I read this ages ago when there were only two chapters and loved it! Forgot about it until I saw it in Recent Unread Topics half an hour ago. I still love it and can't wait for the next one!
Thanks!
As it turned out, the diner was closed. There was no explanation given, but the pest control van parked outside it didn't fill Holly with much confidence that it would be re-opening any time soon. Instead, they went to the coffee shop in the gym, which was fairly pleasant if you could ignore the smell of chlorine.
"Oh my gosh. Please tell me you're not reading that?" Lara said when she caught sight of the book sitting in Holly’s bag.
"What, Game of Thorns? It's brilliant."
"But won't you turn into a super nerd now? Leave us and sit with Ethan and Michael every recess debating which character's got the best dragon?"
"Actually, there's only one character who has-"
"Argh. Stop. I'm already bored."
Holly laughed. "Then maybe you and Lukas wouldn't get on so well. This morning, he and Michael were arguing about whether the Star Trek reboot is better than the original."
"I don’t even know what that means, but I’m on whatever side Lukas took."
"Then you're wrong. Seriously though, you and he don't have much in common. I also heard that he's starting a band with Ethan and a couple of the others."
"But, that's awesome!"
"An alternative band."
"Ergh. His music taste needs some work. Still, he's not just a pretty face, right? He’s musical and well-informed about unpopular culture." She took a sip of her coffee and grimaced. “How much sugar did that barista put in this?”
Holly shrugged. "What do you reckon are the chances of them cancelling the meeting due to heavy rain?"
"Less than zero, given that it’s happening indoors. Don't worry. Just tell your mum you've got the flu or something. That's how I get out of stuff I don't want to do."
"Not with my mother you don't. She once fired one of her assistants for taking a day off when his kid was sick.”
“Why would she do that?”
“I think she was having a really bad morning or something. Trust me, you do not want to be anywhere near her when she’s angry.”
“So fake flu is a bad idea?”
“Very bad.”
"Hmm, that's a problem. I tell my Nan, she's so gullible. She’ll literally agree to anything you ask her for.” She paused. “Y'know, said out loud that makes me sound like a really horrible person."
"That's what I need right now. A gullible grandparent I can trick into taking me to Bridgeport for the evening."
Lara took another bite of her burger. "Do you... have any other family? Apart from your parents. Just curious."
"Not really. My granddad, Dad's dad, died when I was about twelve. He’s got a brother as well, but I haven’t seen him since the funeral. Some argument over granddad’s will. That's it."
"What about your mum's family?"
Holly smiled wryly. "That's partly why I'm half convinced she's a robot, along with the fact that she’s lacking a heart. I haven't a clue. She just doesn't talk about it. I don't even know when her birthday is; we never celebrate it."
"Weird. Why wouldn't she?"
"No idea," she said, but in reality she had several. It wasn't hard to see why someone like her mother might have a murky past.
Outside, the rain was intensifying.
Lara groaned. "Please tell me there's somewhere I can get a taxi round here, or I'm stuck. I missed the school bus. Don't much fancy walking for two hours in this weather."
"Can't you drive?"
"Yes, I’ll go in that car I’ve got hidden in my back pocket. The only vehicle my family's got is a van for taking vegetables to the Farmers Market. Funnily enough, it’s not with me."
"Why did you learn, then?"
"Long summer, I was bored and my brother was back from college? Holly, there has to be somewhere around here where you can get a taxi."
"Not at this time of day. There're a few around at about 9PM, if that's any help. We are in the middle of nowhere."
"That's three hours away? What am I gonna do until then?"
Holly smiled. "I've got an idea."
***
Morgana adjusted her hair slightly and turned to Thornton, who was picking out a tie. "Do I look alright?"
"You look fine," he said without looking at her. "Do you think there's a chance Vita will name a skyscraper after me? ’Wolff Tower', perhaps."
"Who knows," Morgana muttered. Truth be told, Thornton was really irritating her that evening. Vita had called him her 'right hand man' a few days previously and his ego hadn't stopped inflating since. She was happy for him, but it was starting to get a little tiresome. "We should get going. It starts in an hour."
"Right. I just need to print the speech, but then we'll go."
"Speech?”
"Vita asked me to proofread her victory speech," he said with a thin smile, as they walked down the stairs together. "She really does find me indispensable. Go on, ask me where the concession speech is."
“Where is it?”
“There isn’t one! There’s no way she’s going to lose, so why bother? She’s incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up running the country someday. Maybe I’ll be her political aide. Actually, I think I should wear a different suit.” He turned away and disappeared back into the bedroom.
“And god help us all if she does,” Morgana muttered to herself.
***
City Hall was, for Sunset Valley standards, buzzing. Almost all the town was there, which amounted to close on a hundred people. None of them seemed to want to make eye contact with Nancy, which was making her more anxious than she ever thought was possible. She knew she ought to be engaging in some last minute campaigning, but somehow couldn't find the energy to do it.
Geoff's fingers brushed against hers and she squeezed his hand briefly. Malcolm wasn't there; he was at home with the cat. Fiona's daughter was babysitting him, but for some reason she didn't feel entirely comfortable leaving him there. That wasn't helping her nerves either.
"Good evening," someone behind her said softly. "How nice to see you. Might I have a word?"
Nancy took a moment to compose herself and turned to face Vita. Her venomous smile was playing on her lips, but it seemed forced. She didn't return it.
"I suppose you could, if you must."
Vita's smile faltered. "Oh, Nancy, you misunderstand. I was talking to Geoffrey."
Nancy looked at him in confusion. Geoff didn't seem like he understood either. "I, well... Why?"
“I’ll explain shortly.”
“Um, I, if you insist...”
"Wonderful. Let's go somewhere a little more private." She set off through the crowd. Geoff had no choice but to follow, throwing Nancy a look of total bemusement before he went. She watched them go, trying to ignore all the possible explanations rushing through her mind.
"Nancy," said yet another voice from behind. She turned a little too quickly and was surprised but relieved to see Morgana standing there.
"Yes?" she said, maybe a little too brusquely.
Morgana stepped back slightly. "I, um, just wanted to, well, wish you luck." She offered Nancy a slight smile but Nancy's attention was on her coal black hair, carefully braided into an updo. Morgana was a little taller than her, but not so much that Lisa couldn't have been mistaken in her description. Smiling, she tore her attention back to Morgana herself and nodded.
"That's most kind of you.”
Morgana looked around and her voice dropped. “I saw Vita going somewhere with Geoff. What was that about?”
“I’ve no idea. I don’t even think he knew.”
“Huh. I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, but I don’t like it. This whole thing is very strange. I’m not even sure it’s legal.”
“I can’t say that the Altos pay much heed to the law,” Nancy said dryly.
“Hmm. Well, I'd better go find Thornton," Morgana said, looking a little uncomfortable. "He's trying to schmooze a promotion out if Nick, I ought to look supportive. And... If I could vote for you, I would. Bye." She hurried away, but not before Nancy caught a glimpse of one of the leaflets poking out of her bag. Feeling slightly more reassured, she headed to a seat at the back of the hall. Vita had, naturally, reserved all the seats around the stage for her allies. Gunther was sat up there somewhere. The very thought made her stomach clench again.
That traitor, she thought, bitterly.
Vita swept into the hall a few minutes after seven. Thornton practically leapt up to hand her her papers, but she seemed, if anything, a little distracted. Geoff slipped into a seat next to Nancy, his expression unreadable.
“Well?” she said.
Geoff shook his head. “I can’t say.”
Nancy raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be ridiculous. What happened?”
“I’m not being ridiculous. I can’t tell you, I’m sorry.”
“Are you honestly tell me you know something about what’s going to happen here, what on earth they’re doing, and you’re not going to say?”
“It’s got nothing to do with the vote.”
Nancy shook her head. “Of course it was. Why else would she want to speak to you?”
Geoff opened his mouth, but was interrupted by the sound of applause as Vita stepped up to the stage.
