Page 94 of Foes & Cons
He’s a few metres from me now, and magically a path clears in front of us, just like it does for Orion and Lila. We step up to each other, until there’s barely any space between us, and moveround to the left, then turn to the right. The song’s chorus tiptoes up my body, caressing my skin.
He lifts his hand until it’s eye-level, and I do the same. Our palms press together, and the fifth of November explodes through my entire body. Reluctantly, I move my hand to the small of my back, and he does too,because we are doing this. I step back and forward, then lift my other hand so our palms come together.
There are those fireworks again.
All the zombies have melted away and it’s just me and Charlie together. His eyelids are heavy, and his smile is sweet and content, like he’s just woken from a dream. I bite my lip, knowing what’s coming next, and slowly his fingers clasp over mine, pulling me into him. His body feels warm, and he looks over every inch of my face. I breathe in, and my heart instantly recognises his aftershave. It smells of vanilla and sweet orange, of touching knees, crumpled little notes, and fingers brushing in the popcorn bowl. It smells like Charlie.
His hand moves to the small of my back, and I freeze. I don’t care that I have a slash across my chest or that I’m wearing a football strip. All I know is that I’m here with Charlie, and I’ve missed him. He unfurls his fingers from mine and I panic that he’s pulling away, but his hand moves up to the side of my neck, gently, then tucks my hair behind my ear.
We’re doing this. We’re actually doing this and I—
The most unlikely scenario has the audacity to catch my eye and I step back from him, turningto look properly so I can confirm my eyes are playing a bizarre, inappropriate prank on me.
“What?”I whisper.
I pull my headset off. Charlie says something, but my attention is very much on the two people wrapped around each other in the shadows next to the control booth.
Two people, smiling and twirling each other’s hair, headsets dangling in their hands.
Roxy and Vivian.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
BUD LEROY
I guess it was a little out of left field.
LILA MURPHY
A little? A little?! I think you need to adjust your quantities, Bud.
Vampire Falls. Season three, episode fourteen – “Reckoning and Beckoning”
The quiet of the dance floor clarifies the scene. My best friend and the person I’ve been at odds with all weekend, smiling at each other, the flashing lights making it look like Roxy’s brushing Vivian’s hair over her shoulder in slow motion.
“Eliza?”
Charlie’s voice goes from confused tooh-I-see-what-you’re-seeingby the third syllable of my name. I shove my headset into his hands and go over to the clandestine couple, the few drinks in me maybe making it more of astormthan a walk. Vivian notices me first and takes a quick step away from Roxy. Roxy looks round, her flirtatious smile dropping from her face the moment she sees me.
I stop in front of them, not really sure what I want to say, what I want to accuse them of, so I just look at Roxy. Vivian speaks first, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I’m just going to. . .”
She walks off, leaving Roxy and me at the edge of the dance floor together. Roxy puts her hands up, as if she’s surrendering.
“Before you say anything,” she says. I fold my arms and stare at her. “It’s not what it looked like.”
“What was it then?” I snap. Roxy shakes her head a fraction, her eyes flicking towards Vivian. I back away from her. “You know what? I can’t. I literally can’t deal with this.”
Roxy grabs my hand and tries to pull me round, but I shake her off, so she hurries in front of me.
“Eliza, don’t,” she says. I stop and fold my arms again, but I can’t look at her. “Eliza, come on. It was nothing.”
I wring my hands together and look round. Vivian has sat next to Sadie, which is probably a smart move. Charlie’s at the table as well, pretending not to watch us. I turn back to Roxy.
“Nothing? I know your moves, Roxy. I know the up-close bit and then the hair push bit. I know what it means. I saw you do it withIris.” I shake my head, my eyes widening. “Oh my god.Iris. How could you do this to her?”
“I’m not,” she says, tension creeping between her eyebrows.
