I Knew You Were Trouble

Chapter Fourteen

The following morning, in the back of the car, on the drive out to Bronte, I watch as Duncan lowers the window and groans. He then leans his head a fraction closer to the coolish stream of air that’s now whooshing inside the vehicle.

‘Sorry,’ he grunts. ‘Air con’s not cuttin’ it.’

‘Sore head?’ I deadpan. ‘Can you operate the equipment?’

He belches. I wince in disgust, as does Meredith, who is sat up front with the driver. She seems to have survived the night better than Duncan.

‘Just don’t throw up on the drone, okay?’ I say. ‘It’s probably our most expensive piece of kit.’

‘I’m not gonna vom, I swear it,’ Duncan says, his tone reserved. ‘I’ll be fine once we get there.’

I shake my head, watching the streets of Sydney narrow, tall buildings giving way to residential areas as we grow closer to Bronte, by all accounts a trendy beachside suburb, not quite as famous as its nearby neighbour, Bondi.

Word has it last night’s party was raucous. Duncan had his hidden camera switched on the entire time, but the battery only lasted about two hours. From the gossip swirling at breakfast, I’m not sure I want to watch the footage, because I know Aidan was there, and so were all three members of the girl band, Haven. I haven’t seen him, but the rumours flying amongst the crew say that Ziggy was fuming. I’d left Ravi’s room and gone straight to bed. I don’t want to think about which member of Haven Aidan might have ended up with. I told myself in the mirror that I needed to be professional, and not have a girlish crush on a member of a famous boy band.

A little voice in my head was asking when I’d become so serious.

‘Jesus, I don’t know how those boys are gonna get up there and sing today,’ Duncan groans. ‘Let alone fling themselves about. Last night, they were pure steaming. My head feels like it’s about to crack open. Jesus, I need a bottle of full-fat Irn Bru.’

‘You’re not in Edinburgh now.’

‘Aye, if I were, I’d have my mam make us a full fry-up.’

Meredith is chuckling in the front seat. ‘I did not understand a word he just said.’

I click my tongue. ‘It’s Scottish for I’m a complete tosser who’s utterly hungover ,’ I say.

‘The set today is due to last about twenty minutes,’ Meredith says. ‘They’re performing four tracks. They’re opening with “Fight For Us”, followed by “Lovesick”, then they’ll introduce “Shame About My Face” and then they’ll finish with “Knock Me Back”. No backing dancers.’

‘Are they singing live?’ I ask.

‘Of course,’ Meredith giggles. ‘Rebel Heart don’t mime .’

There’s something odd in the way she says it. Like she’s defending them. ‘You sound like a proper fan,’ I say.

The venue is Bronte Park, where a giant stage has been set up, with a view out across the ocean. Crowd capacity for the event is about five thousand. Ziggy’s been able to grant us access to the sound and light engineers’ platform which faces the main stage, cordoned off by a square fence and accessible by ladder, with admission monitored by three hefty-looking security guards. It’s from there that Duncan sets up the drone, in preparation for Rebel Heart’s appearance on stage. I set up two cameras, one static on a tripod to record the performance, and a hand-held for me to have greater mobility.

From the sound engineers’ stage, we have the perfect view. The current band on stage is finishing up their act. Already I sense a crackle in the air, a sense of anticipation in the crowd at Rebel Heart’s impending performance. It feels like the entire suburb and beyond has turned out, the picturesque beach deserted, other than a few elderly dog walkers. I can see girls holding up placards – Cal, I love your face , Marry me, Aidan , Rebel Heart 4EVA , J.B. I’ll have your babies! , Love you, Ra ? i – dotted amongst the crowd. In a strange way, the adoration is intoxicating, and addictive. The power that a band can hold over total strangers, and the frenzy they can cause, it’s almost startling. It’s so easy to get swept up in something so far removed from reality. It’s sheer escapism.

‘We’re good to go,’ Duncan says, moving to the back of the platform where there’s more space, holding the drone, which contains my GoPro camera attached underneath. ‘Got about sixty minutes’ battery power.’

I pick up the monitor. ‘Alright, let her fly.’

Duncan makes his final checks then picks up the remote control. There is a high-pitched hum as the blades on the drone begin to turn, the machine rising into the air.

‘You happy?’ I ask him.

‘So long as nobody chucks anything at it,’ Duncan says.

‘Stay high,’ I say. ‘Keep her steady. No dramatic swooping. Stay above the crowd. Ziggy doesn’t want the drone directly above the stage.’

‘Got it, Chief,’ Duncan confirms, his eyes on the sky.

I go back to Meredith, who is stood beside the camera on the tripod. I hit the button to commence filming. ‘Can you keep one eye on this for me?’ I ask her. ‘In case it switches itself off. Tell me if it does.’

Meredith gives a nod. ‘I think they’re about to start.’

When the festival host introduces Rebel Heart, the noise made by the crowd reverberates under my feet. Meredith and I exchange glances. I look to Duncan, who gives me a thumbs-up. After a moment, there is a rumble from the stage, a thumping bass line so loud it obliterates the sound of the cheers.

‘Are you ready, Bronte?’ I hear Cal’s voice shout through the microphone, and the crowd goes wild. I feel a stirring in my chest, realising I’m desperate to see Aidan again, no matter who he was with last night.

My jaw drops when I see them. Other than heavy black military-style boots, they are scantily dressed in tight-fitting swimming shorts printed with the Australian flag. On the top half, one arm is covered with material that then stretches over to the opposing shoulder, leaving Ravi’s arm covered, and their sculpted torsos and legs completely stripped. I realise, my gaze settled on Aidan, that it’s a look very few males could get away with, not with any sort of dignity. For Rebel Heart though, their unconventional, scant clothing makes the attraction all the more palpable.

When their opening song begins, I’m transported, so much so that I forget I am supposed to be filming. Glancing across from me, it appears so too is Meredith. We’re both teenage girls again, barely able to conceal our excitement. Behind me, Duncan rolls his eyes, keeping his focus on controlling the drone.

My gaze follows Aidan. There are no signs of any hangover. His dance moves are perfectly executed, his voice sublime, his magnetism almost visceral.

I feel my breath quicken, as though my inward thoughts are written all over my face.

I want him. And for the first time in our brief history, I’m prepared to admit it to myself.

I’m still lost in him halfway through their second track when Aidan stops on stage, looking down into the crowd.

‘Stop, stop, lads, lads, stop !’ Aidan says into his microphone and the crowd goes quiet, trying to see what’s going on. The thousands of phones that are already raised are joined by thousands more.

Aidan is gesticulating. ‘Someone’s passed out here. Security, can we dive in here, please? Here. Here. That’s it. Is she alright? Give her room.’

The band gathers round Aidan on stage, looking down to where he is indicating. Abruptly, Cal is addressing the crowd through his mic. ‘Right! Everybody! I need you to look behind you, and very slowly take two steps back. We love you guys, but we’re not gonna perform if you guys are gonna surge forward. Keep an eye out for one another please! Give everybody space. We want you all safe.’

The crowd responds with resounding applause. Cheers ripple through the area, all the way to the back. I clap my hands, Meredith and I grinning at one another again. Near the front, a young girl in a lifeless state is being lifted over the barricades.

‘Is everything okay?’ Aidan says into his mic. ‘Have we got medics on hand? Is she alright?’

It’s some moments before he’s given a thumbs-up, and Aidan seems to relax again. He looks back to the band and nods. This time it is Miller who addresses the crowd.

‘What do you say, Bronte, shall we start that one again? From the top?’

Miller high-fives Aidan, who is smiling. J.B. and Ravi both give him a hug. I feel my heart sing at the incredible bond between them. The crowd adores the simple gestures. The band huddle together for a moment and their voices are muffled. Cal looks back to the musicians, and the sound people, who strike up the music again. The scream that goes up from the crowd is even louder than before.

‘No surprise… the story’s gone viral,’ Meredith announces in an excitable tone, entering my room back at the hotel. ‘It’s all over the news networks. There are literally hundreds of videos from all different cell phones plastered all over social media. “Shame About My Face” is also the number one download in, like, a zillion countries right now. How’d the drone footage work out?’

‘It’s good,’ I say, nodding towards my laptop. ‘Duncan captured everything.’

Duncan gives a mock salute from my bed, sipping on his cup of tea with his feet up.

‘Can I see?’ Meredith says with a grin.

‘Of course,’ I tell her, turning and starting the video again, handing her a pair of headphones. ‘The sound is iffy; we’ll fix that in post-production.’

Meredith sits down. After a few moments of watching, she turns back around and says, ‘Duncan, this looks incredible.’

I witness his grin, the way his eyes linger on her back for longer than is necessary, after he’s thanked her. I raise my eyebrows to him, letting him know that I’ve seen. Duncan frowns at me over the rim of his mug. In response, I give him a deliberate look in Meredith’s direction, rubbernecking for emphasis. He shakes his head, like I’m imagining things.

‘I’m sorry ’bout last night,’ he says into his mug. Meredith is still wearing the headphones.

‘Sorry for what? Because you nearly vommed in the car?’

‘No. The party. The camera. Did you get anything useable?’

I watched the footage back when I was alone and I’ve seen all I needed to see. ‘I’m sure we can make some use of it.’

‘I did try to walk around a bit. It was pretty dark in there.’

‘You had company. I imagine it was difficult.’

‘Aye, she’s nice.’

He’s referring to the member of Haven who seemed to spend most of the night in his lap. I know that because the footage is black and the soundtrack mostly involves them kissing, with added interference caused by her rubbing up against the equipment.

‘And was there an after-after-party after the after-party?’ I hum, trying to make a joke.

He shakes his head, blushing. ‘I wasn’t exactly in a good state for anything like that. And anyway, we’re leaving soon. Why’d you leave so early last night?’

I think about Aidan holding onto my hands, Ravi in the corridor with Tun, and I shake my head. ‘I was tired, that’s all.’

‘Didn’t fancy letting your hair down?’

‘Sometimes, believe it or not, I do let myself have some fun.’

He raises his eyebrows, like he doesn’t believe me. ‘Right,’ he announces, getting up off the bed. ‘They’re serving a late lunch upstairs. You coming?’

I look to Meredith. ‘We’ll be there in a minute.’

‘Fine. Gonna get me some scran.’

When he’s gone, I watch the drone footage over Meredith’s shoulder. The same squelchy feeling has returned to my stomach, and I don’t feel hungry. Mostly because the footage I’ve seen from last night’s party shows Aidan passionately kissing the dark-haired member of Haven.

I’ve looked her up. Her name is Taylor Wetherill. She’s twenty-two and gorgeous, from a big family in Melbourne. And though it was just a glimpse in the dim light as Duncan walked past them, the blurry footage is enough to make me feel sick.

It’s not the only thing I saw on the footage either.

‘That drone footage is amazing,’ Meredith says as she removes the headphones.

I force a smile. She must realise it’s fake because she says, ‘What’s up?’

I don’t have siblings, and I’ve never been anyone’s manager, so I don’t quite know how to broach the subject.

‘Mer, you know I think you’re brilliant. And I don’t want to sound like your big sister when I say this, but… Miller? Really?’

Meredith turns a shade of puce. ‘Oh. How did you—?’

‘Duncan caught it on camera. I watched the footage an hour ago.’

‘Oh,’ she says, clasping her fingers together. ‘I should have thought.’

‘I’m sorry. It’s not my business, I just know that Miller is… I don’t want you to think that he’s suddenly going to make you his girlfriend.’

I immediately regret the words that come out of my mouth, because the look on her face says she’s interpreted my statement as saying she isn’t good enough for him.

‘That’s not what I meant,’ I blurt. ‘I just that meant that… someone like Duncan would be much better suited to you.’

‘Duncan?’ she blurts. ‘I’m hardly his type. I’m half his size, and he had one of those Haven girls all over him.’

I feel awful, like I’m her mother or something. Meredith looks like she might cry. ‘I’m sorry if I did something wrong, Lexi. It was just a kiss. That was all. We’d both had too much to drink. I don’t expect anything from him. I know Miller would never be into me. Not really.’

My heart swells and I suddenly feel sad for her. ‘Mer, that’s not what I—’

‘I’m gonna go,’ she says, getting up out of the chair, embarrassed. ‘You should go to lunch.’

‘Mer, please—’

‘I’ll see you later,’ she says, and before I know it, she’s fled the room.