Page 50 of Washed Up

Not a hint of irony. None. Frankie loved her friend to pieces, she was closer than a sister ever could be, but one thing that Sally wasn’t, was an empath.

‘Oh… for God’s sake, Sally, you are the least empathetic person I know.’ Frankie bit her lip as soon as the words were out, as if she could somehow pull them back in. ‘Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean that.’

But Sally was on her feet again in an instant, forehead lined in pain.

‘Ouch, I think you did.’

Frankie sat up, shaking her head frantically. ‘No, honestly. I didn’t. It’s all the stress of this stuff with Dylan, you know. Forget I said anything.’

‘I see. It’s like that is it?’ said Sally, her fists clenched at her sides.

‘Like what?’

‘Like you spend one day with a celebrity and we’re not good enough for you anymore.’

Frankie gaped at her friend. ‘That’s not… no, don’t be silly.’

‘Well, why else would you say something so hurtful?’ said Sally, her hands clenching.

Frankie sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Sal. I didn’t mean it.’

She one hundred per cent did mean it. Sally was the least empathetic person on the planet but she had been really sweet about this whole Dylan thing. Something like guilt unspooled in Frankie’s stomach.

‘It’s okay,’ said Sally, who also had skin as thick as a rhino, thankfully. She plopped back down on the bed beside Frankie and resumed patting her hand. Frankie tried not to feel irritated. ‘We always lash out at those closest to us.’

‘Yeah. That’s what it is, I’m sure. Sorry, Sal.’

Sally glanced at her watch. ‘It’s okay. Honestly. Look, I’m sorry, I need to get to the hotel, it’s nearly time for my shift. Will you…?’

Frankie attempted a smile at her friend. She felt terrible. Why had she been so mean? ‘I’ll be fine. Thanks, though. And, sorry again. I didn’t mean to snap at you.’

Sally shrugged. ‘I get it. He’ll message, I’m sure he will.’

‘Message again, you mean. He has sent me one. Can you forward it to me? At least I’ll have that as proof when I wake up tomorrow convinced all this was a dream.’

‘Course I can,’ said Sally.

Frankie had to turn away from the look of pity in her friend’s eyes. ‘I’m not delusional. He genuinely did DM me,’ she said, sounding pathetic even to her own ears.

‘I know he did, honey. Technically, he DMd me. And he’ll be in touch again soon, you’ll see.’

And with that, Sally was gone. Frankie lay back on her bed and let out a deep sigh. Her world, which had always seemed so perfect and safe and idyllic, suddenly seemed so small.

Three days went by and still no message to her or Sally. Frankie set up her own page and had drafted out a dozen options for more messages she could send him, another gentle chase, a little nudge to remind him of her existence but the longer it went on, the more of those pity looks she got from the islanders. The more pathetic it seemed. The more that stormy day seemed like a distant dream, fading into memory.

She hadn’t seen Jake for a couple of days either, but on Friday night she was sitting in her usual corner of the Stargazer Inn when he slid onto the bench beside her. She put down her phone hastily, jabbing at the side button to clear the screen, but not quickly enough.

‘You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?’ said Jake, pushing his blond hair back with one hand.

‘Whatever gave you that idea?’ said Frankie, wryly.

‘The fact that you bought a new phone just so you could stare at his Instagram page all day long was one clue,’ Jake replied.

Frankie bristled. ‘That is absolutely not all I do.’

‘No need to get defensive. I get it.’

‘You do?’ Frankie turned her body towards Jake’s in surprise. He was very broad. He took up a lot of space in the world, especially in this tiny corner of the pub.