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‘I knew you’d end up in here,’ Zachary said, joining me a few minutes later.
‘I thought I’d come and help.’
‘No. You’re hiding from him.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Why are you doing this to each other?’
‘Doing what?’
‘He’s out there hitting on someone he has no interest in, knowing it’s killing you to watch, and you’re in here hiding, so he’s guaranteed to be worried sick, praying you’re not in one of the little spaces you usually disappear into, with another bloke.’
‘I’d never do that.’
‘It might be better if one of you leaves, and you’re kind of the one out of sight. It’s just that the room is talking about both of you, rather than Isszy.’
‘Zachary!’ Isszy appeared, looking furious. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
‘Isz. It’s not a good vibe out there.’
‘And kicking your sister out is going to fix it?’
‘I’m not kicking her out. She’s hiding. Jasper is out there, enjoying the party. I’m just suggesting that if she wants to leave because she’s having a terrible time, it’d be okay.’
‘Did it occur to you that she’s in the kitchen because she doesn’t want to cause a scene? And that if Jasper did the same instead of snogging the face off Zoe in the middle of the room, people wouldn’t be talking?’
‘I’m sorry…he’s what?’ I didn’t think I’d heard right.
‘Shit. I’m sorry, Aari.’
‘Brilliant work, Isszy,’ Zachary complained.
I called up my taxi app as I walked through the room with my head down, so that I didn’t have to acknowledge anyone calling my name. No cabs. When I safely made it out of the front door, it was pouring with rain, so I stood against it for shelter. I checked the app again. Still no cabs. I quickly ran to the bus stop in front of Zachary and Isszy’s home.
Jasper joined me. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Please leave me alone, Jasper.’
‘It’s pouring, Scrappy—’
‘Don’t call me that! Don’t you call me that EVER again!’ I screamed at him so hard, I knocked the wind out of myself and bent over to catch my breath. I knew then that I was in serious danger of triggering an attack.
He stepped towards me.
‘Stay away from me! I don’t want to be anywhere near you.’ I knew an attack was on its way, but I couldn’t stay here. I stepped into the rain and started to walk.
‘Ariella, are you having—’
My chest hurt, I was struggling to breathe, I couldn’t see where I was going, but I walked as fast as I could, away from him.I cannot pass out. I cannot pass out. I cannot pass out, I repeated to myself as I put one foot in front of the other. Thankfully, a small alley whose wall I could lean against presented itself…That was when I felt the Earth start to spin and I let myself fall to the floor.
I don’t think I was out for long. I sat up slowly, trying to steady my breathing, then continued walking as far as my legs would take me, until sheer exhaustion forced me to stop. Only then did I allow myself to break down and cry.
I go into the kitchen the next morning ready to apologise, only to find both Caleb and Lara passed out on the couch, surrounded by bottles of spirits. They obviously didn’t stop at the tequila. I smile.
Lara pops up first, like a jack-in-the-box. Her bouncy hair is everywhere as she rubs the sleep from her eyes.
‘Hey,’ I call softly as I catch her out of the corner of my eye.
