Chapter 12

The noise should be unbearable but it's surprisingly quite for four hundred people. Alice leads me to the table at the very top, directly opposite the doors and on the farthest side of the room. It's circular so large enough for up to twelve people. The others are around the same size.

All of the men are wearing shirts and dark trousers, looking smart casual. The girls are all wearing dresses some short some long. As we make our way to the top table, I catch people whispering and glancing at me. I've never felt so self-conscious in my whole life. Do I look horrible in this dress? I feel suddenly ridiculous, my cheeks filling with colour. Who made me do this in the first place?

Austin and his friends, who I've learned to call Rick and Ryan, are standing there, chatting away. When Austin catches sight of me, he stops talking. And he stares. Blood fills my cheeks and Alice hip bumps me as we stand up to them.

"Hey, guys" Alice says cheerfully. Austin is wearing a white shirt, which is op