Revenge of a Chalet Girl:

For a moment, there was silence in the room but Amy didn’t trust herself to fill it.

“The bastard,” Tash proclaimed. “So, it’s time for revenge.”

“Revenge? I don’t know…” Amy wriggled uncomfortably in her bed. “I was thinking more along the lines of running away.”

An indignant chorus filled the room.

“You can’t run away. What are you, woman or wimp?” Tash asked.

Um, I’m a wimp probably. If I’m being honest.

“Woman,” Amy replied reluctantly when it became obvious Tash expected an answer.

“This guy broke your heart, right?” Tash’s sharp features looked fierce in the moonlight, like an alley cat about to pounce. “He trampled all over your emotions. Led you on and then dumped you.”

“Well yes, I suppose so,” Amy admitted, fighting the surging waves of emotion pressing against her eyelids.

I won’t cry.

If she did, Tash would probably disown her for crimes against feminism. But could she ever forgive Josh for leaving her to deal with her first bereavement alone? For just switching their relationship off as though it meant nothing?

He had pulled the plug and watched the light and power fade out of her life and then he’s walked away.

That had felt like a bereavement too. That too had been a shock, the strike of lightning from a clear blue sky.

Amy curled up on the bunk, drawing her knees up against her chest.

“So, you get revenge and you get the upper hand.” Tash cut into her thoughts, warming to her theme. “We can put chilli in his food and itching powder on his sheets.”

“You’ll get her fired,” Amelia broke in, scornfully. “The best way to get revenge is to show him what he’s missing and can never have again. Look gorgeous, flirt with his friends but be offhand and distant with him. Show him you are so over him. It will drive him insane. Trust me. And if he tries to get your attention, which trust me, he will, you blank him. That’s the best revenge of all.”

“That sounds kind of tempting. What do you think Sophie?” Amy asked.

“Do whatever you need to do to feel okay, sweetheart. You certainly can’t hide in your room all Christmas and it’s not fair on Scott and Holly to run away at their busiest time of the year.” Sophie’s voice was softer, kinder than the others. Amy trusted her advice.

“I suppose you’re right,” Amy sighed. Holly had been really good to her and why should Josh get to ruin her plans yet again? She could just imagine her parents’ anxious expressions if they heard she’d thrown her job in, and even worse if they found out it’d been because of Josh.

She couldn’t do that to them. She couldn’t do it to herself.

“Getting revenge will make you feel much better, trust me,” Tash said, yawning. And then maybe you won’t dream about him and wake us all up.”

“I’d certainly hate to be your enemy Tash,” Sophie laughed and turned over, making her bunk creak. “Now before we have the guy hung, drawn and quartered shall we all try and get some sleep?”

Amy listened to the rustling of bed clothes and tried to process everything – Josh turning up, the dream, the girls’ advice… her head hurt with the effort of repressing the newly awoken emotions. Not to mention the carnal stirrings provoked by the dream and welcomed by her traitorous body.

She’d done such a good job of burying her desires, of picking herself up off the floor and getting on with life. It was gutting that by simply turning up, in one swift move Josh had brought all the balls she worked so hard to keep in the air crashing down to the ground, along with Tash’s lemon drizzle cake.

She couldn’t be a victim. Taking control of the situation was the way to go. He hadn’t sought her out to speak to her since he’d arrived, had he? Was he worried she might make a scene? Perhaps he was horrified and wondering how he would avoid her all holiday.

She’d give him a scene all right – but not the kind he might expect.

This time she’d be totally in control and she’d show him an Amy who was over him and doing damn well, thank you. Maybe she would flirt with his friends, and show him what he’d missed out on. She could wear that bikini Tash had talked her into buying to wear in the Jacuzzi.

Time to woman up and go on the offensive.

CHAPTER TWO (#u2a88a022-4c48-5a8e-836c-b4d2a683fb13)

“Amy, can I have a word?” Josh hovered behind Amy in the kitchen. He still couldn’t believe it was really her - Amy. In his chalet. After all the effort he’d made to try to get in touch and now she simply turned up.

And the timing couldn’t be worse.

“Oh, hello Josh,” Amy replied casually, almost off-hand. She even glanced at her watch.

This was awkward as hell, but he had to talk to her.

“I thought I ought to check you’re okay with this?” He watched her, searching for the girl he’d once known. Once loved even…

“Okay with what?” She raised an eyebrow, drying her hands on a tea towel.

It’s like that is it?

“Okay with me being here. You know, given our history.”

“Of course it’s okay.” She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be alright with it?”

That’s me told then…

“No reason I suppose. If you’re okay then that’s…great. Only if you wanted, I could try to find some other accommodation? I’m not sure we’d manage to find somewhere for all four of us but I could try…”

God this was hard.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” A spark of irritation flashed in her eyes, flaring into full-blown annoyance. “Why on earth would you do that? You’d end up paying twice. Holly and Scott wouldn’t refund you at such short notice; no one would.”

Why on earth? So it’s just me this has thrown then, is it?

Obviously.

His heart felt inexplicably heavy and his head pounded. The last thing he wanted tonight was another night out drinking. He needed a clear head.

How he was going to clear these thoughts from his mind was a headache in itself. Seeing Amy had rocked him to his foundations. He wanted to talk to her, to reconnect to the girl who’d been his best friend at university as well as his lover.

If only he’d known how rare that had been, instead of taking it for granted and assuming all relationships would be like that. How had he managed to lose touch with the person he was back then, not to mention his friends? None of the guys here with him this week had known him longer than a few years. Coping with the challenges of a new job and moving abroad had cut him off. He’d let it happen. And he’d paid dearly for his mistakes.

“Was that all you wanted?” Amy asked sharply. Where had her usual sunny smile and good nature gone? He missed the cheeky, smily girl he’d met in fresher’s week. He hadn’t seen a single genuine smile from her since he’d got here.

“Right, yes. I was wondering what time we’re eating?”

“Seven o’clock. The same as last night.” She turned her back to him, taking a pan drying from the draining board and plunging it into the soapy water again. Hadn’t she already washed that?