Chapter 13
Ichange into a fresh outfit for the day, consisting of a lilac knitted crop top with my usual denim shorts adorned with embroidered gold stars. I wrap my jacket around my waist for later, and the tiara has been proudly re-applied by Hen to the top of my frazzled hair.
Hennie is wearing sheer flared leggings and an enormous, cropped jumper covered in orange and yellow fringe. She looks, as she always does, eye-catching and fabulous. (And also, I can’t deny, very warm on this hot morning.)
My mind does not work in the way Hennie’s does when it comes to fashion – I wear clothes because I need to, whereas Hennie… she loves clothes.
While I get up in the morning and throw on the first item I see, Hennie staring at her wardrobe is an entirely different thing.
She’s calculating and navigating how to put together a perfect outfit for the day.
I’ve always admired how she wears whatever she wants without care for others or how they might see her – it’s just for her.
‘It actually looks like your agreement might serve us well after all.’ Her words come out in a rush as we race down the wide path towards Elliot’s camp, which is slowly filling with the fresh-faced “morning people” of Firecrest.
‘I mean, it’s Elliot’s first time here too, so he won’t know much either. But Owen and Josh seem to know this place pretty well.’
‘Exactly! They’ll be strong allies in this. I’m sure we’ll get the tickets with all of our heads together.’
‘They may not be interested in this though, Hen. We’re at a music festival, they probably want to see live music rather than snoop around for clues with us?’
‘Oh, please. It seems fun.’ She grins. ‘And they love us.’
I guffaw. Not for the first time, I wish I had her confidence. ‘Hen–’
‘Well, Owen and Josh do. I’m just saying I’ll be astonished if they aren’t up for a bit of harmless treasure hunt fun. They’re nice guys too; if they know it matters to us I actually think they’ll want to help.’
I wonder if this might also be applicable to Elliot. Surely he would want to do this as well to try to win a ticket for his brother?
I clutch the drumstick tightly in my palm. Up until this morning, that had been the ultimate prize. As much as I still desperately hope that I’ll be the one to keep it, I have to admit there’s something even bigger at stake now.
We arrive to the sight of Owen and Elliot relaxing in camp chairs on the patch of grass between their tents. Elliot’s hair, I notice with irritation, is back to its perfectly tousled state. I want to empty my water bottle onto it.
‘Look alive! We have something serious to discuss!’ Hennie announces.
Owen shoots up in his seat. ‘Good morning,’ he says brightly.
Elliot is much more subdued in comparison. I approach his side and notice his strange, measured stare in my direction. He slowly rises out of his chair, taking me in with such a look of disbelief that I’m almost offended.
‘Told you I’d come back, doubter,’ I quip.
He steps closer to me with a soft smile.
‘Alright, princess, dedication proven,’ he says quietly. With no further comment, his hand reaches over to grasp the other end of the drumstick and we’re attached once again.
‘Have you seen what Queen Ego are doing, Elliot? If that’s even your real name? Are you even aware?’ Hennie asks, ripping her phone out of her pocket.
‘Aware of what?’ Elliot says with a note of wariness.
Hennie fills the boys in with urgency. Owen’s eyes are bright with excitement but Elliot remains expressionless.
‘We have to do it, right?’ Owen says, turning to Elliot. ‘A chance to actually meet them for your brother? There’s no way you’re turning down that chance.’
Elliot frowns at the ground before running a nervous hand through his hair.
‘Come on, as a team we’d be unstoppable,’ Hennie urges.
‘She’s right,’ I agree. ‘Our commitment combined with your strangely unshakable calm and Josh and Owen’s Firecrest knowledge, we’re the perfect team.
There is also the small addition that we’re already attached and I will be partaking in this treasure hunt even if I have to drag you along by force. ’
‘Is this definitely real? Is it even allowed? I doubt they’re doing this with permission from the festival,’ Elliot notes with a scepticism.
Hennie loudly scoffs. ‘Fucking hell. Someone get this guy some handcuffs so he can arrest the band. Are you always so deeply boring?’
Owen whirls away from us as he guffaws with laughter.
‘Your friend, if I haven’t mentioned, is very charming,’ Elliot drawls at me.
I bite my lip, stifling a laugh.
Josh appears with approximately a dozen cans of cider piled up in his arms. ‘Good morning, angels,’ he says, his voice husky and cracked.
Hennie and I fill him in on the news.
‘This is a lot for ten in the morning,’ Josh says, dazed. It is now that I realise he is almost certainly very hungover.
Nonetheless, he’s on board.
‘Obviously we have to do it,’ he says, as if it’s already been decided. ‘You guys love this band more than anything. And you’ll need us, of course. I know this place inside-out; it’s an assured win,’ Josh’s eyes are alight at the prospect of the challenge.
‘And the four tickets would go to Nora and Hennie, and then you and your brother, right?’ Owen says, nodding at Elliot.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t want to go?’ I ask, my heart sinking. They really hadn’t hesitated for a second. ‘It might take up a lot of your time. I just wouldn’t want you to sign up for something and regret it.’
‘Nonsense. I’ve now taken it upon myself to ensure we get you those tickets, Nora,’ Josh says. ‘And it will be fun to leave the other fans of this beloved band in the dust behind us. I look forward to it.’
‘Yeah, I’m in,’ Owen agrees, before adding quietly, ‘Probably one shot to do this, Elliot.’
Hennie and I agree, looking to Elliot. Josh and Owen’s eyes are steady as they study him patiently. After a moment, the shadow of a smile appears on his face.
He shrugs. ‘Alright, let’s give it a try.’
Josh immediately whoops and bounds over to collect him into a loving headlock, which makes Elliot wheeze.
Josh turns back to us with bright eyes, looking considerably more awake. ‘Okay, so what do we do? What’s the first clue?’
Hennie repeats the first clue to the group and is immediately bombarded with ideas from the boys.
‘It’s gotta be the jungle – bright lights? Green and blue? The trees under the blue sky, that’s pretty clear to me?’ Josh suggests.
‘Could be, but could also be a dance stage. Bright lights… could even be Trapeze? Ham, what colour is that? Blue?’ Owen asks.
‘Nope, it’s red with a bit of blue.’
‘What if it’s Mirrorball?’ Elliot chimes in suddenly. ‘The top of it is green and blue, there are lights reflecting everywhere… could be described as blinding, I guess.’
I nod in agreement. ‘It makes sense it would be a bar or a smaller venue, if we have to speak to someone for the next clue.’
‘So where do we go first?’ Hennie asks.
‘Might be better to split up and cover more ground. Why don’t you two go to Mirrorball and we’ll go to Jungle?’ Owen offers.
‘We could just be quick, we don’t have to split–’ I begin, as Elliot cuts me off.
‘It makes sense, people are going to be fast. It’ll give us better chances,’ he murmurs.
Hennie nods. ‘I hate to agree with the thief, but he’s right.’ I hear Owen snort. ‘Okay then, everybody. We understand our assignments.’
She quickly collects everyones’ numbers to create a WhatsApp group to keep in contact, and I quietly ignore the knowledge that I am now in possession of Elliot’s number.
‘We’ve got this, team. Everybody hands in,’ Josh announces, putting his hand into the centre of our circle.
‘Oh, God,’ Elliot mutters.
‘Everybody. Hands in!’ Owen shouts, joining in.
Hennie and I reach our hands on top of theirs, grinning quietly as we wait for our last member.
Looking exasperated, Elliot sighs and puts his free hand on top of mine. And Josh wastes no time erupting into a cheer and pushing his hand up into ours, sending our arms scattering into the sky.
‘Wait, wait!’ Josh turns to Owen with glistening doe eyes. ‘We should get a photo of that, mate. That was a treasured moment I won’t wish to forget.’
‘No time, no time,’ Hennie interrupts, which is just as well because Owen did not look eager to recreate the photo. ‘Let’s get moving, we gotta go!’ she proclaims, before reaching up on her tiptoes to whisper to me, ‘We’re gonna win these tickets no problem, Harty.’
I ruffle her hair as she dashes away, and turn back to my unfortunate partner. He looks at me with quiet determination.
‘Let’s do this.’