But there was no reply. Maybe it wasn’t him? Grace explored the left turn and I waited by the tree decorated with tiny Lego figures.
“Molly,” said a familiar cockney voice from behind. I spun round – it was Harry. He grinned. “I thought I heard you, but it was hard to get to you when we’re in, y’know, a maze.”
“Yes.” I half-smiled at him, so I could keep the half-mad bit on standby in case I needed it. “I’ve heard they can be a little tricky to navigate.”
The dancer from Strictly appeared again, stared at us and scurried off.
“I swear she’s been in here for three hours.” He shook his head. “Doesn’t she realize you can just push through the trees?” He tilted one of the trees and suddenly I could see the next path. Harry tried not to laugh. “Please don’t tell me you hadn’t figured that out either.”
“Of course we had,” I said defensively.
“OK, it could be this way?” Grace reappeared, but she was looking back down the path she’d just come from. “But it also might not be. So if we don’t want to be stuck in here and leave my dad at the mercy of your dad forcing him to attempt the bagpipes in public, then we better get going…” But as she spotted the tall, smiling Harry next to me, her words ground to a halt. And so did she.
I waited for the smart remark from Harry. About us being stuck. Or bagpipes. But the only noise was snow softly hitting the ground and some carols in the distance.
Harry was grinning at Grace. Grace was grinning at Harry. And … OK … this maze suddenly didn’t feel big enough for the three of us.
Erm… Guess I was going to have to say something unless I wanted my last hours on Earth to be slowly freezing to death as Grace and Harry grinned at each other.
“So, Grace, this is Harry … of uploading the photo of me as an elf fame.” Harry’s face dropped.
“Even though it catsolutley abigorically…” He shook his head, flustered. “I meant absolutely categorically wasn’t me.” He said it so firmly it was hard to imagine it was a lie.
“And this” – I pointed towards my best friend – “is Grace. All round excellent human, lover of all things festive and officially has a toe that is more talented than anyone here.”
She wiggled her foot.
“And soon to be turning to cannibalism if we don’t make it out of here. I cannot eat another bit of shortbread or Lebkuchen. But Christmas cannibalism is OK, right?”
Harry laughed. “If pigs in blankets are OK, I’m sure human in coat is also fine.” He smiled. And blushed. And looked back at her and… HELLO, GUYS! I’M STILL HERE!
How had I not thought about this sooner? Harry was 100% Grace’s type. But maybe she’d been too sad about Simon for me to realize? Or did I just have Jingle Lady blindness?
“Let’s go then.” He rubbed at his scruffy hair. “…I’ve got a good idea how to get out… And by good idea, I mean pushing through the trees or … this map.” He flicked it out. “Which I’m willing to use if Molly agrees it wasn’t me who put that photo up.”
“Molly isn’t willing to do that … yet.” I looked at Grace, who nodded in support. “But for the sake of Grace’s h-anger … I’ll agree to a hiatus.”
“You can buy the next round of hot chocolates to say sorry,” Grace said to Harry, not missing a beat. “Churros too. Not that you did it, of course.”
Harry rolled his eyes, but he was laughing. And he carried on laughing as he and Grace led the way out, both deep in conversation.
But hanging behind was fine. I needed to check my messages. But there was nothing. No venue news. All I had was a message from Ru.
Ru: I am so sorry! I got dragged into a work thing and didn’t have signal.
Ru: If you’re free, and want to see the world’s worst skater in action, I’m heading down to the staff only session on the castle ice rink if you fancy it?
I did not.
Ru had messed me around, and now I was having a way better time with Grace and Harry. And any spare second I had was now about finding a venue. But I’d tell him in a bit, let him sweat after he’d made me wait all that time.
I put my phone away and looked up. Result! We were at the exit of the maze.
But I stopped dead.
There was something terrible. Someone.
Standing next to Jack, checking her phone and looking cold and bored, was Maeve. Maeve actual Murphy.
Argh! I leapt behind a tree and crouched down. What if she recognized me?! As the red-carpet attacker? After all my hard work to let it die down, to stop Elijah sharing the clip, and now I was metres away from a lawsuit!
Please let Grace and Harry walk straight past. Please, please, please.
But when Maeve saw Harry, she smiled.
“Oh, hiya, Haz…” Maeve waved as if this was totally normal. As if we’d run into each other in the school loos. And Harry waved back. I peeked through a branch. Grace was just opening her mouth and shutting it. Fair enough. Maeve looked even cooler in her normal clothes than she did in the movies. She was in Doc Martens, straight faded jeans and a bomber jacker. Her long ginger hair was piled up into a messy bun and her fingers were covered in rings, her black nail varnish all chipped.
“What’s up, Maevster?” Harry gave her a quick hug. Yup, Harry was officially more flustered by my best mate than by actual Hollywood royalty. Just the way I liked it.
“Have you guys met?” Harry turned to Grace. I crossed my fingers. Please don’t let them notice I’d gone.
“This is Grace.” Harry grinned.
My heart thundered in my chest as Grace walked over to Maeve. Yes, she was moving her limbs like a robot, but I bet she was going to think of something cool to say.
“Is it creepy to say I literally love you?” Nope. She wasn’t. “No, that’s creepy, isn’t it. But I’ve said it now. I’m Grace … and I love you.” Maeve laughed. “Also, do you want some shortbread?” She held the battered packet out. “Maybe too much pocket fluff to be delicious, or even not-a-food-poisoning threat…” She trailed off. “But if you’re hungry…”
Maeve took one. “Life saver. A tofurkey baguette is not my definition of lunch. Girl’s gotta eat!” She took a massive bite, Grace watching with such love, like each chew was sealing their friendship. “Mmmm. And these are good!!” She swallowed. “But we were thinking of grabbing some food if you guys fancy joining?”
