‘You can help me get close to Connor. I’ve tried, but unfortunately he doesn’t like me too much.’
‘He does seem to have taken an irrational dislike to you. Almost as though part of him can tell that you’re here to mess up his future.’
‘I need to be close to him if I’m to stand any chance of controlling the events that lead to the discovery of the planet.’
‘I can’t make him like you, but I can make sure that you get to hang out with us after school and on weekends.’
‘That’s what I need. Especially around the date of the discovery.’
‘Which is?’
‘The twenty-third of June.’
‘That’s the day of the ball.’
‘Exactly. But that’s about all I have so far. He talks about a girl, the love of his life, breaking his heart. They have an argument and then, to blow off steam, he goes to look at the stars and discovers this planet.’
Ryan picked up Connor’s autobiography and flicked through the pages, then began reading aloud.
‘We were at a party. I was upset. This girl was the love of my life. After she publicly humiliated me, I left the party and did what I always did when I was upset. I went stargazing. There’s something about all those millions of stars out there in space that’s so humbling. It makes a broken heart seem a trivial thing.’
Ryan dropped the book back on the floor. ‘The girl is obviously you.’
‘How is that obvious?’
‘You’re his oldest friend and he names the planet Eden. I think that’s pretty good evidence.’
‘Circumstantial.’
Ryan shrugged. ‘He doesn’t say which party he was at, although I imagine it must be the leavers’ ball or a party afterwards. Do people go to parties after the ball?’
I nodded. ‘Most people go on to a party.’
‘So this argument – this broken heart – happens at the ball or right after. Then he goes to look at the stars. He would have to have used a telescope to detect Eden’s transit in front of its sun. But he doesn’t say which telescope or where he was. There are several amateur astronomy clubs in Cornwall, but Connor isn’t a member of any of them. And only one has a scheduled viewing night for the twenty-third June and that’s on the Lizard Peninsula.’
‘Can I see his autobiography again?’
‘No. You can’t know Connor’s future.’
‘You do.’
‘Yes, but I have to know. And once my mission is complete, I’ll be heading back to my own time. All this will be history.’
I froze. For a moment it was as though my heart stopped beating. Ryan leaving. For ever. My body was washed with an all too familiar feeling. There was no word to describe it. Loss. Abandonment. The end of hope.
‘Eden?’ Ryan’s forehead was creased with concern.
‘Headache,’ I said, shaking myself out of my miserable trance.
He pressed his thumb between my eyebrows. ‘You’ve had a lot to take in. Lie back, put your head on the pillow.’ I did as he said. ‘Now shut your eyes.’
He sat beside me, gently running the tips of his fingers over my forehead, in a circular motion. I sighed softly and tried to imagine the tension leaving my body, but it was the opposite of relaxing; his touch made me tighten up and all I could think about was breathing.
‘You’re very tense.’
‘I can’t help it.’
Ryan pulled the duvet on top of me so that I was covered from my neck to my toes. Then he resumed rubbing my forehead gently.
‘You’ll get cold,’ I said.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you suggesting I get under the covers with you?’
I laughed, embarrassed, and secretly hoped he would.
Then the door opened. I sat up with a start. It was Cassie, a look of complete horror on her face. Within seconds the horror had been replaced by a condescending smile.
‘Haven’t you heard of knocking?’ Ryan asked.
‘I’ve never had to before,’ she said, arching her eyebrows, her eyes running over the two of us.
From where she stood, it would be impossible for her to tell whether or not I was dressed beneath the duvet.
‘Eden and I are in the middle of something,’ Ryan said.
‘So I see.’ She stayed there, staring at us, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
‘What do you want?’
‘Dad needs your help with something. So, when you finish whatever it is you’re in the middle of, perhaps you would come downstairs and lend him a hand.’
‘Tell him I’ll be down in a couple of minutes.’
‘Really? Just a couple? You are quick.’ She let the door slam shut behind her.
‘Um, that was awkward,’ I said.
He laughed. ‘It could have been worse. We could have been naked.’
‘Is Cassie really your sister?’
‘No. We’re not related. Just part of the same mission.’
I swallowed. ‘Have you and Cassie ever . . .’
‘No!’ Ryan responded before I had the chance to finish the question. ‘She’s light years from the type of girl I like.’
‘So what sort of girls do you like?’ I asked.
‘Are you flirting with me?’ he grinned.
‘No, why would I do that?’ I asked, embarrassed. ‘Please! You’re young enough to be my great-grandson.’
Chapter 10
‘Look at you!’ said Mrs Penrose, opening the front door. She looked me up and down. ‘Where’s the party?’
Cringing, I realised maybe I had overdone it a bit. I usually just threw on jeans and a T-shirt when I went to Connor’s house. Today I was in the shortest skirt I owned and knee-length boots. I had leave-in conditioner and shine serum on my hair, and had sprayed myself from head to toe with perfume. I was wearing practically every item of jewellery I owned. Ryan was meeting us later and I was all too aware that the last couple of times I’d seen him I’d either been windswept or drenched. I wanted him to see that I could scrub up well.
‘Come in,’ said Mrs Penrose. ‘He’s upstairs. There’s a plate of cheese scones up there. You’d better hurry though if you don’t want him to scoff the lot.’
I ran up the stairs.
‘Knock knock,’ I said, pushing the door open.
Connor was sprawled across his bed, a skywatching magazine opened at a page about telescopes. His eyes widened as I walked in.
‘Whoa.’
He ran his eyes over my outfit, lingering just a fraction too long at my hemline. For a horrible moment I wondered if Ryan might be right about Connor’s feelings for me.
‘You look amazing,’ he said, his eyes moving back up my body to meet mine.
‘My jeans are all in the wash,’ I lied.
‘You should wash your jeans more often.’
Ryan was definitely right. Connor wasn’t looking at me the way you look at a friend. A band tightened around my chest and I felt sick. ‘Connor,’ I began.
‘Don’t panic,’ he interrupted, curling his top lip into a sneer. ‘I know it’s not for my benefit. I assume Westland is meeting us at the arcade later?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ I lied again.
I sat down on the floor and regretted wearing my short skirt, which made it almost impossible to sit with any dignity.
‘So, I was thinking –’ said Connor.
‘Stop the press!’
‘I don’t suppose you’ve reconsidered going to the ball?’ he asked, shutting his magazine.
Actually, I had. Now that I knew about Ryan’s mission, I realised he would have to go to the ball. And as I was the only person who knew about his mission, surely I was the obvious choice for his date? I didn’t want to open up that can of worms with Connor though.
I stood up again, pulled at the hem of my skirt and took a cheese scone from the plate on his desk. ‘I’m not going to the ball and I don’t want to discuss it any more.’