Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy Page B

asked, pointing to our left where four small wooden crosses stood at the head of a large flat grey stone.
    ‘Famine grave,’ said Colin as we walked on.
    Shivering at the thought of treading over another person’s bones, I stepped on the ground as softly as possible. I’d already decided that I was going to be cremated rather than buried. I didn’t like the thought of being stuck underground. The notion of my ashes floating around some place special was much preferable. Not that I’d know the difference when I was dead. But, still, I knew I didn’t want a grave.
    ‘Are we near where Beth’s body was found?’ I asked.
    ‘No, that was much further in. Don’t worry, we’re just heading for the clearing. We’re almost there.’
    ‘I’m not worried,’ I said, but the image of Beth Cullen’s murdered body haunted me. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d imagined her – her tangled hair, her eyes frozen in a deathly stare.
    ‘They’re just over here,’ said Colin, rushing ahead again. It was taking all my concentration not to trip over, so I didn’t even bother to catch up with him.
    I could hear laughter up ahead, then a guy’s voice.
    ‘Colin, you know that girl you were on about? The one whose mother bought Alf’s house?’ They were talking about me. I hadn’t been nervous about meeting everyone before, but I was actually worried now. I wondered what this guy was going to say about me. Had he taken an instant dislike to me without even meeting me?
    ‘Yes. Actually she’s –’
    ‘I got a good look at her today. Nick was right. She’s hot.’ My heart thumped faster. Had I heard that right? I slowed down a bit, wondering what else this guy would say.
    ‘Shh,’ whispered Colin. ‘She’s right h–’
    ‘I heard she was in your house the other day. Maybe you could introduce me?’
    I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. I stepped into the clearing where four people sat round a small campfire. The guy looked shocked.
    ‘Sure,’ said Colin. ‘Simon, meet Jacki. Jacki … meet Simon.’
    Simon turned bright red with embarrassment.
    I nodded at him but he quickly turned away. So Nick Reynolds thought I was hot. I couldn’t believe it.
    ‘Aren’t you going to introduce us too?’ said the dark-haired guy sitting on Simon’s right.
    ‘Jacki, this is Chris,’ said Colin.
    Chris had several tattoos on his left arm and a lip piercing.
    ‘Hi,’ he said, and then took a sip from his can of cider. I nodded at him.
    ‘And this is Fitz.’
    ‘Hey,’ I said.
    Fitz took a pull on his spliff and nodded at me. He had scruffy blond hair and bright blue eyes.
    ‘And this is Emily.’
    ‘Hi!’ said Emily with a smile. She was a pretty girl with dyed red hair and was wearing a black hoodie, purple skinny jeans and a little black bow in her hair. I instantly liked her.
    ‘How was the table quiz?’ asked Emily as we joined the circle.
    ‘It was fun,’ I said. ‘We came third.’ I sat down between Emily and Colin. The campfire crackled in front of us.
    ‘A table quiz?’ said Fitz. ‘Ye’re such nerds.’
    ‘Shhh!’ said Emily, obviously worried that he might offend me.
    ‘Chill out, Em,’ said Fitz. ‘Not everyone is as sensitive as you.’
    Emily gave Fitz the finger without looking at him, and then asked me lots more questions. I really liked her. She was one of those people who made you feel comfortable, even though you didn’t know them at all.
    ‘Suppose you won’t want any of the nerdy biscuits we won then, Fitz,’ said Colin, opening his tin. Fitz swiped a chocolate one and Colin wrestled him to the ground. Fitz almost kicked Emily by mistake, but she dodged his foot just in time.
    ‘They can be SO annoying,’ she said, but she didn’t actually seem mad. Chris threw a stick on to the campfire. His tattoos were really cool. It was very unfair that Mum wouldn’t let me get even a tiny one.
    ‘Did you guys hear about Nick and Sarah?’ said Chris.
    ‘Yeah,