20. Burnt marshmallows

"That's the last bag. It's an hour's drive, Sian. You sure you don't need the toilet before we go?" James called out as he slammed the boot of Alec's Audi.

"I've been. Come on Alec. We need to get there first so we can get the best beds in the cabin. I don't want Rosie and Daniel to get the only king-size."

We were parked outside Sian's flat, ready to head off on our little road trip to the New Forest. Rosie and Daniel, who were also sharing the lodge with us, were catching a lift with Daniel's brother, Andy.

It was ten am, everyone else was heading to the campsite for midday so Sian was unnecessarily worrying.

Halfway down the M27, with twenty minutes until we arrived at the lodge, I remembered Alec's sister. "How's Chloe getting there? Wasn't she meant to grab a lift with us?"

Alec took a swig from a water bottle James had picked up at the petrol station, we had driven away from, minutes ago. "No, she's coming with Joana. She didn't want her to be on her own, and refused to get in a car with Finn, for some reason."

We turned onto a dirt track towards a thatched-roof cottage and parked up. Alec had rung the owners of the camping site before we set off, and they would be waiting for us with the keys to our cabin.

He jumped out of the car to sign some papers and grab the keys. Ten minutes later, we were back on the makeshift road to our holiday let.

The oak framed lodge was bigger than I imagined. We had all seen photos online, but they didn't do this place any justice.

We walked into an open-plan, fully equipped kitchen and a sitting room with two sofas. Sian busied herself with loading the fridge and cupboards with the food we had brought with us.

"Leave that for now, let's check the bedroom." I grabbed Sian's arm, making her drop a packet of biscuits onto the floor, and pulled her upstairs.

"I'll clean this up then," James shouted up to us.

The small landing was dimly lit by the limited daylight coming up the stairs. We opened the door into one large room. A king-sized bed took centre stage against the furthest wall from the entrance. Two made-up double sofa beds were on each side of the room, leaving a narrow walkway around the biggest bed. The overhead VELUX windows cast warming, natural light onto the wooden floorboards.

"Where are the bunk beds?" Sian asked as we stepped further into the bedroom. She turned around to face the door. "Ah, how clever." She pulled a thick canvas type curtain back that was covering the bunk beds in a recess in the wall.

Along the rear wall was a smallish cupboard. Out of curiosity, I opened it to find a toilet in the compact space. "Ew, Grim. No one can use this for anything but a pee. It will stink the entire place out. Maybe we don't mention it to the boys and tell them they can only use the one downstairs."

Alec tumbled into the room, his arms laden with our bags. "How are we doing this then? All of us upstairs like one big sleepover or split between upstairs and downstairs?" Alec wondered.

"I think James and I should get the king-size and then you guys fight it out amongst yourselves," said Sian as she flopped down onto the bed.

"Well, that sounds fair, Sian. As long as you're sorted," Alec snapped back.

"We can't decide without Rosie, Daniel, your sister and her friend. They're sleeping here too, so I reckon we pull straws when they get here. Longest straw gets the king, shortest gets the bunk beds." I glanced up at Sian, who was not impressed with that decision.

"Please let me have the king," she begged. "James starfishes in his sleep. We need the space. Besides, we're the only couple. Well, Rosie and Daniel are too, but she's so tiny, we can slot her in anywhere."

Alec rolled his eyes and went to find James, who was outside checking out the barbecue area and the pony paddock, the cabin backed onto.

"Sian, you're terrible. Daniel makes up for her lack of height. Fine, you two have the king, or we will never hear the end of it. Rosie can decide if they want to sleep upstairs with everyone or have the downstairs to themselves, and the two girls should have the bunks."

"Where does that leave you and Alec. Sharing a bed?" Sian smirked, nudging me in the side.

"I've been sharing a bed with Alec since we were kids. It's not a big deal." I brushed her comment off, but I could feel my face heating up.

"Yeah but before you didn't want to kiss him." Sian grabbed my face and covered it in wet, slobbery pecks. Then roared with laughter as we made our way back downstairs.

Aiden and his friend burst into the kitchen, dropping a huge icebox onto the floor. Andy trailed in after him with his hands in his pockets.

Aiden wiped his brow and glared at Andy. "Thanks for the help, man. This thing weighs a ton. It's so hot. Can we throw our ice bags in the freezer and beer in the fridge? We'll take it out tonight."

Sian helped the boys make room in the fridge, making sure we still had space for everyone else's food.

"You have a Whirlpool bath in here? How did you guys get the cabin, and I have to sleep next to Sir Fartsalot and Corpse Breath, in a tiny tent?" Andy whistled as he walked out of the downstairs bathroom at the rear of the lodge.

Aiden hurled one of the sofa cushions straight into Andy's face, causing him to gasp at the impact.

"My mum practically paid for the place, that's why." Alec lightly smacked him on the back of the head as he strolled in, making us all snickered as Andy flinched.

Alec slid up behind me and pulled my back into his front. "Beds all sorted? Do I get to sleep with you then? I remember someone not getting their birthday wish," he whispered into my ear. My stomach involuntarily flipped at his word. I twisted around to check if he was serious.

"I meant a kiss, Nattie. Get your mind out of the gutter." He bopped my nose and exited the cabin, his shoulders rising as he quietly laughed to himself.

Andy grumbled away on the sofa when Rosie and Daniel joined us. The five of them had driven up together, but Andy had left them to pitch up his tent even though they were staying inside with us.

The fifteen camping plots were laid out in a field to the side of the owner's cottage. We had reserved four of them for our friends who were bringing six-berth tents.

"Seriously Andy! You lazy git. Where have you been? We could've used your help with your tent," Daniel fumed as he pulled a cold beer out of the fridge.

Rosie shuffled in next, her blonde hair stuck to her beetroot red face. "I can't stand it. It's so muggy. My weather app said it would rain." She grabbed the cold beer straight out of Daniel's hands and rolled it against her forehead and cheeks. Once cooled, she let out a sigh of relief and plopped down on the sofa next to Andy.

When she realised it was him, she smacked his leg, hard enough we all heard the clap on his bare skin.

"What is it with everyone hitting me today?" he moaned, then stalked out of the back door towards the paddock.

Rosie and Daniel agreed to sleep on one of the upstairs' sofa beds, Alec and I were going to take the second one, leaving the bunk beds for Alec's sister and Joana. We all promised we would only use the downstairs as a lounge and for eating.

Realistically, we would spend most of the night outside with our friends and would only need somewhere to rest our heads when we were too tired to stand.

Finn rang Alec while he was at a fast-food restaurant to let us know he would bring lunch.

The once bright blue sky was gradually darkening, the threat of rain moving in closer just like Rosie's weather app predicted.

***

Ketchup ran down my chin as I took a bite of a burger Finn dumped on the campsite's picnic table. Having eaten en route, he raced back towards Hope's car to help the girls pitch their tent for the night.

Sian mocked my eating habits and threw a paper napkin at my face. We were both giggling when Sian's laughter died down as the humming of a car's engine and the crunch of wheels on the dirt caught her attention. Her face paled as they came nearer. With my back to the track, I had to crank my neck round to see what had shocked her.

I nearly dropped my burger on the floor as a black Ford Fiesta parked by the other cars. "You've got to be kidding me. Is this some kind of joke?" I stood straight up, ready to escape back to the lodge.

Sian grabbed my arm, forcing me to sit back down and shook her head.

Chloe exited the car first, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder, and traipsed up to the house, barely acknowledging the rest of us. Alec took that as his cue to follow. I was desperate to do the same and question her. Not only had she bought the last person I wanted to see on our weekend getaway, but we were also a person over on our reservation.

Max waved, then pulled Joana into his arms and made his way to the tents. I wanted to punch the smirk right off that stupid face of his.

My anger slowly bubbled under my skin, and I couldn't sit there any longer. I stomped all the way back to the cabin, eager to confront Chloe. The swishing sound of grass followed each of my steps. I spun around to come face to face with Rosie, Sian and Andy.

"I'm okay. You don't need to check up on me."

"Sure because you always swear and kick the ground when you walk. Really normal behaviour." Sian crossed her arms in front of her as she grinned.

Resuming my stomp, I marched straight into the kitchen to a crying Chloe in Alec's embrace. He looked up over her head and shrugged.

"Come on, Chloe. Let's pop your bag upstairs, and you can tell me all about it." Not giving her a chance to reply, I clasped her hand and pulled her up the stairs.

She chucked her bag onto the bottom bunk and climbed on top of the king-size. Chloe let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on? That's twice I've seen you cry in a week." I lifted myself onto the bed next to her.

"Please don't tell Alec. He'll kill him," she pleaded, then burst into tears once more.

"Kill who?"

"Finn. He kissed me and now he's pretending I don't exist, all because of Abigail. And I only came here because Jo wanted to, but she brought Max and I'll be all on my own," she wailed and covered her face with a pillow.

"Oh Chloe, come here." I stroked her Auburn pixie-cut hair as she lay her head on my lap. "You can't blame Abigail. It's not her fault. She doesn't know Finn's playing you both. He's to blame in all this, and maybe you should let Alec kill him. Little piece of-"

"No, you can't tell Alec. I don't want him to know."

"Okay." I paused for a minute to chew my nails. "Why did Jo bring Max? I thought they were over."

"They were on a break. Exams are over so she told him they could get back together." Chloe rolled on her side and asked for some time alone.

On a break. I shook my head as I reached for the door handle. It wasn't a simple break for Max with the way he was acting, first with me and then with Jade. And God knows who else. Poor Joana.

I jumped, not expecting to find Alec waiting on the landing.

"Is she okay? I hate seeing her cry."

"She will be. Let's leave her. She'll fill you in when she's ready," I reassured him.

Sian, Rosie and Andy were on the sofas. I poured myself a pint glass of water and sipped it. "There's no way Joana can stay in here with Max. Not happening," I fumed, biting the inside of my cheek.

"I'll swap with Jo. Then the others can sort out where everyone is sleeping in the tents. I prefer this than the hard ground," Andy offered loudly. He leant back into the sofa, his hands on his nape and his feet on the coffee table.

"Thanks, man." Alec patted his shoulder and sat down next to him. He placed a cushion on the floor between his feet and motioned for me to take a seat. As soon as I did, he began combing my hair with his fingers. The tension in my shoulders gradually lifted, my eyes closed as I rested my head back onto the edge of the sofa. This was one of Alec's tricks whenever I was stressed, and I never had to ask him to do it.

"Move over Andy, I'm going to teach Alec to plait Nat's hair." Sian wiggled her bum in the small gap Andy made for her on the sofa and grabbed a fistful of my hair. She spent the next thirty minutes trying to get Alec to copy her braiding technique.

***

We sat in the lounge area for another couple of hours. Most of the girls joined us, along with James and Daniel. Andy opened up a few packets of crisps and some bottles of beer. Music played, everyone was cheerful and joking around.

As the others filtered into the cabin, I decided to use the bathroom. Catching sight of my hair in the mirror over the sink, I screamed, "Alec! What have you done to my hair?" Alec came racing in and cracked up. "It's not funny. Did you let me sit there like this the whole time?"

"Let me brush it out. It's not that bad," he chuckled. He tried to undo the bird's nest he had created on my head, his fingers getting caught on each tug.

"Then why can't you stop laughing? Ouch, not so hard." I winced at each pull. "I think only my hairbrush can sort this mess out." I left Alec in the bathroom and sprinted up the stairs to brush my hair.

Once done, I grabbed my hoodie and went to meet the others outside. The air was still heavy and warm, but the overcast sky made me want to wrap up.

A few of the boys lit the barbecue and a small campfire in a designated pit. I slipped in-between Alec and James as they chatted and snuggled into Alec's side. Max stood to on the outskirts of the group, a beer in his hand, watching us. He pushed himself off a nearby tree and guided Joana back to the tents.

After we had some dinner and toasted marshmallows on the fire, Andy, Hope and Aiden thought it would be a good idea to kick-start the evening with some drinking games.

I watched them giggle all the way into the kitchen in search of some cups.

Alec had stayed by my side the entire time, casually brushing his hand on my lower back or thigh as we sat next to each other while we ate. Each touch sent a tiny jolt of electricity to my skin. Alec sensed my nervousness and smiled each time.

When most of the group was occupied inside the cabin, jeering Andy on while he lost a game of flip cup to an excessively competitive Hope, Alec asked if we could stay outside.

We wandered over to the edge of the paddock, and I rested my arms on the wooden fence. The butterflies in my stomach went crazy as I anticipated Alec's words. He brushed my hair away from my face.

"You're beautiful," he murmured so low, I thought I misheard his words.

Glancing up at him, his face told me I hadn't. Affection glowed in his eyes. He clasped my arms and turned me towards him. "Before I do what I've wanted to do for a very, very long time, tell me I don't need to worry about Max. That any feelings you had for him are gone. I don't want to be your second choice."

My ears rang as I watched him wet his lips. He leant in closer.

"Alec, there's no competition. I don't care about him," I whispered, my breaths shallow.

"I wanted to be sure." He stroked up and down my arms, his husky voice dropping, his gaze intense.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Joana marching towards us. Before I could react, she shoved me away from Alec.

"What the hell are you doing?" Alec demanded, pulling me behind his back, away from Joana.

Joana's eyes were red, tears stained her cheeks. "I know what you did. Don't act so innocent," she hissed as she waved her index finger in my face.

"I-I-" Lost for words, all I did was stare at her. My palms clammy, I felt sick.

"How could you? You knew we were on a temporary break, that we were getting back together, and you did it anyway," she half-sobbed, her hands balled by her side.

"I'm so sorry. I never meant for it to go that far. I wasn't thinking." I reached my hand out, but she flinched back and hugged her arms around herself.

A wide-eyed Alec stepped away and looked back and forth between Joana and me. "Can someone please tell me what's happening?" he snapped, his fingers thrusting through his hair, messing it up.

Drawn by the noise, everyone peered at the scene from the open back door of the cabin. I didn't need to glance their way to feel their stares on us. My body rooted to the spot, I didn't have the power to look around for Max. Shouldn't he be here?

"She kissed Max. You realise you're not the only one. Have you not figured out that he's just trying to make me jealous? So I react? You mean nothing to him. He loves me."

"Kissed? You're angry at me for a kiss? I thought-." The words slipped out before I had a chance to think.

"You thought what? What's he not telling me? Is there more?" Joana's bottom lip quivered as she waited for an explanation I didn't have the courage to deliver. "Did you sleep with him?"

I nodded my head and dropped my gaze to the floor. "I'm so so sorry!" My voice sounded weak and broken. I pulled my hands up inside the sleeves of my hoodie. "Alec, I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Joana walked off, back towards the camping field. Max must have been hiding just out of sight. He ran after her the moment she reached the pitches.

I grabbed Alec's hand which he tugged back. His nose crinkled and his eyes darted out onto the paddock.

"When did it happen?" he muttered, gripping the fence, his knuckles white.

"It's irrelevant. It's in the past."

"When?" he snapped.

"After I saw you at the cinema," I said softly. The hurt on his face, the pain in his eyes was unbearable. "I thought you were with Hope, I-"

"You could have asked me. You could have talked to me about it." His voice drifted, and he moved further away from me as if being too close would burn him.

"I made a mistake. It means nothing."

"I can't think. I need some air." He barged through those that stayed standing in the doorway. I watched him disappear up the stairs, then five minutes later, drive off, leaving me behind.

Sian and Rosie jogged over as soon as he left. I couldn't even cry or move. My body was numb from the shock. He was about to kiss me and all because of some stupid moment with Max, I had probably lost any chance with Alec.

***