Never a Perfect Moment (10 page)

NINETEEN

Polly opened her eyes. She was lying face down on a patch of damp moss with blades of grass sticking to her cheek. Was someone calling her name?

She sat up blearily, dislodging a shower of dew from the blanket over her legs. Every part of her ached.

Eve, Rhi and Lila were still asleep beside her, curled up together like puppies in a basket beneath the blankets they had bummed from a couple of other festival-goers. This top part of the field was the driest, most sheltered part they had been able to find that wasn't covered in tents. It had a gorgeous view right down the valley but it was miles from anywhere. Who could be calling her way out here?

Polly rubbed her eyes, dislodging mud and grit. What a night. An hour at festival security, reporting the theft, had got them nowhere. No one seemed to care. They hadn't even been given a cup of tea to keep them warm. It had been way too late to go home by the time they admitted defeat. So here they were. Sleeping in the middle of a field, like damp cows.

Rhi had slept particularly badly, dissolving into tears over the loss of her tent every few minutes. It had been rough, losing something she was so proud of the very first time it had been used. And their
rucksacks
. Polly groaned at the memory. Clothes, make-up, fresh underwear. Toothpaste.

Running her tongue tentatively over her furry-feeling teeth, she cupped her hands and blew into them.

Urgh
, she thought, wrinkling her nose.
Dog breath on top of everything else.

She checked her watch. It was nearly noon, she realized with some horror. She was desperate for a shower, but there was no chance of that.

“RHI? LILA? EVE? POLLY?”

Polly's heart lurched. She recognized that voice. But it couldn't be.

Could it?

Squinting into the sun, she stood up and gazed down the field in disbelief. Three familiar figures were jogging towards them, dodging guy ropes and sleeping bags. The blond guy in the middle was raising his hand and waving.

“POLLY!” Ollie shouted again, waving hard.

Polly shook Lila. “Wake up!” she said frantically. “It's Ollie, Max and Josh!”

Lila's hair was a mess, wild and tangled and sweaty from all the moshing around the main stage the night before. “What?” she squeaked, sitting bolt upright. Mascara streaked down her face like wet spiders' legs. “Josh is here? Like,
here
?”

Polly pointed wordlessly down the field. Her brain was whizzing at a hundred miles an hour.
I look like a nightmare
, she thought in despair. Her hair, her clothes … her
breath
! Of all the times to see Ollie…

Rhi and Eve sat up, yawning.

“What's going on?” Eve mumbled.

“Ollie, Max and Josh are coming towards us,” Polly repeated. This couldn't be happening. “How did they find us?”

Rhi raised her hand. “That was me,” she confessed. “I hit a really low patch at about four when you guys were asleep. So I climbed one of the trees over there to get reception and called Max.”

Eve clapped her hands to her face. “I look like a scarecrow,” she gasped.

“We all do,” said Polly. What had Rhi been thinking of? Didn't she realize how embarrassing this would be?

“Look on the bright side, guys,” said Lila. “They've got stuff with them.”

“Found you!” Ollie exclaimed, reaching them at last. He looked around at the group, but avoided glancing directly at Polly. “We've been searching all over this place.” He dumped his rucksack on the grass and looked at their makeshift campsite. “You slept out here all night?”

“‘Slept' is overstating things.” Eve yawned, covering her hand with her mouth. “Do you have any food?”

Josh opened the flap on his rucksack and pulled out four fresh baguettes. Apples came next, followed by a pot of jam and a large Thermos of coffee.

“Call the Three Amigos,” he said, spreading out the food on the damp grass with a flourish. “We deliver anywhere. Even to the top of a field.”

Polly couldn't bring herself to look at Ollie. What was he doing here? She'd thought he had given up on her. But if he had come all this way, surely it meant he wanted to try again. But he wouldn't even look directly at her. She was so confused. She sank her teeth into a baguette, hoping the bread might absorb some of her bad breath. Eve grabbed an apple. Rhi and Lila both lunged for the Thermos.

“You guys are angels,” said Lila, her hands wrapped possessively around a plastic mug of hot black coffee. “I can't believe you brought all this. This coffee's like
nectar
– last night was the worst.”

“We've come for the girls' weekend.” Looking pleased with himself, Max sat beside Rhi and planted a loud kiss on her muddy cheek. He managed to spill her coffee down her front, making her yelp. “I know we're not girls, but I'm guessing that's OK. Right, Rhi?”

Polly allowed herself an inward sigh. Max may have been good-looking, but he really was the most annoying guy at Heartside High.

“Thanks, Max,” said Rhi, mopping at her top.

“It was nothing,” said Max with a wink. “But don't forget to thank me every day for the next six months. Can I have half your baguette?”

Polly hunched over her baguette and watched out of the corner of her eye as Ollie and Josh put up the tents. She admired the way Ollie's muscular arms flexed as he yanked on the tent ropes and joked around with Josh. Josh was looking as cute as ever, a trendy hat perched on his head and his long legs encased in slim-fitting green jeans. Glancing across, Polly noted how thoughtfully Lila was looking at Josh. There was hope for those two yet, she decided.

“Whew,” said Ollie, wiping his forehead. “Tents are done. Thanks for your help, Max.”

Lying prone on the rug next to Rhi with his mouth full of baguette crumbs, Max raised a lazy hand in acknowledgement.

Ollie and Josh had arranged the tents in such a way that they formed a cosy semi-circle around everyone. Polly sat curled up on her damp rug in the middle, her belly full of bread and apples and her spirit calm and contented. She would have kissed Ollie in gratitude if her breath hadn't been so bad.

“This is for you.” It was the first time Ollie had spoken to her directly since the disastrous end to their date at the gallery.

Polly looked up. Ollie was waving a little bag at her.

“Oh my gosh,” she gasped, grabbing it and looking inside. Deodorant. Toothbrushes. And toothpaste. “Ollie, you're a genius!”

Ollie smiled. “I figured girls need stuff like this. Right?”

“You don't know how right,” said Polly, clutching the little bag to her chest.

She smiled a little nervously back at him. Was he still mad at her for cancelling their date? She wished she hadn't shouted at him the way she did.

Ollie leaned in closer. Polly squeaked and put her hands over her mouth. Her breath still reeked. If he came any nearer, he'd probably faint with disgust.

“You still owe me that kiss,” he said.

Polly felt a little surge of hope.

“But we need to talk, Polly,” he added quietly. “You have to make up your mind. Do you want to make room in your life for me, or not? I can't wait for ever.”

TWENTY

After asking the nearest group to watch their tents, the whole group headed into the heart of the festival, in full swing now it was mid-afternoon. They took in some stilt walkers in crazy metal headpieces, and tried the bungee run. Ollie wound up in the thick of a scratch football match among cheering festival-goers near the main stage. Eve had her hands hennaed; Max dragged an unimpressed Rhi over to check out the vintage motorbikes parked in gleaming black and chrome rows by the festival gates.

Polly browsed among the vintage stalls, finding old pieces of lace and gorgeous antique ribbons among the cluttered tables and wondering what she was going to do about Ollie. He'd made it clear something had to change.

Lila and Josh disappeared for an hour, returning triumphantly with two sketches: one Josh had drawn of the view looking down on the Funky Fox main stage, the other a portrait of Lila clenching a daisy between her teeth. Music was everywhere – on the main stage, in several smaller tents ranged around the edge of the farm, drumming groups gathered around the central tent pole with its flapping Funky Fox flag, guitar players by the big lake that gleamed at the bottom of the valley.

Polly soaked up the sounds, the sights and the smells. Most of all, she soaked up the sight of Ollie, joking and laughing with the others. He really did like her. He had proven it over and over. Despite all the mistakes she had made, he kept coming back and trying again. But he had made clear he wouldn't do it for ever. She just had to make a leap and make herself vulnerable. True, she wasn't like all the other girls at school, but Ollie liked her for who she was. She had to believe that. It was when she had been herself– when she had showed Ollie the artwork that had meant so much to her, when they had danced together at the wedding, that she and Ollie really connected. It was only when she tried to dress like the other girls or follow Eve's advice that things went wrong. She had to trust herself. And trust Ollie.

“You guys should have been here last night,” said Lila, resting her head on Josh's tummy as they sat companionably around a fire that Ollie had built back at their tents. “We should have invited them to begin with, Eve.”

“Excuse me for planning a girls-only weekend,” said Eve waspishly.

Max smirked. “Your kind of weekend, hey Eve?”

Polly winced at the grin Max shot in Ollie's direction.

“Shut up, Max,” said Rhi.

“It was a joke!” Max protested. “Just because Eve's a lesbian now, doesn't mean she can't take a joke. Does it?”

Eve's eyes were narrowing to slits.

“Who wants food?” Polly said brightly, keen to avert a fight.

Lila groaned and clutched her stomach. “I've eaten a horse today already.”

“It was probably a cow,” said Josh. “Although I wouldn't ask that burger van too many questions.”

“It really was a great night,” Lila sighed.

Josh raised himself on his elbows. “Earlier it was the worst night ever, and now it's the best? That's impossible. Have you ever considered a career in politics, Lila?”

Lila made herself more comfortable. “If I were prime minister, I'd ban school and make festivals compulsory,” she said dreamily.

“What useful citizens that would produce,” Polly pointed out.

“No lessons at all?” said Max.

“Maybe I'd teach fun,” Lila said. “Half the world doesn't know how to have it.”

“That's a lesson I'd pay good money to attend,” said Ollie.

“Pose for me, Lila?” Josh suggested, pulling out his sketchbook.

Lila arranged herself on the rug, fluffing her hair out. “How's this?”

“Gorgeous,” said Josh. Polly could see that he was blushing.

It was great that Josh and Lila were getting along so well today. After the awkward scene at the wedding, Polly had feared all hope of romance between them had been ruined. Now she wasn't so sure. Josh was just what Lila needed. Calm, steady, kind.

Someone somewhere was playing the guitar. The notes floated in the still afternoon air. Polly closed her eyes, imagining a world where Lila and Josh got together. Where she and Ollie finally kissed each other.

“Stop
pawing
me, Max,” Rhi snapped suddenly.

Polly opened one eye to see Max lifting his hands in the air. “I thought boyfriends and girlfriends held hands,” he said. “My mistake.”

“That wasn't my hand,” said Rhi coolly.

“Whatever. You need to chill out, Rhi.”

“And
you
need to keep your hands where I can see them!”

Max got up and dusted down his jeans. “I can tell when I'm not wanted,” he said a little sourly. “I'm going to get a burger. Anyone joining me?”

Ollie shook his head. Josh was too busy sketching Lila even to reply. Max shrugged and jogged away down the field.

“Max is really getting on my nerves today,” Rhi burst out. “He doesn't know when to stop, you know? I wish I hadn't called him last night.”

Polly sat up. “If you hadn't called him, Ollie and Josh wouldn't have come either.”

“Good to know we're appreciated,” Josh murmured, not looking up from his sketchbook as he drew the outline of Lila's eyes.

“Max is an idiot,” said Eve as she admired her hennaed hands. It was the first thing she'd said since Max's misguided crack about her sense of humour. “You're too good for him, Rhi.”

Polly felt a fresh prickle of hope.
Lila and Josh getting together
and
Rhi and Max splitting up?
she thought. That would be a dream outcome to this weekend. She wondered briefly if it was bad to wish heartbreak on people. Then she decided Max's heart was probably made of rubber, and unlikely to break at all.

“Everyone could see how much you loved your little motorbike tour,” Lila murmured from her position on the rug.

Rhi laughed. “I would have preferred to do the henna thing with Eve. But when Max gets an idea into his head, it's difficult to shift.”

Polly glanced a little awkwardly at Ollie.

We shouldn't be talking about his best friend like this
, she thought.
Not in front of him.

“I'm not listening,” said Ollie, catching Polly's worried glance. “Girl talk brings me out in a rash. Hey, Max! Wait up!”

“Ollie has a very nice shape,” Lila remarked, tilting her head to watch Ollie as he jogged easily down the field after Max.

Polly felt a stab of jealousy deep in her belly. She didn't think she could bear it if Lila got interested in Ollie again.

“I told you not to move your head, Lila,” Josh said a little sharply.

Rhi pushed her cloudy hair off her face and sighed. “I'm starting to think you guys are right,” she said. “Max isn't the guy for me after all. It's just … we've been together for such a long time, and—”

“And he cheated on you,” Eve added. “With me.”

“I don't need reminding, thanks,” said Rhi a little drily. “Let's just say that at times like this, the single life looks … very appealing.”

It was funny how things could change, Polly thought. One minute Rhi and Max were loved up and she was as far away from dating Ollie as it was possible to be. The next, Rhi was thinking about dumping Max, and Ollie wanted to be with her.

“Come on,” said Rhi, getting to her feet as Josh put the finishing touches to his sketch and told Lila she could move. “Let's go see what's going on down by the main stage.”

“Ollie and Max might not be able to find us again,” said Polly, feeling a little worried. She had to talk to Ollie, to tell him she was ready to try again.

“And that's a bad thing?” Eve enquired. “Good idea, Rhi. I need some music.”

The crowds were drifting down the field towards the main stage, as if drawn there by a magnet. There was an energy in the air that Polly wanted to embrace, but she found herself feeling a little freaked out instead. She wished Ollie hadn't disappeared with Max.

A fat raindrop suddenly hit the end of her nose, making her jump. The sky had clouded over, she realized, and ominous grey clouds were rolling in from the west.

“Oops,” said Lila, gazing upwards as they flowed on down the hill in the middle of the crowd. “Maybe we should have stayed in our tents after all.”

Polly couldn't tear her eyes from the sky. It was almost impossible to believe the speed at which it was rushing from blue to black. A couple of people whooped, lifting their arms to the sky as the rain fell more heavily.

“Boy,” said Josh, sheltering his head with his arms. “This stuff is cold.”

There was a crack of thunder. Someone behind Polly screamed. The rain was really falling hard now, banging into the ground in long silvery nails, and Polly's feet were starting to slip on the rapidly dampening grass.

I have to get out of here
, she thought anxiously. She had the most horrible sensation that the sky was about to fall on her head.

She tried to turn round, but there were too many people. As the sound of the drumming rain grew louder, so did the shouts of the crowd. Polly was being bumped around like a pinball. She could feel a wave of hysteria lapping at her, threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't see the others.

“Help!” she screamed, whirling around. “Help! I can't … I… ”

Her feet were sliding from beneath her, like an ice skater on a bad day. She hit the ground with a squelch and a sob of panic. Curling her hands over her head, Polly pulled herself into a tiny ball. Feet thundered past her, uncaring, missing her by millimetres. She would die here… She would be crushed into the wet earth and drown in the mud…

In the depths of her terror, Polly felt a hand grabbing her and pulling her to her feet.

“Up you get,” said Ollie. “Are you OK? You went down like a bowling pin.”

Dimly Polly knew there was mud all over her clothes, and on her face, and her hair hung round her face in wet black rats' tails. In normal circumstances, she would have run away to avoid Ollie seeing her like this. But right now, he was the sweetest thing she'd ever seen.

“Ollie,” Polly sobbed, and clung to him like he was a life raft.

His arms came round her, protecting her from the press of the muddy, jostling, shouting, screaming, muddy crowd.

“Don't look at me,” Polly wept, huddling in closer to him. “I look like a freak.”

She felt Ollie's fingers beneath her chin, bringing her gaze up to his.

“You've never looked so beautiful,” he said.

It was as if someone had suddenly pressed a mute button. The noise of the crowd faded to nothing. Polly noticed no one pushing, or shoving, or screaming. All she could see were Ollie's blue eyes.

“Oh!”

Someone had rammed right into her, sending her spinning sideways, back down into the mud. Only it wasn't mud this time. It was rubbish. Sweet-smelling takeaway boxes, sticky drink cartons, nameless sludge mushed into the ground.

Panic took full hold, squeezing Polly tightly around the throat. She screamed and screamed until her throat was raw.

“
Urgh!
”

It was in her hair. Vile, stinky goo was dripping down her neck, down the collar of her shirt.

“Polly, it's OK, calm down… ”

Polly couldn't focus; the feel of the rubbish all over her body made her squirm. Ollie was reaching for her again, but Polly felt hideous. “No!” she shrieked. “Don't touch me!”

She had to do something about the grime. She needed to find a shower. “Please,” she said desperately, “I need to go.”

And she blundered away, half-blind with horror and shame.