Page 6 of The Guilty Girl

‘You’re Hannah Byrne, aren’t you?’ Still reeling from Lucy’s tirade, he joined her propping up the wall.

‘I don’t think we’ve ever talked to each other, Cormac,’ she said, ‘so how do you know my name?’

He had to lean in close to speak above the noise passing as music. She didn’t pull away from him. He liked her scent. Soft and aromatic.

‘I know a lot of people,’ he said. ‘You know my name too. How is that?’

‘Lucy shouted at you in the hallway, but I knew who you were anyhow. Not your name, like. Just to see.’

‘And where did you see me?’

‘You do the gardening around our school. Saw you hanging around town too.’

Cormac felt his face burst with heat. ‘Yep, everyone calls me a hanger-on. Including your friend Lucy.’

‘She’s not really my friend. I suppose you could call me a hanger-on as well.’

‘Maybe we could “hang on” together.’ He did air quotes and smiled as she turned to look at him. Gosh, she was beautiful.

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ she said softly, and he had to lean in even closer.

‘Give me one good reason.’

‘Because … I’m going home. I don’t drink and there’s only alcohol and drugs here.’

‘Drugs?’

‘Yeah. That boy handing out the drinks showed me a bag of pills.’

‘Ah, don’t mind Jake Flood. He’s a fifteen-year-old dickhead. Will we call the guards to raid the place?’ He nudged her with his elbow and flashed what he thought was his best grin.

Her soft lips curved upwards, lighting up her face. His heart somersaulted in his chest.

‘It had crossed my mind to make the call,’ she laughed, ‘but I think I’d be Lucy’s first suspect if the guards arrived. I couldn’t be arsed giving her something else to hate me for.’

‘Suppose that’s as good a reason as any.’ He nodded towards the drinks table. ‘Like I said, I know of Jake.’

‘Is that a good thing or a bad thing?’

‘I didn’t think he’d be one to sell drugs.’

‘Maybe Lucy wants him to liven up the party.’

‘Hey, listen, do you want to try one?’ he asked, then grimaced as her eyes widened in horror. Shit.

‘No way,’ she said.

She inched away and he felt the space expand as if a physical being had pushed in between them.

‘I’m sorry, Hannah. Didn’t mean to offend you.’ He wanted to move in closer, but decided to change the subject. ‘Hey, I know that guy over there too.’

‘The tall, geeky blonde dude?’

‘Yeah. Sean Parker. His mother’s a cop.’

‘A cop? You mean, like a real guard?’

‘A detective. I didn’t think this was Sean’s scene.’