A Thousand Salt Kisses Forever (Third Book in Salt Kisses series)

Dumped

I hung up the phone and let out a deep breath. I couldn't believe this!

A part of me truly felt angry with Jemima. I mean, how could she just friend-dump me like that? I had always been good to her during the past four years. I would never let her down ordinarily. God, couldn't she just understand that something big was happening in my life right now? And what if that something was a meltdown? Wouldn't it be me who needed support, and not the other way around?

"Hold my hand," I muttered bitterly. I certainly wasn't expecting anyone to hold my hand during my engagement... although that was all a completely different kettle of fish, so to speak.

Although my mind raged at her, I simultaneously felt guilty, like I had brought this on myself. I didn't have to spend every single night with Llyr. I could have easily just made a little more room for her too, just to talk through her worries, plan her dress. That was definitely what best friends were supposed to do. And it would have gone a long way. It would have stopped it from coming to this.

Today, as well, I should have remembered our meet-up. She was right, there was no excuse. Even despite everything else, I should have called her. I could even have used Mum or Dad's mobile if I'd have thought to; I knew her number by heart. Urgh, I couldn't blame her for feeling like she was on the back burner. She was.

I punched the bed. 'Idiot' I cried to myself.

I couldn't believe I had let this happen. I knew we had not even been best friends for a very long time, but already I felt the grief over the prospect of losing her. She had been such a prickly person to start with, but as soon as she had let her guard down and stopped perceiving me as such a threat, I had seen what a warm, sweet person she really was. Always fiercely loyal and crazy-protective over the handful of people she cared about.

Now maybe I wasn't even in that handful anymore. She would probably push me back out and put up her guard again. I couldn't be trusted.

I swallowed and looked out of the window at the darkening sea, and just as soon as I did, I was struck with another dreadful thought. How the hell am I going to get to this meeting?

I pictured Llyr sitting there with Ri and The Ichthyocentaurs waiting, only to be told that I hadn't shown up.

I stood up immediately and crossed the room, running down the stairs and passed my startled parents who were still taking their shoes and coats off.

"Crystal?" called my Mum as I beetled towards the front door.

"I'm going to see George," I said quickly, stepping out into the night and shutting the door before they could ask any further questions.

I strode out of the front gate and turned onto Lighthouse Lane, tears now falling down my cheeks. It was an amalgamation of all my woes; my horrible day at hospital, the conversation with Jemima and the prospect of now letting Llyr down.

I wiped them as I walked; I didn't want any nosy neighbours - or that bitch, Portia - to see me cry. I hastened my pace, desperate to get to the huts and learn my instructions. How I hoped I wasn't too late.

I soon broke into a run, crossing over the bridge and down towards the ocean gateway. On approach, my heart sunk. The huts were like little black squares this evening – dark and completely deserted.

I frowned and slowed now. I didn't even know where George lived, I realised. How was I going find him? I walked past the huts, in a panicked glaze. Should I roam the isle knocking on house doors? Was that really appropriate? It didn't matter. At this point, I would try anything.

"Better late than never," came a voice suddenly, and I jumped, my shock quickly transforming into relief. For the first time that day, I was actually pleasantly surprised. He stood just down by the boats, puffing on a cigarette under a little checked cap.

"George!" I gasped, clambering down the stairs, and along the walkway.

"Oh dear, Crystal," he said, his pale blue eyes catching sight of my tear-stained face as I neared. "Has it really gotten that bad?"

"Yes," I said, my voice breaking, "it really is... just awful, right now."

I couldn't help it, the tears began to fall again and George sighed and put a slightly awkward, but comforting arm around me. We stood there for a few minutes before I wiped my eyes and tried to pull myself together. "George, how am I supposed to ...?"

"You were supposed to swim out from the back of the island, have one of them pick you up... but that was a while ago, kid. It's passed sun-down now."

"Will you please take me?" I begged, looking up at him with my big glassy eyes.

"Are you even up to this meeting Crystal?" he asked, concerned. "You seem really upset. I could go out there, try and get a message to them, say you're not right this eve-"

"No," I said quickly. No way.

"Okay, we'll have to row though," he said.

"Row?" I squawked. "George that will take hours."

"It will look dodgy if we take the fishing boat," said George firmly. "Nobody goes out fishing at this time in the evening."

I was silent for a while before I nodded. He was right; we certainly did not want to draw attention to ourselves tonight.