Never a Perfect Moment (11 page)

TWENTY-ONE

In the midst of her panic, something made Polly look back over her shoulder.

Ollie stood like a statue amid the running, shouting mayhem. His bright blue eyes had dimmed. He wasn't smiling. His shoulders were slumped and tired, and his whole body radiated with hurt. The rain hammered down unrelentingly, soaking his blond hair flat to his head. He was immobilized, as if his feet were glued to the ground. All around him, the crowd thundered on.

All of this, Polly glimpsed in an instant. She faltered. She couldn't do this to him, not again. She yelled his name. “Ollie!”

Ollie seemed to wake up at her shout. A fresh surge of something flickered in his gaze. He started to run after her.

“Polly!” he bawled. “Come back!”

“
Polly!
”

Polly tried to turn around but the crowd was stampeding now. She found herself caught up in the middle, running hard in the thick of it all. She wanted to turn back and find Ollie, to apologize for hurting him so badly, but she had no choice but to keep running or risk another fall. She wished the ground would open its great earthy mouth and gulp her down whole. She had run away from him
again
. She had well and truly freaked out back there. She must have looked like a madwoman.

The rain was easing up now, and glimpses of blue sky were creeping into view. A shaft of brilliant sunlight pierced the murk, lighting up the lake and turning it a sheet of beaten silver. Polly realized with a stab of shock that the stampede was heading to the water's edge, an unstoppable force with only one thing in mind.

There was a yell as the first wave of the crowd hit the lake. Spray fountained into the air. People were jumping in everywhere Polly looked, climbing on each other's shoulders, somersaulting like circus tumblers, bombing into the water with their knees up to their chins. Polly thought that she glimpsed Josh and Lila, Eve, Rhi and Max leaping in with their arms aloft. In the next moment her view was obliterated as she reached the lake's grassy edge.

Polly welcomed the freezing blast against her skin as she hit the water feet-first. Ducking down, she swam fast, away from the frenzy to open water. Glorious, clean, cold water. She ducked and rolled and rubbed and ducked again, pulling her hands down the back of her hair. Revelling in the sensation of being clean at last.

She trod water, gasping, her heartbeat slowing to something approaching normal, watching the crowds around her hurling themselves into the water like wild-eyed, muddy lemmings. Her clothes wafted around her in the lake like seaweed.

All around her, people were laughing and hugging in the water. One girl, her face heavily streaked with running make-up, was kissing a boy whose drenched and battered hat sat comically over his eyes. Polly had seen the couple before, dancing to Polarize on Friday night. She'd thought then what a strange pair they were: the glamorous girl with posh accessories and the hippy boy with mismatched socks. Never in a million years would Polly have put them together. Now, wet and gasping with laughter, she could barely tell them apart. They were who they were.

Reaching up, Polly clutched at the silver locket dangling around her neck beneath her blouse. It felt solid and real beneath her fingers.

“POLLY!”

A few metres down the bank, Ollie was still running, waving at her.

“Here!” Polly shouted, releasing the locket and lifting her arms. “I'm over here!”

Ollie spotted her. He hurled himself into the lake, knees clutched tightly against his chest in a great spray of water. Polly struck towards him, splashing and gasping and intent on only one thing.

“Ollie! I'm here! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!”

Ollie rose out of the water, wet and sleek like a spluttering otter. “Polly, you total nutcase. What did you run away like that for?”

“I'm sorry,” Polly repeated. “For everything. I'm sorry for running away. And for not trusting you. And for cancelling our date. And for not responding to your texts.” Polly thought of the litany of mistakes she had made. Everything came down to overthinking. For once in her life she just needed to act.

She found that they had reached a shallow part of the lake and she could just touch the bottom with her toes. For a moment she stood and looked at Ollie's questioning face. Then she reached for him, touched the rough wetness of his shirt. Pulled him towards her and kissed him hard on the mouth.

Ollie's arms were around her in a flash, pulling her tightly against him. His lips were soft, but he kissed her hungrily, like he never wanted to stop. Polly couldn't breathe for the fireworks exploding in her belly. At last, she was kissing the boy she had liked for so long. It had been worth every moment of the wait.

“Never run away from me again,” Ollie whispered against her lips, his hands stroking her wet hair. “I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I made jokes about the artwork. I'm sorry I got pissed off when you were just trying to help your friends. I'm sorry for being such a fool. I love you, Polly Nelson. I always have and I always will. You mean everything to me. And I will never, ever let you go.”

His lips were on hers again, deeper and more searching than ever. Polly softened against him, holding on to every part of him that she could reach, running her fingers through his wet hair and cupping the back of his neck, pulling him harder towards her and kissing, kissing, kissing. Nothing mattered but this. Now.

Just this.

TWENTY-TWO

Polly had no sense of time passing. It was just her and Ollie, in each other's arms. The lake was quieter now, illuminated by bright sunlight as sudden as the storm that had preceded it, as people scrambled ashore, heading off to find somewhere warm to dry off.

“It is just me,” said Ollie as the water sloshed around their chests, “or are your feet wet too?”

Giggling, Polly slid her hands away from his shoulders. “We should find the others,” she said. “They're probably wondering where we are.”

“It's none of their business,” said Ollie promptly. “This is one party they aren't invited to.”

He pulled her back for a final kiss. Once again Polly lost herself at the feeling of his mouth moving against hers – until her teeth started chattering against his lips.

“Ollie, I'm freezing,” she confessed, pulling back reluctantly. “Can we get out of here?”

Ollie looked horrified at the way Polly's teeth were clattering against each other. “I'm sorry, I didn't think. We have to get you out of here and warm you up.”

“My heart's warm enough,” said Polly, gazing shyly at him. “It's just the rest of me that needs a little work.”

Ollie laughed. Hoisting her into his arms, he waded through the water towards the shore. Polly rested her head on his chest, her arms round his neck, quietly content to be there.

“Solid ground, your majesty,” said Ollie, putting her down on a stretch of grass in a patch of bright sunlight. It felt wonderful on Polly's chilled limbs. “Now all we need is a towel or a blanket or something. Stay here.”

He turned and sprinted away up the field. Polly watched him go, feeling as if she was in a daze. A parallel universe. Ollie and her. Her and Ollie. Together at last.

He was back in minutes, panting and pressing his hand to his side. “One for you and one for me,” he said, wrapping Polly up in one blanket and draping himself in another.

They sat together by the lake, their heads resting together, warming up and drying off. Polly was almost drifting away to sleep when she saw Rhi running towards them, waving. Her hair had mostly dried after the jump in the lake, and it looked like she had been able to change into clean clothes, but for some reason she looked frantic.

“Have you seen Max?”

“Nope,” said Ollie, draping his arm more comfortably around Polly's shoulders.

“I've lost him,” Rhi wailed. “I have to talk to him and I've lost him.”

She shaded her eyes, scouting the field. But it was impossible to pick anyone out in the surging crowds.

“We haven't seen anyone since everyone jumped in the lake,” said Polly.

The anxiety fell away from Rhi's face as she grinned. “Good, wasn't it? Eve's annoyed because it ruined her silk top.”

“What do you need to find Max for anyway?” Polly asked.

A loudspeaker hanging in the tree over their heads suddenly squealed into life, making Polly jump so much she landed in Ollie's lap. Ollie captured her and held her there. Polly could see understanding dawning in Rhi's face.

“You finally got it together? That's so cute!”

The loudspeaker crackled. “The results of the Funky Fox talent contest are in!”

Polly had all but forgotten the contest Eve had made Rhi take part in. There was a dim cheer from the crowds.

“And we're pleased to announce that
first
prize goes to … Rhiannon Wills.”

Rhi let out such a loud scream that people nearby turned and looked at her, pointing and smiling, guessing her identity.

“
Rhi!
” Polly gasped, as what she'd just heard kicked in.

“I didn't think they liked it,” Rhi whispered hoarsely with her hands pressed to her face.

Ollie was on his feet, pounding Rhi on the shoulders. “That's fantastic, Rhi. Well done! You won!”

“Oh my gosh!” Polly squealed. Her head felt completely scrambled. “That's amazing! You're amazing! I knew you'd smashed it in there, I knew it!”

“What's the prize?” Ollie asked.

Polly tried to think but she couldn't remember.

“Singing on the main stage,” Rhi whispered. “Today. Four o'clock.”

Ollie checked his watch. “Damn, the lake stopped it,” he said. “What time is it now?”

“Would Rhiannon Wills make her way to the main stage, please,” said the loudspeaker. “Rhiannon Wills, main stage.”

“I guess it's four o'clock,” Polly said.

Rhi sat down abruptly on the grass. “I can't do it.”

“Of course you can,” Polly coaxed. She pulled Rhi back on to her feet. “You've got loads more experience singing in front of crowds now you've been doing all that wedding singing.”

“And your and Brody's gigs at the Heartbeat, don't forget them,” Ollie put in.

“I can't do it!” Rhi wailed.

Polly went into action mode. “We need to find that dreadlocked guy with the guitar. Ollie, I think I saw his tent not far from ours. You go and fetch the guitar, OK? Rhi, you and I are going over to the main stage right now.”

Ollie hurried away, heading back to their tents again.

“OK,” Rhi said, quivering gently. “Polly, you'll stay with me, won't you? I can't do it without you.”

Polly pushed Rhi gently towards the stage. “I'm right here,” she said. “I'm always here for you, Rhi.”

The judges were waiting in the cordoned-off backstage area, walkie-talkies in their hands.

“Rhi, right?” said the head judge. “Good to see you again. Well done for yesterday. Are you ready to go?”

“We're waiting for a guitar,” Polly said quickly.

The judge nodded. “Fine. Five minutes. In you go.” And he ushered Rhi and Polly into the backstage area.

“Stay calm, Rhi,” Polly instructed, guiding Rhi towards the stage steps. “We'll just hang out here until Ollie gets back with that guitar, OK?”

“Which one of you guys won the prize?” said a familiar voice.

Polly's mouth went completely dry. Harry Lawson, lead singer of Polarize, was looking quizzically at her and Rhi through his thick blond fringe. For a horrible moment, Polly didn't think her voice was going to work.

“Her,” she managed, jabbing a thumb in the direction of Rhi, who was looking at stunned as Polly was.

“Awesome,” said Harry, grinning appreciatively at Rhi. “We'll be listening, yeah?”

Ollie arrived, panting, holding the guitar. He did a double-take.

“You're Harry Lawson,” he said stupidly.

“Last time I checked,” said Harry. He looked at Rhi again. “Good luck. You're on.”

One of the stage managers clipped a mic to Rhi's top. Polly gave Rhi a gentle push between the shoulder blades. “We'll be right here!” she said encouragingly. “Go for it!”

Rhi climbed the steps on to the stage with a tentative glance over her shoulder. Backstage, Ollie pulled Polly into his arms.

“I can't believe I just told Harry Lawson his own name,” he mumbled as he hugged Polly and rested his head on the top of hers. Polly laughed softly and hugged him back.

“You weirdo,” she said softly, relishing how easy it felt being with Ollie when she stopped overthinking.

 

They had a good view from where they were standing. Through the wings, Polly could see tens of thousands of people lining the field around the main stage, pennants waving, inflatable toys being thrown in the air. The noise was tremendous. Rhi looked very small, out there on her own. Polly grabbed Ollie's hand and squeezed, hard. She hoped Rhi would be OK.

“Give it up for our prize winner,” cried the loudspeaker. “RHI WILLS!”

TWENTY-THREE

Everyone went nuts as Rhi's name boomed out across the field. The pennants flapped hard. The inflatables were thrown a little bit higher.

Rhi cleared her throat. “Thanks,” she said shyly. “I'd like to sing you a song I wrote recently. And I'd like to dedicate it to my friends Lila, Polly and Eve. Particularly Eve. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for Eve. She made me audition. I don't know where she is right now, but if there's a red-haired girl standing next to you screaming, that's probably her.”

The crowd laughed. There was a lump of emotion in Polly's throat as big as a rock.

Rhi strummed the guitar lightly. The sound travelled out into the crowd. “It's about having the strength to be who you really are,” she said. “And it's called ‘Being Me'
.
”

It was a song Polly had never heard before. She wondered if Rhi had written it after Eve's shock announcement about her sexuality. The words seemed to fit, perfectly.

“Being me,” Rhi sang, “is harder than I want it to be, being me is riding out the waves in the sea, being me is harder than a diamond in the ground, but being you doesn't work, I've found.”

The crowd was swaying already, waving like seaweed in a wide and brightly coloured ocean.

“Being me,” they sang back as Rhi played, “is harder than I want it to be.”

Polly felt her eyes filling with tears. The words were so true.

“It's all about yourself, ain't nobody else, there's only one of you before they broke the mould,” Rhi sang. “Don't be afraid to fail the grade, you gotta cry before you fly, it's the golden reason why … you are you and I am me… And that's the truth of it you see… ”

“Being me,” sang the crowd.

“That's the truth of all we see,” Rhi sang, putting in a final flourish on the strings, “being me.”

And it was over. The crowd went nuts. Whistles and klaxons ripped the air. Arms waved more madly than ever.

“And that was Rhi Wills, a new star in the making!” called the loudspeaker, and the crowd cheered louder than ever.

Polly found that she was jumping around in circles, wrapped tightly in Ollie's arms. The sound of the crowd filled the whole backstage area. They were still cheering.

Rhi appeared at the top of the steps that led down from the stage, breathless, eyes shining.

“You were brilliant!” Polly squealed, pulling her friend into a hug. “Completely wonderful!”

Rhi's eyes looked a little teary as she accepted a hug from Ollie as well. “Thanks, Polly. I couldn't have done it without you. And you know the weirdest thing? Singing that particular song just clarified something really important in my head.”

“What? That you're born to be a star?” Ollie enquired. “We could have told you that!”

“That Max isn't the right guy for me,” Rhi explained. She still looked a little stunned. “I can see it so clearly now. Singing out there was like hearing my own words for the first time. I'm
not
being me when I'm with him. I just have to find the strength to break up with him.”
Him
…
him
…
him
…

Rhi's last words had a strange, echoing quality that made Polly frown in confusion. As if…

Rhi swung round at the telltale sound of feedback. The blood rushed from her face.

“My mic!” she gasped. “
It's still on!
”

The crowd outside cheered. There were boos too, and catcalls. Rhi ripped the mic from where it was clipped to her top and threw it to the ground like it was a spider.

“Oops,” said Ollie, pulling a face.

“Polly, what have I done?” Rhi moaned in horror, staring at the mic on the ground. “The whole of the festival just heard that. Which means … which means… ”

“I just heard it too,” said Max in a hard voice.

Polly, Rhi and Ollie whirled round. Max was standing in the stage wings, flanked by Eve, Lila and Josh.

“Oh my gosh!” Rhi croaked. Her hands were on her burning cheeks. “I'm so sorry, Max … I didn't want—”

“Didn't want the whole festival to know what a loser you think I am?” Max snarled. “Looks like that backfired on you.”

“Max!” Rhi cried as he stormed away.

She burst into tears. Lila and Eve rushed to put their arms around her.

“You did the right thing, Rhi,” soothed Eve. “Maybe not in the right way, but… ”

“But you can't back down now,” added Lila, rubbing Rhi's back.

Rhi turned haunted eyes towards Ollie. “Poor Max! Do you think he'll be OK? I never meant him to find out this way.”

“It was an accident,” Ollie said, steering Polly away. “Max will be fine.”

Polly tried to pull away, back towards Rhi. Ollie grabbed her. Was Ollie mad at her for encouraging Rhi to break up with his friend?

“Ollie,” she pleaded, unable to meet his gaze. “Rhi needs me. I—”

“I need you too,” said Ollie softly. “Why don't you just worry about yourself for a change?”

Polly stared at him for a long, heartfelt moment. Rhi would be fine. She had Eve and Lila. She was going to be happier without Max, everyone knew that. She didn't need to take care of everyone all of the time.

“You're right,” she said at last. “I never do what I want to do.”

“So no more meddling?” Ollie enquired.

Polly shook her head.

“Finally,” he said. “Now all you have to worry about is me.”

Polly frowned. “What?”

“Sorry,” Ollie laughed, “that didn't come out right. I meant to say, you have nothing to worry about. Let me take care of
you
sometimes. Deal?”

Polly gazed into his blue eyes. “Deal,” she said a little faintly.

She slid her hands around his neck and drew him down to her for a passionate kiss. Ollie returned it with so much enthusiasm, Polly found that he had lifted her off the floor.

As she kissed the boy she had dreamed about for so many years, Polly was dimly aware of Josh and Lila, heads together, talking quietly by the stage wings as Eve held Rhi and let her cry. Josh and Lila were clearly attracted to each other. It was so obvious. If they couldn't see it, well … she might have to help them along.

Maybe her meddling days weren't
quite
over yet…