Love Bomb by Jenny McLachlan Page A

low wall, the sun shining on their blond heads. Kat’s saying something to Bill and I see his serious face break into a smile. Then she gets up and heads into the middle of the crowd, doing a little dance all on her own. Kat doesn’t usually like to stand out, and I can tell from her face that she’s desperately hoping Bill will join her. And Bill is so nice that he does. Shaking his head, he goes to her and they hold hands and they do the most hopeless jive I’ve ever seen. Their feet are all over the place and they keep missing each other’s hands and bumping into the people around them. They can’t stop laughing.
    Slowly, I back away. I can’t push my way through all the dancers, tap Bill and Kat on the shoulder and say,‘Stop having fun – I’m here!’ Especially as Kat probably still hates me. Where is Toby? I glance around the crowd then check my phone. He’s sent me a message: Find us in b-king b-cakes i got you a whopper xx t
    He isn’t coming. Amazingly, the two kisses quickly dissolve my disappointment. I wanted my friends to properly meet Toby, but it looks like they’re getting along fine without me.
    I take one last look at Bill and Kat. In a matter of minutes they’ve got the hang of the dance and now they don’t look so ridiculous. In fact, they look quite good. I thought Kat was playing around when she said Bill was cutesome, but, watching them together, I’m not so sure. Kat’s perfect hair is getting tangled as she turns round and her cheeks are bright red, and Bill … He looks different, somehow.
    I turn away and walk towards Burger King. I text Bill: Couldn’t see you guys in crowd x Betty
    Toby and Nat are sitting at a corner table. When I seethat Toby has drawn a ketchup heart on the top of my Whopper, my heart lifts. I look at him and he winks as I slip in next to him on the bench.
    ‘You owe Nat five quid,’ says Toby.
    ‘Right.’ I tear my eyes away from him and get out my purse. I pass Nat five pounds and he shoves it in his pocket. Suddenly, I feel Toby’s leg rest, ever so slightly, against mine. Even though I’m surrounded by screaming children and the air is thick with the smell of fries, I feel the yummy glow creep over me. Who would have thought Burger King could feel so explosive?
    ‘Do you like the picture I did?’ Toby asks. I nod and nibble a French fry. ‘It’s Nat’s arse!’ he says, grinning.
    ‘Oh.’ I turn my burger round. ‘I see it now,’ I say. Toby winks at me and takes a huge bite out of his Double Whopper.

    After mooching around the shops for a bit longer, we head down to the seafront and walk towards the marina.The blue sky has been hidden by clouds and it’s turning wild. We pull our hoods up and battle against the wind, yelling when spray from the sea hits our faces. I don’t realise we’re heading anywhere in particular until Nat says to Toby, ‘In there?’ and nods towards a peeling Victorian shelter.
    It’s good to be out of the cold, but it’s dark and dirty in the shelter. Fliers and take-away cartons blow around the floor. Also, it smells of wee. Nat and Toby go to the back, but I stay where I am. I’d rather be near fresh air. Suddenly, my phone beeps. It’s a message from Bea: Hey sorry we missed you we’re going on the crazy mouse wahoooo!!!! Wanna come??? Xx
    Bea loves the Crazy Mouse. It’s this roller coaster right at the end of the pier. I look across the sea. The pier’s covered in twinkling lights that are reflecting in the churning waves. Right at the end, I can just see the twisting track of the Crazy Mouse. I glance back into the shadows of the shelter where Toby and Nat aresitting on a rusting bench. Drink cartons and tissues are stuffed down its slats. Have fun … I can almost see you xx I text back.
    Nat opens his rucksack and pulls out different cans, carefully lining them up.
    ‘What are you doing?’ I ask.
    ‘This, Betty,’ Toby says, opening a can and giving it a shake, ‘is a bit more of my bad