How to Get to Rio (10 page)

‘I really like Izzy and Mia. They’re amazing and really great friends. But sometimes I feel …’ I paused, searching for the right words, ‘a bit out of place. They’re so similar to each other, and that makes me feel different.’

Persephone nodded. ‘I totally get that. Everyone in my group just wants to be like Tori. I seem to be the only one who wants to be a whole separate person. I’m actually a bit sick of all of them. It’s much more fun hanging out with you.’ Persephone looked at me, expectantly, like she was waiting for me to say something meaningful.

But I wasn’t quite sure what to tell her.
Surely she
doesn’t want to know that other people think her friends are stuck-up?
And then something came to me.

‘Why don’t you forget about Tori, and hang out with us?’

I could tell by the way Persephone’s face lit up that I’d said the right thing. ‘Really? You think I could?’ Then her face dropped. ‘But I don’t play water polo.’

‘That’ll make two of us,’ I said, grinning.

Persephone’s face brightened into a big relieved smile. ‘Do you think Izzy and Mia will like me?’

I gave her a hug. ‘Of course they will.’

It was settled. Persephone would join our group when we got back to school. I’d just need a bit of time to work on Izzy and Mia to change their minds about her being stuck-up. Once Izzy had an idea in her head she was very determined to stick to it. Her determination made her great at sport, but it also meant she was a bit on the inflexible side. I was confident, though. When they got to know Persephone, they’d see she wasn’t like Tori and the rest of her group. Persephone
was
very cool, but she was also really fun.

‘Thanks, Kitty,’ Persephone said. ‘You’re a real friend.’

I got to my feet and pulled Persephone up. ‘Should we head back?’

She nodded. Then something behind me caught her eye. I turned to see two girls coming towards us. For a moment, I thought it was Mia and Izzy. But, of course, it couldn’t be. They were camping in some fly-blown, remote corner of the country, digging their own toilets and fighting off snakes and leeches.

Then the two girls waved. My heart sank. It
was
Mia and Izzy!

My brain started spinning. I was trying to remember exactly what I’d told them, searching for my excuse for not going camping.
Oh, man! I told them I’d sprained my ankle.

‘Hey. What a surprise seeing you two here,’ Izzy said, stopping in front of us. Izzy was
not
smiling.

I knew I was in big trouble.

‘How’s that sprained ankle, Kitty?’ she asked. ‘I’m surprised you made it over all those rocks with an injury like that.’

Mia, Izzy and Persephone all stared at me. I knew everyone was waiting for my answer. I had about five seconds to work out what to say.

Should I just tell the truth? Or should I try to get away with the lie about my ankle?

‘Hey! I’m glad you made it!’ said Persephone, getting up to meet me, Izzy and Mia. She reached out to give me a hug and then seemed to change her mind, and gave my hand a squeeze instead.

‘Sorry, my phone died and we got a bit lost getting here,’ I said, smiling. ‘Guess that’s why they call it The Lost World.’

I could hear Izzy groaning at my dumb joke, but Persephone laughed. ‘Did you see who I found?’ she whispered in my ear.

I nodded, glancing at Rio, who was standing outside the cafe with Jordan. Rio had his eyes on me, but he looked more shocked than excited about my arrival. I gave him and Jordan a smile, and introduced them to Izzy and Mia. Then we all stood outside Shake Shifter looking at each other in awkward silence.

‘All right,’ Persephone said finally. ‘Who’s up for a milkshake?’

‘Me!’ I said, way too enthusiastically.

I felt around for my purse and then remembered I didn’t even have pockets, let alone a purse or money. I had been planning to change my shorts and get my purse after our hike. But, of course, that hadn’t happened. I had come to Paradise Point with nothing at all. I looked at Izzy and Mia, hoping they had some cash on them.

‘Got any money?’ I mouthed as discreetly as possible. Izzy shook her head and Mia rummaged around in her pockets but came up with nothing.

Persephone, Rio and Jordan had obviously noticed. Persephone pulled some notes from her purse. ‘My treat!’

‘I’m going to have another swim,’ said Jordan.

‘Me too,’ said Rio. ‘Gotta work off the last shake before having another.’

I looked questioningly at Izzy and Mia. They shrugged.

‘What are you having, Kitty?’ Persephone called, heading inside.

We followed Persephone into Shake Shifter. It seemed better to let her buy us a milkshake than pretend we’d suddenly lost our thirst. And to be honest, I was dying for a drink.

We hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and the rainforest walk and the climb over the rocks at the headland had left me totally dehydrated.

‘Thanks, Persephone,’ I slurped down my mango smoothie as we sat on the beach watching the guys in the surf. ‘I really needed this.’

‘Least I can do for dragging you away from your rural retreat,’ she said. ‘It sounds amazing!’

Mia just smirked. But Izzy laughed – way too loudly. ‘Quite unreal,’ she said.

Persephone looked confused. I had hoped to avoid the whole accommodation topic, but it looked like I was going to have to explain sooner rather than later.

‘Actually, I was just joking about –’ I began.

‘Great,’ came a voice from behind us. ‘I love a joke.’

I turned to see Tori, a shopping bag in each hand, looking as perfect as ever. She clearly hadn’t been for a swim because her hair was all shiny and straight. And her dress was definitely designer. She looked like she was on her way to a fashion shoot, not on holiday.

‘Hi,’ I said, wondering what she was doing here. ‘What a coincidence, you being at Paradise Point. Small world.’

‘I’m staying with Persephone,’ Tori replied flatly. ‘So, what’s the joke?’

My mind raced.
Why was Tori staying with Persephone?
Was she a second choice after I let Persephone down?
But that seemed impossible. Surely
I
would be a second choice, not the other way around.

I searched around desperately for a joke I could tell Tori. I certainly wasn’t going to explain the whole camping thing to her.

‘Er … I was joking with Mia and Izzy that –’

‘What’s the joke?’ Rio asked, picking up his towel and rubbing himself down. He and Jordan sat down and looked at me expectantly.
Oh great
, I thought,
now I have an entire audience for my camping confession.

‘It’s not that funny, actually,’ I said quickly. ‘It was more of a private joke.’

‘Did it have something to do with a food fight?’ asked Tori. ‘Because it looks like you’ve got jelly in your hair.’ She leant in over me. I pulled away, but I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Even Rio was staring at my hair like I had nits. It was the Snow White knickers incident all over again!

‘We had a jellyfish fight with my brothers on the way here,’ Izzy explained. ‘Up there on the headland. They’re like ninjas, that lot. Fast and merciless.’

‘Gross!’ Tori cried.

The others all laughed, but I was practically dying of embarrassment. I really wanted to impress Rio and Izzy was totally humiliating me. Sometimes she was so clueless.

‘Yeah, and that was right after we went looking for a waterfall and got attacked by leeches,’ Mia laughed. ‘What a day!’

The guys laughed even harder, but Persephone put her hand over her mouth.

‘Leeches?’ Tori squealed. ‘Oh my god. That’s, like, totally disgusting!’

I cringed. This wasn’t quite how I imagined the afternoon playing out. At least Izzy and Mia hadn’t mentioned that we were camping, but I figured it was only a matter of time before they started over-sharing on that subject.

‘So, what’re you guys doing this week?’ I asked, glancing at Rio.

He smiled. He was unbelievably cute.

‘Just hanging out. There’s not much surf so we might try stand-up paddleboarding. Ever done that?’

‘We’re going to this amazing restaurant tonight,’ Tori chimed in, before I had a chance to answer. ‘It’s totally exclusive and always packed with A-listers. My mother’s friend owns it. It’s going to be so divine.’

Izzy rolled her eyes. She obviously wasn’t impressed.

‘Wow! That sounds really cool,’ I said.

Tori ignored me. ‘Probably should be getting back, hey, Percy?’ she said. ‘To start getting ready.’

I saw Persephone wince at her nickname. Surely Tori knew she didn’t like it.

‘But these guys have only just arrived,’ Persephone said, getting to her feet. ‘I’m sure we have time for a walk.’

As I stood up, I saw Tori staring at my shorts and I remembered they were covered in mud. Not the best look! I hung back, waiting until the guys were up ahead to start walking.

Rio was soon showing off his acrobatics, while Izzy and Mia splashed in the waves. Persephone, Tori and I trailed behind.

Persephone nudged me. ‘I think Rio’s somersault show’s for you.’

I blushed. ‘Sure, sure.’

‘He’s always like that,’ Tori said. ‘A bit immature for me.’ She tossed her hair. ‘Anyway, I want to hear all about the luxury retreat at The Lost World. Percy said you were staying there. Brand new, is it? What’s it like?’

‘Um, well, actually it’s so unreal that it doesn’t exist.’ I laughed to try to lighten the mood, but no-one else was smiling. ‘We’re just staying at the camping ground. In a tent.’

‘You don’t say,’ Tori said.

I wasn’t sure if Tori was being sarcastic or not, but when I saw Persephone’s face fall, I realised she was really disappointed.

I felt like I’d really made a mess of things. I’d ruined any chance of a friendship with Persephone, and I’d let down my friends, too. It looked like I was embarrassed to be camping with them.

‘Well, I hope you’ve got good security,’ Tori said, half smiling. ‘Those campers are completely feral, aren’t they?’

I shrugged, trying to work out what to say. I could make out that I was a novice camper and didn’t belong at The Lost World, which was actually true – that’d keep Tori quiet and improve my friendship chances with Persephone. Or I could just tell it like it was.