Chapter 49
Day 14 – Chloe
Chloe’s stomach was fizzing with excitement. Even though they hadn’t confirmed a date and time yet, she felt as though the imminent meeting with Shawn Barrett had been dropped into the puddle of her insides, like the lurid Vitamin C tablets in water that her mum forced her to drink every morning. It was a secret that was hers and Shawn’s alone and she hugged it to herself with glee, feeling so grown-up to have been entrusted – by one of the most famous people in the country – with such a responsible and glamorous task. They had exchanged a dozen or so messages on the private message board of the forum over the past twenty-four hours, to the point that it had almost become normal to see his name pop up in her inbox. Almost. Their conversation had developed from Shawn’s first, slightly formal request into a more chatty tone. She might, if she allowed herself, even believe that Shawn was flirting with her.
It was too exciting for words.
Last night, she had been telling Shawn how lucky she felt to be alive, after the cancer, and that had made her think about Rose and Jess, and her idea about what had happened to them, the connection that had led to their deaths. Before she could chicken out she had sent Shawn a message:
You know those girls that were murdered? Rose and Jess. I knew them on StoryPad, co-wrote a story with them along with another friend. I’ve been thinking: what if it’s got something to do with their deaths?
A reply had come back ten minutes later.
Why would it, babes?
She wrote back. I don’t know. But . . . we did something . . .
She needed to tell someone, after all this time keeping it secret, hiding her shame over what she and the other girls had caused to happen. She let it all out now, spilling the secret that only she and Jade, and possibly Kai, knew about. The terrible thing they’d done. She’d wanted to ask Kai about it the other day, when he came to see her to get Jade’s UV nail lamp back, but he’d been acting like such a dick that she changed her mind. Kai was making out that he was a massive hero, that Jade was going to think he was the bee’s knees for getting the lamp back. All Jade had needed to do was ask. Instead, her dozy boyfriend had messaged her via the forum and arranged to come to her house to pick the lamp up. Chloe guessed Jade simply didn’t want to see her, because of what had happened before.
When she’d finished writing to Shawn she sat back, sweating, wondering if she’d done the wrong thing. She was pretty sure Shawn would understand. That he would believe her when she said she had no idea it would all get so out of hand. But what if he didn’t? What if it made him hate her? She waited for five excruciating minutes before a reply came back.
It wasn’t your fault, he wrote. How could you have known that would happen?
She exhaled with relief.
Do you think I should tell the police?
Another long pause while he typed.
Why don’t you leave it to me? I met the chief detective on the case. Let me talk to him, see what he thinks. I’ll put in a good word for you.
She had tears in her eyes now. He was such a good person. So lovely.
Thank you ☺ she wrote.
No probs, babes. So . . . ready to meet up? How does this afternoon sound?
She didn’t hesitate. Perfect, she wrote. I can’t wait!!
She called goodbye to her mum, saying that she was going out shopping with a friend, and let herself out of the house before her mother noticed the amount of make-up she was wearing, and that she had on platform shoes that weren’t strictly suitable for shopping. Trembling with excitement, she pulled out her phone and double-checked the instructions. A car would pick her up outside the newsagent’s round the corner at 4 p.m. – obviously Shawn didn’t want to arouse suspicion by having the car pick her up from home. It was 3.57 p.m.
This was really happening! As she let herself out of the front gate, her face entirely overtaken by a massive grin, she turned to see her little brother upstairs, gazing curiously out through his bedroom window at her. When he caught her eye he made a horrible face at her, squishing his nose against the glass and pressing his splayed fingers up on either side of his face. She laughed, louder than she normally would have done – a welcome release of the bubble and fizz of adrenalin – and he looked suitably gratified.
Bless him, she thought. He’s all right really, for a kid brother.
Life felt great.
She couldn’t help entertaining a fantasy that Shawn fancied her and that this was just an elaborate ruse for him to get to know her. They’d keep their relationship secret for a while – how long? A few months, probably, because after all she was only just sixteen. God, though, better make it longer. The OnT fans would rip off her head if they found out she was going out with Shawn. Come to that, she thought, they’d probably rip her head off right now if they knew where she was going.
Not that she knew where they were going either. Shawn had said it was best that way, in case his messages were being hacked and the press turned up.
If they got married, it would probably be best that they move abroad, to some massive estate on a cliff somewhere hot. Of course, Shawn would be away a lot, but that would be all right – OnT had so much security whenever they went anywhere, she and Shawn would be safe if they were together, and of course he’d want her to come on tour with them . . . And the money! She’d be so rich that she could buy her mum and dad a really nice house. Maybe even next to where she and Shawn were going to live. They always said they wanted to retire somewhere hot.
But, of course, the money was only an added bonus. She’d marry Shawn in a heartbeat even if he was penniless.
As she walked towards the main road, feeling as though her feet were floating above the pavement, she saw the car waiting for her. A black Audi A4 – she only recognised it because Shawn had told her this was what it would be, and she’d Google-imaged it. She wouldn’t have had a clue what they looked like otherwise.
Even though she already knew it wouldn’t be Shawn himself behind the wheel, her bowels clenched with nerves when she saw it. Any vestiges of fear that this was some sort of elaborate wind-up vanished, replaced instead with a different fear: that Shawn would be disappointed in her somehow; think her too young or too naïve.
She had to remind herself that this wasn’t a date. She was getting carried away with all the excitement. This was for charity.
It was still real, though. She was still going to meet Shawn Barrett, and then she’d be in the papers with him, maybe on TV. Who knew what might come of it?
The tinted passenger window slid down when she drew level with the car.
‘Hi, Chloe, jump in,’ said the driver, leaning across and smiling at her. He was clean-shaven with a nice smile, black shades, a dark suit and chauffeur’s hat. Chloe couldn’t help feeling very slightly put out, though, that he hadn’t leapt out to open the back door for her. Weren’t chauffeurs meant to do that? Maybe they only did that for VIPs.
She bent down and looked in. ‘Should I get in the front?’
‘You do that,’ said the driver, winking at her.
Chloe pulled open the heavy door and climbed in, grinning uncontrollably.