Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

  “You’ll shut up about Katy!” Sam hissed the words at her, his face an inch away from hers. “It’s nothing to do with her. I just don’t like you any more. You’re a nasty mean person, and I don’t want to go out with you any more. I will do as you ask, though, and tonight we can act as though we’re still together, but once the party’s over, that’s it.”

  Cerys paused for a second, then gave a brief nod and turned to walk away. “Pick me up at seven, and don’t be late.”

  ****

  “Sam’s not here yet.” Kate strained to see past Jenny, staring over towards the entrance to the field. The party was being held in a huge marquee a mile or so outside the village, on the banks of the river. Several large gas-fired barbeques had been set up just outside the marquee, and a DJ had already got started with the music.

  “Give him time.” Jenny picked a piece of fruit out of her punch and sucked the alcohol out of it. “It’s only just gone seven. Not many people are here yet.”

  “I want to see if he comes with her or not, or whether she broke up with him.”

  “Right, so if she broke up with him, you can spend the evening consoling him.”

  “Exactly.” Kate grinned over her shoulder at her. “I am one of his best friends, after all.”

  “Maybe that’s the problem.” Jenny poured the rest of the punch down her throat. “It’s sometimes hard to move from friend to girlfriend.”

  “I’ll manage it.” Kate spoke with confidence. “Oh, here he comes. Shit, he’s with Cerys. She must have decided not to tell him till tomorrow.” She glanced round at Jenny. “Should we tell him what we overheard?”

  “No!” Jenny caught Kate’s arm. “Definitely not. Suppose she’s changed her mind? It would only upset him. We need to stay out of it.”

  Kate sniffed with annoyance but heeded her friend’s words and moved over to fetch a drink from the long table that was serving as a bar.

  “Is this stuff actually alcoholic?” Kate sipped it tentatively.

  “Yeah, I think it has vodka in it.” Jenny was just starting on her third. “Look, Sam and Cerys are coming over.”

  Kate knocked back her drink in one gulp and helped herself to another, watching as Sam and his girlfriend approached them. He was looking as hot as usual in ripped jeans, a faded Foo Fighters T-shirt, and black Converse, and Cerys was wearing a skimpy yellow top, very short denim shorts, and high wedge sandals. Her long bare legs were evenly tanned, and her glossy hair swung, perfectly in place, just brushing her shoulders.

  “Hi, Katy, Jen.” Cerys stopped in front of them and looked them up and down. “You look—comfortable.” She smirked and wound her arm around Sam’s waist. “Where’s the booze?”

  “Over there.” Jenny jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “It’s only punch, but I think it has vodka in.”

  Cerys let go of Sam and swayed a bit. “That’ll do,” she said and headed over to the table. “Come on, Sam.”

  With an apologetic smile at Kate and Jenny, Sam dutifully followed her over to the table and served them both with punch.

  “She hasn’t done it yet, then.” Kate watched their progress round the marquee. “I think she’s been drinking already.”

  “Did you see her eyes?” Jenny leaned closer and whispered, “Her pupils were huge. I don’t think it’s drink she’s been having. I think she’s taken something.”

  “Well, then she’s even more stupid than I thought. What the hell does Sam see in her? D’you think he’ll be upset when she dumps him?”

  “Probably. Boys are very shallow.”

  “Sam’s not.” Kate’s eyes followed him as he tailed Cerys on her social round. “We have really deep conversations. He’s not just a pretty face, you know.”

  “I guess.” Jenny shrugged. “This is getting boring. Are you just going to stand here and watch him all night, or can we go and have some fun? You’ll get to spend plenty of time with him over the next couple of months. Give it a break tonight.”

  Kate grinned. “Sorry. Yeah, let’s go and find the others and have fun. I can’t believe that our school days are over. It’s so weird.”

  “I know.” Jenny caught her arm, and they headed out of the marquee towards the barbeques. “I don’t feel any older.”

  “I don’t intend ever to feel any older.” Kate grinned and tossed her hair back. “I shall be eighteen forever. It’s such a cool age. We never need to grow up and get boring and old like our parents. We can stay feeling like this always. I never want to stop having fun.” She caught Jenny by the hand, and they ran over to join a group of their friends by the river.

  ****

  “God, my head’s spinning.” Kate lay back on the grass and closed her eyes. The music was blaring out from the marquee, accompanied by multicoloured flashing lights, and a large number of students were dancing wildly on the grass. “Whatever’s in that punch is pretty strong.”

  Jenny sat down beside her. “Yeah, me too. Can’t believe it’s only our year that are here. It looks like so many people.”

  “You’re probably seeing double.” Kate chuckled. “Well, there are fifty in our year, and I’m pretty sure they’re all here. Can you see Sam anywhere?”

  “Stop obsessing, Katy!” Jenny glanced around. “Yeah, he’s over by the bridge with Cerys and a couple of boys. Not sure who. They’re in the shadow.”

  Kate pushed herself up on her elbows and peered across the field in the near darkness. “Oh, that’s that horrible Craig, and James. Oh, god, maybe she’s telling Sam about her and James now. Let’s go and find out.” She got to her feet and set off towards the stone bridge that spanned the river at its widest part. Technically, it was outside the field where the party was being held, but a number of the students had ventured over there and were sitting on the bridge, dangling their feet over the edge and dropping bits of burger and sausage into the water. Kate headed towards where Sam was apparently having a heated conversation with Cerys, who was standing on top of the wall of the bridge, hands on her hips, yelling back at him.

  “Katy, slow down.” Jenny caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “We shouldn’t interfere. I think they’re having a row.”

  “Well, duh!” Kate glanced at her. “I bet she’s breaking up with him.”

  “Bit public for that.” Jenny kept pace with her. “We shouldn’t listen.”

  “Shut up. They’re not on their own. Look. There are at least six other people there. Come on.” Kate carried on across the field, her eyes never leaving Sam as he remonstrated with his girlfriend.

  “Just fuck off, Sam Somerville,” Cerys was shouting at him. “You don’t own me. I can do what I like. And this is what I like doing.” She ran along to the end of the wall and jumped down. “See? It’s not dangerous at all. You’re a woose. Just a stupid little woose.” She vaulted back up onto the wall, walked to the middle, and stood staring down into the river below. “Come on, Sam. Come and join me, or are you too chicken?” She tossed her head with a mocking smile.

  “Cerys, come down.” Sam held out his hand to her. “It’s not safe. One slip and you’d be in the river. You’re wearing those stupid shoes, too. It’s not fucking safe. Now please get down. I get that you’re upset, and I’m sorry.”

  Cerys spun around on one heel and wobbled precariously, putting out her hands to regain her balance. “See, chicken? It’s fine. And for the record, Sammy, I’m not at all upset.” She moved to the middle of the bridge and got down on her knees, peering over the edge. “It looks so good down there. I reckon we should all go skinny-dipping. Who’s up for that?” She stood up and shouted to the rest of the students. “Hey, guys, who’s up for going skinny-dipping in the river? Sam, come on, or are you too chicken for that?”

  “Just get down, Cerys. You can go skinny-dipping if you want. Just get down from the fucking wall before you fall.”

  “I’m not going to fall.” Cerys peered over the edge again. “But you know what? I reckon I could jump down and land in the water. Shall I do tha
t, Sammy? Shall I?” Her voice had become very high-pitched, and her eyes were shining in the dark. “Be quicker than climbing down. You come too, Sammy.” She laughed loudly and threw her head back. “Like that’d ever happen.” She spun round on one heel again and wobbled dangerously.

  “Cerys!” Sam screamed her name as she clawed at the air with her outstretched arms, uttering an ear-splitting scream as she toppled backwards off the wall and hurtled down towards the rocky river.

  There was a moment’s shocked silence before everyone started screaming and running towards the river, Sam leading the way, his face ashen.

  “Cerys, Cerys, no, why the hell…” He was muttering under his breath as he ran, kicking his shoes off as he reached the riverbank. Her limp body was caught against a large jagged rock, the water swirling all around, threatening to pull her away downstream. Sam and some of the other boys plunged into the water to try and reach her, but as they got close to the rock, the fast-moving water pulled her away and carried her rapidly downstream, thrashing her body against the rocks. Sam attempted to follow and could only be restrained with great difficulty by several other boys. They hauled him out of the water and held him down on the riverbank, where he struggled against them, his eyes wild as he called her name in desperation.

  Chapter 16

  Present day

  “So all this time you’ve thought it was your fault.” Kate stared at Sam sadly, the rain running down her face and soaking into his jacket. “And it wasn’t. Not at all.”

  “I see that now.” Sam shook his head. “I thought I’d upset her by breaking up with her and that was why she got so drunk and acted stupid. In fact, she was going to break up with me and was just annoyed that I got there first.” He looked away across the rain-swept hills. “She must have really hated me. How could I have been so stupid?”

  Kate reached out and touched his arm. “You weren’t stupid. Every boy wanted to go out with her. You were flattered. Don’t beat yourself up. And for the record, I don’t think she was drunk that night. I think she’d taken something.”

  Sam nodded. “I guessed she had, actually. She was a bit weird all evening. I really couldn’t have done anything, could I?”

  “No, Sam, you really couldn’t. I had no idea you were blaming yourself all these years. I, and all the others, just thought you were heartbroken at losing her. We didn’t know you had broken up with her.” Kate watched him as he ran a hand through his sodden hair, her mind still reeling at the reason he had broken up with Cerys. He had wanted to ask her out. She shook her head to try and rid it of the complicated thoughts that were trying to take her over, and touched his arm again. “I think we should go. I’m actually getting really cold now, and this rain doesn’t seem to be letting up. I’m sorry. We can talk more about this later.”

  Sam’s head shot up, and he looked at her with concern. “God, I’m sorry, Katy! I totally forgot where we were. We must get on.” He paused for a moment, and a strange look passed over his face. “So if I had asked you out…would you have said yes?”

  Kate looked up at him, blinking the rain from her eyes, and nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  They stared at each other for a long moment, then Sam took a deep breath and pulled the phone out of his pocket. “Still no signal, and very little battery. I think we need to keep walking until we find a house. You with me?”

  “Yeah.” Kate nodded and got to her feet. “Sounds like the best plan. It’s not doing us any good getting this wet. And your face needs attention.” She winced as she stretched her left leg, and Sam frowned at her.

  “Are you in pain? I thought you said you weren’t hurt?”

  “That was before I fell in the river.” Kate grimaced. “I think I may have a few bruises of my own tomorrow.” She smiled up at him. “Come on, let’s find somewhere to get our wounds tended, or at least phone your dad.”

  Sam took her hand and stared around them. “I think it might be better now if we headed down to the road. I think we should give up on the phone and just try to find habitation, and that would be the best bet. Come on.” He started off down the slope towards the road, Kate clinging to his hand and trying to keep her feet on the slippery grass.

  They finally reached the road and set off along what was rapidly becoming a tributary of the river, in the direction Sam thought to be the most hopeful. Both beginning to flag a little after the traumas of the last couple of hours, they trudged in silence, Kate trying hard to ignore the feelings engendered by Sam’s hand in hers.

  They had been walking for what seemed to Kate to be miles, when Sam suddenly stopped, and she cannoned into him.

  “What is it?” She peered ahead of them through the driving rain.

  “A building. Look over there, among the trees, just near that stone bridge.” Sam pointed ahead of them.

  Kate walked a couple of steps forward. “It is.” Relief sounded in her voice. “Oh, god, I hope someone’s home. Come on.” She set off at a smart pace, Sam catching her up and falling into step alongside.

  “Wait for me.” He grinned down at her. “I hope they offer us a cup of tea.”

  Kate laughed. “You sound like my mum,” she said. “She thinks tea cures everything. Personally, I could murder scampi and chips and a glass of wine.”

  Sam chuckled. “Followed by cake, no doubt.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to presume.” She smiled up at him. “Let’s just hope they’re not scared off by our appearance.”

  As they neared the clump of trees, it became apparent that the building was much larger than they had originally thought. Kate stared intently at it.

  “That’s not just a house,” she murmured. “It looks like a pub or something.”

  Sam caught her hand again and hurried her forward. “I think I know this place.” He started to smile as they got closer. “Yes, I do. I had no idea we were here. It’s a hotel. My parents know the owners. It’s a really nice hotel.” He grinned down at her. “Think we might be in luck.”

  “We can’t go in a nice hotel looking like this.” Kate pulled back. “We’re soaked. We have nothing with us. They won’t let us in.”

  “Of course they will.” Sam had picked up even more speed, and Kate stumbled to keep up with him. “I told you. They know my family. Don’t worry. This couldn’t have worked out better.”

  As they turned up the drive towards the hotel, Kate began to shiver in earnest. She had managed to keep the cold at bay while they were walking, but now salvation was in sight, in fact almost in reach, she began to relax and felt suddenly extremely cold and extremely sore. And of course, extremely hungry. As they approached the door of the hotel, Kate hung back.

  “You go in. They know you, so it won’t be so bad.”

  “Don’t be daft.” Sam gripped her hand tightly. “We both go in. You look dreadful, and the sooner you can get warm and dry the better. I’m not leaving you out here. Come on.” He shepherded her through the large glass doors into a spacious hallway carpeted in red. There was a reception area at the far end, and several doors leading off to either side.

  Acutely aware they were actually squelching, Kate followed Sam up to the reception desk and waited while he rang the bell. After a few moments a short dark-haired lady appeared and looked at them in surprise.

  “Good lord! Have you two walked here? Has your car broken down?” She walked around into the hallway and stared at them with concern.

  “We had an accident.” Sam nodded. “Our vehicle went off the road, and we’ve had to walk miles to get here. We couldn’t get a signal on the phone and were wondering if we could use yours?”

  The woman nodded immediately and ushered them into the office.

  “Of course you can.” She peered more closely at Sam. “Don’t I know you?”

  “You know my parents. Colin and Moira Somerville. I’m Sam.”

  “Of course!” She beamed at them. “I remember now. I met you some years back. Did you want to call the AA, or your parents?”

  �
��My father.” Sam nodded, unable to prevent himself from shivering. The woman looked more closely at him.

  “You’re hurt.” She indicated his face. “We must sort that out.” She turned to Kate. “Are you all right, dear? You look very cold. Are you hurt?”

  Kate shook her head. “I’m fine, thank you. Just wet.”

  “She fell in the river.” Sam spoke from where he was dialling his father. “So she’s not all right. She’s soaked through and probably covered in bruises.” He glanced at Kate and frowned. “And I think she should sit down.”

  Kate glared at him. “I’m fine. Don’t fuss. Honestly, I’m okay.” She smiled at the woman who was ushering her towards an armchair. “I can’t sit in that. I’m filthy.”

  The woman glanced at them both. “Okay.” She seemed to come to a decision. “We need to get you dried, or you’re both going to catch your deaths. Room seventeen is free. I’ll take you up there in a minute, and you can get changed and dried.”

  “Oh, no, there’s no need,” Kate protested, at the same time imagining the immense joy of removing her wet clothes and getting in a hot shower. “We don’t have any other clothes with us. We were only out for the day.”

  “That’s fine. We have bathrobes in all the rooms. I’ll take your clothes and get them washed and dried by the morning.”

  “The morning?” Kate stared at her. “But we’re not staying the night. We have to get back.”

  “Yes, we are.” Sam appeared at her side. “I’ve told Dad to come and get us in the morning. Sorry, Katy. You’re not going anywhere tonight except to bed. And I feel as though someone is hammering continuously on my head with an iron bar, so if you don’t mind, we’re staying here. I have money,” he added, fishing in the back pocket of his jeans and bringing out a pile of soggy notes.