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"What time is it?" Demi asked suddenly.
"Nearly half five," Tommy replied, checking his watch.
"You guys are so useless, we’re going to be late for the movie." Demi hopped up and took Spencer's hand as she started to head towards the cinema. I guessed that meant that their on/off relationship was back on again.
Everyone hurried to follow her and I held back with Lacey, pretending to retie my shoelace as the distance between me and Demi increased. I knew she wasn't going to leave it at that and just hoped the movie would make her forget to retaliate against me.
Reese sniggered as he passed me but I pretended not to notice, letting my long, dark hair fall forward as I continued to fiddle with my laces.
"You mind if I have a word with her alone?" Ryan's voice came from somewhere close behind me and I quickly straightened up.
"Oh, yeah of course," Lacey replied as she gave me a shrug so tiny I was sure no one else would notice it. I gave her the barest hint of a nod to let her know it was fine and she flashed Ryan a smile over my shoulder. "I'll save you a seat." She turned away and hurried after the others, her dark hair swinging as she jogged.
"Sorry I didn't text," Ryan said as I turned towards him. "I wasn't sure if you'd have your phone or if it might have been confiscated and I didn't wanna risk sending a message to your dad."
I laughed nervously and checked over my shoulder to make sure Demi had really gone. "I should have messaged you," I replied. "But I was kinda... mortified." I smiled shyly and he held a hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me a little closer.
"It might have been an idea to pre-warn your dad about us," he conceded. "But we’ll have a great story to tell the kids."
I laughed again and let him pull me even closer so that he could kiss my forehead. He released my hand and wrapped his arms around me. I leant against his chest, glad that we'd moved past the weird Dad incident. He was wearing aftershave and the musky smell assaulted me, threatening to make me sneeze. I eased out of his grip and looked up the street. Our friends had moved out of sight, probably already inside the cinema.
"We should go," I said pointing towards the cinema as I started moving away.
"Yeah, sorry, I just wanted to make sure we were cool. Don't worry about Demi trying to wind you up with that neighbour rubbish. That guy's like twice your age - as if I'm gunna be worried about him." Ryan laughed and I rolled my eyes, Linc was only a few years older than me but if it made him feel better to think of him as ancient then I wasn't going to correct him.
By the time we got our tickets and made it inside, the trailers were already starting. I squinted along the rows until I spotted our friends and we shuffled pas
t strangers before taking the seats Lacey had saved us.
The movie was a comedy which was a bit too slapstick for my liking but it gave me time to let my mind settle. I was so angry at my dad for embarrassing me in front of Ryan but I also hated arguing with him. If he hadn't been working in the city so much I was sure we'd have made up already.
When the credits finally rolled, I stood and stretched, loosening a crick in my neck. Other people started filing out and we waited as the lights came on and the place emptied out around us.
"We should go for burgers," Demi said as she led the way out.
"I could eat a horse," Ella agreed.
Demi raised an eyebrow at her. "Maybe a salad if you like your clothes fitting," she said.
We followed Demi and Spencer out into the foyer and I listened as my friends chattered excitedly about the movie.
I pulled my cellphone from my pocket and switched it back on. It buzzed straight away as a message arrived but before I could open it, I got a second and a third. Fourteen missed calls flooded in next and I frowned as I opened the messages. There were two from my mom and one from my dad.
Mom 15:46 - I've just had a call from the Harbour City Guardians and they've changed the date of the isolation trial. They want to start it tonight and are insisting that we join your father now. Call me when you get this!
Dad 15:59 - Something bad's happening - you need to come to the city now.
Mom 16:21 - City Wardens have just arrived to collect us - where are you? Something is going on. Call me. And come home x
A cold chill slid down my spine as I glanced up at Lacey. She stopped walking as she caught sight of my face.
"What's wrong?" she asked as I stopped beside her. The rest of our friends moved on, still chatting about the movie.
"I don't know," I said as I held my phone out for her to read the messages.
"Call your dad, he's in the city, he should know something." She pushed the phone back into my hands and I followed her instructions.
The phone rang once before my dad answered.
