Us, Colliding

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Paula and Kelsey don't reply that evening, nor do they reply the next day or the next.

Eventually I give up thinking anyone gives a crap about me and my life as they're clearly all to wound up in their own.

I face-time dad on Thursday evening, I've been home 3 days and I almost feel like I was never away – only the pictures on my social media are proof that I ever set foot outside of Oasis Springs.

Dad's telling me about a new clinic they're opening at the veterinary hospital specifically for the strays of Sulani – they're trying to raise money to neuter and microchip as many as possible. I think it sounds like a wonderful idea and sort of wish there was more help for people in Oasis Springs.

The people of Sulani seem a lot more in touch with their immediate environment – doing their bit to protect the coast by litter picking and also controlling the domesticated animal population by spaying and castrating homeless animals.

Oasis Springs has its fair share of strays too – just they're seen as a nuisance to be controlled via the dog warden rather than actually helped in anyway. A lot of people get a pet and then realise they're hard work and you actually have to look after them, it seems.

Dad signs off and I notice I have a new WhatsApp message which must have come through while we were chatting.

I wish it was from Neri – but it's not, it's from the group chat – Paula and Kelsey have finally realised I'm alive.

Paula: Myra you're back!

Kelsey: Omg we missed you so much, My!

Myra: I missed you guys too.

Kelsey: Sorry for the late reply, we didn't realise you were home.

Myra: I did message you.

Paula: Yeah but all you said was "What you guys up to?" I didn't realise that meant you were home and that you wanted to meet!

Kelsey: Yeah, sorry hun.

It's true – I did type that.

Myra: My bad, I thought you guys would be glued to your phones like always.

Kelsey: Oh we have been too busy for that! She sends a side smile emoji.

I assume she's talking about boy stuff.

Myra: Tell me!

- I'm sort of interested but mostly I just want a distraction from my own issues.

Paula: Can't right now – just about to head out but we're going to a party tomorrow night if you're up for it?

Myra: Where?

Paula: Up Fulwood Drive.

I raise my brow, Fulwood Drive is a rich neighbourhood where all the popular, loaded kids and their families live – although Kelsey and Paula come from good backgrounds they're certainly not usually on the Fulwood Drive spectrum.

Myra: Wow, what the heck?

Kelsey: I know, right? Make sure you dress to impress!

I send a thumbs up and sit back on my bed.

Fulwood Drive? I've never even set foot up there.

The houses are all huge with gross marble pillars and wrap-around porches, sash windows and enormous gardens.

The kids who live there are the offspring of Oasis Spring's surgeons, solicitors, politicians and estate agents. They wear designer brands and expensive jewellery.

I would have absolutely no clue what to wear, what to say or what to do around those people.

That materialistic sort of attitude doesn't appeal to me at all.

So do I go?

I take in my room, the bare walls, the emptiness – I guess going to this posh party would be better than sitting here doing nothing.

I slide off of the bed and peer into my wardrobe – I have a black dress my mum bought me last Christmas which still has the tags – it's Lipsy which is no posh designer but it's better than nothing.

I pull it out and stare at it.

It'll do.

At least if I'm making small talk with rich kids I'm not thinking about Neri.

At least if I'm not thinking about Neri I can forget that my heart feels like it's breaking.