Page 177 of Vying Girls

And so he should. One fucking job I gave him.

‘What do you mean she’s not with you? Where else would she be if not with the hockey lot?’

‘I dunno. She should be here. I told her to, but I got a message from her saying she’s at the old fountain instead. I didn’t tell her to meet there, but she seems to think I did. She’s not replying now though.’

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. ‘I’m sure it’s fine. She knows better, but I’m sure it’s fine. Just…stay where you are. We’ll go to the fountain. Keep your phone on you.’

I hang up, letting my hand drop in frustration.

‘What’s up?’ Haz asks, eyes intent. ‘Tilda’s MIA?’

‘Yeah. Come on. Tommy thinks she’s at the old fountain. Says he told her to meet there, but Tommy’s saying he didn’t.’

‘Then who did?’ Elly says.

We set off in that direction, dodging painted revellers shouting sport chants.

I purse my lips, wondering the same thing. Doesn’t make sense to worry yet. Nothing’s happened. Tilda’s just won Varsity. She’ll be riding a high. Wouldn’t take much to get confused in the madness of everything.

Doesn’t stop the frisson of unease building within though.

I’ve barely seen her since she returned from Elly’s. She had coursework to catch up on, a lot of it, as well as hockey practice, as well as not straying from Elly’s side in her sadness. We’ve had no time for anything more than passing, slightly awkward smiles. Maybe less awkward than anticipatory. Who fucking knows where we go from here—who fucking knows when we’ll get the chance.

Maybe now Varsity’s done. There’s not much term time left, and a whole summer ahead of us. Me and Haz will be staying on at Hazelhurst, just like last year. Can’t see Tilda going back to her mum’s for the entire two months, if any at all.

Maybe we’ve been waiting for summer rather than spring after all.

But first I need to find the girl.

‘Why does she do this?’ Haz huffs. ‘How is it so hard for her to just stay fucking put?’

‘Leave off her,’ Elly defends. ‘She obviously thought she was off to meet Tommy. As was the plan.’

My eyes dart from person to person. I don’t see anyone in hockey gear. They’re all students just here for the party. Doubt any of them give a shit about the sports.

‘What fountain are we on about anyway?’ Elly asks.

‘It’s in the woods.’ Anxiety clamps my heart as I say that. I don’t want her in the woods alone, not today when everyone’s running a bit feral. Completely hypocritical after making her do just that the night I went too hard with Skylar. But whatever. She just better have her pepper spray on her.

With the castle looming in the distance, we step off the path into the forest. It’s immediately quieter here, like someone’s lowered the volume button. Before we’ve even reached it, I see the fountain’s devoid of anyone save the lonely, weathered statue of a naked woman, half her face broken away.

‘Cool,’ says Haz. ‘Now what?’

With a sigh, I take out my phone. ‘Let me ask the hockey chat.’

It buzzes with a message before I can do that.

I’m sorry it’s come to this,it reads, making me frown at the unknown number,but this is what happens when you ignore me, Nicole. Come alone, comply, and I won’t hurt her. We can keep this easy and simple. Damien

My heart beats with a force that makes me dizzy. My palm sweats around my phone, my chest tight and struggling to draw breath.

‘He’s got her,’ I force out.

There’s a pause before Haz barks,‘What?’

‘Fucking Damien. He’s got her.’

‘Got her fucking where?!’