Soul Beach

again, he turns to Meggie. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but I won’t let her join us. I couldn’t bear to be responsible for that.’
    Meggie shakes her head. ‘It’s dangerous. Can’t you two see that? Especially you, Danny. You’re older. Couldn’t you just have chosen one of the other Guests? There are hundreds of cute girls here . . .’
    He looks back at me. ‘They’re not Alice.’
    My sister kicks at the sand. ‘Bloody hell. I’m not ready for this. It’s like being a parent.’ She looks back up. ‘Listen. I can’t stop you, but I just hope for both your sakes that this is a crush.’
    Danny and I gaze at each other, knowing that it’s anything but.
    ‘I guess you two want to be alone, but, before I go, just promise me you’ll be careful?’ she says, with the kind of resigned voice that makes me think she realises she’s wasting her breath.
    ‘Sure, Meggie,’ says Danny.
    ‘I promise, sis,’ I say.
    But in the ‘real’ world, my fingers are crossed.

53
    Danny and I walk together, so close that if we were both alive, or both dead, we’d be skin-to-skin.
    Without even discussing it, we head to the other side of the beach, as far away as possible from the huts and the bar and from the bare patch of scrubland where Triti is in self-imposed exile.
    There are so few places here where we can feel truly alone. The high rocks that I thought protected the Beach from intruders, are as impregnable as prison walls.
    In front of us, there’s a black rock that’s as tall as a giant. Behind it there’s a smooth ledge with room for two.
    ‘Like it was made for us,’ I say. Danny doesn’t smile but I don’t mind. I could watch that face for ever, debating whether he is more beautiful when he smiles or when he frowns.
    He sits down, but says nothing.
    ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have told her,’ I say, ‘but just because she disapproves doesn’t mean she’s right.’
    ‘Except she is, isn’t she?’
    I’m about to argue back, but then it hits me: what if he’s had second thoughts, not because of what Meggie said, but because now he’s seen me again he doesn’t find me attractive any more? ‘We don’t have to do this, Danny. Not if you don’t want to,’ I tell him.
    He’s not looking at me, which has to be a bad sign. Shit . Somehow this feels like a bigger rejection than when Robbie dumped me. ‘Why? Don’t you want to?’
    ‘Oh, yeah!’ I say sarcastically. ‘That’s why I risked everything by telling my sister about you. Not because I was excited, but because I’d changed my mind.’
    Finally Danny turns, and when I see he’s smiling I feel as though I am melting inside. ‘Well, then, that’s swell , missy. Though I guess under the circumstances, it might be a while before I can meet your folks, huh?’
    I giggle. ‘A while.’
    How did I not recognise him the first time I saw him? It’s like I’ve known him always . Those eyes, those high cheekbones. Those lips . . .
    ‘I wish I could kiss you, Alice. Just once.’
    ‘Once wouldn’t be enough,’ I say, and then blush at my own boldness. ‘I’d want it to go on for ever and ever. I don’t think I’d want to do anything else.’
    Danny chuckles. I notice the way the lines that appear at the edge of his eyes curve upwards, like clusters of tiny smiles. ‘But I might be a terrible kisser. Slobbery.’
    I giggle. ‘You won’t be a bad kisser, Danny. I can tell.’
    ‘Bull. I could be all tongue. Or sucky, like an octopus.’ He sucks on the back of his hand and makes a squelchy noise.
    I’m laughing properly now. ‘That’s how we used to practise, me and Cara. In my bedroom, with the music playing so my parents wouldn’t hear us having hysterics.’
    ‘Is that where you are now, Alice? In your bedroom?’
    ‘No, I . . . ’ I drag myself away from his face, to look around me. It’s a huge shock when I realise that, yes, of course I’m in my bedroom, with its flowery pop art duvet and its pink chair and the silver-sprayed radiator. ‘Yes.’
    Danny sighs. ‘Your sister is right, though.’
    ‘Don’t say that. I can tell you’re an eldest child, or you’d know that your sister’s right are the most irritating words in the English language.’
    ‘Be serious.’
    ‘God, you really are an older brother. Lighten up, Danny Boy.’
    ‘Which bit shall I lighten up about, Alice? The bit where I’m never even going to be able to hold your hand, or the bit where this can only end badly. Or how about