Page 20 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

Running my tongue over my teeth, I cringe. They’re furry, and I no doubt have some nasty morning breath.

The notification tone in my group message with my friends goes off. I know it’s them; I set the tone to something unique I’ll always recognise. I never want to make the mistake of being unreachable again.

I squint at the screen, waiting for my double vision to subside.

Chase: How’s Hayden?

Hayden? What’s wrong with Hayden? I scroll back through the messages from yesterday.

Fuck.

I’ve done it again. I’ve not been there when they needed me. Apparently, the little shit has gotten himself arrested. Again. But this time for blowing up a sports shed at Blakely Reserve in New Hope. My dad pretty much owns it. He is the sole donator that keeps the club afloat. It always baffled me that he chose a sports field to donate to—neither Julia nor I were the sporty kind. But my friends were, so I guess that might be why.

Rhys: We got home at about 3 a.m. It’s been a shit storm. Dad isn’t impressed and I’m pretty sure mum is threatening boarding school.

Yasmin: Was he on his own?

Rhys: Sorry Yas, I don’t think so. He’s hiding something and I have a feeling it might be the fact that Millie was with him when it happened.

Great, not only is he getting himself into trouble, he’s dragging Yasmin’s sister into it as well.

Yasmin: It’s not your fault. She’s been spending more time with him since Julia is here. When are you coming home?

Rhys: After lunch, I don’t want to miss tomorrow and I don’t think Dad will actually kill him, so there’s no point in me being here.

Yasmin: Can you bring Millie back with you? Might do her some good to come hang out and to spend some time with Julia.

Ally: As much as I miss Mils, what about tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night? I rack my brain, trying to figure out what’s supposed to be happening then. Nothing comes to mind, so I pull up the calendar in my phone.

Double fuck.

It’s Ally’s birthday.

How could I have forgotten the birthday of the girl I’ve known since I was five years old? She’s as much of a sister to me as Julia is. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

I don’t remember making plans, so I search the chat.

Party at Grumpy’s.

People from both New Hope University and Neverland University are coming, thanks to Pace.

Why didn’t she ask to have it here?

She knows I love a good party.

Well, I used to.

I’ve been such a shitty friend lately. The problem is, I don’t know how to find my way back to them, or how to explain what I’m dealing with.

Yasmin: Ella just said she’d stay with the girls here. It’s her night off and she’s not been well, so she apologises for not planning to come to the party.

Ella? Why is she with Yasmin at eight in the morning? I didn’t realise the girls were that close. Not that I’m complaining. Yasmin deserves to have friends, and as much as Ella annoys me, she doesn’t seem to be a bad person.

The background check showed no criminal history, and her story is sad, but no one other than Ralph knows what the report showed.

Ally: I completely understand. She doesn’t need to apologise. She already said she’d come hang tomorrow before we go out. A girls’ night in might be what Ella, Julia, and Millie need.

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