The sun was setting and Dinah was clearly sulking over the fact that Claude hadn’t arrived yet.

“I’m getting pretty hungry, we should head back. I’m sure dad is starting to cook the barbecue already.” Kacey glanced at Dinah and then looked to Sadie, who shrugged.

“Yea, I’m pretty tired,” Delilah replied as she hugged her fluffy seahorse.

“I’m starving, dinner sounds great,” I said as Dinah opened her phone and types a quick text.

“I told dad to start cooking,” Dinah said flippantly as she sauntered past us, but I saw the storm behind her eyes. Sadie follows her as Delilah and Kacey look at each other.

“I’m guessing this has something to do with the fact Claude still isn’t here yet,” Kacey muttered as she watched her sister leave us.

“You don’t say. Has she always been this obsessed with him?” Delilah asked with a roll of her eyes.

Kacey shrugged and lead us through the crowd back to our picnic spot where Elijah was cooking sausages and onions. Flames flickered through the grill as he moved the sausages. To our surprise Dinah had her arms wrapped around Claude’s shoulders. Elijah looked displeased, but he was also pretending not to see them.

When he saw us walking across the field he grinned. “Food will be up in a bit, just finishing off the sausages.”

Sadie pulled out a pack of hotdog rolls and placed a white board on top of one of the Esky’s. Before long the hot dogs are ready and everyone is eating. Once dinner is done Elijah cleaned off the barbecue plates as best as he could before packing it up. Claude helped Elijah take the gas canister and the barbecue back to the car while us girls sat on the panic mat.

“So, Sadie, Claude and I are going to go to the neighbouring property for a party. Can you girls cover for us?” Dinah asked sweetly with an innocent smile.

“Ugh,” Kacey rolled her eyes as Delilah scoffed, shaking her head at them.

“Oh come on, it’s been a while since Dinah and I asked you to cover for us.” Sadie begged Delilah and gave her a gentle shake.

“Dad let you go to the New Years party, why don’t you just ask,” Kacey suggested aggressively.

“Because if I ask and he says no, then he will know where I’ve gone if I suddenly disappear. Remember the last time he came to pick me up from a party?” Dinah argued.

“Why don’t we all go?” I suggested sheepishly.

“Huh, that’s actually a good idea,” Kacey grinned at me and Delilah.

“Oh no, you are not coming with us to a party.” Dinah waved her finger as Sadie mulled it over.

“Which is exactly why we should bring them,” Sadie smiled mischievously. “Your dad knows you’d rather be dead than bring your younger sister to a party. So when we all wander of into the carnival,” Sadie makes little air quotes, “he won’t be suspicious that we are actually sneaking off to a party.”

Dinah opened her mouth to argue and then stopped. With a huff she dropped her hand onto her lap and thought about the proposal.

“Okay,” Dinah finally replied, “you can come with us. But don’t drink anything, and I mean anything!”

Sadie nodded with a serious expression. “Elijah will skin us alive if we bring home three drunk fourteen year olds.”

“I’m going to be fifteen in March,” Kacey argued and folded her arms.

“I didn’t have my first drink until I turned seventeen,” Dinah said matter of factly.

“Liar,” Kacey scoffed, “you were waisted on your sixteenth.”

“And you’re still not sixteen.” Dinah grinned triumphantly.

Kacey sighed and then looked at Delilah and I. “So, you guys up for a lame party?”

“I was really hoping I could finish the end of my book, but oh well,” Delilah replied flatly and placed her seahorse to the side.

“Just for a little while though, right?” I asked as I saw Elijah and Claude walking from across the paddock towards us.

“Until the fireworks go off, then we have to come straight back before the carnival clears out,” Dinah commanded.

Kacey saluted at Dinah mockingly making us all giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Elijah asked as he rejoined us on the picnic mat.

“Just Dinah telling us the game plan for the rest of the night.” Kacey winked at Dinah who quickly smiled at her dad.

“So, what is the game plan, Dinah?” Elijah asked as he glanced back at Claude.

“Well, we have two hours until the fire works go off at ten, so that means we have enough time to go on the Ferris wheel once, the gravitron three times, climb the elastic tower, and then spend the rest of our money on the rollercoaster simulator. Then once the fireworks have gone off, we might be able to convince the guy to let us go on the roller coaster simulator one last time.”

Damn, that was a flawless plan, considering she made it up on the spot.

Elijah laughed. “I see you left plenty of room for waiting in the lines, Dinah.”

Kacey sighed and shrugged at Elijah. “You know Dinah, absolute control freak.”

“I suppose we better leave now then,” Claude suggested and motioned for us to leave.

“Yes, you should,” Elijah chuckled as we all stood and stepped off the picnic mat. “I’m going to start putting some of this stuff in the car. You guys go and have fun, and I will meet you at the car after the fireworks, okay?”

“Sure thing, dad,” Kacey grinned and gave a mock salut to her dad. Elijah returned the gesture with an amused smile.

As we walked back towards the carnival I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for Elijah. He had brought us to the carnival and we just ditched him there for the whole event. I glanced behind us to see Elijah packing up the the rest of the Esky’s and picnic mats. There was a deliberate slowness to his movements.

Dinah lead us through the festival to the eastern side, behind the gravitron and through the wire fence into a patch of bush.

“Come on, it’s through here.” Dinah motioned for us to follow here.

Tromping through the bush, twigs and sticks scratched at our legs and Kacey nearly fell over twice. We made it to the other side, crossed the lawn and followed Dinah and Sadie under the fairy lights that were strung between the trees and the Patio. The music was low and people were mostly standing around with drinks in their hands talking loudly. Delilah, Kacey and I slowed our pace as Sadie, Claude and Dinah went on ahead.

“This is a party?” Delilah asked sounding as disappointed as I felt.

“Yep,” Kacey breathed as she eyed the people, “not that I recognise anyone.”

“Neither,” Delilah said flatly.

“I know I have no memories, but I thought a party was more…” I let my sentence trail off.

“More.” Kacey replied with a nod. “That pretty much sums up my expectations as well.”

Delilah stared absently at the house. “So, now that our chaperones have ditched us, what shall do?”