I’ d once thought Marshall was the ultimate boyfriend and look what happened there? And now I'd convinced myself Leon was 'The One', but the more I learned about his track record...I just didn't know anymore. One thing I did know was thatas soon as the others were told about the stuff on Byro n’ s phone, there'd be drama.
I decided that the fair thing to do would be to warn Byron first, to talk to him privately. Right on cue, he emerged through the dark. A nervous quiver shot down my leg.
'Hi,' I said.
'Hi.'
'You okay?'
'I'm brilliant.'
'Remember Truth or Dare?' I said. 'Now, it's my turn to ask aquestion. And i t’ s an important one. Answer honestly. What are you up to?'
He stared at me.
'I mean, do you make a habit of following people, taking photos?'
'Photos?'
'Gemma knows,' I said, my heart racing. ‘ And in a moment, she's going to tell everyone. And when she does - '
Before I could say anymore, we were interrupted by a loud bang. It sounded like a car crash. It was loud enough that everyone jumped to attention. Byron and I abandoned our conversation and gathered with the others at the back window.
‘ Can anyone see anything? Is it a rescue team?' I said, my hopes rising.
'Le t’ s open this ,’ said Leon.
He yanked the window and forced the glass upwards. A blast of cold air hit our faces. The strength of the wind forced us back.
‘ Close it !’ Gemma begged, cowering against the gale.
‘ No, wait !’ shouted Leon. ‘ Listen. There is something - ’
We heard a sound like cracking, snapping branches, but it was n’ t clear through the din of the storm.
‘ I t’ s only the trees ,’ said Greg .‘ W e’ d know if it was a rescue team. The y’ d have sirens and stuff. And search lights - ’
‘ Not if the y’ ve crashed ,’ argued Leon.
Greg shrugged.
‘ Let's be honest, how's a rescue team going to get up here ?’ he said. ‘ I do n’ t see a boat. I do n’ t hear a helicopter. Ther e’ s no bridge and no road, remember ? ’
Leon thought for a moment.
‘ There are playing fields behind the ridge. They're probablywaterlogged, but the y’ re on higher ground. Maybe a rescue team managed to cut across them? Maybe they went off-road ? ’
‘ If you honestly think ther e’ s anyone out there ,’ said Greg, ‘ by all means, give them a shout, but I really do n’ t think - ’
Typical Greg, always a glass half-empty guy. Not that it put us off. We started shouting in unison.
‘ Hello !’ we cried .‘ W e’ re in here ! ’
No reply.
‘ Anyone out there ? ’
Nothing.
‘ Keep shouting ,’ I insisted. ‘ There must be someone out there! They might be stuck! They might need help ! ’
‘ My god !’ said Greg. ‘ Yo u’ re so desperate yo u’ re starting to imagine things. And even if there is someone, what are we going to do anyway? We ca n’ t get to them. We ca n’ t help. We ca n’ t even look after ourselves, let alone help other people . ’
I disagreed. I thought we were doing a good job - a near-drowning incident and a close call with electricity, but other than tha t …
‘ Why do you have to be so grumpyall the time ?’ I snapped, surprised by my temper. ‘ W
I decided that the fair thing to do would be to warn Byron first, to talk to him privately. Right on cue, he emerged through the dark. A nervous quiver shot down my leg.
'Hi,' I said.
'Hi.'
'You okay?'
'I'm brilliant.'
'Remember Truth or Dare?' I said. 'Now, it's my turn to ask aquestion. And i t’ s an important one. Answer honestly. What are you up to?'
He stared at me.
'I mean, do you make a habit of following people, taking photos?'
'Photos?'
'Gemma knows,' I said, my heart racing. ‘ And in a moment, she's going to tell everyone. And when she does - '
Before I could say anymore, we were interrupted by a loud bang. It sounded like a car crash. It was loud enough that everyone jumped to attention. Byron and I abandoned our conversation and gathered with the others at the back window.
‘ Can anyone see anything? Is it a rescue team?' I said, my hopes rising.
'Le t’ s open this ,’ said Leon.
He yanked the window and forced the glass upwards. A blast of cold air hit our faces. The strength of the wind forced us back.
‘ Close it !’ Gemma begged, cowering against the gale.
‘ No, wait !’ shouted Leon. ‘ Listen. There is something - ’
We heard a sound like cracking, snapping branches, but it was n’ t clear through the din of the storm.
‘ I t’ s only the trees ,’ said Greg .‘ W e’ d know if it was a rescue team. The y’ d have sirens and stuff. And search lights - ’
‘ Not if the y’ ve crashed ,’ argued Leon.
Greg shrugged.
‘ Let's be honest, how's a rescue team going to get up here ?’ he said. ‘ I do n’ t see a boat. I do n’ t hear a helicopter. Ther e’ s no bridge and no road, remember ? ’
Leon thought for a moment.
‘ There are playing fields behind the ridge. They're probablywaterlogged, but the y’ re on higher ground. Maybe a rescue team managed to cut across them? Maybe they went off-road ? ’
‘ If you honestly think ther e’ s anyone out there ,’ said Greg, ‘ by all means, give them a shout, but I really do n’ t think - ’
Typical Greg, always a glass half-empty guy. Not that it put us off. We started shouting in unison.
‘ Hello !’ we cried .‘ W e’ re in here ! ’
No reply.
‘ Anyone out there ? ’
Nothing.
‘ Keep shouting ,’ I insisted. ‘ There must be someone out there! They might be stuck! They might need help ! ’
‘ My god !’ said Greg. ‘ Yo u’ re so desperate yo u’ re starting to imagine things. And even if there is someone, what are we going to do anyway? We ca n’ t get to them. We ca n’ t help. We ca n’ t even look after ourselves, let alone help other people . ’
I disagreed. I thought we were doing a good job - a near-drowning incident and a close call with electricity, but other than tha t …
‘ Why do you have to be so grumpyall the time ?’ I snapped, surprised by my temper. ‘ W
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