Free How to Get to Rio by Julie Fison Page A

smiling. ‘Guess that’s why they call it The Lost World.’
    I could hear Izzy groaning at my dumb joke, but Persephone laughed. ‘Did you see who I found?’ she whispered in my ear.
    I nodded, glancing at Rio, who was standing outside the cafe with Jordan. Rio had his eyes on me, but he looked more shocked than excited about my arrival. I gave him and Jordan a smile, and introduced them to Izzy and Mia. Then we all stood outside Shake Shifter looking at each other in awkward silence.
    ‘All right,’ Persephone said finally. ‘Who’s up for a milkshake?’
    ‘Me!’ I said, way too enthusiastically.
    I felt around for my purse and then remembered I didn’t even have pockets, let alone a purse or money. I had been planning to change my shorts and get my purse after our hike. But, of course, that hadn’t happened. I had come to Paradise Point with nothing at all. I looked at Izzy and Mia, hoping they had some cash on them.
    ‘Got any money?’ I mouthed as discreetly as possible. Izzy shook her head and Mia rummaged around in her pockets but came up with nothing.
    Persephone, Rio and Jordan had obviously noticed. Persephone pulled some notes from her purse. ‘My treat!’
    ‘I’m going to have another swim,’ said Jordan.
    ‘Me too,’ said Rio. ‘Gotta work off the last shake before having another.’
    I looked questioningly at Izzy and Mia. They shrugged.
    ‘What are you having, Kitty?’ Persephone called, heading inside.
    We followed Persephone into Shake Shifter. It seemed better to let her buy us a milkshake than pretend we’d suddenly lost our thirst. And to be honest, I was dying for a drink.
    We hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and the rainforest walk and the climb over the rocks at the headland had left me totally dehydrated.
    ‘Thanks, Persephone,’ I slurped down my mango smoothie as we sat on the beach watching the guys in the surf. ‘I really needed this.’
    ‘Least I can do for dragging you away from your rural retreat,’ she said. ‘It sounds amazing!’
    Mia just smirked. But Izzy laughed – way too loudly. ‘Quite unreal,’ she said.
    Persephone looked confused. I had hoped to avoid the whole accommodation topic, but it looked like I was going to have to explain sooner rather than later.
    ‘Actually, I was just joking about –’ I began.
    ‘Great,’ came a voice from behind us. ‘I love a joke.’
    I turned to see Tori, a shopping bag in each hand, looking as perfect as ever. She clearly hadn’t been for a swim because her hair was all shiny and straight. And her dress was definitely designer. She looked like she was on her way to a fashion shoot, not on holiday.
    ‘Hi,’ I said, wondering what she was doing here. ‘What a coincidence, you being at Paradise Point. Small world.’
    ‘I’m staying with Persephone,’ Tori replied flatly. ‘So, what’s the joke?’
    My mind raced. Why was Tori staying with Persephone? Was she a second choice after I let Persephone down? But that seemed impossible. Surely I would be a second choice, not the other way around.
    I searched around desperately for a joke I could tell Tori. I certainly wasn’t going to explain the whole camping thing to her.
    ‘Er … I was joking with Mia and Izzy that –’
    ‘What’s the joke?’ Rio asked, picking up his towel and rubbing himself down. He and Jordan sat down and looked at me expectantly. Oh great , I thought, now I have an entire audience for my camping confession.
    ‘It’s not that funny, actually,’ I said quickly. ‘It was more of a private joke.’
    ‘Did it have something to do with a food fight?’ asked Tori. ‘Because it looks like you’ve got jelly in your hair.’ She leant in over me. I pulled away, but I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Even Rio was staring at my hair like I had nits. It was the Snow White knickers incident all over again!
    ‘We had a jellyfish fight with my brothers on the way here,’ Izzy explained. ‘Up there on the headland. They’re like