Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [35]
‘Can’t,’ said David. ‘My parents had to go off to Wexford for the night and they forgot to leave me money.’
‘So you have a free gaff?’ asked Nick, his voice more animated.
A look of horror spread across David’s face. ‘Nick, I’m not having another party. You know the shit I got into after the last one.’
‘Not a party, David … just a few friends over.’ Nick had already got his phone out and was busy texting.
‘Fine,’ said David. ‘But you’re not allowed to bring any of your bandmates.’
‘But –’
‘I mean it.’
‘OK!’ said Nick.
‘Relax, David,’ said Emily. ‘It’ll be fun.’
‘So you’re coming then, yeah?’ he said, sitting back in his seat.
‘Definitely. And Jacki will come, won’t you?’ She smiled at me.
‘Yeah, OK,’ I said. A party would be the perfect place to talk to Nick.
‘And can I bring a few of the girls?’ Emily suggested.
‘Sure.’
‘So she gets to bring people and I don’t?’ Nick protested.
‘Nick, at my last party your bassist ate my goldfish.’
‘That was so funny,’ said Nick with a laugh.
‘It was not funny. It was traumatic,’ said David.
I was so excited. I couldn’t wait for the party. This was even better than a trip to Sligo. This was a house party. With no parents. Maybe something would happen with Nick. I knew it was a long shot, because he had just broken up with his girlfriend, but that didn’t stop me imagining. I just wished my excitement wasn’t dampened by the sick feeling in my stomach. I had begun to feel very ill again, just like I had the night before in the forest and the other night in my back garden.
I looked around for the bathroom and made my way to the back of the café.
‘It’s kind of dark in there,’ said Ali as I walked past the counter. ‘I haven’t had a chance to change the light bulb yet.’
‘That’s OK,’ I said, pushing open the bathroom door. It was a little room painted dark green and there was a tiny window up high on the back wall that didn’t let much light in. The toilet was old, with a wooden seat, and a chain dangled from the cast-iron cistern hanging up on the wall.
As I washed my hands I stared into the mirror above the basin. My eyeliner had smudged, and dark shadows hung under my eyes. I reapplied my make-up and fixed my hair, trying to make myself feel better. I needed to go to that party. I was already planning my outfit, trying to remember what clothes were clean. I put my make-up back in my bag and tried to turn the key in the lock, but it wouldn’t open. It was one of those old ones that you had to twiddle a bit. I tried the lock again. It still wouldn’t budge. There was probably a knack to it … I could just call out for Ali to help me. But that would be embarrassing.
Eventually the key turned. As I pushed open the door I felt something rush past me. Something familiar. A dark figure with flowing black hair. It disappeared so quickly that it became little more than a blur.
My heart thumped rapidly. I tried to convince myself that it was nothing, but deep down inside I knew I needed to accept that something strange was going on. Had I just seen a ghost? It was a crazy thought; I didn’t believe in that kind of thing. Or did I? My brain was telling me not to be ridiculous, but my body was reacting so strongly: my legs felt wobbly and my hands were clammy. After what had happened in the garden, then the forest last night … and now this … What was going on? I thought back to the card Dr Cahill had given me for the healer. Maybe it was worth asking him a few questions. But I quickly dismissed this idea. There had to be a simple explanation. It was probably stress, or tiredness …
I forced myself to calm down. I took a few slow deep breaths and waited until I felt normal enough to face the others.
Later that evening Colin came over to the caravan so we could go to the party together. I wasn’t sure where Mum was, but I knew she wouldn’t be happy about the mess. There were clothes scattered everywhere. I had no time to clean up – I was far too busy trying to make