Page 3 of Beyond the Blues

join in, hand in hand, with Coco dancing in the middle of my room, now singing in unison. As the song ends, we stand there, out of breath in the middle of the room and chuckle to ourselves.

“I love you.” Coco says.

“I love you more.” I reply.

“We’ll go to Greece one day together, live out our Mamma Mia fantasy, yeah?” Coco holds out her pinky.

“Pinky promise.”

*

The driver subtly places a pack of tissues on the back seat, and I take a couple, patting my wet eyes dry and thanking him. We pull into the hotel’s car park.The hotel has classical white Greek buildings dotted around, fairy lights dangling all over the place and fuschia flowers blooming from the bushes. I check in at reception, petting the cheeky cat that has sneaked into the building. A little grey cat with white markings purring against my hand, making little happy chirping noises.

“Well, you’re a cutie, aren’t you?” I say to the cat, the cat looks up at me with its big green eyes. Green eyes like Coco’s; which I know she’d be up in heaven laughing at me for even having a small inkling that this cat is her. I let out a small chuckle, the cat meowing at me in response. The receptionist hands over my room keys and guides me tomy room. I walk into the fresh room overlooking the pool and the beach in the distance and decide I should head down to the pool since it’s only midday. I put on a bikini and grab the necessities, sunscreen and a book. After all, I am simply just a book nerd who burns way too easily. I lay down my towel on a sunbed and apply sunscreen in a thick layer all over, trying to get it on my back, but clearly missing the mid section.

“Need some help?” A familiar Irish accent says, I turn around and see Nora there wearing a black scoop neck bikini and green palm tree swimming shorts.

“Wait, are you staying here?!” My mouth falls into an O in shock.

“No, I just thought I’d stalk you for a day and then go back home to London.” Nora remarks, that same smirk appearing on her lips. I roll my eyes, smiling,

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BEYOND THE BLUES

and hand her over the sunscreen. She rubs it into her hands and then puts her warm, firm hands on my back, rubbing the cream in. Then it slowly turns into a shoulder massage, seeming to get every knot in my shoulder just perfectly. A small hum falls from my lips.

“Nice?” Nora says, and I realise that sound should’ve stayed in my head. I pull away from her hands and turn to face her again.

“Lovely, thank you!” I blurt. Nora leans her head to the side and smiles. “What? Is there something on my face or something?” Nora nods and places her thumb on my nose.

“Forgot to rub that bit on your nose.” She rubs her thumb gently on my nose.

“I think it’s been a few too many times of embarrassing myself in front of you and you only bumped into me, What, about 6 hours ago?”

“No, no, don’t worry, it’s grand. I’m enjoying it.” Nora states.

“So, you’re enjoying my downfall?” I joke, hand to my chest as if I’m offended.

“No, it adds a bit of character.” Nora smiles.

“Can I lie on this sunbed?” Nora points to the sunbed next to mine. I nod. She lies down, spreading her arms above her head,hands veiny over the top of the sunbed. The freckles don’t just stop on her face, they trickle down her body. I take a deep breath and turn my vision to something else, ignoring the small flutters I’m feeling. Where they are, I’m not entirely sure.

“Why’d you get that tattoo?”Nora rolls onto her side, reaching her hand out and tapping my exposed wrist. The tattoo of a wave sits there. For Coco, of course.

“It’s for Coco. She loved the sea.”

“Loved?” Nora questions, eyebrows furrowed then dropping with realisa-tion.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I always speak before I think.”

“No, it’s fine.” I wave my hand elusively in front of my face.

“I heard she passed, It just crossed my mind how close you guys were” Nora adds. I nod, unable to form words. How could she not remember we were close, we were attached by the hip? But I guess we were in university, things

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CHAPTER 2

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