The Hush Society Presents... by Izzy Matias (best desktop ebook reader .txt) 📕

face me and for a couple of seconds, we stare at each other. I can’t tell if this is supposed to be some twisted romantic moment or the scene where we think we’re safe but then something ruins it. At a loss for what to do next, I sigh a heavy breath of relief at the crazy turn of events. So does she.

Despite the challenges, I find myself laughing. Being called a sham, even out of spite, stings. It hurts, but so does my stomach from the contraction of my muscles.

Cassie’s got tears of laughter as she mimics Dreadlocks with hand signals: him pointing at me, and punching the air. Cassie punches my chest with both her fists, mimicking the brawl. I pull her to me and hug her. We’re both still laughing.

What a mad afternoon.

CHAPTER TWELVE

We arrive in Brighton at high noon to a rare sight: the sun shining in a cloudless sky.

After we grab food, we take a short detour before heading to Lily’s. The weather is brilliant, so there’s no way we’re passing up a day out at the seaside. Lily, who I met the night I stumbled upon The Hush Society at Birmingham, is in charge of Brighton’s gigs. Now that we are staying at her house, I look forward to getting to know her. I still don’t know how she plans to make us all fit in her home— unless she lives in a massive house like Benji or Eric.

Brighton is our first stop because it’s the furthest point from Manchester, and is celebrating its first ever The Hush Society gig tomorrow night. We drove hundreds of miles, following Amber Skye the entire way. No easy feat considering she drove like she was playing Mario Cart. We shouted at her for breaking the speed limit multiple times. I never took the gal with multi-coloured hair for an aggressive driver. "I’m taking over the wheel the rest of the tour, you mad woman!" Eric chastised her.

"Welcome to Brighton’s famous pier," Lily says when we arrive. She opens her arms and smiles. She’s got a gap in her teeth, and carries herself with shy confidence. "It’s lovely to see you again!" she says to Cassie. She looks like she wants to hug her, but hesitates and backs away at the last moment.

I’ve never been to Brighton before. In fact, I haven’t ever been too far from the comforts of Beverley except during festival season. There’s so much life waiting out here, I realise. So much adventure.

"Thank you, Lily, for growing my baby here in Brighton. I still can’t believe we’ve expanded our reach this far." Cassie beams at Lily.

"It’s an honourable cause," Benji chimes in, rolling his earphones in his hand. He takes a video and uploads it to this yellow ghost icon on his mobile called Snapchat.

"You don’t have to share every little thing on the Internet," I say, rolling my eyes.

"It’s called building an online presence. You need to start doing that, too, now you’re in a band," he says.

"Highly unlikely," Eric says. "He’s stuck in the 1800s. Complete with the meek chivalry."

"Bugger off," I say, but laugh.

"See," Eric says. "How polite!"

We tease each other as we lag behind Lily and Cassie, who are in deep conversation about The Hush Society hub in Brighton.

There’s a crowd basking on the rocky seaside. They’ve got their brollies—you never know when the weather will turn on you—and sun chairs out.

I roll up the sleeves of my checkered shirt and Benji adjusts the cap on his head.

"Oi! Amber! Over here!" Eric waves to Amber.

She shakes her head and heads towards the pier. She then runs full speed, rips off her shirt and shorts to reveal her bikini, and jumps off the pier.

We stand there with our mouths agape—Lily gasps the loudest. Cassie tuts.

"I got it on camera!" Benji smirks, hitting upload on Snapchat.

"She’s fearless," I say, reminiscing our little chat in Manchester.

"Right mad." Eric grins. He has a mischievous look on his face—the same one I’ve seen countless times, usually preceding something reckless.

"She wasn’t always fearless, you know." Cassie’s voice goes soft and gives me this look—this we-have-a-shared-secret look—and I smile back.

"I don’t believe it," Lily says, her cheeks rosy from shock and embarrassment.

"It’s the effect of The Hush Society rubbing off on her, methinks." I nudge Cassie. She wrinkles her nose.

"Was it safe for her to do that?" Benji looks worried, squinting at the sun as we approach the seaside. "I don’t see her anywhere."

"I’ll be her hero," Eric shouts as he strips down to swimming trunks.

They must have planned this. Amber and Eric just so happened to have their swimsuits under their clothes?

We’re so used to Eric’s impulsiveness that neither Benji nor I react with much surprise. Lily shouts after Eric’s running figure. Too late. He cannonballs into the water.

Her eyes go wild. "He’ll be all right, right?" Lily says with a hushed tone.

"Don’t worry about it," Benji says in a bored tone, then mutters, "Show off."

I laugh.

The rest of us sit on the pebble-filled ground and wait for the adrenalin-chasers to come back. It’s not a pleasant feeling to the bum that I can tell you.

Amber bobs towards us, dripping in seawater. She shakes her body like a wet pup, right beside Benji, and gives him a hug.

"I’m starting to question the company you keep, Cassie," Benji says, examining his now-wet clothes.

Amber bursts out laughing. "The same can be said for you lot." She nods in Eric’s direction, and he wipes himself down with a towel. Amber sits in between Benji and Lily. "So, Lily, does Brighton have any extreme sports or activities?"

Lily’s face registers shock once more. "Extreme sports…?"

"Amber, stop it," Cassie tuts and swats Amber’s arm. "You’re giving Lily a shock. She’s not used to adrenalin junkies like you."

"Sorry, Lils." Amber shrugs. "It’s okay if I call you Lils, innit?"

"Uh, sure." But the way Lily says it makes it seem as if she’s far from certain.

I take in the beauty