‘Mum … !’
‘Okay, okay, I’m going …’
They were all waiting for her in the dining room.
‘HAP-PY BIRTH-DAY!’ they shouted, sending party poppers and streamers into the air. All of the Faces, and all of their louche floppy-haired boyfriends, were standing on
chairs, cheering and clapping. April didn’t know when she had felt more embarrassed.
‘Thanks everyone,’ she said lamely as the girls ran up squealing to give her hugs.
‘You look amazing,’ said Chessy without, for once, a shred of irony.
Good old Mum strikes again
.
The house had been given over to the Valentine’s Day theme, with hundreds of heart-shaped balloons suspended from the ceiling, huge vases of red roses and strings of fairy lights hanging in twinkling garlands over the windows. In one corner, there was a big silver banner reading ‘Happy Birthday, April’, covered in tacky glitter and streamers. Th
at will be Caro’s contribution
, thought April with a small smile.
I bet she enjoyed undermining Davina’s careful interior design
.
‘Thanks so much for doing this for me,’ said April, nodding towards the banner as Davina came over to air-kiss her.
‘Don’t thank me,’ said Davina, ‘Thank Caro, this is all her idea. I just provided the space. Although I bet Daddy could have pulled a few strings to get us a room at the Savoy for you.’
‘Well, it’s lovely anyway.’
‘Can I get you a drink?’ said Caro with a little too much enthusiasm. ‘We have cherryade or cream soda. Or I could mix the two for a cocktail.’
‘No martinis?’ asked Ling.
‘Not on a school night,’ said Layla.
April looked at her with surprise. She hadn’t expected to see Layla at the party, especially not after she’d given the impression that she was terrified of the Faces. Th
e Faces, or someone else
. But Layla seemed to be back to her usual sarcastic self. April made a mental note to try and get Layla on her own and ask about her strange performance earlier in the day.
‘I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to drink anything anyway,’ said April. ‘I’m still taking about six different types of pills.’
‘Ah yes, we mustn’t forget poor April’s condition, must we?’ said Layla with barely concealed sarcasm. ‘The poor lamb must be suffering.’
Davina shot an angry look at her, but April tried to step in.
‘Oh don’t worry, I’m feeling fine,’ she said, hastily changing the subject. ‘Just a bit hungry.’
‘Well I can help you with that,’ said Caro, leading April over to the dining table, which was spread with paper plates holding sandwiches, crisps, chocolate fingers and sausages on sticks. Davina looked as if she was going to faint.
‘I did offer to fix Caro up with Mummy’s caterers – they do some wonderful canapés and finger food – but Caro – um – Caro wanted to go with her theme.’
‘It’s ironic!’ said Caro proudly.
‘It’s revolting,’ said Layla under her breath, taking a swig of her drink. April caught her eye and when she looked back defiantly April guessed it wasn’t just cherryade in Layla’s cup. She looked around for Gabriel and her heart leapt when she saw him standing in a corner talking intently to Simon. She caught his eye, and he nodded and turned back to his conversation.
It’s only a game
, she repeated to herself. Maybe she’d be able to get him alone later on. It was killing her not being able to speak to him properly. April picked up a sausage roll, but realised she didn’t feel at all hungry.
‘What can I get you, Davina?’ asked Caro, clearly enjoying herself.
‘Nothing for me,’ said Davina patting her flat stomach. ‘On a bit of a complicated diet. No carbs or protein, definitely no artificial additives.’
As Caro explained that it was the additives that gave crisps their taste, April excused herself to go to the bathroom. Partly because she really didn’t like all the attention she was receiving, and partly because she was on a mission. Somehow, she had to find her way to the library. She walked out into the entrance hall, past people sitting on the stairs, kissing and drinking. The door to a sitting room was open and there was a group gathered around a glass table – whatever they were doing, she wouldn’t be able to snoop in there.
‘You lost?’
‘Oh, hi, Simon,’ said April. ‘No, just looking for the loo.’
‘It’s all a bit much, I guess? You must be feeling a bit fragile after what happened.’
April smiled gratefully.
‘Yes, it’s partly that. Plus I’m not the best at these social things.’
‘Neither was I, I have to admit, but you learn to love it.’
She looked at him. With his slick new haircut and designer clothes he was barely recognisable from last term.
But then we’ve all changed a lot since then, haven’t we?
thought April.
‘Are you okay, though?’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Simon.
‘Well, we don’t see much of you any more.’
‘You mean, “what the hell am I doing hanging out with these phoneys?”’
April laughed.
‘Well, maybe. You never seemed to like them.’
‘That rebel thing was all a pose. Inside every kid in a leather jacket and eyeliner is someone who really just wants to fit in. Yes, I know they’re a bit … well, strait-laced, but when you get to know them they’re pretty cool. Why shouldn’t I be the cool kid, when I’ve been the outsider all my life? They accept me, they like me.’
‘We accepted you and liked you.’
‘But you and Caro, you’re different, April.’
‘Different good or different bad?’
‘Just … different. I’m sick of being different. It wears you down.’
There was a bang behind them as the bathroom door opened.
‘Bloody locks,’ said Layla, reeling out into the corridor.
‘What are you two looking at?’ she sneered as she saw April and Simon. ‘Seen something interesting?’
‘Are you okay, Layla?’ said Simon.
‘Yes, of course,’ she said, her chin raised. ‘Why shouldn’t I be?’
April gave Simon a meaningful look and he took his cue.
‘Gotta pee,’ he said and disappeared into the toilet, locking the door.
‘Having a little reunion were we?’ said Layla.
‘Layla, what’s the matter? Yesterday you said …’
‘Nothing,’ said Layla quickly, cutting her eyes left and right. ‘I didn’t say anything. And there’s nothing wrong,’ she said taking a swig of her drink. ‘Nothing that this can’t fix, anyway.’
‘But I might be able to help.’
‘Oh yes, the heroic Miss Dunne, the brave girl who rises above it all, you’d love to fix my problems wouldn’t you? Well let me tell you’ – she barked out a bitter laugh – ‘you can’t help me now. I think this is a long way beyond your capabilities.’
‘But what’s going on?’
‘Who said anything was? I’m fine. I’m among friends, aren’t I? Not like you.
You’re
the odd one out here.’
‘Layla, you’re not making sense.’
‘I’m making perfect sense. You’ll see. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to have another of these delicious cream sodas.’
April walked back into the main party room, wondering what Layla had been trying to say to her. ‘You’re the odd one out?’ What did that mean? She shook her head. Maybe Layla was drunk, and it was as simple as that. Maybe she’d been drunk at school too.
‘Hey, Beautiful,’ said Ben ambling over, stuffing some crisps in his mouth and smiling at April. ‘Do you like the new look for the old place?’
‘It’s great,’ said April distractedly.
‘You all right? Are you feeling okay? I mean, your first day out and all that.’
‘I’m fine,’ she said forcing a smile, aware that she needed to snap back into her role.
‘Well in that case, would you like to dance?’
Ben gave a little bow and put out his hand like some Regency gentleman. April smiled and nodded. ‘Thank you, Mr Darcy,’ she said.
As it turned out, Ben was a pretty good dancer and with Caro waving her arms around and making her laugh, April
soon found she was genuinely enjoying herself. Everyone was dancing. All the sausages on sticks had gone. It seemed that everyone, even vampires, liked to let their hair down once in a while. Benjamin leant in and whispered in her ear.
‘See? You look so much better when you smile.’
‘Oh thanks,’ said April. ‘Nice to hear you think I’m usually a misery.’
‘I meant you haven’t been well, it’s good to see you better.’
‘Sorry, I’m not good at accepting compliments. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he smiled. ‘I’ll see you later on, okay?’ he said, kissing her hand.
‘Ooh, I think someone’s sweet on you,’ said Davina as they all walked out to the terrace.
‘Oh no, he’s just being friendly.’ April blushed.
‘No. I know my brother and he doesn’t look at other girls the way he does at you.’
‘Really? How does he look at me?’
‘Like he’s a puppy who just wants to play.’
‘Oh.’
‘I think he’s a bit worried about you and Gabe, though.’
‘Well, I don’t think he needs to be.’
‘Well that’s good because I just saw him heading upstairs with Chessy,’ said Davina with a little too much relish. ‘I’m not sure there’s much future in that one.’
April turned towards the garden, trying not to let Davina see her reaction. Gabriel was sneaking off with another girl? Just how seriously was he taking this cooling-off’ idea? April dug her fingernails into her palm, struggling to control her temper. How
could
he? Was he just using her to get the Dragon’s Breath? She just didn’t know what to think any more – but she couldn’t let Davina know how hurt she was. She blinked back her tears, concentrating on the line of trees and the dark slab of wall at the end of the Osbournes’ garden. Beyond that was the cemetery, the place Marcus had hunted her. Then Gabriel had come and given his life for hers, an act of pure love. Yet here he was, ignoring her and finding opportunities to go off
with other girls. It just didn’t make sense, any of it. Davina put a hand on her arm.
‘You okay honey?’ she said, following April’s gaze. ‘I didn’t know whether I’d done the right thing having the party here, but Caro said it was better if you faced up to it.’
April nodded, relieved that Davina had misread her misery.
‘No, Caro’s right,’ she said. ‘I can’t spend the rest of my life being scared of the dark. It was horrible, but I need to move on.’
‘Why did he do it? Why was he so angry?’
April looked at Davina. She was fairly sure the girl was a vampire – did Davina know Marcus was a Sucker too? She must have done, she was head of recruiting at the school and Marcus was her brother’s best friend. Even if she hadn’t known before, Marcus’s attack on April would have convinced her. April wondered how Davina felt about it. Angry, probably. Gabriel had told her again and again that vampires were hunters and, as such, tried their best to blend in with their surroundings. Anyone being so blatant in their desire for blood risked exposing all of them.
‘Maybe I annoyed him. Ben thinks he was jealous,’ said April with a laugh. ‘Either way he’s gone now, thank God. Where do you think he is?’
‘I don’t know, but I’d certainly advise him not to come anywhere near me ever again,’ said Davina. A casual observer would have thought she was being protective of her friends and family when she said that, a sort of ‘I’ll give him a piece of my mind’ statement, but the look of hatred on Davina’s face was chilling. April didn’t need to wonder what Davina’s feelings were any more. It was clear she wanted Marcus dead.
April rubbed her bare arms, feeling goosebumps. ‘Ooh, I’m suddenly feeling cold, can we go inside?’
‘Of course,’ said Davina, ‘I should have thought. You can’t be a hundred per cent yet, can you? Anyway, Caro had a great thought about how to warm us all up.’
They walked back in and Davina stood on a chair. The party goers gathered around in front of her.
‘Okay everyone, we’re going to play sardines. For those of you who have forgotten your childhoods, it’s like hide and seek in reverse; one person goes to hide and the rest of us try to find them. The difference is, when you find their hiding place, you have to get in with them, until we’re all hiding together.’
‘Mmm … cosy,’ said Layla with a hint of sarcasm. Davina ignored her.
‘As it’s April’s party, I think she should be first to hide. April, we’ll give you a five-minute head start, then the search begins.’
There were hoots and cheering. As April moved towards the door, Caro whispered ‘library’ in her ear. April immediately understood; this was an ideal time to look for the book. She had explored the house a little at the previous party and she knew that the southern part held a study and some other rooms. That was the most likely location for the library, so she headed down the corridor to the side of the stairs. As she did so, all the lights in the house went out. There were theatrical screams from the living room.
‘Don’t panic,’ she could hear Davina calling, ‘we’re just making it a little more interesting.’