The Girl Who Lied(29)

Shane and Joe’s parents are very down to earth. They go to the pub a lot and are into their motorbikes. Shane’s dad, Max, has the bike shop he’s just opened across the road from the café. Dad keeps moaning about the motorbikes and the noise they make.

Diana and Shane’s mum, Louise, are chatting when we arrive. Diana has that funny look on her face, like she has something really nasty stuck underneath her nose. Louise has an empty wine glass in her hand and is doing most of the talking, by the look of it.

Diana spots us first, then says something to Louise and the two women come over to greet us.

‘Hello, darling,’ says Diana to Niall. ‘I thought you were going to wear a jacket and tie?’

‘No, Mam, I told you, it’s not a formal do. I’m not going to a wedding or something. It’s just smart-casual.’

‘I think you look lovely,’ I say.

Diana turns to me. I hate the look she gives. ‘Hello, Erin.’ I watch her eyes take in the black mini dress I’m wearing. She has that same disapproving look I’ve seen in Dad’s eyes. Before she can say anything else, Louise is hugging us and thanking us for coming.

As more guests arrive and the adults return to their conversation, we make our way over to rescue Shane, who has been cornered by an elderly relative.

‘Thanks, man,’ he says as we bundle him away. ‘I hope the others get here soon. Much as I love the olds, I can’t do any more small talk.’

Within an hour The Smugglers’ function room is filling up and the party gets going. The DJ starts off with some rather more party-like songs that get some of the older guests up dancing. I have to say, Louise and Max Wright are pretty cool on the dance floor. They are having an absolute whale of a time. Everyone is watching them.

Someone nudges my shoulder. I turn and inwardly groan. It’s Jody Wright.

‘All right, Bunny?’ he shouts in my ear above the noise of the music. He peers around me and nods at Niall. ‘Want to come outside, for a bit of, you know, fresh air?’

‘Okay,’ says Niall and takes my hand. ‘Come on. Don’t want to leave you alone. You might get dragged onto the dance floor with Max.’ He grins as Max and Louise are now literally in the throes of a very energetic jive. At least, that’s want I think it is.

The night air cuts through the lace sleeves of my dress, sending little goosebumps along my arms. Shane, Roisin and Rebecca, a girl in the year below us at school, are already there. We huddle round the corner, away from prying eyes. There’s also a blond boy there who I don’t recognise. He’s laughing with Shane about something as they share a cigarette. I wonder for a minute if it’s one of Jody’s brothers, but I think they’re older than Shane and this one looks about the same sort of age. He looks over and nods at us but doesn’t break his conversation.

As we stand there, I’m very aware everyone is smoking except for me. This is Jody’s idea of fresh air.

‘Do you want some?’ Roisin holds out her half-smoked cigarette in my direction.

‘No, I’m good, thanks,’ I reply. I really don’t want to smoke. I don’t care if others do; it’s something that has never appealed to me.

‘Goody Two Shoes,’ Roisin says. She masks the remark with a smile. ‘What about a drink?’ she adds, as she rummages in her bag. She pulls out a large plastic bottle.

‘Cola?’ I ask and then immediately regret it as Roisin and Jody snigger.

‘Yeah, cola,’ says Roisin, ‘and vodka. Jesus, Erin, I wonder at you sometimes.’

‘I thought it was just cola too,’ says Rebecca. She tosses her long black hair with pink-tinted ends behind her shoulder. ‘Easy mistake to make.’

She looks over and smiles at me. I return the smile.

The bottle is passed around and this time I do participate.

The boy talking to Shane pulls a tobacco pouch from his pocket. ‘Anyone want a proper smoke now?’

To the encouraging agreement from the others, he unfolds the pouch and, crouching down, begins to roll a cigarette. It’s at this point I realise it’s not a normal cigarette, not with those large papers and the extra sprinkling of green he mixes with the tobacco.

He stands up, lights the joint and takes a draw, long and slow. He puts his head back and closes his eyes. After a moment he lets the smoke drift out of his mouth. He blinks a couple of times, refocuses and looks appreciatively at the roll-up between his fingers. ‘That’s good,’ he says. He offers the joint around.

‘Cheers, Kerry,’ says Jody, before taking an equally long draw. ‘Now that’s why I love my cousin. He gets seriously good gear.’ He gives Kerry a friendly punch on the upper arm.