Tess straightened. Felicity met her eyes and quickly looked away. That’s right. Ask Felicity. Felicity will know what Will’s plans are.
“He’s coming soon,” Felicity told Liam. “I’m not actually staying long. I just wanted to talk to your mum first about a few things, and then I’ve got to go. I’m, ah, going away, actually.”
“Where to?” asked Liam.
“I’m going to England,” said Felicity. “I’m going to do this amazing walk. It’s called the Coast to Coast Walk. And then I’m going to Spain, and America— Well, anyway, I’m going to be away for quite a long time.”
“Are you going to Disneyland?” asked Liam.
Tess stared at Felicity. “I don’t get it.” Was Will going with her on some romantic adventure?
Red painful blotches stained Felicity’s neck. “Could you and I talk?”
Tess stood up. “Come on.”
“I’ll come too,” said Liam.
“No,” said Tess.
“You stay out here with me, darling,” said Lucy. “Let’s eat chocolate.”
Tess took her to her old bedroom. It was the only room with a lock. They stood next to her bed, looking at each other. Tess’s heart hammered. She hadn’t realized that you could spend your whole life looking at the people you loved in an oblique, halfhearted way, as if you were deliberately blurring your vision, until something like this happened, and then just looking at that person could be terrifying.
“What’s going on?” said Tess.
“It’s over,” said Felicity.
“Over?”
“Well, it never got started really. Once you and Liam were gone, it just—”
“Wasn’t as thrilling anymore?”
“Can I sit down?” said Felicity. “My legs are shaking.”
Tess’s legs were shaking too.
She shrugged. “Sure. Sit.”
There was nowhere to sit but on the bed or the floor. Felicity sank to the floor. She sat cross-legged with her back against the chest of drawers. Tess sat also, with her back against the bed.
“Still the same rug.” Felicity put her hand on the blue-and-white rug.
“Yep.” Tess looked at Felicity’s slim legs and fine-boned wrists. She thought of the little fat girl who had sat in that exact same position so many times throughout their childhood. Her beautiful green almond eyes shining out from her plump face. Tess always knew there was a fairy princess trapped within there. Perhaps Tess had liked the fact that she was trapped.
“You look beautiful,” said Tess. For some reason, it just had to be said.
“Don’t,” said Felicity.
“I wasn’t trying to make a point.”
“I know.”
They sat in silence for a few moments.
“So tell me,” said Tess finally.
“He’s not in love with me,” said Felicity. “I don’t think he was ever in love with me. It was just a crush. The whole thing was just pathetic, really. I knew straightaway. As soon as you and Liam were gone, I knew that nothing was going to happen.”