Free How to Get to Rio by Julie Fison Page B

ninjas, that lot. Fast and merciless.’
    ‘Gross!’ Tori cried.
    The others all laughed, but I was practically dying of embarrassment. I really wanted to impress Rio and Izzy was totally humiliating me. Sometimes she was so clueless.
    ‘Yeah, and that was right after we went looking for a waterfall and got attacked by leeches,’ Mia laughed. ‘What a day!’
    The guys laughed even harder, but Persephone put her hand over her mouth.
    ‘Leeches?’ Tori squealed. ‘Oh my god. That’s, like, totally disgusting!’
    I cringed. This wasn’t quite how I imagined the afternoon playing out. At least Izzy and Mia hadn’t mentioned that we were camping, but I figured it was only a matter of time before they started over-sharing on that subject.
    ‘So, what’re you guys doing this week?’ I asked, glancing at Rio.
    He smiled. He was unbelievably cute.
    ‘Just hanging out. There’s not much surf so we might try stand-up paddleboarding. Ever done that?’
    ‘We’re going to this amazing restaurant tonight,’ Tori chimed in, before I had a chance to answer. ‘It’s totally exclusive and always packed with A-listers. My mother’s friend owns it. It’s going to be so divine.’
    Izzy rolled her eyes. She obviously wasn’t impressed.
    ‘Wow! That sounds really cool,’ I said.
    Tori ignored me. ‘Probably should be getting back, hey, Percy?’ she said. ‘To start getting ready.’
    I saw Persephone wince at her nickname. Surely Tori knew she didn’t like it.
    ‘But these guys have only just arrived,’ Persephone said, getting to her feet. ‘I’m sure we have time for a walk.’
    As I stood up, I saw Tori staring at my shorts and I remembered they were covered in mud. Not the best look! I hung back, waiting until the guys were up ahead to start walking.
    Rio was soon showing off his acrobatics, while Izzy and Mia splashed in the waves. Persephone, Tori and I trailed behind.
    Persephone nudged me. ‘I think Rio’s somersault show’s for you.’
    I blushed. ‘Sure, sure.’
    ‘He’s always like that,’ Tori said. ‘A bit immature for me.’ She tossed her hair. ‘Anyway, I want to hear all about the luxury retreat at The Lost World. Percy said you were staying there. Brand new, is it? What’s it like?’
    ‘Um, well, actually it’s so unreal that it doesn’t exist.’ I laughed to try to lighten the mood, but no-one else was smiling. ‘We’re just staying at the camping ground. In a tent.’
    ‘You don’t say,’ Tori said.
    I wasn’t sure if Tori was being sarcastic or not, but when I saw Persephone’s face fall, I realised she was really disappointed.
    I felt like I’d really made a mess of things. I’d ruined any chance of a friendship with Persephone, and I’d let down my friends, too. It looked like I was embarrassed to be camping with them.
    ‘Well, I hope you’ve got good security,’ Tori said, half smiling. ‘Those campers are completely feral, aren’t they?’
    I shrugged, trying to work out what to say. I could make out that I was a novice camper and didn’t belong at The Lost World, which was actually true – that’d keep Tori quiet and improve my friendship chances with Persephone. Or I could just tell it like it was.
    I decided there was only one real option: it was time I told the truth.
    ‘Actually, camping is pretty cool,’ I said.
    Tori groaned. ‘Nothing good ever happened in a camping ground.’
    Persephone didn’t say anything, but I could tell she hated the idea of camping, too. It was written all over her face. She wasn’t the type of girl to rough it.
    Who am I fooling? I thought. I’ve got great friends already. Sometimes they did the most uncool things, but I wasn’t that cool myself – especially compared with Tori and Persephone. I was nothing like them.
    I saw Rio was way up ahead, wrestling with Jordan. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in me, either. I’d probably finished my chances with him as well, by turning up looking like Robinson