“Everyone knows each other, right?” We nodded. “Great, let’s get started then.” Rach had put on her Official Business Voice, which was similar to her Phone Voice at work. It made her sound about thirty years old, and never failed to make me laugh. “OK, ‘The Secret of the Abbey’ by Patricia Hanted. Beth, do you want to start us off?”
Everyone looked at me, waiting, and I could feel my skin starting to sweat under their stares. “You know what? I’m not really sure what I’m meant to be saying. Could someone else start?”
Rach seemed to accept this excuse and began the discussion herself. Putting on her fake voice again, she started on her obviously rehearsed speech. “Patricia Hanted, a relatively unknown author, creates a vivid and believable world in which dark secrets are the order of the day and bloodthirsty revenge seems a normal and even reasonable act…”
I switched off after about twenty seconds and concentrated on trying to look at Connor without anyone noticing. This was harder now that I was sitting next to him; at least with the human-eating sofa I’d been across the room from him and could see what his expression was. From what I could tell, he was concentrating intently on what Rach was saying, or, at least, was pretending to.
It took me a few seconds to realise it had gone silent and that everyone was looking at me. I smiled, embarrassed, and stared at Rach. “Sorry?”
As expected, Rach looked annoyed; she rolled her eyes and shook her head at the same time, actions that made her resemble some kind of comedy puppet. “I said, would you agree that Hanted wants the reader to feel sympathetic towards Margaret?”
I looked at Connor and Daniel for help, but their faces were mainly blank. Connor looked vaguely amused. “Yes. Yes I would.”
I could tell she was waiting for me to elaborate, but I looked back at her expectantly until she shook her head and mumbled, “Great insight. And why do you think we should?”
“What?”
Rach groaned in exasperation, while Connor tried to hide his smirk. “Why should we, as readers, feel sympathetic towards her?”
I shifted in my seat, wondering what the hell was going to come out of my mouth. I tried to stall. “Towards Margaret?”
Rach thumped the book down on her lap and mumbled something about pulling teeth.
I decided to ignore her comment and turned instead towards Connor, trying to sound warm and welcoming. “So, Connor, you haven’t been here long. How’d you get into the book club?”
I could see out of the corner of my eye that Rach looked pissed off - I’m guessing general chit-chat wasn’t usually permitted here when there were important books to talk about - but Connor seemed happy enough to converse. At first.
“Well, I love readin’, sure, and Daniel here was one of the first people I met in the village. I’d seen Rach’s ad already, o’course, then we got talkin’ and he invited me. That’s about it really.”
I nodded and asked another question before Rach could steer the conversation back to Patricia Hanted and poor Margaret.
“And do you like it here? Or do you miss Ireland?”
Connor shifted in his seat uncomfortably. I couldn’t tell if he was finding my questions too imposing or if it was just the stiff, hard-backed chairs. He cleared his throat before answering. “Sure I miss Ireland, but there was a reason we moved…” at this he trailed off and stared into the distance for a few seconds before he recovered himself, “and Little Forest is grand.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? You don’t have to lie, you know. Most young people can’t wait to get out of here.” I emphasised the ‘most’ and I could almost feel Rach rolling her eyes behind my back.
He laughed, a little reluctantly. “Well, I’m not most people. I’m not really into big cities, you know? I mean, Dublin’s great but I prefer smaller places. And it’s not like we’re in the middle o’ nowhere here. I’m savin’ up for a car at the moment so I’ll be able to go to Willowton or Birston whenever I want. Plus me mam wouldn’t have to get that awful bus to work every day.” He trailed off again and I could tell how close he was to her.
I smiled. “That’s sweet.”
He shrugged. “She’s been through a hell of a lot.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that so I thought I’d gauge his reaction on something else. “I guess you’ve heard about Emma Harris who died in the woods the other night? She worked with me and Rach.”
Connor’s face darkened at the turn in the conversation. “Yes, I heard. I’m sorry. Did you know ‘er well?”
“Not really well, no. It was still a shock though, that kind of thing doesn’t usually happen in Little Forest.” I paused. “In case you were wondering.”
Connor smiled, evidently not quite sure what, if anything, I was implying. I didn’t really know either. “Good to hear.”
“Will thinks it might not have been an accident.” It came out of my mouth before I could stop it.
I heard Rach drop her teaspoon on the little table. “Beth!”
I ignored her, keeping my eyes on Connor. He shifted in his seat again, looking more uncomfortable than ever.
“I thought she was bolloxed.”
I laughed in surprise and, despite his obvious irritation, a hint of a smile appeared on Connor’s handsome, well-groomed face.
“Bolloxed?”
“Sorry, I mean I thought she was drunk.” His smile faded.
I wondered how far I could push him. “She was… he just thinks someone might have taken advantage of that fact. You know, her dress was ripped. It looks like someone took a piece of it with him…”
“Beth, that’s enough.” Rach’s voice was quiet but firm.
I decided to change tack before Rach got really fed up of my questions. “So, you made many friends here yet?” I leaned in further and whispered the next line, posing it like a joke. “Or enemies?”
I heard Rach cough loudly, and looked round to see that she was actually choking slightly on her tea. She gave me one of her warning looks but I ignored it and turned back to Connor.
He seemed confused but he had a crooked smile on his face. “Well, I meet people at the bar, which is useful. And o’course Rach and Daniel here have been great. Everyone seems really nice. Why, do you have any enemies?”
I was about to respond with a jokey reply when I thought of Veronica. Was she my enemy now? It sounded over the top to think, I know, but she definitely wasn’t my friend anymore. And the whole glass-throwing thing surely pointed to the ‘enemy’ category. I hesitated, not wanting to break down in front of the mysterious newbie and the local primary school head teacher. I managed to calm myself and say, “Everyone has enemies around here!” but not before Connor noticed something was wrong.
“Are you OK, Beth?”
I nodded but couldn’t make anything come out. Rach responded for me, guessing why I’d gone quiet. “She’s fallen out with her best friend recently; she’s taking it pretty hard.”
I glared at her but she ignored me.
Connor looked genuinely concerned. Either that, or he was just glad that the conversation had been steered away from Emma, I couldn’t tell which. “That’s too bad, for sure. Nothing’s worth arguin’ about, especially if you were best friends. Can’t you just apologise, like?”
I had no idea what to say; this conversation had taken a turn I hadn’t predicted. I could see that Daniel looked really uncomfortable (he was staring out the window, pretending he could see something incredibly interesting in the darkness of Rach’s back garden), and Connor’s smile had completely vanished. I could only imagine what Rach’s face looked like; I’d deliberately turned my back to her again. I knew Connor was only trying to help, but his suggestion that I apologise to Veronica really got to me. Of course, Connor had no idea that I didn’t know what I had to apologise for, but it pissed me off all the same.
“If nothing’s worth arguing about, why were you fighting with Norman the other night?” I regretted the question as soon as it had left my mouth. Connor loo
ked shocked at first - understandably - and then he just looked mad. Very, very mad.
“What did you just say?” All trace of the lovable Irish rogue was gone, and the harsh tone of his voice actually made me jump.
Rach jumped as well, up out of her seat and right over to me. She glared at me, replied to Connor with, “She didn’t say anything,” and proceeded to physically pull me out of the chair. I was so surprised I couldn’t say anything, and she’d got me halfway across the room before I could put up any resistance.
“Rach!” I hissed. I turned back to look at Daniel and Connor. Daniel had now turned fully to the window; his commitment to his fake interest in the garden was impressive. Connor seemed like he was about to burst.
I figured I had nothing to lose now. “I just wanted to know what Connor could possibly have to discuss with one of the eldest people in the village?”
He shook his head. “I’d say that’s none of your feckin’ business!”
Before I could respond, Rach gave me the angriest look I’d ever seen from her as she hissed, “I think you should leave.”
I flashed back to Veronica whispering the very same words to me in the Diner and immediately stopped struggling. I grabbed my bag, said a half-hearted “Sorry,” not knowing if I was talking to Rach or Connor, then walked out the room and straight through the front door.
***
I walked through Rach’s garden gate to the dark, silent road and threw my bag at the ground in frustration. I wondered bitterly how I’d managed to alienate Veronica, my parents, and now Rach and Connor, all in a matter of days. And Daniel too, I supposed, even though I’d never spent any time with him before. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be spending any time with him now, anyway. I was slowly working my way around the village, leaving behind pissed off acquaintances and broken friendships as I went.
I kicked my bag in anger before quickly checking the windows of the surrounding houses, making sure no one had seen my little outburst. You could never be too careful around here, and I was already high on the gossip list after the ‘Diner Showdown’.
I groaned and collapsed on the cold, hard ground; it seemed almost natural to sit down on the pavement in the darkness and put my head in my hands.
It felt like the only thing I could do.
Could I be any more pathetic?
Now that I was sitting down, still and motionless in the autumn air, I could feel the chill seeping through my skin and settling in my bones. I hadn’t been able to grab my coat on the way out, and I was left wearing a highly weather-inappropriate t-shirt. I thought about going back to get it but immediately decided against the idea; I didn’t want to see Rach’s face again so soon after what had happened, and I definitely didn’t want to see Connor’s. Handsome or not, I didn’t think I could deal with him yelling at me again tonight.
I sat there for a few minutes in the gloom, wondering what I was supposed to do now, when a sound punctured the night, shrill and piercing.
My whole body shivered involuntarily as I listened to the mind-bending noise; it sounded like someone, or something, laughing in the distance. No, cackling. It reminded me of something from a long time ago, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on…
I slipped my phone out of my pocket as quickly as I could with my shaking hands, making a mental note to avoid - at any cost - whoever it was who owned that inhuman voice. There were many unsavoury residents in Little Forest, but I was finding it pretty hard to connect that awful sound to someone I might know. Maybe it was just some cats fighting? Except I didn’t believe that. I didn’t believe that for a second.
I selected Will’s number from my contacts list without even thinking about it, and he answered on the second ring.
“Powers?”
“Hey Will.”
“You alright? You at the book club yet? ‘Cus I’ve got some major info on those nuns!”
In my current state I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, but the alien sound suddenly stopped, and I tried to clear my head. “Nuns?”
“Yeah, ‘The Secret of the Abbey’? I came home and looked it up for you.”
I smiled to myself. “Thanks, Will. But I’ve actually been and left.”
“Oh, that was quick.”
I hesitated, then figured there was no point in lying. “Yeah, well, actually… Rach kicked me out.”
There was a pause. “Why?” Then understanding filtered through into his voice. “Did you start interrogating Connor in front of her?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. It’s her book club, after all. Anyway, now I’ve lost Rach as well as Veronica, so that totally backfired.” I sighed loudly.
“Hey, Beth, she’ll calm down soon enough.” He paused again, apparently unsure of what to say. “It’ll be alright.”
“Thanks.” I looked up at the surrounding houses, all of which gaped vacuously back at me with blank indifference.
The only lights on in the entire court were coming from Rach’s large Victorian bay windows, and as I turned towards the house that I’d been thrown out of, the spine-tingling caterwaul started up again, this time sounding much closer. “Can you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
I held the phone up to the air for a few seconds before pressing it back to my ear. “That.”
There was another pause from the other end, longer this time, and my heart sank as I waited for him to answer. “Sorry, you’ve lost me.”
I started standing up, wanting to be away from that house - away from that sound - as quickly as possible. “Never mind, I’d better get home. I’ll speak to you soon. And thanks for looking up the book for me.”
“Sure, no problem. Listen, Beth?”
I was almost running out of Elm Court now, staring straight ahead and ignoring the strange laughing that was echoing around the houses. “Yeah?”
“Are you sure you’re OK? My parents are out if you want to come round…”
He trailed off and it took me approximately two seconds to realise I was closer to his house than mine. “I’m on my way.”
Another pause. He was driving me mad. “Great! I’ll put the kettle on.”
I said bye as I got to the end of the road, taking one last glance at the deceptively sleepy street before I headed towards Will’s.
***
Despite being the only one at home, Will’s house was ablaze with lights as I walked up the path. It looked comfy and cosy and I couldn’t wait to get inside.
I got to his door and rang the bell.
He answered less than five seconds later. “Hey Powers, you OK?”
I tried to smile. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.” He stepped back and I walked into the hall, glad to be getting into the warm. “Thanks for asking me over, I really didn’t want to go home yet.”
“What were you going on about, a sound or something?”
I shut the front door, turning my back to him so he wouldn’t see me cringe. “Oh, nothing really. There was a weird animal sound but I guess it wasn’t loud enough to transmit over my crappy phone.”
“Right. So the book club idea kind of backfired?”
I turned back to him, nodding slowly. “I think it’s safe to say Rach won’t be inviting me round again in a hurry.” My voice came out flat and defeated - exactly how I felt.
Will noticed and before I could guess what was going to happen, he’d pulled me in towards him for a hug. It took me so much by surprise that for a few seconds I just let him hug me, my hands dangling at my sides, not knowing what to do.
I was used to hugs with my friends (when I wasn’t getting thrown out of their houses, anyway), but being this chummy with Will was a whole new experience. I resisted for a second longer then gave in and put my arms around him too. It didn’t feel as awkward as I thought it would, and the warmth of his skin through my thin shirt felt soothing and reassuring.
I was so lost in my thoughts that the sound of Will’s voice almost made me jump. “God Beth, you’re freezing!”
“Oh, yeah… I left Rach’s in kind of a hurry; she’s now the new owner of my favourite winter coat.”
He gave me a quick squeeze and then he was gone, running up the stairs. “I’ll be right down, go into the living room if you want.”
I stood staring at the stairs for a while before walking into the lounge. The TV was on with the sound turned down, showing some kind of detective show, and the various lamps that were dotted around the room gave it an almost festive feel.
I sat down on the sofa - luckily a sturdier one than Rach’s monster of a chair - and looked around.
It was smaller than my living room but it was warm and inviting. There were a couple of family portraits on the mantelpiece showing Will and his parents (like me, Will was an only child), and a large, clear tank on one of the old wooden bookshelves held Will’s most prized possession: his pet snake, who was inexplicably named Derek. I’d been in his living room a few times with Veronica, and I’m sure he’d told me a thousand times what kind of snake it was, but I think I’d managed either not to listen or instantly forget every time he told me.
To tell the truth, I couldn’t usually wait to get out of Will’s house and towards whatever nightspot we were heading to. Now, I was just grateful to have somewhere to be.
He came running into the room and jumped onto the sofa, holding out a black hoodie. “Put this on.”
I thanked him and pulled the hoodie over my head. It was soft and fluffy and it immediately made me feel better. It had a faint lingering smell of men’s aftershave.
He held up one finger and leapt up, running off into the kitchen. I heard some banging of cupboard doors and tinkling of cutlery and before long, he was back with two giant mugs of tea. He handed me one and leaned back into the sofa, getting comfortable. “So, did you get anything out of Irish before you got thrown out? What did you actually say to the guy?”
I grimaced. “Well I mentioned your theory about Emma, which he didn’t seem to like, then Rach told him about Veronica and he said I should apologise, and I know he didn’t mean anything by it but…”
“But it got to you?”
I shrugged. “And then I opened my stupid mouth and mentioned his argument with Norman.”