Kean appeared a little embarrassed now. “I know it’s stupid. The boys like to go there. I should probably refuse, but I guess I’m afraid of being left out. Does that make me an arsehole?”
“No, I understand,” I said, appreciating his honesty. “It’s hard to withstand peer pressure. Besides, I never hear you catcalling.”
“I just stand there while my friends do it,” he said, looking ashamed as his eyes met mine. “Maybe next time, instead of standing with them I could come and walk you home?”
I grew nervous, fingers digging deeper into the sand. “Why?”
Kean shrugged. “I like you. I think you’re cool.”
He did? “You do?”
Warm laughter. “I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you if I didn’t.”
A pleasant feeling filled my chest. Kean was such a nice boy. So different from Noah. When I spoke to him, I felt safe, content. When I spoke to Noah I felt on edge, my emotions tumultuous and erratic. Unfortunately, there was something far more alluring about the way Noah made me feel compared to Kean. I had to fight against it.
Kean’s dog Sparky, who had been entertaining himself by diving in and out of the water, came barrelling towards us. He dove into Kean’s lap and licked him all over his face.
“Aw, come on, boy. I’m trying to talk to a pretty girl, and you come putting your doggy slobber all over me,” Kean complained.
I giggled and blushed at him calling me pretty. Vee’s harsh criticisms often made me forget that the rest of the world didn’t see me quite how she did.
Sparky turned, suddenly aware of my presence, and gave me a big slobbery lick on the cheek, too. I squeezed my eyes shut at the odd sensation and giggled some more, feeling truly joyous for the first time in who knew how long.
“Don’t worry, I like doggy slobber,” I said as Kean stood up, patting Sparky on the head.
“Well, thank God for that. I better get him home. But will I see you tomorrow at the castle? Around 8pm?”
I was tempted to play it cool and give him a noncommittal answer, but then my reply came out before I could fully think it through. “Okay, see you then.”
Kean smiled wide. “See you, Estella.”
He went, and Sparky followed alongside him as they climbed back up the hill. I watched them go, butterflies filling me up. I’d never been invited to the castle before. It had fallen into disrepair, empty and abandoned, but it was a regular haunt for teenage drinking and parties. The thought of me and Aoife going and hanging out with Kean’s friends, who were considered the most popular and exclusive group in town, was unprecedented.
The sky began to darken. I hoped Vee would be in a drunken stupor by now, that way I could use the house phone to call Aoife and tell her about the party. With a swing in my step, I walked back to the house, my mind full of ideas for what I should wear to the castle. I had a dark blue dress that stopped just shy of the knee. It was the nicest thing I owned.
I stepped through the back door, still lost in my excitement when a loud crash followed by a sharp cry of pain broke through the house. I froze for several long seconds. My good mood fled instantly as fear crept in.
I quietly moved through the kitchen, making sure not to make a sound as I passed through the hallway and to the living room. The door was open, allowing me a view into the room without needing to enter. What I saw filled me with horror.
Sylvia lay on the floor, her wheelchair on its side, like someone had pushed it over causing her to fall out. And there, hovering over her with his back turned to me was Noah.
I didn’t realise how loud my gasp was until he turned around, eyes flashing murderously when he saw me. I started to back away, heart racing.
“Estella, wait,” he said, but I was already gone, feet pumping. I heard him coming after me though. Just as I reached the front door, he grabbed me from behind. I struggled, twisting my body this way and that to escape his grasp. He swore, his breathing ragged as he tried to keep hold of me.
“Will you stop struggling, and just let me explain,” he pleaded, but no way was I going to stop. He’d pushed Sylvia out of her wheelchair and looked like he’d been about to do a lot worse before I showed up. Who knew what he’d do to me if I stopped fighting him.
Vee was right.
I should stay far, far away from Noah.
I couldn’t believe I’d started to think he was a good person. I’d even started to like him. More than like.