Best Friends Rock!

by Cindy Jefferies

  Ellie hadn’t forgotten about Bex’s birthday. In fact she had a sweet little purse all ready to give her. It would be good to see some of her school friends too, so she texted back straight away. I’ll be there! Then she put the phone down, and climbed into bed with her father’s notebook in her hand. Ellie had made a couple of notes during the interview with Connor, before she’d known that he wasn’t Joe Steel. Francesca had suggested that Ellie should think about it over the weekend, to see if she could make do with what she’d got, or if she really needed more. Ellie already knew she didn’t have anything like enough information for an article, but based on what Connor had told her about him Ellie had decided to rough out a few really good questions to ask the real Joe. Before she could find the right page her phone buzzed again. The message wasn’t from any of her school friends, or from Hannah. It was from Connor.

  Can you get into town tomorrow morning 11.00ish?

  Ellie read the text several times. She wasn’t sure how to respond. Had Connor persuaded Joe to meet her? She hoped so, but he hadn’t made it very clear. And he’d suggested the same time as Bex’s birthday get-together. That was annoying. But maybe she could combine the two? Then she could give Bex her present, see her friends, and meet Connor and possibly Joe too, all at the same time. They could always stay on after everyone else had left, so she could ask her questions. Ellie grinned. It would be fun to have a boy, or even two, in tow that no one else knew. Her friends would be intrigued, maybe even impressed! Yes! It would be a winner on so many levels. Her phone would be buzzing after everyone had met them. They’d all want to know who the boys were, and how she’d met them, but she wouldn’t tell until Connor and Joe had left the city. And she had her cool new clothes to wear too. Saturday morning was going to be fun!

  Before she could change her mind, Ellie texted Connor, telling him that she’d meet him in town. She told him the name of the café, which wasn’t too far from the hotel, and hoped he’d agree to meet there. She didn’t tell him that her friends would be around. That might put him off. She sent the text and then lay back with her hands behind her head, waiting. After a few seconds he texted back to say that he’d be there.

  Ellie put the phone away and settled down to sleep with a smile on her face. Tomorrow would be great. Let Connor think that he and Joe were just meeting her. He’d tricked her. Why shouldn’t she trick him a little? Except it wouldn’t really be a trick. He hadn’t said they wanted to meet her alone, and she hadn’t said she wouldn’t be. She remembered the way he’d hurriedly kissed her, and her smile widened. Of course she wanted to get enough information about Joe for a good article, but there was no reason why she shouldn’t enjoy herself as well. Ellie was looking forward to meeting Joe, but she was also looking forward to seeing Connor again. In fact she was looking forward to it very much indeed.

  On Saturday morning, Ellie rolled out of bed determined to make a splash at the café in town. It wasn’t just her friends who hung out there. Lots of people did. It was a cool place to be seen, and today she had her new jeans and top to show off, as well as the two boys, who she hoped would turn up. She took special care over her make-up, ate a piece of toast, grabbed her bag and left the flat, banging the door behind her.

  She was in good time to catch the bus, and it wasn’t too long before she was there. The whole area was buzzing with people enjoying their weekend, but Ellie saw Naomi almost straight away. She had managed to bag their usual table in the window of the café, and was waving wildly at Ellie through the glass. Ellie went in, queued to buy a drink and took it over to the table.

  “Cool top!” Naomi said at once. “I don’t think I’ve seen it before. And are those new jeans?”

  Ellie put her drink down and grinned at Naomi. “They’re from a new designer…so new they’re not in the shops yet!”

  “No! Really? Wow!” She stood up to give Ellie a hug, and nearly knocked her drink over. “I suppose you got them from Heart?”

  Ellie nodded.

  “I’m sooo jealous,” said Naomi. “Go on, turn round so I can see them properly.”

  Ellie twirled around and then sat down with a giggle.

  “Wait till everyone else gets here,” said Naomi with a grin. “They’ll want to know all the details!”

  It wasn’t many minutes before most of the other girls arrived. Soon there was a whole gaggle of them, squealing their admiration for Ellie’s new clothes.

  “I only got them because Angel had finished with them,” said Ellie. “And the deal is that I come back with some reactions from you lot.”

  “Does that mean we might get our comments in the mag?” said Alice.

  “I suppose it might,” said Ellie.

  “Okay. So write this down,” said Alice. “Love the new cut of the jeans, and the detail on the pockets.”

  Ellie scribbled the comment in her notebook. Then Bex, the birthday girl, arrived and Ellie’s clothes were forgotten in the crush, as everyone went to hug Bex and give her cards and presents. They all watched as she undid one small parcel after another. Soon the table was a sea of coloured paper and envelopes. Ellie and the others helped clear away the rubbish, making room to admire the make-up, coloured pens and chocolates that people had given Bex.

  “I like your top,” said Bex to Ellie after the presents had been discussed. “The colours really suit you.”

  “Thanks,” said Ellie, but she wasn’t allowed to say any more because Naomi butted in with a grin.

  “You won’t believe how grand our Ellie has got,” she said. “She’s now wearing designer clothes before they’re in the shops!”

  Ellie laughed. “They’re going to be in a fashion store,” she said. “They’ll be everywhere so they’re not exclusive designer.”

  “Well someone had to design them,” said Naomi firmly.

  Ellie got out her notebook and pen again, and scribbled busily until everyone had had their say. By the time she was able to put her pen back in her bag, Ellie was sure Angel would be impressed with all her friends’ comments.

  And Ellie was enjoying herself so much that for the moment she had forgotten all about Connor and Joe, so she was a bit startled when, all of a sudden, Connor appeared. The girls were looking at him a bit strangely as he stood there, trying to attract Ellie’s attention. “Oh, hi, Connor!” said Ellie, getting up and looking vainly for any evidence that he’d managed to bring Joe with him. “Are you on your own then?”

  “I guess,” he said. “Sorry.”

  “Are you American?” asked Alice.

  Connor nodded.

  “Whereabouts are you from?” said Naomi.

  “California,” said Connor shortly.

  “Wow!” said Alice. “That’s a cool place to come from.”

  Ellie could see that Connor didn’t seem very comfortable surrounded by her friends, but she didn’t feel too bad about it. After all, with no Joe, it seemed her article was still a forlorn hope. Maybe he deserved to suffer a bit as penance for letting her down. In any case, her friends weren’t horrible, and she knew they’d soon put him at his ease.

  But Connor didn’t seem at all happy, and kept shooting agonized glances her way. It seemed obvious that he wanted to speak to her alone, but Ellie wasn’t about to desert her friends. Surely he could wait until they left? Naomi and Alice were talking about going shopping, and Bex, along with best friend Fi, was going to meet up with her parents for lunch and a West-End show.

  “Are you coming shopping with us?” said Naomi to Ellie, as Bex and Fi left the café.

  “Not this time,” said Ellie, glancing at Connor. “I’ve just saved up enough for my mum’s birthday, and if I go shopping with you I know I’ll spend it all.”

  “Yeah, right!” said Naomi, nudging Ellie’s arm. “We understand.”

  Eventually the girls all left. Connor slid into the chair opposite Ellie and stared at her. All of a sudden she could see that he looked almost scared.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, with a tremo
r of alarm.

  “It’s Joe,” said Connor. “He’s gone.”

  “Gone?” said Ellie. “You mean he’s sloped off again?”

  “No,” said Connor, and it was obvious how upset he was. “I think he’s run away, Ellie. And I’m almost sure he’s left the country!”

  Ellie stared at Connor. “What do you mean, run away? How do you know? And…” She struggled to make sense of the news. “When did he go?”

  “I don’t know!” said Connor. “I told him about you, and last night he seemed up for meeting, so I sent you that text, but when I woke up this morning, he wasn’t there.” Ellie could hear desperation in his voice. “Maybe he disturbed me by mistake when he left the room, but something woke me really early. I went to the bathroom, and when I came back I realized he wasn’t there.”

  “You’re sure?”

  He sounded exasperated. “How many places do you imagine there are to hide in a hotel suite?”

  “Okay. Sorry.” Ellie was trying to control the urge to howl. Where did this leave her article? But it looked and sounded as if Connor really was in a state, so she pushed her own feelings to one side. He needed to calm down. “Didn’t you tell me that he’d disappeared once before? He came back, didn’t he? Surely he will this time too? All you have to do is keep away from the hotel for a bit so his dad thinks you’re together. And you can phone him can’t you?”

  “He’s not answering his cellphone,” said Connor bleakly. “And the thing is…” He gave a gulp. “I’m scared that this time he’s not coming back. His passport was on his night table, but it’s not there any more. I reckon he’s gone to Italy!”

  Ellie felt both horrified and excited at the same time. She didn’t want this to become a proper missing person’s investigation, of course she didn’t, but at the same time it was kind of thrilling. And who knew, there might be an article in it! She pushed that unworthy thought firmly away and concentrated on Connor. He was obviously worried sick. But why on earth would Joe run away to Italy?

  “He has an aunt in Italy,” Connor explained when she asked. “She lives in Rome. And he’s always said how well he gets on with her. But there’s this too.” He held out a piece of paper, and Ellie took it.

  It was part of a sheet of hotel paper, and the only thing scrawled on it in biro was Colosseum, 25th. Ellie looked at Connor questioningly, and he hurried to explain.

  “It’s in Joe’s handwriting,” he explained. “I googled Colosseum and it’s in Rome, Italy. It’s a big Roman ruin.”

  “I think I knew that,” said Ellie.

  “And the 25th is today,” went on Connor. “I guess that’s the clincher. That, and his passport having gone.”

  “And having an aunt there as well,” said Ellie.

  Connor nodded. “Yeah.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  Connor spread his hands. “I don’t know! Joe usually stays in bed until nearly lunchtime, so only something he really cared about would get him out of bed so early.” He paused, looking more distracted at every moment. “I don’t know if I ought to phone the police, or cover for him with his dad or what. And the only person I have to talk to about it is you.”

  “Well, try not to worry,” Ellie said. “Look. Why not have a drink, and we’ll talk about what’s best to do.”

  “Okay. You want anything?”

  “No thanks. I’ve already had two.”

  Ellie watched Connor as he queued for his drink. He was taller than she was, and from the back looked totally grown up. But there was something about his face. A bit of uncertainty, perhaps. He came back, carrying a tray. He was smiling at her, but he was pale, and his smile didn’t disguise the worry still carved into his face. Ellie found that she really did want to make that worried expression go away.

  “So what do you think has led to this?” she asked as he sat down.

  Connor sighed. “That’s easy. Rocky wants Joe to join the band as soon as he leaves school. Rocky has some throat trouble, and the band badly needs a new singer. I guess Rocky thinks it would be cool to keep it in the family. Joe made the mistake of singing along with them at a jam session at their house in California a few months ago, and everyone in the band thought he was great. But Joe hates the idea of joining his dad’s band.” Connor looked at Ellie. “I think Rocky put pressure on him to do this touring thing over the summer, once he realized Joe didn’t want to go to Denmark with his mom, and now we’re here, Joe can’t bear it. He’d hoped it would be enough if we went to gigs as spectators, but Rocky’s always on at him to get up onstage and sing with him.”

  “Blimey!” Ellie felt grateful that no one had ever tried to make her do something she didn’t want to, especially so publicly. That would be so embarrassing. “Can he really sing?”

  Connor nodded. “Oh yeah. We used to do all these school productions, and he had a brilliant voice. He got all the good parts. But since his dad began to pile on the pressure I haven’t heard him sing or even listen to music at all.”

  “It’s a shame he agreed to spend the summer with his dad if that’s the way he feels,” ventured Ellie.

  “I said that,” agreed Connor, “I said he was stupid…but it was difficult for him. I’m sure he hoped they might sort it all out between them during the tour.”

  Connor drained his glass, and put it back on the tray. “His dad ought to get off his back. After all, Joe is showing support. He just doesn’t want to do the same job as his dad.” Connor paused. “I wish Joe had talked to me more. I didn’t think it was so bad that he’d run away. And if it was, well, I’m his buddy. He could have spoken to me.”

  Poor Connor, thought Ellie, worrying so much about his friend. And poor Joe too. Has he really gone to the Colosseum today? Was he meeting his aunt? Or has Connor got it wrong? Wherever he is. I hope he’s all right.

  “So you think Joe’s gone to see his aunt to get away from his dad?”

  “I guess so.” Connor scratched his head. “Maybe he thinks she’ll talk to his dad for him. She’s his dad’s younger sister. But why just go, without telling me?” Connor sounded hurt. “I could have flown back home to the US if he’d told me he was going to do this. But he’s left me in the lurch, not knowing what to do. And it’s not like him. I suppose that’s why I’m so worried. I get to thinking I’ve figured it out, and then I’m not so sure. If he hasn’t flown to Italy where has he gone?”

  “He was supposed to be coming to the café with you?” said Ellie.

  Connor shrugged. “He gave me that impression. But maybe he never meant to. Rocky had a gig last night. He probably didn’t wake up until after we were supposed to meet you, so Joe must have thought he’d be safe for hours. His dad won’t worry if we’re both out. He’ll assume we’re together, like he always does.” His mouth twisted bitterly.

  “And you’ve tried his phone?”

  “Yeah. No answer. I’ve left messages of course, and texted.”

  “Well,” Ellie struggled to be helpful. “It does sound as if he’s gone abroad. But if he hasn’t, where else might he be?”

  Connor looked at her. “I have absolutely no idea. The clues about Italy are the only ones we have to go on.”

  “So when are you going to tell his dad?”

  Connor looked scared. “I don’t want to tell him at all. But I suppose I’ll have to eventually.” He looked resentful. “I don’t have the money to run back home to the US whenever I feel like it. But I tell you, Ellie. That’s just what I feel like doing right now.”

  Ellie looked at Connor sympathetically. “Well…” she said. “I don’t see why you have to rush back to the hotel to tell Joe’s dad right away. If he’s gone to Italy there’s nothing anyone can do for the moment, and if he hasn’t he’ll turn up again, won’t he?”

  “He’s pretty streetwise, if that’s what you mean,” said Connor. “Yeah. He’s not stupid. I hope he wouldn’t get into trouble, but if he’s still in London I suppose he might check into a different hotel for the night if
he’s not ready to see his dad. That would really drop me in it.”

  “Well then. He wouldn’t do that, would he?”

  Connor shot her a wry smile. “I sure hope not.”

  “So…why not wait a while, and see if he gets in touch. Maybe he’s somewhere at the moment where he can’t use his phone.”

  Connor smiled at her. “Could be true,” he said. “Like a cinema perhaps. Though it was a bit early for the movies this morning.”

  “Well, his dad isn’t going to worry for hours and hours, is he?” said Ellie. “You’ve got all day to find out what’s going on.”

  Connor nodded. “A whole day and some of the evening too,” he agreed. “Do you wanna hang out with me for a while? It would be much more fun than being on my own all the time.”

  “Okay,” said Ellie. “What do you want to do?”

  “Maybe some of those touristy things I haven’t got to do yet,” said Connor. “How about a bus ride around some of the sights? I’ve seen those open-topped buses go past sometimes. They sure look fun.”

  Ellie laughed. “I haven’t been on one of those since my cousin came to stay years ago. It rained and we got soaked.”

  “Well I don’t think it’s going to rain today,” said Connor with the most cheerful smile Ellie had seen on his face so far. “Come on, my treat!”

  Ellie hesitated. “Are you sure?”

  “Course I am. Most of this trip has been all expenses paid. I’ve hardly had a chance to spend my own money so, whatever we do today it’s on me.”

  It was a good day for an open-topped bus ride, and Connor did get to see some of the most famous sights. At the same time, they tried to think of places Joe might have gone to if he hadn’t flown off to Italy.

  “What does Joe like to do?” said Ellie, trying to get inspiration as the bus took them past Buckingham Palace.