"Today. There's a bus in an hour, which is the only one left that'd take me to Easton by tonight —"
"Okay." Kennedy is already walking across the porch.
"Okay," I say.
I think about saying sorry one last time as she disappears through the back door, but I know that it's pointless.
*
The closest bus stop is fifteen minutes away, on the way out of town. I wait at the front of the beach house for as long as I can, with my duffel bag on the front porch, but Bonnie, Erin and Liam don't arrive.
My legs shake because I don't want to leave without saying goodbye, but I can't be late. I'm already cutting it close as it is.
In the end, I text Bonnie and Erin a quick message: I'm leaving, but thank you for having me. It was so much fun.
I stare at Liam's contact number for a long time, but I can't think of what to say. Everything is too cold or too vulnerable. In the end, I don't write anything.
I've already said a short goodbye to Kennedy through the doorway of the master bedroom. Now, I hesitate before shouting "I'm off," through the open front door.
I cringe. I sound so perky and nonchalant. Instead of waiting for a response I doubt will come, I close the door and disappear through the front yard.
My body feels heavy as I walk through the familiar streets, with the white, blue and light-grey homes. Over the past twelve days, I've grown used to the smell of salt, but now that I'm leaving it, it's even stronger. The expanse of the beautiful blue sea remains to my right. The sky is a lighter shade of blue, the clouds a creamy-white.
This place is beautiful. I'll miss it.
24
Liam: Don't Bother
"My arms better be hella toned after this," Bonnie says, hauling two bags of groceries onto the kitchen bench.
Erin and I place our grocery bags on the bench, too. Erin insisted on buying heaps of food for our last few days at the house, so we don't have to go shopping again.
"That was only half an hour of carrying them," Erin says with a chuckle. "Besides, they're not that heavy."
"Speak for yourself. I had a 3-litre container of milk in here, and a whole bag of oranges. And we were walking around for more than half an hour. You dragged us to the post office —"
"They had a great deal on postcards."
As they talk, seemingly back to normal after the party debacle, I unload the groceries.
Bonnie checks her phone and blinks. "Oh."
"What is it?" Erin asks, also taking out her phone. "Oh."
I pull out my phone, which has been untouched since we left the grocery store in my back pocket. I turn on my screen but the only notifications I've got is that one of the uncompleted fan fictions I'm reading has updated and my favourite band has posted on Instagram.
"Did something bad happen?" I ask, laughing nervously.
They glance at each other before Bonnie marches out, calling Kennedy's name.
Erin watches Bonnie leave before looking at me. "It's from Curtis," she says, showing me her phone.
I read the message on the screen. I'm leaving, but thank you for having me. It was so much fun.
My stomach folds into itself as if someone has punched me. Or as if I'm about to throw up. "What… what?"
Bonnie and Kennedy enter the kitchen, Bonnie looking almost angry and Kennedy looking tired, her eyes puffy and red.
