‘So you’re not a morning person? I’m staggered. I’m actually struggling for breath.’
He glares in my general direction before gesturing at his toothbrush and toothpaste and stepping swiftly out of the tent.
I scoff. ‘Oh no, you go ahead! I’ll just sit here and soak in my own filth.’
His deep voice rings through the walls of the tent.
‘We’re still on a truce, go shower if you want to.’
He’s got a point. I stand up to stretch my aching legs. ‘Fine. But I’m taking the stick.’
His head pops back inside; his hair is still pointing in several different directions and his eyes hold a slightly pink tinge. Ican’t help but want to completely take him in. His current state screams ‘I have just awoken’ and there’s something unbearably cute about it.
‘You want to take the drumstick with you to shower? Really?’
I shrug with false nonchalance. The idea of leaving the drumstick alone with Elliot isn’t something that thrills me. He tilts his head in disbelief.
‘You’re just gonna take it?’
‘I don’t see why not,’ I reply. ‘In fact, it’s the least you can do to let me. I’m the one who just spent the night sleeping in an unfamiliar bed. I need more of my stuff.’ Without further explanation, I spring up and pull Elliot’s hoodie over my head, before tossing to him. He catches it easily with one hand, staring at me questioningly.
‘I don’t even know where you’re camped.’
‘Exactly! That’s why it’s perfect. I’ll just see you back here when I’m ready. I really need to go back to see Hennie and get myself together.’
He releases a rough sigh. ‘You know, if you don’t return and you’ve duped me, you’ll only have to answer to the gods of fair deals and agreements,’ he says, waving his toothbrush at me as he speaks. ‘Not to mention your conscience.’
‘Don’t you point your toothbrush at me and make threats about the torment of my own conscience. I’m very capable of following through on an agreement. Iwillbe back here. Just give me an hour.’
He seems much more awake now, toying with the hoodie in his hand before throwing it towards his bag in the corner.
‘Fine. The ten a.m. agreement is null, I’m just trusting you to come back.’
‘Well, you’re making an excellent judgement,’ I say airily, then turn to see he’s sticking out his hand for a handshake, an unreadable look on his face.
I pause, then slowly take his hand to shake it. His eyes search mine imploringly, seeking something out.
Obviously he has no need to worry about me stealing it. He’s right. Iwouldbe tormented by my conscience. But he’ll just have to see that for himself.
I run backto my tent for my wash-bag and then to the showers, which are mercifully quiet. By the time I return, Hennie is standing outside of her tent with her hands on her hips. Her silver-blonde hair has already been tamed to a beautiful smooth sheen with two thin plaits framing both sides of her face, which currently looks furious.
‘Where the fuck have youbeen?’ she shrills.
‘In Elliot’s tent, we discussed it at length? Are you feeling alright?’
She waves her phone frantically in front of me. ‘Your phone, yourphone.Have you not looked at my messages?’
‘I left it in my tent to shower. Why? What’s going on?’
‘Possibly a miracle.’ She has her arms out to steady me. ‘Okay, wait. You might want to sit down.’
That sentence alone spikes my heart rate. ‘We’re in a field, Hen. There are no chairs. What’s going on?’
‘Are you ready to hear something big? Perhaps life-changing?’
I am now quite frightened but nod anyway.
‘Queen Ego have set up a treasure hunt for VIP meet and greet tickets for a show inCanadawithin Firecrest festival. You could meetthem.’
