Page 50 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Meredith gives a nod. ‘I think they’re about to start.’

When the festival host introduces Rebel Heart, the noise made by the crowd reverberates under my feet. Meredith and I exchange glances. I look to Duncan, who gives me a thumbs-up. After a moment, there is a rumble from the stage, a thumping bass line so loud it obliterates the sound of the cheers.

‘Are you ready, Bronte?’ I hear Cal’s voice shout through the microphone, and the crowd goes wild. I feel a stirring in my chest, realising I’m desperate to see Aidan again, no matter who he was with last night.

My jaw drops when I see them. Other than heavy black military-style boots, they are scantily dressed in tight-fitting swimming shorts printed with the Australian flag. On the top half, one arm is covered with material that then stretches over to the opposing shoulder, leaving Ravi’s arm covered, and their sculpted torsos and legs completely stripped. I realise, my gaze settled on Aidan, that it’s a look very few males could get away with, not with any sort of dignity. For Rebel Heart though, their unconventional, scant clothing makes the attraction all the more palpable.

When their opening song begins, I’m transported, so much so that I forget I am supposed to be filming. Glancing across from me, it appears so too is Meredith. We’re both teenage girls again, barely able to conceal our excitement. Behind me, Duncan rolls his eyes, keeping his focus on controlling the drone.

My gaze follows Aidan. There are no signs of any hangover. His dance moves are perfectly executed, his voice sublime, his magnetism almost visceral.

I feel my breath quicken, as though my inward thoughts are written all over my face.

I want him. And for the first time in our brief history, I’m prepared to admit it to myself.

I’m still lost in him halfway through their second track when Aidan stops on stage, looking down into the crowd.

‘Stop, stop, lads, lads,stop!’ Aidan says into his microphone and the crowd goes quiet, trying to see what’s going on. The thousands of phones that are already raised are joined by thousands more.

Aidan is gesticulating. ‘Someone’s passed out here. Security, can we dive in here, please? Here. Here. That’s it. Is she alright? Give her room.’

The band gathers round Aidan on stage, looking down to where he is indicating. Abruptly, Cal is addressing the crowd through his mic. ‘Right! Everybody! I need you to look behind you, andvery slowlytake two steps back. We love you guys, but we’re not gonna perform if you guys are gonna surge forward. Keep an eye out for one another please! Give everybody space. We want you all safe.’

The crowd responds with resounding applause. Cheers ripple through the area, all the way to the back. I clap my hands, Meredith and I grinning at one another again. Near the front, a young girl in a lifeless state is being lifted over the barricades.

‘Is everything okay?’ Aidan says into his mic. ‘Have we got medics on hand? Is she alright?’

It’s some moments before he’s given a thumbs-up, and Aidan seems to relax again. He looks back to the band and nods. This time it is Miller who addresses the crowd.

‘What do you say, Bronte, shall we start that one again? From the top?’

Miller high-fives Aidan, who is smiling. J.B. and Ravi both give him a hug. I feel my heart sing at the incredible bond between them. The crowd adores the simple gestures. The band huddle together for a moment and their voices are muffled. Cal looks back to the musicians, and the sound people, who strike up the music again. The scream that goes up from the crowd is even louder than before.

‘No surprise… the story’s gone viral,’ Meredith announces in an excitable tone, entering my room back at the hotel. ‘It’s all over the news networks. There are literally hundreds of videos from all different cell phones plastered all over social media. “Shame About My Face” is also the number one download in, like, a zillion countries right now. How’d the drone footage work out?’

‘It’s good,’ I say, nodding towards my laptop. ‘Duncan captured everything.’

Duncan gives a mock salute from my bed, sipping on his cup of tea with his feet up.

‘Can I see?’ Meredith says with a grin.

‘Of course,’ I tell her, turning and starting the video again, handing her a pair of headphones. ‘The sound is iffy; we’ll fix that in post-production.’

Meredith sits down. After a few moments of watching, she turns back around and says, ‘Duncan, this looks incredible.’

I witness his grin, the way his eyes linger on her back for longer than is necessary, after he’s thanked her. I raise my eyebrows to him, letting him know that I’ve seen. Duncan frowns at me over the rim of his mug. In response, I give him a deliberate look in Meredith’s direction, rubbernecking for emphasis. He shakes his head, like I’m imagining things.

‘I’m sorry ’bout last night,’ he says into his mug. Meredith is still wearing the headphones.

‘Sorry for what? Because you nearly vommed in the car?’

‘No. The party. The camera. Did you get anything useable?’

I watched the footage back when I was alone and I’ve seen all I needed to see. ‘I’m sure we can make some use of it.’

‘I did try to walk around a bit. It was pretty dark in there.’

‘You had company. I imagine it was difficult.’

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