“It so is. Chloe Bell, see. And belle means beautiful in French, which is what you are. When I’m a famous fashion designer, you’ll be my muse.”
“You mean with wings and a harp?” She loved stories of Roman and Greek gods.
“No.” He grinned, acknowledging her meaning. “My inspiration. You have the perfect figure and looks for a model, and I will dress you in fabulous clothes. The world will fete us and I will drink champagne from your slipper.”
She giggled at his dramatic gestures. “It better be made of glass, otherwise it’ll just leak out.”
“I never had you down as Cinderella.” He fluffed out her hair and held it above her head, dragging down a couple of curls at her ears. “Now you mention it, I can see you in a princess style with tons of chiffon.”
“Which would make you her fairy godmother.”
They jumped at Justin’s words – neither had heard his approach. His next words deprived her of deniable plausibility. “Hi, Chloe. I finally remembered where I’d met you.” His grin smacked of lascivious leer. “You always enjoyed being a princess to my prince charming. Aren’t you going to introduce your fashion consultant? I must say, seeing you at the party, he’s doing a grand job.”
Drew let go of her hair, his face wobbling as he stood back, folding his arms.
Caught wrong-footed, she played for time “Drew, this is Justin. And this is my … friend, Drew.” She dropped the “very good” at the last minute, but the tiny pause had Justin raising an eyebrow.
“Boyfriend?” He leaned closer, using a stage whisper. “Or girlfriend?”
“Don’t be mean,” vied with “None of your business” in her head, but all she managed was, “Where’s Helen?”
“Who?”
“Your girlfriend.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His wink said otherwise as he strutted off.
Drew’s face was one big question mark as she tried to go for a suitable explanation.
“I – I met him–”
“No need to explain.”
“Yes there is. We were playing kids games. You know, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians.”
“With all those princes and princesses.” His dry tone and sceptical expression compelled her to elaborate.
“With his cousin and my friend, Tina. A few years ago.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” Why wouldn’t he believe her, and why was it so important he did?
“Listen, Chloebelle, it doesn’t matter. But he looks like bad news and he’s obviously got his mind set on you. I’d warn you to watch out, but it’s not my place.”
“Of course it’s your place, Drew Masters. Don’t you know you’re my best friend in the whole world–”
“Apart from Janet and Penny.” He seemed determined to make her feel bad and she had no clue how to convince him of her loyalty. His face was close and it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to press her lips to his.
Big mistake. Huge.
He pulled back as though reacting to a slap instead of a kiss and she shrivelled inside, stumbling away from the expression on his face.
Penny found her in the loos. “Did Janet find you?”
“Why?”
“She’s mad as hell – said if she found you she’d give you a warning you wouldn’t forget in a hurry. I didn’t think she meant physical violence, though.”
“What?” With a sniff, Chloe swiped at her eyes. “What am I supposed to have done?”
“Made a play for Helen’s boyfriend, that’s all. Nothing major.” Her tone said the opposite.
She gulped. “I didn’t.” Her voice sounded weak.
“We all saw you giving him ‘the look’ at the party.”
“I didn’t know he was going out with Helen.” And he made out to Drew that he wasn’t.
“I don’t believe it was just innocent childhood games between you two. There was obviously something more – he couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Except when he was practically making out with Helen on the dance floor.” Why would no one believe her?
The door burst open and Janet strode in. “What’s going on here?” She rounded on Penny. “What did you tell her?”
“Just that we didn’t believe her story about meeting Justin at some fictitious den.”
“I can show you.”
“Right. We’ll be waiting by the gates, and it better be real if you know what’s good for you.”
The bell called them back to lessons and she was never so glad to be in a maths class with no one glaring at her, calling her a liar.
They were waiting for her, joined by Helen and an even grimmer-faced girl everyone knew of as a right hard case. No words were exchanged as they virtually frog-marched her through the small estate past Oakfield Junior School.
But the worst possible thing happened when they reached Copperford Park – the den was gone. As the older girls swapped triumphant looks, she tried to get her bearings – it was just past the gardens on the left. Wasn’t it? Tina had always found the hidden entrance, and Chloe never took much notice.
“I knew you were lying.” Helen scowled. “Confess – what really happened?” All four glared in unison.
Feeling like a criminal, Chloe couldn’t think straight. She closed her eyes, fearing the worst.
Willing the memories to come back, she tried seeing the route from Tina’s house in her mind and realised they would have come in a different entrance. She needed something which would put it all into context. Opening her eyes, she spotted the old factory roof and took off.
Oblivious to the startled shouts, she ran. The element of surprise meant she reached the area with enough time to spot the yew tree hiding the entrance. She darted behind it just as Helen’s friend, Charlie, reached out to grab her.
“Watch out for the root.” Her warning came just in time, but the butch girl’s momentum had her sliding down the slope. Chloe grabbed her arm to steady her.
Charlie whooped. “What a ride. Thanks kid. Looks like you weren’t lying after all.” She ran back up to direct the others in, helping them past the tricky bit. They peered at the scene out of a Tolkien novel: wild, overgrown and full of dangers for the unwary.
Helen strode up, folding her arms. “Okay, so you weren’t lying about this place, but what actually happened here? And don’t bull me about cowboys and Indians.”
“It started off as that. Tina and I joined in with Justin and Danny – his cousin.”
“He’s never mentioned him.”
“They didn’t get on. Justin …” She glanced away.
“Spit it out. I know he’s no angel.”
“He used to boss him around. And poor Tina – he always made her and Danny be the bad guys.”
“I’m getting the picture. So you were the princess and he fought past the other two to rescue you.”
She nodded. “It was thrilling – he brought along swords and guns and made it really exciting.”
“So what aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. I swear, that’s everything.”
“Did he do anything when he rescued you?” Her intense glare said she knew.
“Once. He demanded a reward. A kiss – just a peck.”
“That’s it? He didn’t lay a hand on either of you?”
“What? No!” She flinched. “I promise, it wasn’t like that. Why do you ask?”
“Fair enough. I had to ask. There was a rumour of a boy forcing young girls to show their knickers.”
Chloe cringed. “Gross. Well he certainly didn’t do that to us – we only played with them for a few weeks.”
“I’m sorry to put you through it, but I need to know what kind of boy I’m going out with. Do you fancy him?”
Chloe shrugged. “What do you think? He’s handsome and charming, and what a mover! But now I know he’s yours, I wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.”
Charlie chuckled. “Now that’s something you might wanna try, Hel.”
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