Chapter 13
‘I cannot believe you did that,’ I moaned at Georgia who was laying down some blankets, ‘why did you invite him?’
‘I didn’t, the guys over there did. I didn’t know that they would invite him, I didn’t even know that they speak to Ace.’ Georgia explained to me.
I had found Georgia leaning on the fence that surrounded the car park, at two o’clock on the dot. All I had to do was look across the car park and I found Ace hanging out with a group of boys at school. He looked like he was enjoying himself... until his gaze locked with mine.
‘Let’s just ignore him and have some fun.’ I strained a smile at Georgia. ‘Aren’t we meant to have more fun than him, you know, show that we’re better off without him?’
‘Yes, definitely,’ Georgia sat down on the blanket, ‘let’s gossip, check out some guys and then we can eat snacks around the bonfire they’ll be doing later.’
Within five minutes, a group of well-built boys carried in a trampoline – like the ones they have at school. Then two girls ran across the beach, one carrying twister and the other carrying a bunch of pens and paper. As time went on more people brought things like cards, deck chairs, drink coolers, beers, fizzy drinks; someone even brought a barbecue. When it the sun began to set Sean and his friends showed up. That’s when the boys started the bonfire. Watching Georgia jump on the trampoline with a couple of other people, I dug through my shoulder bag. Sean came over and pretended to be interested in the people on the trampolines.
‘Won’t you be cold?’ Sean asked, not taking his gaze off of the trampoline.
I was wearing my denim shorts, a vest top and my converses. ‘That is why,’ still digging through my bag as I spoke, ‘I brought this.’ I pulled out my woolly cardigan. It made me feel a little uncomfortable that Sean had noticed what I was wearing... I glanced around to make sure that there were a lot of people surrounding us.
Don’t talk to him, Ace seeped into my head, move away from him – come stand with me.
Ignoring Ace, I put on my cardigan and stood up, leaning on the edge of the trampoline. It looked like fun but I’m not very good at trampolining; the best I can do is seat-drops – not very sporty.
‘I know you want to have a go,’ Sean said flirtatiously, ‘you should; trampolines are fun.’
‘No... Thanks. Maybe later, I might have a go.’ I shrugged and went to get myself a drink.
Sean had followed me and got himself a beer. ‘Why don’t you try one?’ He tried to hand me a bottle of beer.
‘I don’t drink.’ I grimaced at the bottle and opened my bottle of coke. A group of people began to cheer around the barbecue. I guessed they had managed to start it up.
‘Hey, Ryvre,’ Georgia called – she had gotten off of the trampoline and stood around the bonfire with loads of other people, ‘come over here.’ When I got closer to her and the others, I noticed that they were holding a pen and a piece of paper. ‘We’re writing down the people, or things, that we hate on the paper and then we throw it into the fire.’ She explained to Sean.
‘What’s the point in that?’ Sean scoffed as he handed me a pen and a piece of paper.
‘It’s tradition.’ I answered, glaring at him. ‘We read out what we wrote and then we burn it.’
When everyone had written something down we went in a circle, reading out what was written down. Some answers were funny; others were stupid and some were serious.
‘I hate Talia. She cheats on her boyfriend and is mean to me at school.’ Georgia said and then she threw her paper into the fire.
‘I hate tattoos. Majority of them ruin your skin and you can get infections.’ Some girl said and threw her paper in.
After a while it was my turn. ‘I hate...’ myself; the fact that I don’t have Ace anymore.... I said, ‘sorry Sean, but I hate Sean Williams. He can be a right jerk sometimes.’ I glanced at him and Sean’s mouth was pressed into a flat line.
‘That’s okay, Ryvre.’ Sean grinned – even though it was forced. ‘I hate that I messed up with you.’ He threw a blank piece of paper into the fire.
Georgia looked crushed. ‘Okay... moving on.’ Other people continued to say what they hate and throw their pieces of paper into the fire. Then it reached Ace, who hesitated. ‘Go on Ace. Everyone else has said theirs.’
‘I hate...’ Ace locked his gaze on to mine, ‘that I hurt the one person I wanted to protect the most.’
There were some “ooh” s to this remark but Georgia suddenly stormed off and gathered up her stuff. She moved her stuff away from mine and placed it with someone else’s that was closer to the sea. Her eyes were tear-filled.
‘Georgia,’ I ran after her, ‘what’s wrong? What’s the matter? Is everything alright?’
‘No,’ she spun to face me, ‘everything is not alright. I can’t believe you... I can’t believe you would do that to me. Me: your best friend.’
‘Do what to you? Georgia, I haven’t done anything.’ I was confused and a little hurt at how she just starting accusing me of doing something - which I don’t know what.
‘You had Ace and now you have to have Sean.’ Georgia hissed at me. ‘You said that you’ll talk about me to Sean – to try to make him interested in me-’
‘Trust me: Sean is not someone you want to get involved with.’ I had to make sure my anger stayed in check just in case my power leaks and I do something bad with the waves.
‘Yeah, you would know wouldn’t you?’ Georgia was acting hysterical. ‘Is that what the bandage on your arm is, a love bite that you’re trying to hide... or how about a matching tattoo?’ She grabbed my arm, pulled my arm out of my sleeve and ripped off the bandage – which hurt. Georgia gasped when she saw the burn. ‘Did Ace or Sean do this to you?’
‘It was an accident.’ I didn’t put my arm back in my sleeve – the wool made it itch and sting. ‘But Georgia, I promise you that nothing happened – or is going to happen – between Sean and me.’
‘You promised to tell me everything.’ Georgia pointed out, ‘you didn’t tell me about your burn... and you still haven’t told me what happened between Ace and you.’
‘I haven’t told you what Sean did to me at that party.’ I told her – it probably didn’t help improve the situation. ‘I did it because I don’t want to hurt you. I wanted to protect you.’
‘Protect me? The only thing I need protecting from is your “friendship” and your secrets.’ Georgia shook her head. I opened my mouth to explain it all – including the truth about angels – but she stormed off.
Someone had poured coloured chemical powder into the fire so it would burn many different colours. I walked past the few people who were playing twister to the first aid box. I needed a new bandage to cover my burn. Luckily there was one in the box; unfortunately I’m not very skilled at putting a bandage on one handed. Seeing me struggle, Ace came over.
‘Let me help you.’ He said taking the bandage from me. I ignored him. ‘I know you’re not speaking to me right now but I still want to help.’ He took off my cardigan entirely as it kept getting in the way. ‘Do me a favour and stay away from Sean.’
I hated being bossed around. ‘Do you a favour? Now why would I do that?’ I burrowed my eyebrows.
‘So you are talking to me.’ Ace smiled.
‘Only for now; don’t worry, after tonight, I won’t ever speak to you again.’ I stared at my burn.
‘I will worry – nothing can stop that.’ Ace’s smile faded slightly. ‘Why didn’t you get this bandaged up before?’
‘I did, I went to the hospital and got it treated,’ I said defensively, ‘Georgia ripped off.’
‘What happened between you two?’ Ace asked with concern dancing in his eyes.
‘She’s mad because she thought that, as soon as we broke up, I went out with Sean too. And she thought I got a tattoo.’ I nodded to my arm with the burn. Although my birthmark on my left arm and left shoulder does look like one. ‘Why do you care?’
‘Ryvre, I will always care when you’re involved.’ Ace flashed me his “Ryvre’s Smile”. ‘There you go.’ Ace released my arm and helped put my cardigan back on.
‘Thanks,’ I smiled, ‘I didn’t expect to see you here... since, you know, you haven’t been at school long, I was surprised you showed up.’
‘That’s me: full of surprises.’ Ace winked at me. ‘There’s fire involved, of course I’m going to be there.’ His eyes slid to my arm. ‘I really am sorry you know.’
Thankfully, I didn’t have to answer, a girl came running up to Ace, ‘come on Ace. The boys are about to play cards, you’ve got to beat them. There’s a bet going that you’ll win.’ Ace was dragged towards the crowd that was gathering by a table and a few deck chairs.
I sat next to my stuff, looking out at the ocean, listening to the guitar that a boy was strumming. I was thinking through everything that had happened. Georgia: I could easily sort things out with her. Ace: that would take a little time. Suddenly someone’s heavy hand landed on my shoulder, making me jump and snapping me out of my thoughts.
Run, Ashling shouted in my head, you promised not to go out. Run; don’t trust him... for God’s sake, Ryvre run!
‘I told you, we’d get you when you least expect it.’ A recognisable voice whispered in my ear. I stood up to face the two men that had tried to trap me in school and the man who I spoke to on the phone. ‘Did you miss me, Ryvre?’