Page 63 of The Flowers of Bay C
Violet sticks her chin out. ‘I don’t want to go without Amina. Did you not hear me the first time?’
‘We don’t know where she is. You know that.’
‘It’s not fair to leave her, though, is it? Not when she was part of it all. I just don’t think we should.’
Jodie runs her hand through her hair. ‘Since when were you so bothered about Amina? You’ve always been vile to her, if I’m being honest with you.’
Violet turns her face away.
‘Okay, look, you don’t have to come. Listen, I’m sorry about Amina and everything, but Barbara’s the one who counts here.’
Violet says nothing and keeps her arms tightly folded, staring back at Jodie with rebellion in her eyes.
Jodie shrugs. ‘Whatever. Where’s Kat?’
‘She’s in the loo,’ I say. ‘Says she was just getting ready.’
Jodie nods, and then gapes, and then laughs out loud, her gaze locked on the doors behind me. I turn round. Kat is walking into the bay dressed in a Chewbacca onesie and Doc Martens, the purple shawl her friends made for her around her shoulders, a lightweight purple raincoat draped over her furry arm.
‘Awesome,’ Jodie says. ‘You have style, lady.’
Kat does a spin and laughs. ‘I have warmth, at least. Might as well make use of this thing.’
‘Love it,’ Jodie says, then rubs her hands together. ‘This is going to be so much fun!’
‘Bit too hot in here though. Got my fleece pjs on under this baby.’ Kat wipes sweat from her brow.
I look at Jodie, in her strange get-up, and Kat in her onesie, wondering how she still manages to look so effortlessly cool, and wish I had something more exciting than a baggy old jumper and saggy leggings. At least I have a coat, though, at least Jake remembered that. I can feel the nip of cold through the gap in my window. I cram my unsuitable ballet flats over the ridiculous red slipper socks, far too puffy for the shoes.
Kane turns up, whistling and slaloming one of the blue hospital wheelchairs in front of him. ‘Everyone ready?’ He seems buoyant today, full of energy and excitement, his blue eyes sparkling. He does a double take at Jodie, and stands back, nose crimped in disdain. ‘What the hell is that?’
She wilts under his gaze.
‘You’re not wearing that, are you? It makes you look like a fat old lady.’
I can almost see Kat’s hackles rising, standing proud from her skin, emanating waves of antipathy. I shake my head at her.Not now.
Jodie says, ‘I’ll take it off.’ She peels the jumper off, and the Justin Bieber T-shirt looks even flimsier, even more insubstantial than before.
‘Hmm,’ Kane says. He crushes her tightly to him then just as quickly pushes her away. ‘I’m all ready for you ladies.’
Jodie simpers, looking round at us as if to say, here’s my wonderful man, look how amazing he is, look how helpful he is.
‘Here’s your coat,’ Kane says, shoving a jacket at Jodie.
‘That’s not my winter coat,’ Jodie says, holding it out in front of her; a lightweight denim jacket with a thin fabric hood.
‘I don’t like that one,’ Kane says. ‘Makes you look a bit chunky, babe. This one’s hot.’
Jodie nods. ‘Okay. Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.’
‘You should take the fleece,’ Kat says, her face all puckered up. ‘You’ll be too cold.’
‘We won’t be outside long.’
‘Still, you should take it. Wouldn’t harm, would it? You could just leave it in the van if you’re okay without it.’
Jodie shrugs. ‘I guess.’
