I look at Jazz, unsure. Is he even old enough to drive? ‘I don't know. Who’s driving?’
‘I’m driving,’ Ryan says, jogging down the stairs in jeans and a black t-shirt.
I feel a tingle of excitement go through my body and end up in my stomach, bouncing around the edges. He’s so dreamy.
‘Are you bringing Izzy and Grace?’ I ask him, trying to sound casual and stop the smile spreading on my face. I hate how I act like a geeky teenager around him.
‘Yeah. Girls! Are you ready yet?’ he shouts up the stairs as if he’s their Dad.
‘Yes! We’re just coming,’ Izzy shouts. They both appear, lugging enormous suitcases.
‘You do know we’re only going for one night, right?’ he asks, looking at their cases in concern.
‘Yeah I know,’ Grace says, as she drags her giant black and white case down the stairs. ‘These are just my essentials.’
I smile at her joke, but then realise she’s deadly serious. Ryan catches my gaze and we both burst out laughing. Grace shoots me a look which says ‘watch out bitch’. It makes my stomach churn.
‘Well, it looks like your car is full, once the luggage is added, so I’ll just go with Jazz and Jake.’
Jazz and Jake. I didn’t actually realise how alike their names were until I just said it now. It sounds kind of ridiculous really, like a children’s TV programme. The adventures of Jazz and Jake.
‘We’ll meet you there then,’ Ryan says. He smiles his delicious smile that never fails to make me weak at my knees.
I miss him already.
Izzy runs over and gives me a quick kiss, while Grace stares on, daggers in her eyes. I desperately want to jump into Ryan’s arms and hug those tight arms round me. I mean, you never know when the last time you see someone will be, do you? You should make the most out of every day and all that. But instead I just smile and walk towards the car, trying not to look bothered and desperately trying not to look back at him.
Chapter 15
Two hours later and we’re finally here. I’ve been introduced to Jake’s friend Ringo, who I have a terrifying feeling that Jazz and Jake are trying to fix me up with. He’s a bit short, still taller than me, obviously, but still short for a man and he’s got dark hair which he’s shaved close to his incredibly round head. It reminds me of a bowling ball.
We park up amongst what seems like hundreds of cars and begin to unpack the boot. The weather hasn’t improved much since we left, and I wrap my cardigan round myself, wishing I hadn’t worn flip flops.
‘Right,’ Jake says, getting out a map. ‘If we walk this way then we’ll get to our blue camp.’
Blue camp? How big is this place? I thought it was just a little festival, not something big enough to have colour coded camps.
‘How big is this festival Jake?’ I ask, after a few minutes of walking, glad the girls have to carry the tent.
‘Well, there are five stages.’
‘Ok...and how many people normally attend?’ I ask, noticing that we’ve still not managed to even walk to the end of the car park.
‘Eighty thousand,’ he says casually.
‘Eighty thousand people?’
Oh my God. I think I’m going to hyperventilate. There was me thinking that this would be just a little festival with a few hundred people and it turns out to be one of the biggest festivals in England. I mean, are there even that many people living in England? Of course, I suppose there must be.
‘So, are you into rock then Pops?’ Ringo asks me as we walk. Still in the car park, I might add.
I hate how he’s already shortened my name to Pops. I’ve only known him two hours and he already thinks he’s my new best friend. Maybe I’ll call him Ring and see how he likes it. I hope Jazz hasn’t given him false hope about hooking up with me.
‘Sorry, did you say rock?’ I ask, thinking I must have miss-heard.
‘Yeah...you do know that this is a rock festival, right?’
‘Oh...yeah, of course. Love all the rock. Even eat it sometimes!’ I laugh nervously.
He narrows his eyes at me suspiciously as I get my phone out of my pocket, hoping that he’ll stop talking to me. Jazz glances back and smiles nervously. I discreetly put my finger up to my neck and drag it to the other side, signalling that when we’re on our own she is dead. I do think that the fact it's a rock festival should have been brought up in conversation when describing this. But of course, she knew I wouldn’t have come. She grimaces slightly and turns back.
‘Shall we ring the others and tell them where to go?’ I ask, suddenly wishing that Ryan were here to reassure me.
‘I’ve text them and said we’ll meet them at camp,’ Jazz answers coolly, swigging from a bottle of vodka.
‘But...if there are eighty thousand people...’ God, it panics me just even saying that number, ‘then, how do you expect them to find us?’
‘They won't be that far behind us.’
* * *
An hour later, I’m starting to panic. Its 9pm, getting dark and I’m sat round a fire that Ringo and Jake have made, wondering where the hell they are.
‘So, are you girls ready to go and see a band?’ Jake asks getting to his feet excitedly.
My body tenses. Please, please, please God, don't make me go.
‘I’m just going to try their phones one more time.’ I get out my phone and press re-dial, not holding out much hope.
‘Hello?’ I don't believe it! I’ve never been more pleased to hear Izzy’s voice. ‘Izzy! Thank God! Where are you?’
‘We’re in the blue camp, but I don't really know...Oh wait, Ryan wants to speak.’
‘Hi, Poppy?’ Ryan asks, sounding disgruntled. Just hearing his voice, no matter how pissed off, makes me feel calmer. Something about him makes me feel safer. Maybe it's because I’m currently with children, who I feel I should be being paid to look after.
‘Hi,’ I swoon, almost breathless.
‘We’re in blue camp, but what are you near?’ he asks, sounding rattled.
‘Um...’ I look around desperately for some kind of sign or big feature that I can direct him to. ‘I’m not actually sure. Jake, what are we near?’
‘Tell him we’re in section 205.’
‘Did you hear that? Section 205.’
‘Yeah ok, I heard him. We’re in section 205 but I still can't see you. Jesus, I didn’t realise that so many people were gonna be here.’ He sounds thoroughly pissed off.
‘I know! Me neither. Wait, there’s a chair here I can jump on.’ I jump up on a stranger’s chair and try and ignore the looks I get from the strange bearded owners. I look around, still on my tip toes and start calling his name.
‘Wait, I can hear you,’ he says, a bit of relief showing in his voice.
‘Of course you can hear me, I’m shouting in your ear!’
‘I mean I can hear an echo, idiot,’ he snaps.
‘I’m waving like an idiot too,’ I add, ignoring his impatience.
‘Oh wait, I see you. Be there in a sec’. He hangs up.
I remain stood on the chair, just in case they can't see me, when eventually I see them weaving around someone’s tent, lugging the giant suitcases and tent equipment.
‘Thank God!’ I squeal running towards them. I throw myself against Ryan and hug him tight without thinking. ‘I never thought I’d be so glad to see you,’ I say, before realising how clingy and mental I must look. I quickly pull back.
‘Poppy! I’m trying to carry everything if, you hadn’t noticed,’ he snaps, his face flushed.
‘Well, sorry for breathing,’ I retort, hurt. I turn back to the others and try not to take it personally.
‘Well now that everyone’s here, why don't we go and see a band?’ Jake asks, eager as ever.
‘Actually, I’m pretty tired. I could do with just chilling here tonight,’ Grace says, lighting up a cigarette.
For once, I’m actually glad to hear her speak.
‘I agree,’ Izzy chimes in. ‘Plus, I’m not really a mad rock girl.’
‘Oh, well...ok,’ Jake says, seeming deflated.
I start to settle back down onto the chair that doesn’t belong to me.
‘Come on then Pops,’ Ringo says, holding out his hand.
‘Huh?’ I ask confused, looking at his hand in horror.
‘You love rock, remember?’ he reminds me, like I’m his best friend.
‘Oh, P-o-p-s,’ Ryan says, accentuating my name as if to show he finds it hilarious that Ringo has shortened my name already. ‘I didn’t realise you loved rock so much.’
I look back at his smug smiling face and shoot him the meanest look I can muster. He’s not going to help me get out of this. He’s just going to watch on in amusement.
‘Well actually, I only started loving it after hearing so much about it from you.’ I smile devilishly. I turn back to Ringo and Jake. ‘You see, Ryan here is a massive rock fan.’
Damn it, if I’m going down then he’s coming with me.
‘Oh great!’ Ringo says, enthused. ‘Come on then guys – AC/DC are headlining’.
Ryan glares at me, all previous amusement gone. Izzy and Grace look on, smiling as they begin to set up their leopard print tent that Izzy insisted on buying. At least it will be easy for me to remember which tent I’m sleeping in.