Immediately, the new Rose Conrad song comes on. New Day.
He smiles, the lyrics playing softly in the background.
‘I’m glad we’re friends too, Selena,’ he says softly. He shakes his head, as if snapping himself out of something. ‘But you do have suspect taste in friends.’
I laugh and reach over and turn up the music. As it pumps out, I think about how I always associate a Rose Conrad song with a particular person or moment, and how I had thought this song was all about Ollie.
But maybe it’s about Ty.
Twenty-Nine
It’s the time for
Champagne and party poppers
In the midnight rain
And we’re never gonna stop, yeah
‘Champagne and Party Poppers’ fromThe In-Between
You’re going to host a party?’ says Kira, doubtfully. We’re sitting in the common room. It’s been two days since I’ve got back from Manchester, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
‘What’s wrong with that?’ I say.
‘Well, for one, you’ve never hosted a party before, and two your mum loves her home. There’s no way she’ll be cool with people getting up-and-close with her artefacts,’ says Kira.
‘Okay, good point,’ I say.
‘Who are you going to invite?’ says Faye. ‘I think it sounds fun.’
‘Oh I definitely think it sounds fun,’ says Kira. ‘And also a bad idea. But I’m here for it.’
‘Why did you decide to do this, anyway?’ says Faye. ‘I thought we were going to hang out after school.’
‘We can still hang out after school.’ I pull at the sleeve of my jumper. There’s no point lying to them. Kira is drawn to lieslike a seagull to chips. ‘In Manchester, Ollie seems to be a party person, so I thought I could invite him, and you know—’
‘Show him a side of your personality that hasn’t existed until now?’ finishes Kira.
‘I like parties and hanging out with people!’ I say defensively.
‘Yeah, but you’ve never thrown a party before,’ says Faye.
‘Who’s having a party?’ says an all-too-familiar voice. Tori has appeared beside us with Mia and Farah.
‘Erm, me,’ I say, caving immediately. ‘Do you want to come?’
‘Sure!’ says Tori. ‘Can I bring my boyfriend?’
‘He goes to Benson’s,’ says Mia, leaning forwards.
‘The more the merrier,’ I say, shrugging. I need numbers for this party. And Tori is fine, I guess. In small doses.
‘Oh, can he bring some of his friends?’
‘Are they hot?’ says Kira, leaning forwards.
‘Er—’ says Tori.
