Untouchable

Alfie

*Song for this chapter - *Everybody's Talking by Harry Nilsson*

I tried so hard to forget the awkwardness of the day so far. I kept replaying the facts through my head as we travelled down the freeway to the hotel. At the end of the day, Zoe had been in trouble and as her friend I had helped her out. Whether it me who should have done it or not, was irrelevant. I had stepped up and she had got better. That was all that mattered.

I was sat at the back of the minivan next to a window, Marcus next to me in the middle and Caspar next to him. On the row in front of us sat Tanya, Jim and Tyler, the row in front Zoe, Jack and Finn and Joe sat in the passenger seat next to the driver with Louise. It was a big old van!

I looked down at the freeway, the cars rushing past. Although the van was air conditioned, it was still warm and the blue skies showed off, not a cloud in them. Everyone was chatty despite having been awake for so long and travelling so far. It was nearly midday, I was with all my best friends in the world and I was in Los Angeles! I closed my eyes, feeling the warm sunlight dappled on my face and breathed in deeply. I felt AMAZING. Almost like I was in a film.

We reached the hotel and decided we would quickly dump our stuff in our rooms and head down to the pool, eager to start the tanning and fun as soon as possible. At the check-in desk I found it strange that Zoe was sharing a room with Louise and not Jack, who was sharing one with Finn; had I come here with Kimmi I DEFINITELY would have shared a room with her...

"There's been a mix up with the rooms," I heard Jack huffing to Jim. "They've put Zoe in with Louise."
"Yeah but can't you and Lou just swap? The hotel won't know will they?" Jim murmured.
"Well, I could but I'm not sure how comfortable she'd be sharing with my brother. Oh well, guess I'll just have to cope," he said, then realising I had been watching them added, "there's plenty of fun to be had when we get to the Malibu house, right?"
"Right!" answered Jim, always wanting to keep things positive. Jack held my gaze and I knew he was trying to get at me. I didn't understand what I'd done?! I had never had an argument with Jack, never. It wasn't like with Zoe and Kimmi, who had disagreed in the past. All I had done was help his girlfriend who couldn't breathe and nearly fainted. And he was angry with me? He should have been thanking me.

I was awash with confusion and then saw Jack envelope Zoe into his arms, her tiny height dwarfed by his taller stature (although I was still taller, just saying).
"Looks like you're going to have to restrain yourself from me for four nights," he said cheekily and Zoe pouted.
"I'm sure I'll survive," she joked and he leant in to kiss her.
"Although it's a shame we won't be able to do that much..." he began.
"Guys, please, I've just eaten!?" Louise blurted out.

I looked away. It was annoying me. Not because I liked Zoe myself. Of course not, I had Kimmi. It was just him. He was really starting to get my back up.