by Hannah Ellis
“Me too. But then, what’s the worst that can happen? We end up on TV? It’s not like anyone is doing anything embarrassing. I actually think Chrissie is right and we won’t make it on to TV at all. We are pretty boring.”
“You’re probably right. But I don’t think I should have come …”
“Why did you?”
“I’d just had a big argument with my dad and then Chelsea appeared and asked me to come here. Seemed like a great idea in my angry, irrational state of mind.”
“Matt said you were busking …”
“It was a bit of a misunderstanding,” he said and laughed. “My dad owns a bar and I work there with him. I’d been trying to persuade him we should have an open mic night, but he argued that I just wanted to play myself and would drive all the customers away if I did! I was sitting outside playing my guitar to annoy him. I feel bad that I just left. I was really pissed off, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to get away. I live in an apartment above the pub. I sneaked in the back door and threw some things in a bag and left. I didn’t even tell him I was going. He’ll be going crazy.”
“So he has no idea where you are?” I asked, worried on his dad’s behalf. “He might have reported you missing. We could try and contact him … ask to use a phone, tell them it’s an emergency …”
“When they took our phones, I sent a quick message to my mum so they know I’m okay. He’s just going to be really mad at me.”
“Don’t you get on?” I asked.
“We do, but …” He tilted his head and appeared to be searching for a way to explain. “We have different ideas about how the pub should be run. We’ve been struggling to stay afloat for a while, and Dad won’t listen to my ideas. He’s pretty stuck in his ways. So if we didn’t work together, I think we’d get on great. We used to. Now we just argue a lot.”
“Have you got siblings?”
“No, it’s just me and Mum and Dad. I worry about my dad: his health isn’t great and all the stress of the business seems to be wearing him down. I worry he’ll have a heart attack while I’m over here playing in the sun. I’d never forgive myself.”
“I’m sure he’ll be okay. It’s just a few more days. And maybe a bit of time apart will be good for both of you.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Anyway, what about you? Out of everyone here, you’re a bit of a mystery to me. You just don’t seem like someone who would drop everything to jet off on a holiday with a bunch of strangers and a TV crew …”
“I’m not,” I laughed. “But I was at a loose end. I’d just lost my job and my mum told me I should try something new … so here I am.”
“Do you think this is what your mum had in mind?” he asked, smiling.
“Oh, I think I will have exceeded my mother’s expectations this time. She’ll be delighted! She’s always encouraging me to be spontaneous and have adventures. I don’t think she’s ever been able to believe she ended up with such a straight-laced, sensible daughter.”
“She sounds pretty cool.”
“She’s good fun,” I agreed. Not that I’d ever seen that as a positive thing before.
“It’s not turned out too badly, has it? Following your mum’s advice and doing something you wouldn’t normally do …”
“Amazingly, it seems to be working out okay,” I agreed. “Maybe we should put these back on …” I pulled the microphone clip out of my pocket and attached it to my T-shirt again. Dylan reluctantly did the same and we picked up the pace to catch up with the rest of the group.
The energy levels in the group dropped as we left the shade of the trees and meandered along a dusty path in the blazing sunshine. The gradient got steadily steeper as the trail led us uphill. We stopped for a break and huddled under the shade of a lone tree as we gulped down water.
“I’m almost out of water,” I commented and the others informed me they were in the same position.
“I’m not quite sure what happens when we reach the top of this hill,” Matt told us, holding up the map. “It looks like someone has cut the edge of the map off.”
I looked over his shoulder and saw that he was right; the map ended abruptly and appeared to have been cut. The top corner was missing completely and the edge wasn’t straight.
“So where’s the next flag?” I asked, wiping sweat from my face with the sleeve of my T-shirt.
“The map ends at the top of the hill,” Matt told me. “And there’s an arrow pointing to the edge. It feels like it might be the end of the world. Anyway, I’m guessing there’ll be a clue of some sort at the top of the hill.”
“Let’s hope so,” Kelly said.
“I’m hoping for an ice-cream van at the next flag,” Ryan told us.
Margaret shook the drips of her water bottle into her mouth. “A tap dispensing ice-cold water would suit me fine.”
“Let’s find out,” I suggested, moving out from the pathetic patch of shade under the tree.
I wasn’t sure we’d make it up the hill. Silence hung over us as we put all our energy into trudging slowly up the rocky path in the blazing heat. Matt and I reached the top of the hill first, and I smiled as I plonked myself down at the edge of the path. Matt came over to high-five me and we marvelled at the glorious blue sea that stretched out below us. We turned to grin at the others as they drew nearer.
“Come on,” Matt encouraged them. “It’s all worth it. The view’s fantastic!”
Chapter 14
The view was amazing; the water down below was crystal clear and utterly inviting, and the secluded beach looked like no one had ever set foot on it. We hadn’t realised we were approaching the coast. The path ahead snaked steeply down to the sandy cove below. A yellow flag flapped in the breeze on the beach and I could see a mound of some new treasure waiting beneath it.
The mood of the group lifted again as we stood atop the hill, taking it all in. We set off down the path and reached the flag in no time. I lifted the lid of a large cool box and was relieved to find it full of bottled water chilling in ice.
“You got your wish, Margaret,” I said while I handed out bottles of water.
There was a stack of rolled-up towels, which were individually embroidered with our names.
Without a word we all stripped down to our swimwear and headed for the water. It felt like utter bliss. I walked quickly into the water and then lay floating on my back, my eyes closed. I smiled at the sound of the boys splashing around me, and laughed wryly as I thought of my initial reluctance to travel to a foreign country, with a bunch of strangers, for a TV show. It seemed like a great decision now.
I lowered my feet to stand in the shallow water as Matt splashed water over my face. When I splashed him back he reached out to push me playfully under the water. I came up spluttering and Chrissie appeared at my side to help me get him back. It was fun, playing around in the water with my new friends, and I completely forgot about the cameras until I left the water. Then I was suddenly aware of the tiny bikini I was wearing as I walked towards Adam and his camera. He followed me and I wrapped my towel protectively around myself.
Kelly and Margaret were chatting as they lay nearby on their towels, and I was about to join them when I noticed Adam’s sweat-soaked T-shirt. It hadn’t really occurred to me that our cameramen were as uncomfortable as we were in the heat, and they weren’t even able to cool off as we had. I had a sudden idea.
I walked quickly past Adam and put my hand on his camera arm to keep him from turning to follow me. He flinched at my touch and automatically tried to move away from me until I caught his gaze and our eyes locked. I pointed at him and then the sea and made a brief swimming motion. Ignoring his look of uncertainty, I moved my hand cautiously over his, and he allowed me to take the camera from him. He pointed into the viewfinder and positioned me so I could see Kelly and Margaret in it.
Carl caught what was going on and moved away from the girls to film the others, who were emerging from the water. The unknown cameraman was filming Dylan, who was s
taring out to sea a little way away from the rest of us. I held the camera steady and glanced out of the corner of my eye at Adam, who stripped down to his boxer shorts and headed into the sea, away from the rest of our crowd.
The girls glanced up at me and I put a finger to my lips as we exchanged smiles. They briefly looked over to Adam and we watched him dive under the water and reappear a moment later. The girls went back to chatting about Margaret’s travels, and I enjoyed watching them through the camera.
I didn’t notice Adam returning until he was beside me. He grinned his thanks at me and tugged at the corner of my towel, which I’d been struggling to keep around me with my free hand. I was determined to keep the camera steady, and felt helpless as Adam unwound my towel and used it to pat himself dry and rub his dripping wet hair. I felt self-conscious as I stood next to him in the tiny bikini, and was glad when he draped the towel over my shoulders and picked up his clothes.
He gave me another warm smile when he carefully took the camera from me. I got myself another bottle of water, then turned at the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly. Carl was staring at me. His camera was directed at Ryan and Matt, who were lying in the sun, but his eyes bored into me. He pointed at the sea and then his camera, and I realised what he was asking me. I looked back at Adam, who made sure I was out of his shot when I walked over and took the camera from Carl. Matt and Ryan glanced up but didn’t react as they went back to sunbathing.
Carl took a dip in the sea and I looked over at Adam, who smiled back at me. Ryan made me jump when he suddenly leapt up to waft a bee away from him. He was really pathetic about it, and I had to bite my tongue not to shout at him to stay still. I took a few steps backwards to try and keep him in the shot and almost bumped into Adam, who skilfully adjusted the zoom on Carl’s camera while keeping his own camera on the girls on his other side.
Luckily, Carl returned and I was relieved of my camera duties. I think we got away with it. The producers would never know. I looked towards the third cameraman and, as though reading my mind, Carl touched my arm and shook his head, rolling his eyes dramatically.
Suddenly tired, I moved over to the girls and spread out my towel next to Chrissie’s to lie down for a bit of sunbathing.
I awoke to the sound of static crackling down a nearby walkie-talkie and looked up to find Adam sitting on a rock close to me. He told whoever it was that we were still at the beach, and then all was quiet again. The girls were snoozing next to me, and Matt and Ryan were standing at the water’s edge skimming stones. It was idyllic.
I felt Adam’s eyes on me.
“Sunscreen,” he said when I turned to look at him. My gaze shot down to my shoulder and I saw it was red. Getting up, I retrieved a bottle of sunscreen from my backpack and got to work smearing it all over me. The girls slept on as I haphazardly rubbed the lotion into my shoulders.
Ryan and Matt walked up the beach towards me. “Need some help?” they asked at once.
“Please,” I replied and threw the bottle to Matt before turning my back to him and pulling my hair off my neck.
“Do you have to?” I asked Carl as he appeared in front of me. He grinned in reply and I thought that being a yes person wasn’t such a great idea. How did I end up on a secluded beach, being filmed as some guy rubbed sunscreen into my shoulders? And what was taking him so long? I looked over my shoulder impatiently as Matt’s hands ran up and down my back and over my shoulders. There was a smirk on Carl’s face and Adam was sporting a similar look. Clearly my discomfort was very entertaining.
“Thanks,” I said curtly and moved away from Matt.
“My turn next.” Chrissie looked up at Matt. She was lying on her front and Matt cheerfully knelt beside her to smear sunscreen over her back.
“If anyone else needs any assistance …” Ryan offered.
“I think Matt’s got it covered, thanks!” Chrissie told him.
“I’ll wait for Matt,” Kelly grinned. “He looks like he knows what he’s doing with his hands!”
I laughed and sat down on my towel, shuffling over to make space for Ryan, who was hovering awkwardly over us. I felt slightly sorry for him.
“How long do you want to stay here?” Matt asked no one in particular.
“Forever,” Chrissie breathed.
“I would definitely be fine with that plan if we had food,” Matt replied.
“We’ve only just had lunch,” I told him with a slight shake of the head.
“That was nearly four hours ago,” he told me.
“Really? I’ve not got a watch. How long was I asleep?” I paused before adding, “Oh, actually, I do have a watch. It’s a Rolex! I’ve not got it with me but I can show you a picture if you don’t believe me!”
“I think my Rolex is bigger than yours,” Matt said. “I’ve got a picture if you don’t believe me!”
There was a round of daft jokes about whose Rolex was bigger and whose Rolex had the most diamonds before we finally settled down and Matt brought the conversation back to leaving the beach.
“You’re such a party pooper, Matt,” Kelly declared. “We’re sitting in paradise and you want us to leave.”
“There’s still one more flag to find,” he said.
“One more swim,” Margaret stated. “And then we get moving again?”
We murmured our agreement and started to get up as Dylan joined us.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“We’re going for another swim before we go in search of the final flag,” I told him. “You coming?”
“Sounds good,” he said.
We set off down the beach, breaking into a run and splashing into the water together.
Chapter 15
The last flag stood over a cooler containing seven bottles of beer and a note telling us to hurry back to the finca and get ready to party.
The double doors to our outdoor paradise were closed when we returned, tired and dirty. We trooped upstairs and took turns in the shower.
“I don’t know what to wear,” Chrissie told me when I came out of the bathroom.
“I’d really like to just go to bed,” I told her.
“Liven up, it’ll be fun. All we need are some cocktails and music and we’re sorted. I really hope they’ve got cocktails!”
“I presume you’re not going to let me wear shorts and a T-shirt?”
“No.” She smiled. “I’m not. What do you think?” She held up a long flowing yellow dress to show me, and I nodded my approval.
“You look amazing,” I told her as she slipped it over her head and tugged it into place. “I didn’t really bring anything very dressy.”
“This is nice.” She pulled out my trusty navy blue dress from the wardrobe. It was sleeveless and stopped just above the knee. An old favourite.
“Thanks.” I took it from her and put it on before looking at myself in the mirror. “I guess that’ll do.”
“We’re not finished,” Chrissie told me. “What about accessories?”
“I don’t really accessorise much. I tend to just wear it like this …”
“Hang on …” She trawled through her things, pulled out a wide brown belt and slipped it around my waist. “That’s better. Now we can see your shape.”
I turned to the mirror again and was amazed by the difference. It cinched my waist and made the dress slightly shorter so more of my legs were on show. “I like it,” I told her.
“What size are your feet?” Chrissie asked.
“Six.”
“Try these …” She threw a pair of strappy sandals at me and I frowned at the chunky wedge heel.
“I don’t usually wear heels …”
“I guessed.” She grinned at me. “Just try them.”
I slipped my feet into them and admired my reflection in the mirror. “I like them,” I admitted hesitantly. “I’m not sure I can walk in them, though.”
“Walk around the room a few times. You’ll get the hang of it.”
Chrissie s
at in front of the oval mirror at the dressing table while I walked around the room. “Why are you frowning?” she asked when I took a seat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m just tired,” I told her vaguely. Actually I’d been thinking about Adam, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that. Looking at myself in the mirror, my first thought was that Adam wouldn’t see me dressed up. The cameramen seemed to take shifts and, since he’d been with us all day, I presumed he’d be off until the morning. Why was I thinking about Adam anyway? I wondered.
“Should I do something with my hair?” I asked as Chrissie smoothed serum into her gorgeous ginger locks and scrunched up her curls with her fingers.
“No, never,” she snapped. “You have the silkiest, smoothest hair I’ve ever seen. Don’t mess with that.”
“It’s boring, though,” I complained. “I’d love to have your hair.”
“Don’t say that,” she said. “No one wants ginger curls.”
“I think your hair’s amazing.”
“You have no idea how much work it is,” she told me. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. I would kill for your hair.” She raised her eyebrows when I laughed at her. “You think I’m joking,” she said with a grin, “but I would actually commit murder for that hair. Then I’d spent the rest of my life locked in a cell, happily stroking my beautiful silky hair!”
The bedroom door opened a crack and Matt’s voice drifted in. “Are you decent?”
“Yeah,” Chrissie called back.
“Never mind, then!” he replied. Chrissie and I exchanged a look as Matt’s mischievous smile greeted us around the door. “Are you coming? I’ve got a cameraman and I’m ready to party.” When he opened the door wide, I was surprised to see Adam behind him. It caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting him to be around this evening, and I wasn’t sure why I suddenly had a stomach full of energetic butterflies.
“I thought you’d get the evening off,” I said, realising I was staring at him. I got the usual shrug in response.
“Apparently, some of the cameramen have come down with food poisoning so we get more of Adam and Carl this evening,” Matt filled us in. “Although I guess there’s a chance Adam has Tourette’s syndrome and randomly shouted ‘food poisoning’ at me for no reason.”
