This is so much worse than finding something to wear for a formal. The last time I wore a costume for Halloween, I was eleven and tripped over my Little Mermaid tail, knocking out my two front teeth. My dad still likes to bring up the dentist bill every time I go in for a check-up.
‘Why don’t we get through our first week and worry aboutcostumes then?’ Oliver suggests and I nod in agreement, very, very quickly. ‘At least let Mia endure Dr Quinn’s first lecture and decide whether or not she even wants to stay at Hemden before you dress her up as a slab of cod.’
Jenna scowls. ‘The fish and chips theme was Michael’s idea, not mine, I wanted to doThe Wizard of Oz. And no one said you had to be the fish. Us little chippies were perfectly happy, thank you very much.’
‘I wasn’t thrilled, if I’m honest.’
‘Not helpful, Alice.’
‘All right, children, I’ll leave you to squabble amongst yourselves.’
Oliver stands, straddling the bench, and Michael tosses a crisp in his direction.
‘You’ve got somewhere better to be?’
‘Band practice.’
‘Oliver is going to be the next Ed Sheeran,’ Jenna says in a stage whisper, but Oliver’s face is a picture of horror, his perfect mouth forming a perfect O.
‘Jenna, that hurts.’ He picks up his sandwich and holds it to his chest like a dagger through his heart. ‘Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, Elliot Smith, maybe, but Sheeran? I didn’t know you hated me.’
Both of Michael’s eyebrows pull upward. ‘See? Pretentious wanker.’
But Oliver laughs when he winks, raising his sandwich in a general goodbye, and when his eyes catch mine, I feel my heart stutter in my chest. What would it be like to walk beside him, hands entwined, head held high? I wonder what his music sounds like, whether or not I’ll get to hear him play, and just how likely it is I’ll pass out if I do.
‘New girl.’ Michael’s voice breaks through my daydream. ‘Are you going to eat your lunch or not?’
‘Not.’
I push the plate towards him, not hungry at all.
‘You’ll get used to the food,’ Alice promises. ‘Promise me you’ll eat something before your shift, I don’t want you passing out behind the bar.’
‘Behind what bar?’ Bryn asks.
‘Alice hooked me up with a job at Members,’ I tell him, almost convincing myself I’m excited about it.
‘You’ve worked behind a bar before?’
‘No, but I waitressed all summer and Alice swears it’s easy.’
Something uncertain passes over his face, just for a second, then it’s replaced with his usual warm, sunny expression.
‘Yeah,’ he agrees lightly. ‘Easy enough.’
‘You’re basically getting paid to hang out with your mates,’ Alice says. ‘Working at Members is the easiest job in the world.’
And like a fool, I believe her.
11
Mia
There isnothingeasy about bartending.
‘Why would you do this to me?’ I shriek over the music. ‘I thought we were friends?’
‘You just need to get into the rhythm,’ Alice yells back, two liquor bottles in one hand, a soda gun in the other in the other. ‘Can you pass me the lime cordial? Thanks, babe.’
