesy Megsy winced as she sidled up next to Adam. “Am I too early?”
“No, of course not,” Adam reassured, installing instant relief in her.
Blech.
I hid my pained smile behind my Coke bottle that I raised to my lips, sipping on the now hot and rather flat drink, thinking it exactly how I felt.
Hot and flat.
Never in all my years had I ever been made to feel like a third wheel; I was always amongst it, confident in my ability to be a part of the gang. If anything, I was the one that would make others feel like the third wheel. But in this case I felt like the odd one out; well, fuck that, I thought. Not this little black duck. Even though Megsy had done nothing more than walk across the lawn and stand before us there was no way she was edging her way back into Adam’s heart, with her cutesy little fringe and funky alternative fashion, the only kind that she could carry off with her ankle boots and suede mini. She was as adorable as ever and if I were a boy I would totally be crushing on her too, and that simply killed me.
“So, do you need any more help?” I asked Adam, trying to seem like a Good Samaritan here. Adam seemed a bit taken aback, which kind of made sense. ‘Helping’ wasn’t exactly my thing, but it was for Tess so I would definitely make an exception, plus I had no doubt that Megsy would be offering to apply cold compresses to the boys’ heads and serve them up cold drinks if she could, she was just that type of person.
“Nah, I think we’re actually sorted, just be ready by six for the pickup.”
“That I can do,” I said, relieved that he didn’t want me to make a salad or anything that would interrupt my getting-ready time. I glanced at my watch, hardly believing that it was four o’clock already. I was going to need every minute of those two hours to make myself into head-turning ready; actually, I didn’t really care if any did, I just wanted one head to turn.
“Hey, lover boy, stop schmoozing and get in the car. We gotta go.” Chris slammed the back door to his black panel van loaded with grog and made his way to the driver’s side.
“You’ve been summoned,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“What else is new?” Adam sighed, peeling himself off the seat with little enthusiasm. “See you ladies later.”
Wait. What?
My head swung around to see Megsy looking equally uncomfortable with the idea of girl time.
“Remember, the bus will be here at six sharp, so don’t be late.” Adam flashed a winning smile before sliding into the passenger side of the van, his arm resting on the rolled-down window as Chris fired up the thumping engine. Adam saluted as they rolled out the drive leaving a trail of dust and a painfully awkward silence.
“Well, I guess I am a bit early,” Megsy repeated, realising the reality of the situation. I wasn’t completely cruel; I knew she would probably be feeling way more out of her comfort zone than me. My biggest concern was getting ready, and having someone to entertain was not ideal.
What’s more, the place was deserted, and would be until everyone converged on the Onslow for pre-dinner drinks before the buses arrived, so it was going to be very much just me and Megsy. Alone.
“Want a drink?” I said, chipper as ever. I was all about keeping friends close but your enemies even closer.
“Sure, thanks,” said Megsy.
“Come on, I know a little place,” I said, tipping the remnants of my Coke out onto the lawn and heading toward the Onslow, binning the bottle on the way.
It was going to be a very long, long two hours.
Chapter Sixteen
Okay, so maybe I was a bad person, because the amount of pleasure I was having in getting ready in Adam’s room while Megsy sat awkwardly on the side of the bed with her drink really satisfied me.
“So, you sleep in here?” she asked a little tentatively, trying not to seem surprised.
I glided the straightening iron through my long blonde hair and shrugged. “Yeah, all the time. It’s the perfect place to crash after a Saturday binge,” I said matter-of-factly.
I could see Megsy in the reflection of the mirror; she was looking at the unmade bed next to her, probably thinking how small it was for just two people, and a little smile spread across my lips.
Megsy’s eyes skimmed around the room, across the carpet, the clothes on the chair in the corner, up to the ceiling, down the wall before stilling.
“Ha, he took down his Jimi Hendrix poster,” she said, causing my smile to fall.
How did she know about that? When had she been in his room? Adam hadn’t been living at the Onslow when they dated in high school, what the actual …
I smelt burning, “Oh shit,” I stammered, releasing my hair from the hot plates and waving away the smoke. Great, I had nearly set myself on fire, wouldn’t she just love that?
“Well, I think it was Chris’s; he was more the Hendrix lover than Adam so makes sense.”
“He must have just done it, because it was here last weekend,” Meg said, matter-of-factly.
Last weekend, huh?
Trying to keep my cool was not a natural thing for me to do; I had always been troubled with having a hot head, and given any normal circumstance I would have probably retaliated. But I knew what was at stake here, and if Megsy was going to lay down a challenge then I had to be smart about it. If she thought she could simply disappear from Adam’s life after breaking his heart only to return and try and pick up as if nothing had changed, well, I had news for her.
“So, are you wearing that? Or are you getting changed before the party?” I asked innocently, revelling in Megsy looking over her attire.
“No, I’m wearing this,” she said, her brows lowered.
I spun around in my chair, flicking my extra straight hair over my shoulder.
“Oh, okay, cool.”
“Why? Do you think I should change?” I could hear her words laced with doubt.
“Oh no, look, it’s fine, seriously, I’m sure it’s going to be pretty casual. There will probably be lots of tradies and mechanics there dressed in jeans and flannel, if I know the Onslow Boys’ ma
tes.”
I could see the light dim in Megsy’s eyes; I couldn’t quite tell if it was hurt or anger, but it was definitely something. It was like I was suffering an out-of-body experience, that I could hear what I was saying, but I had no real way of controlling just how bitchy I could be. Tess would never in a million years treat anyone so badly, I could just imagine her wide-eyed horror if she was a witness to me now. I guess this was largely the reason she was engaged to live happily ever after and I was destined to roam the earth alone, pining for the one boy I couldn’t have.
“Seriously, Megsy, you look really pretty, it’ll be fine,” I said softly; it was in a way an extension of an olive branch of sorts.
Megsy smiled, and that warm, girl-next-door exterior was back. “Thanks, Ellie,” she said, slapping her knees with a new-found energy before standing. “I’ll wait downstairs in the bar and leave you to get ready in peace,” she said, making her way to the door.
Her announcement was like music to my ears; finally, the last half hour I could do the final touches without fucking Megsy Swanston’s eyes in the back of my head.
Megsy skidded to a halt at the door. “Oh, hey, Ellie, you might want to just take it easy on the foundation, you have a bit of a makeup line right there.” She pointed. “You might just want to try and blend it in a bit.” Megsy winked before exiting the room.
I allowed my eyes to scowl at the empty doorway for a long moment, as murderous visions danced in my imagination of me whacking her in between the eyes with my straightening iron. I cursed myself for weakening in my defence; the olive branch I had extended was now fucking whipped back. Guess I had met my match in passive-aggressive comments, I thought, as I leant into the mirror, failing to see the so-called makeup line she was talking about.
What had begun as wanting to look nice for the party now entered a whole other level of getting ready. If Megsy was going to be earthy and adorable then I would be bloody sunshine and sex.
I carefully peeled on the long, flowing white maxi dress that had the most delicate smattering of yellow flowers embroidered, which cascaded down the flowing skirt. The stark contrast of my blonde hair against the whiteness of the fabric and the tan of my skin made me feel feminine and light as I slipped on my tan thongs and did the final check before swooshing out of the room at five to six.
Ha! With time to spare, I thought to myself with great pride. Adam would be shocked, in more ways than one, I hoped. I smiled to myself as I swung my way around at the end of the banister, feeling my heart rate spike as I neared the bar, the very empty bar, aside from a very familiar figure looking more disgruntled behind the jump than Chris could ever be.
“Hello, Melba!” I beamed; I would have thrown my arms around her if the large red gum slab of a bar didn’t divide us.
Melba was a buxom, grumpy waitress that ran the back of house with an iron fist. She wasn’t exactly known for her people skills, so on any occasion she was manning the bar, it was a clear sign that something big was happening in town.
“Aren’t you coming to the party?” I pouted.
“My partying days are well and truly over,” she deadpanned. “I will be most happy where I am, thank you.”
Melba had a sure-fire way of delivering a line that meant her answer was non-negotiable, and anyone that knew Melba knew not to push the point.
“Fair enough; I’ll bring you back some cake if I’m not too drunk to remember.” I winked.
Melba sighed. “I suppose I better get a proper look at you now in all your finery because something tells me you won’t be looking like this when you return.”
I couldn’t help but laugh; Melba had sure seen me on more than a few merry occasions—Adam helping me up the stairs with raccoon-eye makeup, twigs in my hair and shoes in my hand. Yep, it definitely wasn’t a pretty sight, and certainly not some of my proudest moments.
“I will try and behave myself.” I curtseyed. “Where is everyone, is the bus here?” I tried to peek out the window to the drive, where sure enough a crowed waited, but no bus yet.
“They’re all waiting out front. Meg said to tell you she’d be out there waiting for you.”
Yeah, I bet she was.
“She’s a lovely girl that Meg; her parents are fine people too.”
I couldn’t disguise my cringe, more disturbed that Melba, who seldom used the word lovely, had gone to the trouble to actually apply it to her. Ugh.
“Yeah, she’s nice if you’re into that sort of organic thing.”
“You make it sound like a bad thing.”
I caught my reflection in the cloudy mirror above the mantel, and for the first time I had actually felt unsure, that maybe I should be the one that should go up and change into something less flamboyant. Maybe natural was what Adam wanted, and to be honest, I was the complete opposite to everything that Megsy represented. I had had enough girls abuse me over time to know that the general consensus was they thought I was plastic, fake, lock-up-your-boyfriends-girls, a few drinks and she was anyone’s. Maybe Meg had already played me at my own game, knowing that she didn’t have to sabotage me in any way because I was quite capable of doing that all myself.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a horn blasting out front, as two buses rolled up out the front of the Onslow. I snapped out of the trappings of my mind and jumped to attention.
“See ya, Melba! Don’t wait up,” I yelled over my shoulder.
“Trust me, I won’t. Have fun.”
I pushed through the door, almost colliding with Meg on the landing.
“Oh good, you’re ready. I didn’t know if you heard the bus,” she said, doubling back down the stairs. “Come on, I don’t know if there is room for everyone.” She began to make her way down the drive; I was still somewhat stunned at the fact she had thought to come and get me. The thoughtfulness behind it unsettled me; I was far more versed in dealing with mean girls. Still, I wouldn’t be fooled, not for a second.
I gathered the fabric of my skirt at my side and ran in small dainty steps across the drive like I was in a Jane Austen novel, although I don’t recall them having to navigate Havaianas footwear.
I stopped. “Bloody stones,” I said as I flicked out the pesky intrusion with my fingers before gathering myself together again to make it to the edge of the drive. I stepped up onto the first bus stairs but was quickly met with a hand to the face.
“Sorry, luv, this one’s full; head to the second bus.”
With no time for so much as an eye roll I headed to the second bus, where I spotted Megsy sitting in the window.
“Right, okay.” I started to make my way, hearing the sound of the bus engines rev to life, making the urgency even more imminent. I joined the line that was painfully making their way slowly onto the bus, people laughing and chatting and the general excitement that came with a bus trip; it felt like we were headed to a footy match.
Chris stood next to the driver, ticking off names on his clipboard, ushering people along in an orderly fashion. Only then could my heart begin to settle, knowing I was nearing the stairs. By the time I reached Chris, I merely made eye contact and gave him a brief nod as I went to join the queue down the aisle searching for seat.
“Hang on, Ellie,” Chris said, flicking through the pages, frowning. “You’re not on the list.”
“What?” I said, thinking I misheard what he said.
“Well, you’re on the list but your name’s been crossed out.” Chris seemed perplexed.
“Why would my name be crossed out?” I did a double take toward Megsy, who appeared to be chatting and watching on with much interest.
Surely not.
“Buggered if I know; hold on, Barry,” Chris said to the driver. “Hey, Adam, is there room for Ellie?” Chris shouted over the heads as he shifted from side to side to try and lock eyes onto his brother.
I felt relief wash over me. Adam was here, thank God for that; my patience was really starting to wear thin.
I couldn’t see Adam; inst
ead, I heard him first. “No, there’s no room,” he shouted.
“Ummm, WHAT?” I exclaimed, my mouth ajar in disbelief as Adam shifted sideways down the aisle, making his way toward me.
“Are you kidding me?” I said, perhaps a bit too loud but I didn’t care. “You crossed my name off the list. I wasn’t even late.” My voice was shaking I was so angry, so completely and utterly mortified that the likes of Megsy was watching on from her comfy seat.
“Come on, guys, wrap it up. We have to get going,” Chris said, probably wishing he was anywhere else but here.
“Ellie …”
“Don’t Ellie me, Adam Henderson; of all the names you had to cross off the list you chose me, Tess’s best friend, YOUR supposed best friend. How do you think that makes me feel?”
“Ell …”
“Save it! I came all the way back from the city for this. It was the one and only time I would allow myself to come back, because of Tess, and what now? How am I supposed to get there? I can’t believe you could be so selfish.”
Adam folded his arms across his chest, sighing deeply, almost as if silently counting for the strength to keep calm.
“You done?” he said, cocking his infuriating brow.
“I’ll tell you when I’m done,” I gritted, not caring less if we now held the whole attention of the bus, who were laughing and wolf whistling. I couldn’t have cared for a single moment. I had my murderous gaze set firmly on Adam; I was trying so hard to remain calm, to not have the hot tears pool in my eyes at his betrayal.
“Right,” he said, simply dismissing me and turning to his brother. “We better get moving.”
Adam turned to me. “Off the bus, Ellie.”
I stood there for a long moment, looking at him as if he were a stranger.
“Come on, luv, I gotta shut the doors,” said Barry the bus driver.
I was completely dumbfounded, lost for words, humiliated in front of an entire busload of people who were eagerly waiting for my next outburst, one I refused to give as I lifted my chin, gathered my skirt and made my way down the steps with great dignity, even when I heard the doors slam closed behind me.