“The woman you were talking about was sitting right over there.” Stella got up and sighed as she shook her head and gave Manuel some money. “Here, pay for the drinks and don’t wait for me. I need to sort this out.” Although she knew it was Manuel who should be apologising and not her, he was too tipsy to do that right then, and anyway, she was much better at smoothing things over than him. “Could you bag that food up for me please?” she asked Joachim. “I’ll drop it off. I know where she’s staying.”
5
Another panic attack.Breathe, Lisa told herself.Just breathe.Stumbling through the crowds yet again, she desperately tried to find her way out of the city centre. Finally running towards the beach, she was gasping for air as she sat down in the sand. Never had she felt so humiliated and so embarrassed in her life. She’d recognised some of the Paradise staff members, but it had been Manuel’s voice that had made the hairs on her arms rise.
She’d told herself she was just being paranoid, but now she knew they really had been talking about her.Miss Grumpy.They’d even nicknamed her.And now she was stuck at Paradise with staff who hated her, even though she’d done nothing but beg them to be left alone. Her confidence crumbled, Lisa had no idea how she would manage to stay there. But what was the alternative? Move in with her parents and her brother? At least here she still had some privacy, some form of autonomy over her own life.
Needing to hear a familiar voice, she scrolled through her phone and called her friend Ebony, the only person who might have some sensible advice for her. Her parents would just tell her to perk up or come home and her brother, well, he had enough on his plate, and she didn’t want to bother him either.
“Lisa?”
“Hey, Ebony.” Lisa sniffed. “Sorry to call so late, but I need to talk.”
“What’s up, babe? You sound upset.”
“I am. I really, really hate it here and everyone hatesme.”
“Babe…” Ebony sighed. “I’m sure no one hates you. You’re one of the kindest people I know. Have you been drinking?”
“No. I’m just so... so fucking lost. Nothing is working out. I can’t find a job, the staff are rude to me, the guests hate me, this town is just awful, and I don’t fit in. I feel so self-conscious all the time.” Lisa sniffed again. “I had two panic attacks tonight. I’m not sure if I can stay.”
“Panic attacks? You haven’t had those in years.”
“I know. They’ve come back and they’re bad.”
“Then come home.” Ebony paused. “No one is forcing you to stay there but consider giving it a little more time first. You’ve only been there for a week, and by next week there will be new guests, so everything will be easier.”
“You must think I’m pathetic,” Lisa said with a huff. “No one would ever complain about being on holiday.”
“No, I don’t think you’re pathetic.” Ebony chuckled. “I do think that right now you may be a little oversensitive and that’s okay. The past year is just catching up on you. You haven’t had an easy one and it takes time to acclimatise. But just wait and see; you’ll get there.”
“Miserable on all levels, that’s how they described me tonight.”
Ebony gasped. “They said what?”
“Miserable on all levels. I literally heard them talking about me behind my back. The hotel staff that is,” Lisa clarified.
“That’s awful. You should file a complaint against them.”
“I’m not sure that’s going to benefit my stay long-term, so I’d better not.”
“So…” Ebony paused. “Haveyou been disrespectful to them?”
“I don’t think so.” Lisa tried to remember if she’d been rude at any point. “Maybe I have, I’m not sure of anything anymore.” She picked up a shell and threw it into the sea. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you have better things to do than listen to me whining. I just had to vent for a moment; I haven’t had a conversation in seven days.”
“No problem, babe. I’m actually on a date right now.” Ebony lowered her voice and Lisa heard a door slam before the sound of cars in the background. “Sorry, I’m just going outside so he won’t eavesdrop.”
“No, don’t do that for me. Enjoy yourself, I’ll call you back tomorrow.” On top of everything, Lisa now felt bad for interrupting her friend’s date. After a long and difficult break-up, Ebony had been single for four years. She’d finally started seeing other people again and here she was, troubling her with her minor problems.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ebony said. “It’s just an internet date and he’s not all that. I’m only staying for a second drink out of politeness because he travelled quite a long way to meet me.”
“Why? Does he look different from his profile picture?”
“No. He’s tall and handsome and well dressed, but we don’t actually have that much to talk about face to face. He was funny when we were chatting online but in real life, he’s actually a little basic and he keeps checking himself out in the reflection of the window.” She sighed. “But hey, he’s better than the previous ones. I’d better give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he’s just nervous.”
“Maybe.” Lisa pulled her knees up and sighed. “Go back. Enjoy your night. I’ll call you when I’ve perked up. You’re right; I’m just feeling sorry for myself and I’m being a little dramatic.”
“Okay. Have a cocktail, babe. A cocktail always does it for me.” Ebony chuckled. “I’ll speak to you soon, honey. Go to sleep, everything will be a little better tomorrow.”
