This Way to Paradise by Cathy Hopkins Page A

ungrateful or immature. ‘Er . . . I . . .’ I began.
    Robin took the wine away and took a deep breath. ‘Sorry. I keep forgetting. You’re younger than Kate, aren’t you?’
    â€˜I’m fifteen,’ I said.
    Robin got up, went back to the tray, poured me a glass of juice and handed it to me.‘Here. Juice for the little lady.’
    He poured himself a beer and slumped back down on to his lounger. I felt confused and couldn’t gauge his mood. Had I upset him? Had he been about to try something then changed his mind? Or had I been imagining it? I thought it was understood that we were just friends.
    I drank my juice and felt like I was about nine years old. So uncomfortable. I wished that I could leave and go back to the centre. Anywhere but where I was. I ate half of the lunch that Robin had given me, then lay back, closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep.
    Tom and Kate appeared mid-afternoon and for once, Kate looked coy, holdingTom’s hand as they came out on to the terrace.
    â€˜You two look like you’ve been up to no good,’ said Robin in a strict ‘parent’ type voice.
    For a moment, they both looked sheepish, then Kate said, ‘Actually, I was very good, wouldn’t you say, Tom?’
    Tom laughed and nodded. Robin laughed with him. I attempted to laugh too, but a voice in my head kept telling me that I was fake. Out of my depth. I didn’t belong.

Chapter 10
Beach Party

    In the early evening, to my relief, we headed back for town where I thought Kate and I would catch the shuttle bus back up to Cloud Nine as we usually did. However, a few moments after we had parked the jeep, a tall girl with long black curly hair came out of one of the local cafés, waved at the boys and made a beeline for us.
    â€˜Hey Tom,’ she said with a quick appreciative glance in his direction. ‘Can you give me a lift to the party?’
    Kate took Tom’s hand, as if to let her know that they were together, but the girl didn’t look bothered. She merely smiled at Kate.
    â€˜What party?’ Robin asked.
    â€˜Out at Troulos beach. Bring your friends,’ said the girl. ‘It’s going to be an all-nighter.’
    â€˜OK. Cool. Sure,’ said Robin. He looked at Tom and Kate for assent. Both of them nodded enthusiastically. I wasn’t even consulted.
    The girl was introduced as Andrea and, after Robin and Tom had bought beers and vodka, and Kate, cigarettes, we were back in the jeep headed for the party.
    â€˜Don’t we need to check it’s OK with Aunt Sarah?’ I asked. ‘She’ll be wondering where we are.’
    Kate rolled her eyes. ‘She probably won’t even miss us. And she’s got my mobile number, don’t forget. Anyway, I reckon we’ve earned a night off for good behaviour.’
    I supposed I must have looked anxious because Kate leaned over and said. ‘Don’t be a killjoy, India. I mean, it’s not exactly like we’ll be missing anything except a group hug-in and lentil bake back at the loonie farm. If it makes you happy, I’ll give her a call later. I promise. OK?’
    â€˜OK.’ I made an attempt to smile back at her and as we drove along I tried to talk myself out of the strange mood that had descended on me since Robin had tried to feed me. I felt all wrong. Like I had on the first night up at the centre. Like I was wearing the wrong body.
    The word had spread and there were already about fifty partygoers at Troulos beach by the time we got there. More seemed to be arriving by the minute and making their way across the small meadow that led to the beach and ocean. A stage area hadbeen set up on the left-hand side away from the taverna on the right. By the stage was a makeshift bar selling beer and Coke and next to that was a wide barbecue where two sun-grizzled middle-aged men in shorts and red bandannas were cooking fish. A few metres from the sea, someone