Clopwyck River - revised version

Chapter Eighteen

I spent most of Saturday in a pattern of non-verbal communication with Andrew, trying to make-out his winks and over the top mouthing of words whenever Daria turned her back. When I wasn't in the same room as them, I could make out raised voices, again, as Andrew made the case for me going to the party.
​He won.
​I went into town to try and buy something new for tonight but the only clothes shops in Clopwyck seem to be charity ones with that funny smell, or the type older women go to when they've got to get a hat for a wedding, or a horse-race or whatever.
​My body was overtaken by a craving for chocolate, so I had to pop into Chancellor's to get my fix before I made my way back home. It was bustling when I walked through the door, families trying to appease screaming toddlers with chocolate cake, friends gossiping over coffee, and a few people I recognised from school. Luckily my seat under the stairs was unoccupied so I could sit down. The sound of chattering and laughter was inescapable, even in my big squashy chair, and I felt as though the noise was crushing down on me, reminding me of how alone I was. I remembered I'd put a small notepad in my bag, so I pulled out my phone and a pencil and started sketching a picture of the selfie of me and Ruby, distracting myself from my loneliness.
​That was until Ruby came bounding over like an excited puppy, so pleased to see me that she forgot to take my order and I had to go to the counter to get my hot chocolate. When if finished drinking it, she came over to say goodbye at the end of her shift, and we made plans to walk to the party together.
​I've been ready for over an hour, after a liquid eye liner related disaster where I had to start on my make up all over again. I'm now waiting for Ruby halfway down a road called Thicket Lane, wondering whether what I'm wearing is okay even though it's so dark I doubt anyone will be able to make out what colour my jeans are.
​"Hey!" Ruby's voice makes me jump and I turn to face her as she comes bouncing along the path. "It's so cold!" she says, rubbing her arms.
​"Hey." I look up the shadowy path where a few people from school have disappeared, some of them already staggering having started the night pretty early. "Are we going up there?"
​"Yep, that's the way to the party." She loops her arm around mine and leads me into the shadows. "Don't worry. There aren't any horses up here."
​"Ha-ha. You're so funny I forgot to laugh."
​She shoves me and I pull out my phone, training the light up the dark footpath that leads uphill. I walk slowly, trying to look ahead as well as watching where I put my feet. The air around us feels warm, the trees to one side of me and overgrown bushes to the other creating barriers from the biting wind. I can hear a very faint thud of music, the tinkling of laughter and the odd shout.
​We get closer to the noise, and three quarters of the way up the path we no longer need my torch as people have set up lights, illuminating the incredible ruined building at the top of the hill.  We stop at the top of the footpath and take a moment to absorb the impressive spectacle of this magical looking place of once upon a time worship.
A bonfire in the middle of the crumbling walls of the roofless church sends sparks flickering up through the middle of where the roof would have once been. Someone has connected up a music system, and a dance area has naturally appeared with dozens of people jumping around to the beats that fill the air, or swaying together in pairs, oblivious to the excitement around them. This is the perfect place for a party, or for anything where you wouldn't want any uninvited guests appearing, as it's totally isolated on top of the hill and surrounded by ghostly silver birch trees, partially obscuring the church ruin as well as absorbing any sound.
We do a lap of the church, jumping out of the way of people who've drunk too much as they stumble to the trees to throw up or go for a wee. I nearly fall over a couple sitting together on a broken gravestone, rolling my eyes at their complete lack of respect for the people who were put to rest here.
The music is so loud, Ruby and I don't bother speaking to each other. Ruby points to a log that's been dragged over to the fire inside the church, tucked away from the party madness that we're not a part of yet. I nod and we walk over, plonking ourselves down on the makeshift seat, straightening out our clothes and checking our hair as we look at everyone partying around us.
I've been to some pretty wild parties, but I've never seen anyone going for it quite like they are in Clopwyck. Perhaps it's a kind of rebellion against authority, being here in an old church, or because it's so incredibly isolated, but there is some serious drinking going on.
"DO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK?" Ruby shouts so loud in my ear, I swear her voice has pierced my ear drum. I stick a finger in my ear and glare at her, and she tries again. "I SAID, DO YOU-"
"Jeez, Ruby, I can hear you!" I point at a speaker that's towering over us. "Look, we're behind the speaker."
"Sorry. Did you want a drink or not?"
I shake my head. I haven't had any alcohol since Mum died, and I'm fine here with Ruby, just as we are. I need to stay in control considering all of the things that have happened to me since I got here, and to be perfectly honest, walking into a party that's already in full swing is enough to put anyone off getting drunk. Just to prove my point, a boy in my year runs past in nothing but his underpants with his trainers on fire, cheered on by the rest of the party.
Ruby shuffles up to me and tucks her hair behind her ears. "I forgot to ask, did you speak to Ciara about the note?"
"Yeah."
"Well?"
"It's not her."
"Are you sure?"
I nod, grimacing at the memory of how badly both of my accusations went. "Definitely."
Ruby looks at the fire, her shoulders deflated and her eyebrows knotted together.
"You look disappointed?"
She sits up straight and looks up at me. "No, no it's not that. I mean, I was convinced it was her, but if it's not then that only really leaves Leo, and I really don't want it to be him."
I shake my head. "It's not Leo. I got another note at school and he was there when I read it. He was as shocked as I was."
"What did it say?"
"Same sort of thing as the other one. Basically that if I don't drop this Ben thing I'm going to get myself hurt."
Ruby shudders. "This is giving me the shivers. Do you think you should tell Daria, or Andrew?"
I shake my head, not knowing where I would even start a conversation like that. "I don't want to involve them."
"But this is getting out of hand." A red plastic cup spins past our heads and lands in the fire, making us both jump on the log. "I mean, someone must be watching you. Whoever's been writing you these notes knows who you've been talking to."
I pull my jacket tight against the chill that Ruby's words sends across my skin.
"Thanks for that, Ruby."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you, but it's just...." She looks at all the people swaying and jumping around us, then leans into me, her eyes fixed on mine. "Creepy."
"Well, I'm not letting that stop me from helping Ben."
She puts up both of her hands. "Hey, I'm totally on board, I'm just saying maybe we should watch our backs, that's all. So, what happened with Leo then?"
"Nothing good." I rub my forehead, trying to erase the memory of my confrontation with Leo, and look at Ruby, glad I can share it with someone else. "I ended up shouting at him, then storming off."
"What? Wait, I thought we like Leo? Why would you shout at him?"
"I do! I mean, I don't know! I just got annoyed at him. Ciara had just told me to keep away from Ben, then Leo was telling me what to do as well, and then I found the note so I just kind of lost it with him."
"Is that how you normally seduce a guy? A promise of some sexy underwear followed by a severe shouting at."