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This relationship had started out as acting and it would end as acting.
Holly sniffed, teetering on the edge. Not long now.
The two steps to the stage felt like a mountain. Jen and Holly took their places next to Chloe and Ryan as the crowd went crazy with clapping, shouting, and cheering. The place was packed. Holly’s legs did a little wobble. Jen looked like a deer in headlights, but Holly guessed it wasn’t to do with the crowd: her eyes had barely left her, searching for a connection, like Holly might magically gain the ability of telepathy.
She reached a hand out, her knuckles skirting Holly’s. She allowed Jen to lace their fingers together but she didn’t squeeze back. Instead her hand lay limp. Jen gulped.
‘Let’s hear it again for the couples,’ Annie cheered. The crowd raised the roof once more.
Holly tuned Annie’s speech out once more as she watched Jen. How could you say you love someone one evening and kiss someone else the next? The sourness in Holly’s bones was more than anger. It was embarrassment. Thick, rotten, embarrassment. She’d been taken for a mug again.
She heard her name and flicked back to reality, putting on her best smile for the crowd.
‘And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,’ Annie said, pausing for effect. She held a large white envelope in her hands and made a show of opening it very slowly, pulling the top of the inner paper out a slither. ‘The winning couple is—’ She slid the paper out further, pulling a face that was either surprise or agreement, maybe a little of both.
Jen pumped Holly’s hand again. She chose to focus on the crowd instead of meeting her gaze.
People stomped their feet, banged on the tables; anything to make a noise, the rumble resembling a drumroll.
‘Chloe and Ryan,’ Annie shouted, twisting towards the couple.
‘Oh, shit,’ Chloe squealed as Ryan picked her up, spinning as he kissed her. They nearly lost their footing on the tiny stage, but he settled her down just in time. Then it was Jen’s turn to hug her best friend. Holly kept back, clapping with gusto.
It was well-deserved. She was over the moon for them, but she just couldn’t summon the level of energy needed for excitement.
Tears streaked down Chloe’s face as she and Ryan headed to the microphone. Ryan had barely blinked, his eyes permanently wide, his mouth fixed in a grin.
He laughed down the mic, a throaty chuckle as words failed him. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he said, one hand running the length of his face, the other scooping Chloe at the waist.
‘Thank you,’ Chloe yelped. ‘Like, thank you! That’s all I can manage.’ She laughed, happy tears getting the better of her.
The crowdaww-ed and laughed.
Jen gave Holly’s side a squeeze, pulling her nearer as they lingered at the edge of the stage. She allowed it. Now wasn’t the time to be creating distance, not when so many eyes were on them.
Holly searched the crowd for her parents, but the spotlights were too bright. She could barely see the edge of the dance floor, never mind the seating behind it. As soon as this was over she wanted to dash home.
Another crescendoing round of applause and Chloe and Ryan’s speech was over. Holly felt dazed, winded, deflated.
She didn’t even care that they hadn’t won the money.
Of course they didn’t.
Finally, it was time to leave the stage. Holly didn’t break her stride as she reached the bottom step and was out of the marquee in a heartbeat. The night air stole her breath, the momentary lapse in composure all her mind needed to collapse, and the tears followed.
Jen was hot on her heels, skirting around her in an attempt to slow her down.
‘Holly, wait.’
This was bad enough as it was. She didn’t want to create a scene in the still-thick crowd. Holly aimed for the fencing on the edge of the park.
Jen didn’t let up.
‘Hols! Please!’
She stopped, only for a moment, enough to speak before she took off again. ‘Fuck you, Jen.’
